Celebrating the Autumn Equinox 2015
If you ever find yourself at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort on the day of a solstice or an equinox, you’ll discover a hotel filled with the magic of the Mayan world.
This past September 21, our guests got a taste of the riches of Mayan and Mexican culture as they celebrated the Autumn Equinox with us here in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. This big celebration was part of our Xcalacoco Experience, a program that lets you learn about the history, culture and natural surroundings of this region through activities and events designed for the whole family. Every year alongside our guests, we celebrate the Spring Equinox, the Summer Solstice, the Autumn Equinox and the famous Day of the Dead with a day full of games, music, delicious food and spiritual purification.
The Autumn Equinox by Day
This date represents the beginning of the harvest season, so we started the day by preparing our spirits to receive all the fruits and blessings that the autumn has in store for us this year. At sunrise, we gathered on our white sand beach to welcome the sun with a meditation session guided by Mayan dances by the Caribbean Sea; afterwards, we participated one by one in an energy cleansing ceremony done by an authentic Mayan shaman from this region.
Those who have been to Sandos Caracol know that we love to spring unexpected surprises on our guests! So throughout the day, we planned dances with beautiful Mayan costumes in different areas of the hotel. And of course, we had to host a midday fiesta on the beach with games, drinks and live music. Every day at Sandos Caracol, we offer eco tours through the mangrove and jungles of the resort, and for this Autumn Equinox we prepared a special eco tour with several surprises based on legends and myths from the Mayan culture. Our eco tours give you the chance to learn the mysteries of the Riviera Maya through our stunning natural scenery; don’t miss it on your next visit!
A stay at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort wouldn’t be complete without some beautiful Mayan handicrafts. It’s a tradition of ours to invite people from nearby Mayan villages to come sell their products here at the hotel, and they went all out for the Autumn Equinox with an authentic Mayan artisan fair. Our guests had a blast buying souvenirs like necklaces, dresses, toys, bags and much more, all with the vibrant style of the villages of the Riviera Maya.
The Autumn Equinox by Night
When the sun set on this day of celebration, a world of Mexican beauty opened up to our guests (who come from countries across the globe) so they could experience the flavor and wonder of our captivating culture. There were live outdoor musical groups playing traditional Mexican music like jarocho, banda, mariachi and more to create the perfect atmosphere for the night of the equinox. We also offered a small Mexican fair to handicrafts, face painting, snacks and Mexican games, as well as a wishing tree.
Among the evening’s celebrations, we also incorporated several surprises from the Mayan culture, like a parade of Mayan costumes, energy cleansing with the shamans, and a representation of the famous Mayan ball game.
The most popular attraction of all was, of course, the food! We set up several food stands with cuisine and drinks from different states of Mexico, serving traditional aguas frescas, huaraches, tacos and more. It’s always an honor for us to share the flavors of authentic Mexican cooking with guests from all over the globe.
In just a few more weeks, we’ll be celebrating our final Xcalacoco event of the year here at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort, and it’s the most special one of all: the Day of the Dead Celebration. Come stay with us this November 1 and 2, 2015 to discover the ancient beauty of this grand Mexican tradition. For this event, we’ll be honoring our loved ones who have passed on with two days of traditions, altars, games, cuisine and art. We hope to see you here!
To find out more about our cultural events and activities, visit us at XcalacocoExperience.com