Adventure Travel Photography Blog
After escaping Hurricane Norma whose rains flooded the dirt streets of Cabo Pulmo, we arrived in Loreto at dusk. The drive past cacti forests with views of mountains and the ocean was pleasant, as was the weather in Loreto. We had nothing planned, but soon found out there are many things to do in Loreto.
EXPLORE!
I’ve contemplated how to write this article on Cabo Pulmo for a while now. Normally, I write a “things to do” post upon visiting a small town, but with Cabo Pulmo being a solar village of only 100 people, there is not a whole lot to do, which is the beauty of it.
Adding Hurricane Norma into the mix of limited local food supplies, dirt streets, and solar power without air conditioning, our glamping vacation in the Villa del Mar turned into quite an adventure! All things considered, we had a remarkably good time. But first here are things to know about Cabo Pulmo.
DIVE IN!
For those who don’t know, 25 to 50 million monarch butterflies migrate from the USA and Canada to the monarch butterfly sanctuaries in Mexico every year. This is a far cry from the billions that made the journey until a rare freeze in Mexico obliterated 80% of the population creating piles 13 inches high of dead monarchs on the ground. Regardless, it is still an amazing phenomenon that could go extinct…not the butterflies, but the migration. So go check it out before it is too late!
The monarchs arrive in the high-altitude Mexico mountains around November 1st and migrate back to the USA and Canada in mid-March. They concentrate in 12 known areas over three hectares in the biosphere reserve. Four of these areas are sanctuaries that are open to the public.
FLY AWAY!
I’m not sure how I originally heard of the Monarch butterfly migration. All I knew was that a bunch of monarchs cluster on trees in Mexico during the winter, and I thought it would be cool to photograph. Well, I got so much more than I bargained for and learned a ton. What a special experience!
Before I delve into the details, I have two major tips for seeing the monarch butterfly migration in Mexico.
I had never heard of Pátzcuaro, Mexico until I traveled to the area to watch the monarch butterfly migration, which is a remarkable phenomenon. I didn’t know what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised by all that Pátzcuaro had to offer.
Pátzcuaro, Mexico is a 1 hour 30 minute drive southwest of General Francisco Mujica International Airport which is located just outside of Morelia. Our tour company, Mexico Specialists, sent Maria and Juan Carlos to pick us up.
They met us outside of immigration and after a stop in Morelia to see the cathedral and a few other places near the main square, we made the easy drive to the charming town of Pátzcuaro, situated at 7,000 feet on the southern edge of Lake Pátzcuaro.
Upon our arrival, the bustling community of 50,000+ was actively preparing for a Fat Tuesday celebration the following day. A variety of hearts, remnants of Valentine’s Day from a few weeks past, dotted the Plaza Grande, at which our hotel, Hotel Casa del Naranjo, stood on the corner.
EXPLORE MORE!
For a quick tropical vacation and escape from the cold, my friend Tina and I visited Tulum, Mexico. In this crazy COVID world, it is remarkably easy to get to Mexico. No COVID test is required. It is actually harder to return to your own country! Though the Mexico resorts coordinate onsite COVID testing to facilitate an easy return as well.
Generally, when I go to Mexico, I fly directly into Cozumel to go diving, but with my non-diver friend we decided on the mainland as there are many things to do in Tulum. In fact, those that aren’t beach dwellers can still find lots of activities in Tulum which range from visiting nature preserves, exploring the ruins, swimming in cenotes and more.
EXPLORE!
While visiting Tulum, located in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, we stopped in at the Tulum Ruins. The ancient Mayan city may be explored with a tour guide or on your own by reading the many posted signs or trying to work the app. Since we planned on having a tour guide at Chichen Itza, we walked the Tulum Ruins on our own. We likely missed out on some interesting facts that tour guides provide, but we managed with the signs.
REVEL IN HISTORY!
My friend Tina and I slipped down to Tulum, Mexico for a few days to escape the cold. During our trip, we visited some cenotes, explored the Tulum and Chichen Itza ruins, relaxed at the hotel beach, and went fishing. Given we are not avid fishermen, we weren’t sure how much we’d like it, but it’s always fun to be on boat. Fishing in Tulum did not disappoint!
GO FISH!
I had never been to the west coast of Mexico, only the east coast, and I never thought it would be that great as I like to SCUBA dive, and the water is much warmer in the Caribbean rather than the Pacific. Boy was I sorely mistaken! Suman and I took a trip to Nuevo Vallarta, and it was FANTASTIC…especially for only $471!!! Continue reading “Nuevo Vallarta…A Pleasant Surprise!”
Well the food, diving, and company never disappoint in Cozumel. And this time neither did the accommodations. The Fiesta Americana has been closed for the last year and a half for renovation and recently re-opened. The beach area was improved with a choice of restaurants…burgers at one spot and seafood at another. The pool and bar area featured hanging seats. Ping pong and pool tables offered some short-term fun at the small coffee bar. The rooms are airy and decorated in modern decor with nice bathrooms. We were all pleasantly surprised.
Continue reading “SCUBA Diving in Cozumel”