Tag Archives: maya riviera
Upcoming Events in Cancun and the Riviera Maya
Sacred Mayan journey 2009 crossing in Xcaret
Be a part of the… Sacred Mayan journey 2009… be a part of the history
May 21,22 and 23, 2009
The Journey is done in the traditional Mayan canoe, leaving from Polé, modern-day Xcaret, for the island of Cozumel, and returning to Playa del Carmen, the ancient port city of Xaman Há.
Twenty-five canoes are hand made using an ancient Mayan model and 300 oarsmen from the communities of Xcaret, Cozumel and Playa del Carmen prepare with intense training.
The Crossing is a total of 50 kilometers (30 miles) roundtrip, which is some 5 to 6 hours of free rowing for each trip over the 420-meter deep Cozumel Channel. The south to north current running at 2 to 4 knots requires great physical strength and endurance to navigate, making for a risky crossing for the oarsmen.
The Sacred Journey project was born with the determination to, year by year, recover one of the most significant traditions of the ancient Mayan people of this region: The ritual crossing of the Channel to Cozumel to worship the goddess Ix Chel. Starting in 2007, this historical re-enactment seeks to revive interest in the Mayan civilization and strengthen the cultural ties of the area’s inhabitants.
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Cancun will host the 2009 “Juego de Estrellas” ( All Stars Game) of the Mexican Baseball League
Cancun, June 5th-7th, 2009 More info: tigresqr.com
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Eleventh Elizabeth Norman Sutton Charity Golf Tournament
June 8, 9 & 10 at Playa Mujeres Golf Club
The Eleventh Elizabeth Norman Sutton Charity Golf Tournament organized by Royal Resorts is scheduled to take place in Cancún, June 8 – 10 at the prestigious Playa Mujeres Golf Club. This annual event brings together amateur lady golfers from all over the Yucatán Peninsula and Mexico, the United States, Canada and Asia.
The tournament honors the memory of Elizabeth Sutton, wife of Richard D. Sutton, one of the Royal Resorts developers. A Cancún resident for 20 years, Mrs. Sutton was a keen golfer and philanthropist always looking for ways to improve the lives of the most vulnerable members of society. After her death in 1998, her family and friends decided to found the Elizabeth Norman Sutton Charity Golf Tournament to support worthy causes in the Cancún area and to date more than $300,000 US has been donated to local charities and institutions. This year, $40,000 US will be donated through this event.
Donations have been given to organizations such as Instituto Quintanarroense de la Mujer, the Home for Abandoned Children, MESE Street Children Protection program and the Center for Victims of Domestic Violence. The principal beneficiaries in recent years have been the Cancún General Hospital and Grupo Desafio de Quintana Roo A.C. Cancer Awareness Program. The General Hospital has been able to purchase muchâ€needed equipment for the pediatrics, trauma and physiotherapy departments. Grupo Desafio has provided more than 4,100 free mammograms and 150 ultrasounds for women unable to afford these medical expenses.
This is the eleventh anniversary of this popular sporting event, which is now the second most important tournament of its kind in Mexico, and organizers expect to surpass last year’s record turnout. Local women, the majority of whom are from Cancún and Mérida, pit their skills against fellow Mexican players from the states of Queretaro, Tabasco, San Luis Potosà and Veracruz among others, the United States and international opponents such as Sophia Chung, the 2008 winner from South Korea.
The tournament is played according to the British Stableford Rules. Apart from the overall winner and the winners of Flight A, B, C and D categories, prizes are also awarded for the straightest drive, the longest drive and the closest to the pin registered for each day’s play.
Playa Mujeres Golf Club is an 18â€hole par 72 7,218 yard course located 20 minutes to the north of Cancún. Designed by Greg Norman, it is skillfully designed to test players. The setting is spectacular, with sweeping views of the mangroves and jungle, the Caribbean and the Chacmochuch Lagoon. Four holes overlook the beaches and several others have testing water hazards and bunkers. Colorful wildlife such as herons, ibis and even crocodiles are regularly spotted.
Playa Mujeres is also the first Mexican golf course to be endorsed by the Executive Women’s Golf Association (EWG).
Players can register for the tournament and book accommodation by calling: 1â€800 930â€5050 ext. 2504 in the US and Canada or 01â€800 712â€0544 in Mexico. Eâ€mail: golftournament@royalresorts.com Check www.suttoncharitygolf.com for tournament updates. All entries must be received by May 31, 2009.
Thinking about living in Cancun and the Riviera Maya?
Medical Insurance for Expatriates
Robert H. Page, MD and Curtis P. Page, MD are authors of the MEXICO: Health and Safety Travel Guide and the Healthy Traveler Regional Series. For more information visit medtogo.com
Needless to say, the Mayan Riviera is rapidly becoming a magnet for a growing number of offshore retirees looking for their own share of paradise. But even in paradise, planning for possible major medical expenses must be taken as seriously as it would back home.
Many expats think that moving in with their health policy from home is enough. After all, any major medical situation could be treated back there and the local system would be exclusively for “minor†issues. This logic works fine as long as a “major medical issue†actually permits traveling back to your home country for treatment. In most cases that is simply not recommendable, if not impossible.
Ok, so your health insurance policy covers international “emergency†claims and you are aware that the Mayan Riviera is finally being brought up to world standards regarding hospital services. But, what does “international coverage†really mean? Sometimes it is a reimbursement cover (e.g. you pay first and then the insurance company pays you) capped up to a relatively small amount. Sometimes, it is a cover for “network†hospitals. In these cases, out-of-network facilities usually imply important limitations in cover. Are the local hospitals members of your policy’s network? What are your policy’s policies regarding international events? Are air ambulance services included in your plan?
If answering these questions does not leave you a good impression of your once-beloved health policy, it does not mean that it is a bad one. It just indicates that it has been designed for your country’s local market. And yes, Mexico is cheaper than home…but receiving emergency medical attention at one of Mexico’s top hospitals will not be easy on the pocket.
The ideal solution does not entail that you purchase a brand new policy better adapted for Mexico: proper health care does not come cheap in Mexico, neither do health policies. Thus, doing so will only mean that you will be paying twice as much for health coverage.
Ideally, your current plan should be complemented with an INTERNATIONAL HEALTH POLICY that works as a “top-up†cover (after a certain amount, usually 10,000 to 20,000 USD, have been spent on your “basic†plan, which makes this option very reasonably priced). International health policies are those that offer similar services regardless of where the claim is taking place, even home! They also include air ambulance services should evacuation become medically necessary.
Obviously, for those without any cover, these policies can be purchased with lower deductibles (e.g. 250 to 5000 USD) that will make them very useful both here and at home (or anywhere your travels take you). If you are someone who visits for relatively short periods (e.g. up to 3 months), you may want to consider getting a TRAVEL INSURANCE POLICY. Good travel insurance plans must make direct payments to hospitals worldwide and not rely too much on networks (who will decide where to go in an emergency?).
Your best bet is to contact a local insurance agent. He or she should be able to assess your needs and recommend you the most appropriate alternatives according to your budget and lifestyle.
More Health & Safety Articles are available at CancunMX.com
