Deathly beauty, joyful darkness, vibrantly colored spirits. The time of year when your clients can see delicate skulls painted on every face as you wander through the jungles of Mexico—it’s the season of Day of the Dead. On the first days of November, people across Mexico set up colorful altars where the souls of the dead enjoy their favorite food and drinks. Cemeteries throughout the country brighten with candlelight and marigold petals. At this time of year, Mexico honors death with its own blend of color and dark humor.
This year, when Day of the Dead returned to Playa del Carmen on Nov. 1 and 2, 2015, Sandos Caracol Eco Resort hosted a bright yet macabre celebration. The resort honored the deadly holiday as it filled up with marigold flowers, the gleam of a thousand candles, the scent of copal smoke and the glint of shiny sugar skulls. Guests roamed a Mexican cemetery and saw traditional altars ranging from traditional Mayan palm leaf altars to elaborate setups designed to impress. Groups of children wandered the resort for trick-or-treating after participating in Day of the Dead crafts at the Kids Club. Women with faces painted as the Catrina (a female skeleton with colorful clothing, an icon of this holiday) strolled along the resort paths. Live bands played classic Mexican tunes for passersby. Food stands lined the resort’s central square serving all kinds of Mexican cuisine: handmade tortillas, aguas frescas, tacos, traditional salsas… an authentic cultural treat for the taste buds. A once-a-year chance to experience the magic of Day of the Dead.
The Day of the Dead Celebration was the last of Sandos Caracol’s annual events for 2015. Every year, the hotel hosts four events as part of the Xcalacoco Experience, a program that also includes daily eco activities and Mayan culture for all guests. Sandos Caracol Eco Resort already has the dates lined up for next year’s events: Spring Equinox: March 20, 2016; Summer Solstice: June 20, 2016; Autumn Equinox: Sept. 22, 2016; and Day of the Dead: Nov. 1 and 2, 2016.
To see the beauty of Mayan and Mexican culture in the jungles of Playa del Carmen, your clients should visit Mexico on these dates for a truly wonderful vacation experience like none other in Mexico. For more information, visit xcalacocoexperience.com or sandos.com.
