For those of you who have traveled to Mexico, you’ll for sure understand what I meant when I wrote “There is this indescribable energy in Mexico. A sensual and very palpable feeling of timelessness that I love.” By now, you’ll for sure have seen that @Fashionights & @DoTheDaniel were sharing our #HelloExperience with Booking Hello and Catalonia Hotels & Resorts. After a busy Day 4, allow me to tell you all about an even busier Day 5 that has me missing Mexico like crazy!
It was an early start to day 5 for Julio & I as we were heading to Cancun to visit Aquaworld Cancun. Not only had we conquered our fear while Paddle Boarding but we were about to take it to a whole other level thanks to the staff and attractions available at Aquaworld! The distance between Riviera Maya and Cancun is over an hour, but thankfully the team at HELLO can help to coordinate the transfer (remember, that’s what we call taxis when in Mexico!) to ensure that you get to enjoy the full experience.
We started off our visit on the Aquatwister. This speed boat takes adventure on the open water to a whole new level!
“Our fun filled ride can only be compared to an aquatic roller coaster as you speed, twist and spin across the Nichupte Lagoon. The 30 minutes Aquatwister experience will leave your pulse racing and an urge to go again. If you feel the need for speed, this thrilling trip must be number one on your list of things to do during your Cancun vacation.” Not to mention you won’t find anything else like it in Cancun!
After an exhilarating and very wet tour on the Aquatwister, we got ready to head out for a snorkeling tour. Yes, Julio who can’t swim and me who is afraid Jaws is out to get me, were going to go snorkeling in the middle of the ocean. I’ll admit we were both a little frightened but the staff at Aquaworld were amazing. Not only are they entertaining but they are also very supportive of tourists and first time snorkelers. After boating out to the Cancun Underwater Museum Musa it was time to face our fear. Equipped with a life jacket and snorkel gear, we jumped into the water and off we went.
The photo above may not be the most flattering of me but it marks a moment in my life I will never forget. A moment where I let go of an irrational fear and embraced the beauty of Mexico 100%. It was the most tranquil experience I have had in a very long time and for that I will always be grateful of Aquaworld.
I’ll have to admit that I might not be as scared of the ocean as I thought I was. The tranquility and beauty of the museum kept me focused. Fish followed my flippers as we toured in the water always under the watchful eye of our guides. I was more worried about Julio but quickly relaxed as he held on to the life preserver one of our guides held and swam him around with as he floated and kicked those long legs of his. It’s something we will always remember both as a couple and as a moment we got to share with you all.
“Our Snorkel in the Museum tour offers a unique snorkel excursion to visit the underwater statues located beside Manchones reef area. Manchones is located between the coast of Cancun and Isla Mujeres and is now home to 455 of the statues. During our 2 hour underwater museum snorkeling tour you will also see the schools of fish, turtles, rays and other sea life that inhabit the area. The museum provides the essential shelter and food they need in order to thrive, grow and of course breed. Some of the sculptures that can be seen during the excursion are the 450 life sized statues collectively called the Silent Evolution. The 30 minutes Aquatwister experience will leave your pulse racing and an urge to go again. If you feel the need for speed, this thrilling trip must be number one on your list of things to do during your Cancun vacation.”
There are options to snorkel on the surface or scuba among the statues. I wasn’t quite ready to scuba so we stayed above but next time we visit Aquaworld, I’m down!
For more information on these and other activities available at Aquaworld Cancun, make sure to check out their website here.
After exploring Cancun to grab a bite to eat, we headed back to Catalonia Royal Tulum for a quick outfit change and a rest. Once refreshed and ready for a night on the town, we headed back into Playa del Carmen for dinner and dancing. The long awaited night had arrived and we couldn’t have been more excited!
First off, dinner at La Peñita de Jaltemba. This hotspot in the heart of Playa del Carmen was exactly what we needed after a day of physical activity in the hot Caribbean sun. Not only was the decor absolutely stunning, but the food was authentic once again and truly memorable.
Known for their seafood dishes, we sipped melon flavoured water (quite common I came to realize in Mexico and very important to stay hydrated in the heat) alongside tart margaritas. Dishes arrived and were devoured by our curious mouths as we laughed the night away. I was amazed at how in five days I had grown so close to my new friends and how much fun I was having with them. But that’s the energy of Mexico really; the embracing nature of the surroundings you will enjoy when you create your own #HelloExperience.
After dinner, we continued on to REINA Playa for some elegantly made cocktails. Located conveniently next door, you can create quite a little pub crawl for yourself in Playa del Carmen if you wanted to! The men behind the bar aren’t too hard on the eyes either, but I’m also partial to Latinos. We sipped delicious cocktails, learnt about the fresh local ingredients that they use from Mexico and enjoyed a beautiful summer night. There was nothing else I could have asked for among beautiful people in a beautiful place.
The moment had arrived after many more cocktails and a delicious meal … we were heading to Coco Bongo! The name itself for most of you will inspire a smile, a laugh and some great memories. For those of you who haven’t been introduced to the brand, it’s a mixture of a night club and dinner show all mixed into one giant room.
So this is just another day at @CocoBongoShow? 🔥🔥 #CocoBongoStyle #HelloExperience pic.twitter.com/lBI1NVugyJ
— Daniel Desforges (@dothedaniel) May 30, 2015
This is one of those experiences you have to have for yourself in order to understand. The dancers are incredible with their themed choreography, confetti and balloons rain from the sky intermittently, aerial dancers on silks, and loud music that gets your hips moving… it’s a plethora of sensory stimulation and everyone who walks through the doors has an amazing time. A tourist must, be prepared for a great time!
After one of the most amazing days I have had in a very long time, it was time to head home for some much needed sleep. Julio & I are still talking about all the adventures we had in Mexico and Day 5 tops the list with facing our fears and fun with friends. All of these activities are available for you in the area and can be easily coordinated during your very own #HelloExperience.
All week long, Julio & I were sharing our travel adventures with you. Make sure to follow Julio on Twitter & Instagram and click “follow” on @DoTheDaniel for both! For insights from international media who also came to see the beauty of Riviera Maya & Catalonia Hotels & Resorts, follow the #HelloExperience hashtag on all social media networks.
Looking back I love that the one-stop-shop experience of HELLO helps to take the complicated out of online travel websites. Their affordable pricing and included perks that go above and beyond other websites make them my go-to site for future travel with Julio and the DoTheDaniel.com family!
“HELLO offer its members unique services and prices in the market, gives access to an online platform with special discount rates in over 80,000 hotels, car rentals, helicopters, airplanes , yachts, theme parks and cruise companies to travel around the world”
So how do you sign up to have this experience for yourself? It’s pretty simple!
Click here to see the benefits of joining HELLO & make sure to join today. You’ll see all week long via our experiences what you yourself can enjoy via the services they offer to their customers.
Remember to follow Julio & his FASHIONIGHTS.com experiences!
To get inspired from your own travel adventures, follow @BookingHello on Twitter & @Booking_Hello on Instagram today. For behind the scenes from the entire Catalonia Hotels & Resorts family of destinations follow @CataloniaHotels on Twitter & @CataloniaHotels_Caribbean on Instagram. Make sure to use the #HelloExperience hashtag to join in on the social media conversation with us all!
For more behind the scenes of this and other amazing brands we are working with around the world, follow along with the #DoTheDaniel Instagram account. We’d love to have you be a part of our exciting day to day!
Photos: Booking Hello, Catalonia Hotels & Resorts,Aquaworld Cancun, Coco Bongo, Daniel Desforges & Julio Reyes
Bon Voyage!