october-2009

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MEDIOIMAGES/PHOTODISC
(XCARET), STOCKFOOD/ROBERTSON (SOPA)
QUINTESSENTIAL
ONE-STOP PARK
Once a Mayan port city, Xcaret (www.xcaret.com)—pronounced ishcar-et—is
the only indoor aquarium in North America where you can
touch, pet, feed and swim with sharks. You can easily spend an entire
day at this 250-acre ecological park, which also offers the chance to
swim with dolphins; snorkel or scuba in the Caribbean; ride a raft
through the jungle and explore underground rivers. There’s also a
butterfly pavilion, bat cave, jaguar island, manatee lagoon, coral reef
aquarium… the list goes on.
Get the Dish HERE’S WHAT TO ORDER WHEN YOU WANT A TASTE OF YUCATECAN CUISINE.
PESCADO TIKIN
XIC: Grouper
fish rubbed with
achiote, then
wrapped in banana
leaves and baked
or barbecued.
PANUCHOS: Corn
tortillas split
and filled with
black bean paste
and fried, then
topped with
shredded chicken
lettuce, tomato and
onions.
FRIJOL CON PUERCO:
Stew made from
black beans and
pork, served with
rice and garnishes
like chopped
radish, cilantro
and onion.
COCHINITA PIBIL:
Pork marinated
in achiote,
orange juice,
garlic, cumin
and salt, then
wrapped in
banana leaves
and cooked.
ON THE TOWN: CANCUN
PARADISE
ISLANDS
If scuba diving or
snorkeling are on your
to-do list, plan a day trip
to one of these slices of
coral reef heaven.
Cozumel
Underwater enthusiasts
became aware
of this island’s rich
coral reef thanks to
Jacques Cousteau.
Take a glass-bottom
boat ride or arrange a
snorkeling tour to see
it for yourself. Ferries
depart from Playa del
Carmen; trips take 30
minutes.
Isla Mujeres
(Island of Women)
After you take in the
underwater scenery at
the Garrafón Natural
Reef Park, visit the
sea turtle rehab and
breeding facility, which
opened in response
to the animal’s recent
endangerment. Ferries
depart from Cancun;
trips take 15 minutes.
SOPA DE LIMA: Chicken broth,
with shredded chicken, lime
and strips of fried tortilla.
OCTOBER 2009 GO MAGAZINE
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