You won’t find cochinita pibil (roasted pork in a spice paste and served with red onion) and nopales salad (prickly pear cactus with onion, cilantro, vinegar, olive oil and spices) on Taco Bell’s menu but you may find them on the day’s menu at The Little Mexican Cooking School located just 30 minutes from Cancun. The culinary school opened in 2009 and recently topped TripAdvisor’s excursion list for the Yucatan Peninsula and is becoming the in thing to do when visiting Cancun.

In 2010, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Mexican cuisine as an cultural treasure worth preserving. Five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday, The Little Mexican Cooking School offers a full day of class that teaches authentic Mexican cooking. Each class includes information about Mexico’s history, culture and cuisine. The day starts with a continental breakfast with pastries and Mexican coffee which rolls into an in-the-kitchen educational session which is followed by a late Mexican lunch and accented with refreshing beverages.

During the day, culinary class participants learn to make between five and seven recipes and are sent home with a recipe book of the dishes taught and a fabulous souvenir apron. Class sizes are limited in size to a maximum of 12 people.

Add a little spice to your Cancun vacation by checking out The Little Mexican Cooking School. Learn traditional cooking techniques and recipes you can bring home to share with friends and family or just to re-experience your Mexican vacation. Once you book your Cancun accommodations, secure your seat at the Little Mexican Cooking school table. It’s one caliente ticket! Visit their website at www.thelittlemexicancookingschool.com.

An amazing exhibit is now on display underwater at the National Marine Park in Cancun, Mexico. The museum officially opened Nov. 27, 2010, and allows divers and snorkelers to view more than 400 sculptures in water depths between 9 and 20 feet at Cancun’s new Underwater Museum.

British artist Jason deCaires Taylor created the 400 sculptures as a contemporary and cultural view of how the Mayan people have evolved in the installation called, “The Silent Evolution.” The life-size human figures depict everyday people in everyday positions and gestures.

The first sculpture was submerged in November 2009 with the last submerged earlier in November 2010. The pieces have a 2-ton base to prevent the sculptures from moving out of place. Sculptures were placed near natural reefs and close to marine life habitats in order to create a natural ecosystem to assist corals and reefs. The sculptures are eco-friendly and have been designed to attract coral.

It took 18 months, 120 tons of cement, 400 kg of silicone, 3,800 glass fiber and more than 120 submarine work hours to create the 400 life-size figures. Other artists will be invited to display their sculptures and contribute to Cancun’s Underwater Museum.

The Underwater Museum is located in Isla Mujeres, Punta Cancun and Punta Nizuc’s surrounding waters. The project was founded by Jaime Gonzalez from the National Park, Roberto Diaz, from Cancun’s Nautical Association and Jason deCaires Taylor who is now the museum’s artistic director.

More than 750,000 visit the National Marine Park and with the addition of these sculptures, we’re pretty sure more people will be planning Cancun vacations to see this intriguing museum.

Image Source: www.underwatersculpture.com

Votes have been tallied. No, we’re not referring to the recent mid-term elections but to votes cast in Recommend Magazine’s 2010 Reader’s Choice Awards. The travel agent publication surveyed thousands of readers, most who work in the travel industry, and Mexico’s Riviera Maya came out on top for the fourth consecutive year as the “Sexiest Romance and Honeymoon Destination in Mexico.”

“We couldn’t be more proud and honored to receive this recognition for the fourth consecutive year,” said Dario Flota, general director of the Riviera Maya Destination Marketing Office. “We believe our destination is truly one of the most intimate and romantic destinations in the world and when that sentiment is reflected by Recommend’s well-traveled readers, it means the world to us.”

What exactly makes Riviera Maya so sexy? Geography, for one. The destination stretches 81 miles along the eastern coast of Mexico in the state of Quintana Roo. It’s tucked between the Caribbean Sea and lush jungles.

The variety of activities makes Riviera Maya a perfect honeymoon destination including cuddling on tranquil beaches, exploring underground rivers, and indulging in eco-adventures to really get to know each other including snorkeling, kayaking and bird watching. Amazing archeological sites allow honeymooners the opportunity to experience Mayan culture, and that’s pretty sexy. Importantly, Riviera Maya offers a variety of accommodations fitting everyone’s desires and budgets.

Whether planning a honeymoon, anniversary or a “just because” romantic getaway, consider staying in Riviera Maya. After all, Recommend readers have named it the “Sexiest Romance & Honeymoon Destination in Mexico” for four years now. How could they be wrong?

Image Source: Riviera Maya Destination Marketing Office