Monday, 18/01/2010

Playa del Carmen’s beaches suffered significantly during the devastating Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Now they are being finally restored. Hurricane Wilma came with little warning, grew from a tropical storm to a category 5 hurricane, and then furiously pounded the shore for a couple of days and nights. When the hurricane retreated, the beach in the Riviera Maya region was completely devastated. The immediate restoration brought a relief, but it wasn’t enough.

The beaches were still much narrower than they used to be and kept eroding. For a few years projects to restore the beautiful beaches of Playa del Carmen have been on hold, so the current restoration, backed the local government, is bringing immense joy to all local businesses and hotels, especially after a very bad year economically. The restoration will start on Jan. 22 and is expected to be finished by the beginning of February 2010.

To cover 2.6 miles of Playa del Carmen’s beach, about 2.6 billion cubic feet of sand will be required. The beach-saving project will also result in the installation of four linked docks to be used by small boats, including fishing boats. Four wooden docks will not only help preserve the beach and area, but will also give tourists who use boats the highest level of safety.

The docks will be installed by the main streets of Playa del Carmen -- 12, 10, 8 and possibly 6. Local hotels have been intensively involved in beach restoration by participating in rebuilding since the hurricane had struck. Condo Hotels Playa del Carmen, for example, five luxury condo hotels located right by the beach, has been using its staff to daily clean the public beach in front of the properties.

To celebrate the great news of the upcoming beach restoration that will finally stop the beach erosion, Condo Hotels Playa del Carmen created a special offer for those who book four nights or more, starting from Jan. 3, 2010. The Snorkel and Boat package includes a roundtrip boat excursion to the private Beach Club and a 45-minute stop for snorkeling at one of the coral reefs in the region. Free snorkeling gear includes fins, mask and floating jackets; access to a private pool, lounge chairs and a restaurant at the Beach Club; and a welcome drink upon arrival.

The package is valid for two people occupying a one-bedroom condo or four people in a two-bedroom and up to six people in a three-bedroom condo. The duration of the package is from Jan. 3 to March 3, 2010. Rates at Condo Hotels Playa del Carmen start at $230 per night per one-bedroom condo. Located by the world’s second-largest barrier reef (Grand Barrier Reef in Australia is the world’s biggest), the Riviera Maya region boasts a spectacular underwater life with multiple colorful fish and sea creatures.