Cancun News May 2012 Gentle Giants Whale Shark Season Begins in the Caribbean Waters Whale Shark season officially begins on May 15! From May to September, visitors in Cancun can swim with these amazing creatures that reach up to 15 meters in length. The sheer size of these beautiful creatures and the impressive size of their jaws – which can reach up 1.5 meters- makes swimming next to them a thrilling and unforgettable experience that can be done safely by following the procedures put in place to protect both the visitors and this kind specifies of shark which feed solely on plankton. Attracted by the abundance of plankton, it is believed that the gathering of Whale Sharks in the waters off Cancun and Holbox is the world's largest -based on the number of specimens found, as well as the variety of sizes and gender distribution. As an important tourism activity in Quintana Roo, the whale sharks are an example of Cancun’s world-class eco-tourism, with tourists coming especially to visit these sharks in a sustainable way. This tourism becomes an important contribution to the local economy and influences the families of fishermen in Cancun, Holbox, Isla Mujeres and Chiquilá, both socially and economically. Don’t miss your opportunity this summer to come and experience the thrill of swimming alongside this massive, docile shark! This year, the best place to hear Jazz music is in the beautiful Mexican Caribbean at the Oasis Jazz U Music Festival, from May 17 th – 26 th , where some of the biggest names in the world of Jazz, including living legend Chick Corea and one of the hottest young artists today, Trombone Shorty. The Oasis Jazz U Festival will present performances by the most prestigious and world-renowned jazz artists who consistently top the Billboard charts. The program will encompass concerts by six principal jazz artists in addition to other performances throughout the Festival period. For a true jazz aficionado, there is simply no better place on earth to experience great jazz than while staying at one of the most entertaing and picturesque resorts in the Mexican Caribbean. The Sacred Mayan Journey will be held for the sixth consecutive year from the renowned Xcaret eco-tourism park to the island of Cozumel beginning May 17 th with the participation of about 150 canoeists wearing pre-Hispanic outfits, traditional garments. Recreating the pilgrimage of the ancient Mayas to worship the Goddess lx Chel, the race starts at Xcaret Park where the canoeists begin the approximate 17 mile journey to Cozumel. Depending on weather conditions, the journey can take anywhere between four to seven hours each way. The event requires that all participants have a high fitness level as the boats are replicas of those used in pre-Hispanic times and do not offer any modern comforts. Various weather conditions such as strong sunrays, rain and ocean currents create major challenges for the canoeist. Participants have trained for several months to make the 28 km journey across the sea to recreate and continue this ancient Mayan tradition. For more information, please visit www.travesiasagradamaya.com With its diverse offerings, including pristine beaches, ancient culture, award-winning gastronomy and endless options for active travelers, Cancun celebrates an approximate 85% hotel occupancy rate this past spring break! The Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau proudly reports one of the most successful and unique Spring Break seasons ever, marked by record-breaking hotel occupancy rates and a strong presence of celebrities, as well as the culmination of two of the most anticipated events the destination has ever hosted. Spanish artist Enrique Iglesias kicked off Spring Break in Cancun with an exclusive performance at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort, as part of his “Euphoria” tour, on March 10, 2012. Cancun received an influx of celebrities throughout Spring Break suchas Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Hudson and Gwyneth Paltrow, among others, who chose to visit the beautiful Mexican Caribbean destination during their spring breaks! Students, foodies, concert goers, and celebrities… Cancun truly was everyone’s choice Spring Break destinations this year! The Joy of Jazz Oasis Hotels & Resorts Hosts the JazzU Festival Taking the Sacred Journey Sustainable Tourism Local Farm Growing Organic Produce for Hotels and Restaurants Spring Break 2012 Cancun was the place to be this Spring Sunset World Resorts & Vacation Experiences officially announced that the hotel company will be opening an organic farm that will encourage and support sustainable tourism and local commerce: Ethos. “Ethos is an example of our values and great commitment to the community, environment and tourism, making us the first hotel chain in southeastern Mexico to produce their own organic materials and become more sustainable every day,” said Orlando Arroyo Marroquin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sunset World. The project drives the local economy by providing 60 jobs to the Mayan community in its first stage. The project also ensures the resorts will have the freshest produce including papaya, lime, tomato, cucumber, watermelon, melon and squash, among other fruits and vegetables. This farm, which will soon cover 1,000 acres, produced 69,000 exotic ornamental plants of 10 different species in its 30-acre pilot project and is expected to eventually produce 200,000 plants. These items are used to decorate the lobbies, restaurants and meeting rooms of the hotels. The 6th Annual Sacred Mayan Journey in Honor of the Goddess lx Chel Ethos, an innovative $3 million agricultural project, is a farm in the Mayan jungle where produce, plants and honey will be organically grown and produced. These items will be used to supply their six hotels, which include nearly 1,000 hotel rooms in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. The first-ever Cancun-Riviera Maya Wine & Food Festival also took place over Spring Break, drawing in more than 5,000 visitors from March 15-18. Guests from all over the world embarked on a gastronomic journey of culinary delights prepared by 24 chefs from countries across the American continent, all in honor of world-renowned Chef Ferran Adria. The schedule for the Oasis Jazz U Festival is as follows: * May 17th - Trombone Shorty www.tromboneshorty.com * May 18th - Dianne Reeves www.diannereeves.com * May 19th - Chick Corea & Gary Burton www.chickcorea.com * May 24th - Maceo Parker www.maceoparker.com * May 25th - Brad Mehldau www.bradmehldau.com * May 26th - Diego “El Cigala” www.elcigala.com For additional information on the Oasis Jazz U Festival, visit www.oasishotels.com