Mother Nature is a wonderful thing and when respected she gives you more gifts than you can image.

Casa de las Olas experiences this every day. Through our respect for our surroundings, respect for what we have and not wanting to leave our mark on the one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, providing tulum beach accommodations, Tulum beach vacations and being the instrument for great vacation stories, balancing the footprint with the stories is a tall order.

Our mission is to leave this property as we found it. Our challenge is to find the resources to maintain this mission. Dah, look around and you will find the answers. So years ago we looked around and found the beach spider lily growing naturally on beach dunes, beach properties and undeveloped Tulum land. Research confirmed our thoughts. This beautiful lily from the Amarilus family (latin name – Hymenocallis littoralis) is a natural beach protector that live happily in the sun, surf and sand.

What is it? Beach Spider Lily – Hymenocallis Littoralis

The beach spider lily is a bulb plant that is indigenous to Mexico, specifically the Southern Mexican Caribbean in the State of Quintana Roo and parts of Central America. It grows on the beach, blooms in the summer until early fall and like mangroves protects the beach from erosion.

Where will you find it?

Other than on the Casa de las Olas property, the Beach spider lily will be found along the beach, on deserted beach lots in the area, in tropical beach gardens, and in the Sian Kaan. The leaves are easy to identify and when in bloom, you can not miss it. The spider lily has a white center with thin petals growing from the center of the flower, mimicking the look of a spider or more closely, a daddy long-legs.

Role in sustainability

Helps with potential beach erosion, adds to the oxygen production, needs little water, looks beautiful and is easy to care for. The bulbs can be separated very easily after the flowering season and planted in the sand to ensure further protection of the beach.

Do you know of any plants that help to sustain the beach? Let us know which is favorite and we will see if it is one that resides in our villa garden. If not, and it can withstand the conditions in Tulum, you may just find that it pops up in our garden on your next visit.

The Castillo at the Tulum Ruins is the tallest and largest temple on the Tulum ruins site. The Castillo of the Tulum Ruins is  photographed the most, is the center of the action and is the focus of most books and articles when reading guide books and explanations of this important archeological site in the Mayan Riviera. One little building to the north, though smaller and could be thought to be less important, is just the opposite. The Temple of the Wind, has the best view, is one of the more spiritually significant buildings and in most photos does not go unnoticed.

The Temple of the Wind at the Tulum Ruins

Where – When standing in front of and looking at EL Castillo and the ocean, the Temple of the Wind is the small building to the left. It is separate from all the other buildings but its separateness is what highlights its importance. Notice that the door to the Temple of the Wind is facing north and the back wall of the temple faces the ocean. The four points, north, south, east and west were of significant importance to the Mayans, so the placement of this door is not by accident or for convenience.

What – The Temple of the Wind was a temple where the God of the Wind was worshiped. Wind plays a primary role in the Mayan culture. The Popol Vuh, a book of Mayan legends, states that the creation of earth was due to the wind. Oddly, it also states that the destruction of earth will also be due to wind. Sacrifices to the Mayan God of the Wind were done in this temple to ensure that wind did not destroy earth.

Why – Not only did the Temple of the Wind serve as a place to worship the wind, it also served as a place that registered the actions and force of the wind. The Temple of the Wind had a hollow stick that made a sound when hurricane winds were forming. This served as a signal to the Mayan community that the winds were starting to form hurricanes well in advance of any actual threats.

Best view of Tulum on the Temple of the Wind

Back in the days when you could climb the Temple of the Wind, visitors were privy to the best view in the area. Thankfully, to preserve the Temple of the Wind and the Castillo, climbing of the ruins in not allowed. When we sat on the Temple of the Wind over 10 years ago, we sat and we sat and we sat. It was the most peaceful and beautiful place that surrounded you with a feeling of calm. Can’t explain it, it just was.

Want to learn more about the Tulum Ruins and the Mayan Culture? Need a break and could just hang out on the beaches of Tulum while taking in the local sites and sounds on one of the best beaches in Tulum? Find out more and how you can take a break in Tulum from the tiring life of work and responsibility.

Sustainable development is our responsibility at Casa de las Olas through our building practices, tour recommendations and daily decisions. Sustainable Tourism and eco-vacations is a partnership between us and our guests. We do our very best to make use of the resources we have on our property and encourage our guests to prepare in partnership with us, a sustainable vacation that protects the environment on our property, in the ocean and in the Riviera Maya.

Help us to continue our commitment to sustainable tourism

Before you arrive, think about bringing the following items with you so that you can help us maintain the paradise we live in. These items are not required, they are appreciated. When you go out to do your vacation shopping and prepare for your trip to Tulum and your stay at Casa de las Olas, think about these options that will decrease your carbon footprint and impact on the environment.

1. Eco Suntan lotion. This is not only good for the environment but better for your skin.

2. Eco Mosquito spray. Smells great, easy to find, and is a mixture of essential oils. Citronella is only one of the ingredients and most eco mosquito sprays smell better than any perfume you can find.

3. Eco laundry soap. Our suppliers use eco laundry soap, but if you like to wash out your bathing suit, or shirts while on vacation, bring a eco laundry soap with you. If you forget to bring it, Chedraui, our large grocery store has one eco laundry soap (but no guarantee it is in stock)

4. Bring only the essential electronic equipment. Imagine a vacation with a computer, smartphone or ipad…what a dream. Can you do it? Test yourself. We have solar electricity for all computers, smartphones and tablets but what if you did not bring one, or turned them all off when you arrived? Consider having an unplugged vacation….really.

5. Steel water container. When you are in the hot sun all day long, water is your best friend. Instead of buying a whole bunch of plastic bottles, consider buying a steel water container and just keep filling it up. we supply the water and encourage our guests to bring non plastic containers.

When you prepare in advance and source out these sustainable products in advance, your vacation seems to get a bit better, and know that you are in partnership with Casa de las Olas when living a life that understands and integrates sustainable living practices. None of us are perfect, but every little bit counts. This could be your little bit while you are on vacation.

Sustainable development was the only option 40 years ago in Tulum

Now this is cool, not just temperature cool, but sustainably cool. SO over 40 years ago when the original owner of Casa de las Olas build the villa, a cooling system was built into the villa to ensure that people staying in the villa would stay cool during the summer months. The owner who was obviously versed in simple designs for beach houses knew what he was doing.

Passive geothermal cooling systems work off of cool air systems, hence passive added to the term. Throughout the building, there are PVC pipes going from the front of the villa that take in cool air from the ocean. This air then goes through the pipes, which are all embedded in the concrete foundation and walls and lead up to the roof where the air then filters out the top. This action of filtering cool air through the concrete ensures that the concrete does not heat up, ensuring a cooler environment where people are sleeping, sitting and reading.

Passive Geothermal cooling systems are just the beginning of sustainable building at this Tulum beach villa

Add palm trees for shade, lots of growth around the palm trees and the villa and you have a cool place to hang out when you are tired (can this be) of the beach, the sand and the sun. Air conditioning is not required due to the foresight of the builder. Understanding the elements of sustainable arquitecural practices back then, before people were concerned about environmentally building practices on a large scale, the owner wanted to make sure that his beach villa, holiday home, would be cool in the summer months.

The grey water systems feed the plants, the on site well brings in fresh water, the curvatures of the roof promote more air flow and solar panels generate all the electricity that anyone needs. Batta Boom, batta bang, sustainability lives as it should on a beach front villa in the Mayan Riviera.

It is impressive. Passive geothermal cooling as you will find out or have already found out, works on the beach in Tulum. While everyone else is running to the beach in the middle of a summer night, sleeping under the stars due to air flow being trapped, guests at Casa de las Olas are sleeping soundly, enjoying a cool summer evening, listening to the waves and wind. Life as it should be.

Looking for a sustainable hotel or villa for your next vacation? Casa de las Olas is a vacation villa and holiday home that takes sustainability seriously. Seriously enough to educate all of their staff in sustainability practices, educate their guests before they arrive the benefits of eco-suntan lotion, natural mosquito spray and the art of sustainable vacations. Check it out and see if this private villa on the beaches of Tulum in the Mayan Riviera is a vacation that works for you!

Every international spiritual community has their own astrology signs that correspond to their calendars. The Mayans are not exception and have 19 zodiac signs. Unlike the western Astrology calendar that has 12 signs that overlap into each calendar month, the Mayan astrological signs can have 2 signs that overlap in one month. For the month of February, there are two Mayan astrological signs, Yax and Zac. Before you come to the Mayan Riviera, check your Mayan astrological sign and see what this indigenous community has outlined for your birthday!

Some interesting facts about Mayan Astrology

The Mayans start the day at 3 am, not 12 am. Check your time of birth as you could actually fall on the day before or after your recorded Western date of birth.

The symbolism and explanations used for each Mayan astrological sign is based on their culture. Agriculture, weather, four directions; south, east, west and north, animals and emotions.

Mayan astrology is based on the Haab Mayan calendar, one of three of the Mayan calendars. The three Mayan calendars are the Long Count, the Tzolkin (divine calendar), and the Haab (civil calendar). Of these, only the Haab has a direct relationship to the length of the year.

Yax January 22 to February 10

YAX – Green Storm, Venus, Two Flower – Those born in the Yax sign have an affinity for those born in the Yaxk’in sign. Venus is your ruling planet and by nature you are gentle and loving. Tap into your peace-keeping abilities to bring harmony to those around you. It is a great gift to be a peace-keeper in these times and you can do much good in the world. You are an enlightened person with a very clear mind. The stresses of daily life do not bother you in the same way they do others. You are a practical person. Your cardinal direction is the South.

Sac February 11 to March 2

Sac- White Storm, Frog, Frog Constellation, Three Flower – Those born in the Sac sign have an affinity for the day hours. Early morning is a power time for you. Make sure to allow time for reflection in the early hours of the day because great wisdom can come to you during this time. Your cardinal direction is the north. The frog is a power animal for you. The meaning of frog is their adaptability and comfort with change. Frogs can make a quick and effortless jump from one stage of consciousness to the next. Embrace the changes that come into your life. You are a superior problem solver. You hate unfinished business, regardless of what it is.Your power is in change.

Why are Mayan Astrology Signs Important?

On your next vacation you can use this information to learn more about the Mayan culture, the Mayan people and enhance your vacation with this information. The symbolism used in these astrology signs that correspond with your birthday will add value to your tour through the Tulum ruins, the Coba ruins and the artwork seen all over the town of Tulum. AN insight into your Mayan astrological sign will bring insight into this unique culture that has quietly but effectively transformed international understandings of astronomy, building practices, rituals and parts of Mexico that you may be familiar with or will soon be familiar with.

During this transformational time in 2012, paying attention to what the Mayans have said for centuries may bring to clarity to the imbalance we are facing globally, financially, culturally, politically and spiritually. All the answers to 2012 are not here, but this may open up some interesting questions, reveal some answers, bring clarity or acceptance to the year we call 2012.

Want to see more of the Mayan culture in 2012 in their stomping ground. Curious about the Mayan culture and what 2012 may bring for you? Or are you just in need of a vacation and the Tulum beach is the sounding better and better every day. Check availability and rates at Casa de las Olas, a beach villa in Tulum so you can answer any of the above questions. The Mayan Riviera is the vacation destination of 2012 so why miss out?

What oh what is a cenote? When investigating vacations in the Mayan Riviera everyone seems to be talking about cenotes? What are they and why does everyone keep talking about them?

First lets get the pronunciation correct. Cenote is pronounced Say-note-tay. Many times we here people calling a cenote a kan-note, so if you have said this and the person on the receiving end has looked at you blankly, it was just the pronunciation of the word.

Spanish is a phonetic language so each letter is pronounced when you sound out word. Unlike English, there are no silent letters, few hidden, complicated rules and once you understand the Spanish alphabet and the sounds that each letter and vowel makes, pronunciation is easy. Okay, digression, back to the history and formation of cenotes.

Cenotes are an intrinsic part of Tulum and life in Tulum

Millions of years ago, the Yucatan Peninsula was a coral reef, alive and well in the Mexican Caribbean Ocean. Eventually this reef became exposed to air, and the coral formations turned into limestone. Now if you have ever seen a coral reef, it is porous, has caverns, natural holes and caves, it is a holey wall, not a solid flat wall. Once exposed to the elements, the coral turns to limestone but maintains the pourous and ‘holey’ nature of a coral reef.

Fast forward a few millions years. As the coral reef is exposed, vegetation and rain water surround the rocks and caverns. The limestone acts as a filtration system for the water, the roots of trees and plants make their way through the porous rock to get to the pooling fresh water and cenotes, fresh water pools formed in the area. That was the super fast version of the formation of the cenotes. This natural phenomena is only found in the Yucatan, covering the area of Quintana Roo, Yucatan and in some parts of Campeche. No where else in the world will you find these fresh water holes, caverns and caves. And they differ immensely on land from what is found under the ground. Read on.

Above ground at a cenote

Above ground around a cenote you will find vegetation, trees, animals and birds. In many cases, you would not even know that there was water directly underneath you. A cenote is when the underground cave system is exposed to land, the naked eye and you see the fresh water. In a direct translation, a cenote is a cavern, semi-cave that has a source of light, a cave that is exposed to the land.

Below ground at a cenote

This is when you find out what all the chatting and talking is about. The beauty of a cenote is not really on land, the beauty is really when you see the cavern at water level, when you gear up with a mask and snorkel and see what exists in the water. It is a whole different world that is unlike any other place on the planet. The fresh water makes your view through your mask clear as a bell, the water magnifies the stalagmites and stalagtites (natural rock formations) making the view even more majestic than it is.

Sustainable Tourism – Take care of the cenotes when you visit

When visiting, swimming, snorkeling and diving in a cenote, remember the following when entering these delicate underwater environments.

1. Use a biodegradable sunscreen.

2. Do not touch the formations. The cenotes are like a museum so please do not touch the formations that you see.

3. Respect the surrounding vegetation and cenote animals. These diverse eco-systems depend on each other for survival. Do not feed any birds or animals that you see. If there are fresh water fish do not throw food to them.

4. Watch where you are stepping and where you are finning. Your feet or fins can do damage to the cenotes. Enter the cenote either through the provided stairs or by ending with a giant stride.

5. Use spit to clear your mask, not the commercial mask cleaners that can be purchased at water sports stores. Your spit is the best way to clean your mask and ensure that it does not fog up! Really, true, ask the pros. Their spit is what un-fogs their snorkeling or dive mask.

Pictures are worth a thousand words. Have a look at these photos of a cenote above ground and then below ground! Check out the cenote at Casa de las Olas as we are one of the few to have a cenote across the street from our beach villa in Tulum!

Photo courtesy of Cenote Dive Center

Photo courtesy of Cenote Dive Center

Photo courtesy of Cenote Dive Center

Photo courtesy of Cenote Dive Center

Photo courtesy of Cenote Dive Center

Photo courtesy of Cenote Dive Center

Photo courtesy of Cenote Dive Center

Charlie’s restaurant is a Mexican restaurant in the town of Tulum that is a great bridge between a taqueria and contemporary Mexican cuisine. If you want to try authentic Mexican food but are not quite ready for a road side taqueria, Charlie’s is the place to go!

There really is a Charlie at Charlie’s Restaurant

Charlie’s, named after the owner of this Tulum institution, still works at the restaurant and oversees the daily operations, something he has done for over 15 years. Originally from Mexico City, Charlie came to Tulum over 20 years ago looking for a spirited life on the beaches of Tulum. His love for Mexico, food, Mexican culture and a great time is what Charlie’s Restaurant is built on.

Not only will you get great, authentic mexican food, but don’t be surprised if entertainment, unannounced starts in the back of the restaurant. Amongst the tables in the back garden, is a stage, that is frequented by dancers, singers and local musicians from the Casa de Cultura in Tulum. Very seldom is this announced or planned. On a whim, Charlie will ask someone to come and play, entertain or surprise the diners of the evening, all in the spirit of great food and great fun.

Charlie’s decor is fun and inspiring putting a new meaning to recycled

Before recycling was a mandate, Charlie used recycled materials to build the unique decor of his restaurant. You will see hundreds of recycled bottles used to create the walls, the lamps, the ambiance of Charlie’s. It is a wonderful site, and an inspiration to all. His creativity flows through into his menu, and he does not miss a beat. Authentic is the only term that comes to mind when thinking of Charlie’s menu. It is not pretty food, or cosmopolitan, or contemporary. Each plate is served as if you were invited into his home, great flavors, homemade and ingredients carefully chosen.

Let us know if you have been to Charlie’s restaurant in Tulum, and what your experience was. This is a great bridge and introduction to local Mexican cuisine in Tulum. And if you see Charlie, say hi, he has great stories and is a super fun guy!

Ruta de las Iglesias is a fun one day trip around the Tulum area that takes you through Mayan pueblos big and small in the Quintana Roo and Yucatan area. This route of the churches could last for days if you were willing to travel through Quintana Roo, Campeche and the Yucatan. For our purposes we did a portion of this route that circles around Tulum.

Church Chasers in Quintana Roo and the Yucatan

If you are fascinated with churches, the architecture, the history of the Spanish conversion or attempted religious conversion of Mayans, the Caste war during 1830 to the late 1800′s in Mexico or Mayan pueblos in 2012, this is a self guided, self driving tour that was created by the state tourism boards. What can we say about this? Fascinating. Would we recommend this as a day trip, ABSOLUTELY! Is it easy. Man it could not be easier.