CELEBRATE THE END OF AN ERA
AND THE BIRTH OF A NEW AGE IN CANCUN

Cancun, Mexico (September 7, 2012) – Dozens of special events and activities are taking place from now until December 21 that invite visitors to explore Cancun’s culture and heritage while celebrating the destination’s rebirth in the year 2012, which closes out the traditional Mayan calendar and welcomes a new era.

For centuries, the world has speculated on the year 2012, which was calculated by the ancient Mayans and announces the end of an era and the beginning of a new age. While individuals throughout the world draw their own conclusions about what will happen on December 21, 2012, Cancun has embraced this important day, welcoming thousands of visitors from all over the world to celebrate a “new beginning.”

Cancun invites locals and guests to think and behave differently by exploring the evolution of humanity, and redefining our experiences in the land of the Mayans. Guests visiting Cancun will share in the destination’s renewal, offering more than just sun and beaches, but also culture, gastronomy, adventure and self-renewal.

Xcaret, Cancun’s eco-archeological park, offers several themed events for families to explore Mayan culture in a fun, interactive way:

From October 30 to November 2, Xcaret invites visitors to learn about Mayan history and its diverse characteristics across regions through the Day of the Dead. Visitors will get to learn and personally experience traditions and cultures. According to the tradition, the holiday honors the souls of the dearly departed who roam the earth to enjoy the pleasures they had during their lives.

The special nightly show called Xcaret Mexico Espectacular will commemorate the Mayan culture between December 1 and 21 in the Tlachco area of the park.

Macaws were very significant in the Mayan culture as they represent the sun, and on December 21 and 22, visitors will watch the freeing of 104 macaws, which will fill the sky with a red glow as the majestic birds fly away.

From December 1 – 21, Xcaret invites guests to take a mystical journey and ponder what the rebirth of the calendar will mean while in harmony with nature through guided tours on the River of Paradise and jungle trails.

The restaurant The Island will offer Xcaret guests the opportunity to celebrate together the rebirth of the Mayan calendar on the night of December 21 at a gala dinner that will include dancing, a traditional meal, and a special tribute.

Witness an artistic presentation that defines the meaning of the end of the calendar through native dance and ritual called Mayan Dances

The Maya had four cosmic directions represented by four different colored trees. The sacred trees were believed to be a way to communicate directly with the Gods. From December 1 to 22, guests are invited to re-enact this tradition by sending their messages to the Gods using the sacred trees.

Xel-ha, an ecological park that is the largest natural aquarium in the world with a large lagoon that juts into the Caribbean Sea, is also hosting events to celebrate the destination’s renewal:

· Monthly yoga and meditation sessions by the ocean offer guests harmony and peace with the most breathtaking backdrop. Dates include: May 26, June 23, July 21, August 25, September 22, October 20, November 24, December 17 and 22.

· On December 20 and 22, the park will host candlelight ceremonies in the evening for guests to celebrate the coming of the new era among a sea of floating candles.

· The park will host a nightly dinner party from December 17 to 22, where guests can observe and learn about the sky from local astronomers as they explain Mayan astronomical predictions.

Below are more events and unique activities visitors can find throughout the destination, including at some of the resorts, which are designed to honor the rebirth of the destination while highlighting all that Cancun has to offer visitors:

Locals and tourists are invited to bring recycled bottlers filled with handwritten well-wishes for the Pyramid of Positive Thoughts, a modern day pyramid under construction by artist Xavier de Maria y Campos to pay tribute to the Mayans’ legacy and precision regarding the energy of their calendar. By placing these thoughts on paper, the artist hopes that the cosmic energy will be encrypted in the sacred geometry of the pyramid, thus enabling these thoughts to become reality. For those who cannot visit Cancun this year, positive thoughts can be submitted using the official Facebook page: Pyramid of Positive Thinking 2012 or Piramide del Pensamiento Positivo Homenaje a la Cultura Maya.

Most hotels are offering sea-side meditation or yoga classes for self-renewal.

The Ceiba trees are sacred to the Mayans and it is believed that the Gods sit atop the trees and listen to our wishes and desires. Guests can easily find one of these majestic trees and experience a truly spiritual moment.

Visitors can be part of a mystical journey to the Mayan underworld as they travel between stalactites and stalagmite dripstones, emerging as new beings.

Cancun encourages visitors to take a swim in the crystal clear waters of the many sinkholes in the region, which Mayans considered to have calming and purifying properties.

During the summer, visitors can help conserve the turtle species by releasing them in a symbol of their commitment and respect for the balance of nature.

Visitors should explore the regenerative therapies of massages and temazcal treatments offered throughout the destination, which combine the ancient wisdom of pre-Columbian cultures.

By rappelling through the air while dropping seeds in the forest of Quintana Roo, guests can leave their mark on the area and on the earth.

Cancun is a multicultural destination where people from all over the world go to bask in the sun on powdery-sand beaches, relax at world-class hotels, swim in the turquoise ocean water, enjoy one of the world’s most important gastronomic destinations, visit ancient Mayan temples and experience unparalleled adventure activities.

This is the perfect time for visitors to travel to Cancun to recharge their energies under the Caribbean sun and embrace a civilization that studies show dates back to 2600 BC while marveling at the ancient Mayan ruins or challenging oneself to experience something new like swim with a whale shark or dive into a cenote.

Just as Times Square in New York City is the most exciting place to ring in a new year, Cancun is the only place people will want to be to celebrate the beginning of a new era.

The Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau invites visitors to the CVB’s web page to stay informed of news and events, as well as hotels, spas, and restaurants throughout Cancun that will present new and exciting products and festivities to honor the Mayans.

About Cancun

Cancun is located in the northern part of the southeastern Mexican state of Quintana Roo. It is Mexico’s number one tourist destination and is known all over the world for its spectacular beaches, unique beauty and breathtaking turquoise waters

Cancun’s shoreline recently underwent a $71 Million Dollar makeover, that featured 1.3 billion gallons of sand to renovating the Hotel Zone’s seashore. The most popular tourism destination in Mexico and Latin America has also added to its sun, beach, and nightlife, by creating a unique five-day route that will offer visitors a chance to experience adventure and interaction with nature. Cancun and the Treasures of the Caribbean invite travelers to discover the vast natural, cultural and gastronomical cultures of Puerto Morelos, and the four islands of the Mexican Caribbean: Holbox, Isla Mujeres, Contoy and Cozumel. Cancun is a multifaceted destination that combines nature, historical Mayan Culture, glamour, luxury and world class tourism with the seduction for adventure, the passion for paradisiacal nature and the enchantment of gastronomical magic.

For more information, visit the Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau website at: www.cancun.travel. Follow us on Twitter @CancunCVB, “LIKE” us on Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/cancuncvb browse through our videos on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/user/cancuntravel and share your pictures of Cancun on our Flickr site at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22572360@N07/.