Dolphin Swimming

“Por la Libre 2010″ a Huge Success

// June 2nd, 2010 // View Comments // Cancun / Isla Mujeres, Locations, News

Por la Libre- The Race Begins

Saturday May 29th, 6:30 am and it is already hot in Cancun.  There is excitement and tension in the air as more than 500 anxious athletes await the start of the 10 km open water race from Cancun to Isla Mujeres.  This is the fifth annual “Por la Libre” and it’s a gorgeous day for it, sunshine, no wind, no waves, just crystal clear turquoise waters and blue skies.  The swimmers hit the water at Punta Cancun and the race begins, with a flotilla of boats, kayaks and jet skis following along to ensure the safety of the athletes and to cheer them on to the finish at Garrafon Park on Isla Mujeres.

Por la Libre 2010 Finish Line at Garrafon Park

As the swimmers make their crossing, supporters head to Garrafon and the organizational teams take their places at the finish line.  The recovery area is set up with refreshments, the massage tables are in place and the offical time keepers are ready to receive the finishers.  The radios start to buzz as the first swimmer is seen approaching the island, the excitement mounts and the cameras start clicking!  First out of the water with an incredible time of 1 hour and 33 minutes is 17 year old Fernando Betanzos, a proud moment for this incredible young athlete.  Finishing first overall for the women’s category is Alejandra Merizalde with a great time of 1 hour and 43 minutes, another young swimmer from the 15-19 year old group.

Fernando Betanzos first to the finish line

It was an exciting day to be at Garrafon, the swimmers were greeted with rounds of applause as they exited the water and crossed the mat.  Racers and their fans enjoyed the shady hammock garden, lounged in the pool and sated their appetites with icy cold drinks and a tasty lunch.  Many took advantage of the calm waters to snorkel the reef and go for a spin in the kayaks on this beautiful day.

Televisa Verde presenting mangrove plants

“Por la Libre 2010″ is pleased to announce that for the first time the race was done to benefit a great cause.  Televisa Verde donated 6000 mangrove plants in the names of the first 200 registered swimmers, with the goal of revitalizing the Nichupte Lagoon which suffered serious damage during Hurricane Wilma in 2005.  Dolphin Discovery and Garrafon Park are proud to be sponsors and we would like to congratulate all the athletes and give thanks to Televisa Verde for their contribution to the ecology of Cancun. Thanks and special congratulations to Rafa and Carmen from Starc Producciones for organizing this great event, let’s do it again soon!

Por la Libre Official Results

More Por la Libre 2010 photos on Flickr

“Por la Libre”- 10 km Open Water Race from Cancun to Isla Mujeres

// April 26th, 2010 // View Comments // Cancun / Isla Mujeres, Locations, News

Dolphin Discovery is proud to be a sponsor of the 5th annual “Por la Libre” event, a 10 km open water swim race across the Bahia de Mujeres (Bay of Women).  Saturday May 29th, 2010, athletes from Mexico and around the world will make the crossing from Punta Cancun to Garrafon Park on Isla Mujeres, swimming through turquoise waters and over the reefs, demonstrating incredible feats of strength and endurance.

This year the event is for for the benefit of a fantastic cause!  Dolphin Discovery and co-sponsor Televisa Verde will be contributing thousands of trees and mangroves to be planted in the Nichupte Lagoon and the Sian Kaan biosphere.   For each participant, 24 plants will be donated for each kilometer they swim, with the goal of reaching 60 000 new plants overall!  As an environmentally conscious company, Dolphin Discovery is thrilled to not only participate directly in the “re-greening” but to assist in the continuuing education of the public about our precious natural resources.

Athletes will start the race at Punta Cancun, swimming ten kilometers in open water to the finish line at Garrafon Park on Isla Mujeres.  Families, friends and observers will be waiting and cheering them on from shore.  If you would like to join the observers and offer support to the participants while enjoying a great day at Garrafon, purchase Por la Libre spectator tickets!.  The  price for the day is 390 pesos for adults and 250 pesos for kids 6-11, children 5 and under are free.  Your ticket includes ferry transportation from Cancun to Isla Mujeres, entrance to Garrafon Park, breakfast, lunch buffet and open bar, the use of lockers, lounge chairs, hammocks, snorkeling gear, kayaks, the infinity pool, all the incredible installations available in the park are yours to enjoy while the atheletes make their crossing!  Participating swimmers will be able to relax and enjoy Garrafon after the race, a great reward for their tremendous efforts.

Dolphin Discovery wishes all the participants good luck, have a safe race, we’ll see you at the finish line!  We invited everyone to  join the Cancun-Isla Mujeres “Por la Libre” 10kms Aguas Abiertas Facebook group, a great community of participants and supporters and of course, the Garrafon Park Facebook page which celebrates all things Isla Mujeres!

Carnival Isla Mujeres 2010

// February 5th, 2010 // View Comments // Cancun / Isla Mujeres, Locations, News

The island of Isla Mujeres may be small, but the fiesta is going to be huge for Carnival!  Cities around the world hold celebrations in the days leading up to Lent to eat, drink and be merry before the days of abstinence begin.  With parades, outrageous costumes and masks, the sharing of beads and of course enormous amounts of food and drink, Carnival is certainly a spectacle to behold.  Carnival, Carnaval, Mardi Gras, no matter what you call it, it’s a great party!

Celebrations of Carnival on Isla Mujeres begin February 12, 2010 with music, dancing and the coronation of the King and Queen of Carnival.  The party starts at 10 pm in the main town square, put on your sparkles, bring your beads and dance all night with the live bands!  The first parade of Carnival 2010 starts at 4:00 pm on Saturday February 13th on the malecon (boardwalk), bring your cameras, this will be a fantastic spectacle.  Saturday night brings the children’s dance competition at 8:00 pm and the second night of dancing and live Cuban music at 10:00 pm.  The second parade of the festival starts on Sunday February 14th at 4:00 pm and you won’t want to miss the contests for best costumes, 8:00 for children, 10:00 pm for adults and the night continues with more live music and dancing.   We know you’ll still have energy to keep the fiesta rolling, join the throngs at Playa Posada del Mar on Monday February 15th at 1:00 for a huge beach party with more live music before the third parade rolls on at 4:00 pm.  Monday night at 10:00, head back to the town square for an evening of regional entertainment and comedy.  The final day of Carnival on Isla Mujeres 2010 is Tuesday, February 16th, offering activities throughout the day and ending with the traditional burning of Juan Carnaval, signifying the end of the party and the start of the Lenten season.

If you are going to be on the island for Carnival, we invite you to have a little party with our Isla Mujeres dolphins!  They’ll shake a tail fin and give you a kiss (though they prefer fishy treats to beads).   Cancun visitors can get a taste of Carnival on the “Caribbean Carnaval Cruise“, a night of exciting Carnival-style entertainment, food and drink.  After whooping it up all night long, you might want a day to relax and there is no better place than Garrafon.  Pull up  a hammock, float in the infinity pool or go for a snorkel, regenerate your body and soul in this tranquil tropical paradise.

Viva la fiesta, viva Isla Mujeres, viva Carnival!