Fort of San Felipe in Bacalar

Built in 1733 under the order of Don Antonio de Figueroa y Silva, field marshal of Yucatan, the Fort of San Felipe, in Chetumal, was constructed to protect the population from the recurrent attacks by pirates from the Caribbean and to protect the region from harassment from the traders in Campeche wood. During the second half of the 19th century, in the so-called War of the Castes, the fortress once again became the scene of battles for the ownership of the fortress. After the town was sacked by pirates in 17th century, the fortress was completed in 1730, and therefore can be visited today. The fort been restored and sits looking over Lake Bacalar in the center of town. The fort is built in the form of a four-pointed star and has a moat of 4m of depth. San Felipe has a museum, which contains plaques both in English and Spanish, and there is parking nearby.

As regards the fort, it is surrounded by a wall. From the ramparts, visitors can look across Laguna Bacalar toward the "pirate's channel" which allowed boats to enter the lake from the Caribbean and the Bay of Chetumal. The Fort of San Felipe is almost 280 years old and provides visitors a rich view into the history of Bacalar and the nearby region, from early pre-Hispanic times through the Caste Wars. Situated on the eastern edge of the city's town square, this beautiful stone Fort is surrounded by a deep moat.

The structure includes not only canons and ramparts, but also a wonderful museum with historic artifacts, murals depicting the city’s history, and interactive computer exhibits on the Caste Wars and pirates and their lives. The manifold displays here include quite a few very well-maintained objects from Bacalar's past like models of boats from the 17th century, muskets, cannon balls, canons, sabers, ancient navigational instruments, and a pirate's skeleton, discovered during excavations at the Fort. The Fort is open six days a week from 9:00 am de 7:00 pm, and closed on Mondays. Admission for foreigners costs $60 pesos. In the case of Mexican citizens, adults pay $25 pesos, children, students and teachers $13 pesos, and on Sunday, Residents of Quintana Roo have free admission. Visiting this historical Costa Maya museum is an experience worth living.

The Museum's director, Joseas Montalvo Yama, is a knowledgeable expert and accomplished artist who knows many details about the Fort's history. A Temporary Exhibits Hall is open from 9:00 am until 7:00 pm. The director offers a diversity of art classes as well as workshops for kids and young adults at the fort. You just need to call him to learn what courses are being offered and when the classes are held.

San Felipe fortress is located in the center of town. Built in the 16th century to protect the city against pirates, the fort has been well preserved and inside it contains an awesome museum in which to admire the fort’s rich history. Don’t miss the opportunity of visiting this amazing fortress on your next visit to the paradise of Bacalar!

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Lake Bacalar

Close to Chetumal, the state capital of Quintana Roo and the youngest of all the capitals in Mexico, Bacalar is a beautiful city which offers a unique contact with nature. Surrounded by protected natural areas, marvelous landscapes, and unusual architecture, this city is offers an atmosphere of calm and lavish hospitality. Here you can plan an excursion deep into the jungle, where you can enjoy the intense color of the flora and admire the fauna in its entire splendor. There are also archaeological sites, concealed in thick forests, of outstanding beauty and historical importance, as well as amazing natural lagoons and lakes, like the Lake Bacalar.

Lake Bacalar, also known as the Lagoon of the Seven Colors for the different tones that its water takes, offers an unrivaled landscape. The salt water and fresh water currents mix and together with the capricious sun, generate multiple variations of blue to intense green. The white sandy bottom turns the crystalline water pale turquoise in shallow areas, morphing to vivid turquoise and through a spectrum to deep indigo in the deeper center. Colors shift with the passing of the day, making a mesmerizing backdrop. To add even more attraction to this picture, the striking lagoon is flanked by mangroves.

Deemed as Mexico's second-largest lake, Bacalar is in fact a lagoon, with a series of waterways leading ultimately to the ocean. Fed not by surface overflow but by underground cenotes, it is almost 50km long. Visitors will glimpse the turquoise water long before they reach the town of Bacalar, about two-thirds of the way down, where they must go for swimming or kayaking. This peaceful place is ideal for water sports, mainly diving, since there are many sub-aquatic caves to be explored. Diving around the paradise of Lake Bacalar guarantees an unforgettable experience for those interested in this amazing activity. The extraordinary topography, plant and aquatic life offer a stimulating dive for the beginner as well as the more advanced diver.

This lagoon is, without a doubt, a retirement paradise. With a length of some 50 miles from North to South it seems like a wide crystal-clear river flowing through the jungle. Its majestic waters are enhanced by the deep green tone of the mangroves and reed beds. Besides, this is one of the most interesting places for investing in Mexico. Water front lots and condos are still affordable. Safe and serene, this magnificent lagoon is now becoming the preferred retirement option for American and Canadian senior citizens. Furthermore, young investors are now buying property foreseeing a fast future growth in the whole region.

Located in Chetumal, this is the second largest sweet water lake in Mexico and still the best kept secret. Although its spectacular scenery is still little known by international tourism, this will soon change since developers, retired or semiretired citizens, tourism and local authorities are now realizing the enormous potential of this extraordinarily beautiful area. The scenery guarantees a peaceful stay and therefore some relaxing and memorable vacations. Visit Lake Bacalar in Chetumal and found it out yourself!

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Museum of the Mayan Culture

The state capital of Quintana Roo and the youngest of all the capitals in Mexico, Chetumal is a picturesque city which offers a unique contact with nature. Surrounded by protected natural areas, marvelous landscapes, and unusual architecture, this city offers an atmosphere of calm and lavish hospitality. Here you can plan an excursion deep into the jungle, where you can enjoy the intense color of the flora and admire the fauna in its entire splendor. There are also archaeological sites, concealed in thick forests, of outstanding beauty and historical importance.

This city, said to be the foundation of the mixing of the Maya and Spanish cultures, would be rather empty without a center completely dedicated to the Mayan culture. This is a culture that stands out among other pre-Hispanic cultures for its prodigious scientific advances and the enigmatic disappearance of this people from all the principal Maya cities. With the help of modern science, the museum scientists provide a remarkable collection of handicrafts, mock-ups, studies and reproductions of articles from the era. Everything here is planned to help us better understand the wisdom of the Maya. This museum, deemed as the largest and most comprehensive museum in the state, is completely dedicated to the Mayan culture. It features an important collection of authentic works and reproductions of classical works, and tells the development of Mayan culture, its roots, and the several aspects of their daily life.

For those visitors who know much about the amazing Mayan Culture, the Museum of Mayan Culture is the perfect starting point. This is a modern museum that would fit well in any city, as it features interactive exhibits and models of most Yucatan sites decorated around a jungle theme. It is important not to get confused and think this museum is the Chetumal City museum, just a few blocks away on the same street. While the City Museum is interesting, it is rather small and focuses only on Chetumal.

The museum features many models of Mayan Ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula. If you have the chance of visiting these ruins, it is especially interesting. The museum is entirely dedicated to the complex and amazing world of the Mayan civilization. Through the exhibits you can understand Maya social classes, politics, and customs; Maya architecture; their use of plants for medicinal and domestic purposes; and the Maya calendar. One of the most remarkable displays is the three-story Sacred Ceiba Tree. The Maya used this symbol to comprehend as well as to explain the relationship between the cosmos and Earth. The first floor represents the roots of the tree where the Maya underworld, Xibalba, reigns. The middle floor is the tree trunk, known as Earth, or Middle World, home to humans and all their trappings. The top floor is the leaves and branches and the 13 heavens of the cosmic Otherworld.

The Museum of Mayan Culture, which opens Tuesday to Thursdays from 9-7, Fridays and Saturdays from 9-8, and Sundays from 9-2, is a great opportunity to learn more about this fantastic and unique culture and civilization. Don’t miss the chance to visit it on your next trip to Chetumal!

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Quintana Roonian Institute of Culture

With an exciting and rich past inherited from the early Mayans, Chetumal is a great place to spend an unforgettable vacation in the beautiful paradise of Quintana Roo, Mexico. This is the perfect destination to indulge yourself and enjoy the stunning views, the warm water, and the cool breeze that flows through the streets, and especially the friendliness of its people, who will make your feel their liveliness and happiness through their various celebrations and traditions, making your trip to Chetumal really pleasant. Among the main attractions on Chetumal, you can visit Kohunlich, Bacalar town, bay and beach, Dzibanche, Chinchorro Bank, the Fort of San Felipe, the Blue Cenote, and the great variety of museums. In this category we find the great Quintana Roonian Institute of Culture, an organization aimed at keeping and promoting Mexican culture.

Located in Yaxchilan Avenue, in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, the Quintana Roonian Institute of Culture is an institute created with the aim of organizing, investigating, and coordinating the different cultural events in the State of Quintana Roo. The institute's purposes are, among others, to investigate, register, defend, conserve, market, and promote culture, to spread knowledge of cultural demonstrations and of National Cultural Heritage of Mexico, to contribute to national development, and to enlist the participation of the community and private sector, and to encourage international integration. It is the organization main function to formulate and execute the policies and strategies of the State in regards to cultural development, cultural conservation, and the diffusion and investigation of affairs related to the Cultural Heritage of Mexico.

The Institute was established to stimulate, preserve and share the values and regional and national traditions expressed in the institute, as well as to promote citizenship participation and guarantee their free access to the different artistic disciplines. This institute has the goal of executing, evaluating, and following cultural measures for the State, coordinating activities that encompass the involvement of different institutions with similar aims. Moreover, this institution takes action in the establishment of programs and financing to cultural activities, giving priority to the creation of financial funds for State’s artists, whose works contribute to the achievement of the Institute’s goals. Besides, it checks the correct functioning of the State arts schools, and proposes the establishment of new ones to foster training and improvement of Quintana Roonian artists. The Quintana Roonian Institute of Culture equity includes all movable and immovable property, resources and subsidies given by the federal or state government, gifts from the social and private sector, etc. The Institute offers many interesting artistic and cultural activities and programs.

Close to the Quintana Roonian Institute of Culture, and in order to safeguard the history of Chetumal for future generations to come, Chetumal’s city museum was founded. Apart from being one of the oldest edifices of Chetumal, this museum gives examples of striking architecture as well as classy interior decor. There are six rooms filled with photographs, furniture, weapons and many other objects related to the rich history of these brave people.

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Chetumal's beaches

Surrounded by protected natural areas, marvelous landscapes, and unusual architecture, Chetumal offers an atmosphere of calm and lavish hospitality. The state capital of Quintana Roo and the youngest of all the capitals in Mexico, this is a picturesque city which offers a unique contact with nature.  Here you can plan an excursion deep into the jungle, where you can enjoy the intense color of the flora and admire the fauna in its entire splendor, or stroll along its magnificent beaches. There are also archaeological sites, concealed in thick forests, of outstanding beauty and historical importance.

Although Chetumal is much more than a tourist destination, any description of this paradise city would be incomplete without a brief summary of the marvelous stretches of cool, golden like sand. Strolling along the coast in Chetumal is what anyone would desire, and it’s all at no cost – all beaches are open to the public. The majority of the hotels overlooking the beaches offer lounge chairs laid out under palapas, which are a kind of thatched umbrellas, to shade visitors from the significant effects of the strong Caribbean sun.

In many beaches you can find the low seawater and the even bottoms make these beaches the perfect options for the whole family. Children will find the ideal place for playing and swimming, while parents will have the chance of enjoying an interesting variety of restaurants, bars and water activities. Visitors can choose to relax on some amazing beaches. With regular shuttles to popular destinations, high-wave action, beach volley, and a wide range of bars and restaurants, these three beaches have everything you need to spend a wonderful day. Some of these magnificent beaches offer higher waves and breezier conditions than their northern counterparts.

If you are a sailboarding or parasailing enthusiast, you will also find a good beach where the higher wind speeds offer the best conditions to practice these sports. You will find daring tube rides, sand volleyball, and the chance of also practicing parasailing. There are many magnificent beaches that, apart from soft golden sand and surf, offer a breathtaking view. In the case that you love reef diving and snorkeling, the city itself does not offer diving but you can go to Mahahual to dive and snorkel, with access to Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Mahahual is best known for its diving with the world famous Chinchorro Reefs off the coast. The beaches here are totally secluded and mostly natural. 

The beaches at Chetumal are all wonderful and amazing, you just have to decide on which one will be your next stop! Chetumal is like a canvas on which a master painter has captured the color of the rain forest, the lightness of the beaches, visited only by the local fishermen, the brightness of the colors of the wildlife, and the diverse architecture of the wooden houses with their red, slanted, roofs in the style of 'Old Chetumal'. Enjoy Chetumal in the striking, turquoise and jade hues of the bay, the pleasant, soft breeze that blows up and down the streets, the sweet songs of the migratory birds, and the amazing golden beaches. 

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Private – Puerto Vallarta Downtown (per vehicle)

One of the most attractive destinations in all Mexico, Puerto Vallarta is the ideal place to forget the routine, relax and enjoy the golden beaches and amazing beauties of the colorful landscape. Puerto Vallarta a great variety beaches with the most fantastic natural scenery you will ever see. If you are to take some exciting but also relaxing holidays in Vallarta, you may need to rent a car to move from one place to another with total freedom, or need a transfer service from the airport to the hotel, to the hotel to a museum, etc. Puerto Vallarta has many rental companies that offer a lot of possibilities to rent a car or a transfer service and enjoy wonderful vacations on the beautiful Mexican Pacific coast.

Apart from its lovely beaches, Puerto Vallarta has a downtown area worth visiting. Situated in the center of the Bay of Banderas, one of the main natural bays in the world, the downtown area is the location of the original fishing village that turned into a world-renowned tourist destination. This area of the town has a particular magnetism and character of its own. In the town square you will find the Palacio Municipal (City Hall) and the Cathedral Guadalupe, which is Puerto Vallarta's most famous landmark. A mile-long boardwalk known as the "Malecon" runs along the downtown oceanfront street, Paseo Diaz Ordas, a street where you will find shops, restaurants and night clubs overlooking the turquoise sea. Downtown streets are crowded with shops where you can buy anything a tourist could want: decorative plates, silver and other jewelry, t-shirts, bags, magnets, postcards, and ornaments. You will find many art galleries, specialty stores, traditional marketplaces and dining establishments.

North American Travel is a great possibility when it comes to visiting downtown Puerto Vallarta. The company features low prices, great service, and a modern and first-rate fleet. The company’s car rental stations in Puerto Vallarta are situated everywhere, close at hand, whether in city centers, airports or railway stations. No matter if you are seeking a rental car, a lease, replacement car or van, North American Travel will be glad to serve you at its car rental stations in Puerto Vallarta. The company offers brand new rental cars, shuttles to many locations, all inclusive prices, 24 hour roadside assistance, and 24/7 service in most major airports. The company offers its private transfer service to tourists interested in visiting Puerto Vallarta downtown area. This service costs US$100 one way, or US$175 round-trip per vehicle.

Whichever your option is, in North American Travel you will find the best service and personalized attention at your disposal to enjoy a wonderful stay at Puerto Vallarta. North American Travel is a company that offers car rental benefits to businesses, individuals and families with fast, welcoming, inexpensive service with a personal touch. Without a doubt, renting a car will provide convenience of driving where you want and when you want, and in North American Travel you will find a wide range of options to choose from.

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Puerto Vallarta Transportation

One of the most popular tourist destinations in all Mexico, Puerto Vallarta is the perfect destination to forget the routine, relax and enjoy the golden beaches and amazing beauties of the colorful landscape. Puerto Vallarta offers a wide range of different beaches with the most fantastic natural scenery you will ever see. If you are to take some exciting but also relaxing holidays in Vallarta, you may need to rent a car to move from one place to another with total freedom. Alamo, U Save and Europcar are car rental companies that offer many possibilities to rent a car and enjoy wonderful vacations on the beautiful Mexican Pacific coast.

In the case of Alamo Rent a Car, this is a quality-oriented, well-known company that serves the rental requirements of airport travelers. The company offers low rental fees and an inconvenient-free client experience at the most important travel destinations. The company offers a large and modern fleet of vehicles, with cars from the best and most recognized car brands. Among the vehicle types, the company features a wide variety of alternatives depending on the car characteristics. In the SUV category, for example, you can select a GM Tracker 6.2 or similar, or a Nissan X-Trail 2.5 or similar. Both models fit five passengers, three pieces of luggage, power steering, air bags, air conditioning, ABS brakes, automatic transmission, 2 WD, and AM/FM stereo radio and cd. These are the perfect option if you are travelling with a large family or group of friends.

With more than 200 car and truck rental locations around the world, U-Save is a company that offers car rental benefits to businesses, individuals and families with fast, welcoming, inexpensive service with a personal touch. Without a doubt, renting a car will provide convenience of driving where you want and when you want, and in U-Save you will find a wide range of options to choose from. One of these alternatives is the Ford Edge, an exclusive and roomy vehicle in which you can drive in style and comfort with your family or friends, while enjoying a high-performance driving experience. Whichever your option is, in U-Save you will find the best service and personalized attention at your disposal to enjoy a wonderful stay at Puerto Vallarta.

Europcar is another great possibility when it comes to renting a car in Puerto Vallarta. The company features low prices, great service, and a modern and first-rate fleet. The company’s car rental stations in Puerto Vallarta are situated everywhere, close at hand, whether in city centers, airports or railway stations. No matter if you are seeking a rental car, a lease, replacement car or van, Europcar will be glad to serve you at its car rental stations in Puerto Vallarta. The company offers brand new rental cars, all inclusive prices, 24 hour roadside assistance, and 24/7 service in most major airports.

You can rent the model of car you wish at the Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport. Renting a car will give you the chance of visiting whichever place you want, as free mobility is one of the reasons you will be prefer to rent a car and enjoy some wonderful holidays!

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