Five must-see places in Cancun Mexico - Cancun and Riviera Maya By Jules Siegel

Parque Kabah in downtown Cancun is a taste of what the local flora and fauna looked like before development took its toll on the city. Paths wind through acres offering views of many different birds, butterflies and a representative Maya dwelling. A museum offers photographic displays, occasional exhibitions and programs. This building was transported here from the hotel zone. It was the first dwelling on the island. A shady play area for children is nearby. Open daily from six a.m. until five p.m. (Afternoon closings vary according to season.) Hotel Zone bus #27 goes to a side entrance. Easily reachable also by taxi.

Author; Robert H. Page, MD and Curtis P. Page, MD are authors of the MEXICO: Health and Safety Travel Guide and the Healthy Traveler Regional Series. For more information visit medtogo.com

 
Malaria is caused by a parasitic infection transmitted to humans by a bite from the Anopheles mosquito, which unlike the Aedes aegypti mosquito, prefers to hunt at night. Malaria is common in the following states in Mexico: Campeche, Chiapas, Guerrero, Michoacan, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa, and Tabasco. In addition, risk exists in the northern mountainous areas of Jalisco State. Fortunately, there is very little risk in major resort areas and along the United States-Mexico border. The vast majority of malaria cases in Mexico are due to infection by the P. vivax parasite. A bite rarely results in life-threatening Malaria. Malaria season is most common during or shortly after the rainy season.

Symptoms: Those ill with malaria experience symptoms when parasites, which have infected the liver, are intermittently released into the blood. This explains the on again/off again nature of symptoms, which include fevers (as high as 104° F), chills, headache, muscle aches and weakness, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. A patient may experience a drenching sweat as the fever breaks. Symptoms often repeat every 48–72 hours or sooner. With rare exception, the pre-symptom, incubation period for malaria is typically seven days after being bitten. So, if you develop high fevers and you weren’t in a high-risk area for at least the previous week, you likely don’t have malaria.

Tips for Car Hire in Mexico 

With its extensive serene coastline, superb climate, distinguished culinary heritage, art and architectural history, pyramids and modern cities it is no wonder that Mexico ranks at the 7^th most visited destination for foreign visitors in the world. With so much to see and do in this wondrous land, simply staying at your resort or complex would be criminal, hence the reason why car hire is so prevalent among holidaymakers. With innumerable car hire companies and various policies available, this short guide talks you through what you need to know before hiring a car.

Authors: Robert H. Page, MD and Curtis P. Page, MD are authors of the MEXICO: Health and Safety Travel Guide and the Healthy Traveler Regional Series. For more information visit medtogo.com

With 26 named tropical storms, of which three developed into Category-5 hurricanes (Katrina, Rita, and Wilma), the 2005 hurricane season was the most active in the Atlantic’s recorded history. The hurricanes causing human casualties and economic devastation in Mexico in this period were Emily (battering Cozumel with 135 mph winds and flooding), Stan (causing torrential rains and mudslides in southern Chiapas and much of Central America) and Wilma (shredding Cancún and Cozumel’s beaches for 53 hours). This last was a Category-5 hurricane, declared by officials the most destructive in Mexican history. It will leave its mark on the region for years to come.