The latest news from Cozumel Island.

Hurricane Dean passed by about 130 miles (210 km) to the south of Cozumel last night, bringing rain and wind to the island but with minimal effects. Locals in Cozumel estimate that wind speeds were not much higher than 60 miles per hour (100kmh).

Hurricane Dean hits Mahahual and the Costa Maya, but leaves Playa del Carmen and Cancun with no damage.

Many US based news sources have published false information claiming that the Riviera Maya has gotten hit hard by Hurricane Dean when in fact we never lost power, cable, or internet. Hurricane Dean made landfall about 150 miles south of Playa del Carmen, and other then a bit of wind and rain Playa del Carmen was calm. The beaches are still beautiful, the Caribbean Sea is still warm and crystal blue, and the laid back attitude of the area remains the same. So if you are planning on a vacation here and have already booked you trip; do NOT despair everything remains the same!

Sunny and calm in Playa del Carmen...1:37 PM (Central Time) August 20

With the shift of Hurricane Dean projected to make landfall over 100 miles south of Playa del Carmen, near Chetumal, Cancun and Playa del Carmen are still preparing for the storm, but with a bit more of a relaxed attitude. Officials have not put any type of curfew restrictions into effect, and they may not even cut power and water. Although the area will still receive some stormy winds and rain the outlook for the Riviera Maya coast is a positive one. Check out the photos below and see that Playa del Carmen residents and visitors are still preparing, but taking a bit of time out to go and check out the beach…..

Hurricane Dean; the first Atalantic storm of the season.

Although we don't want to admit it, Huricane Dean is headig our way, and it is aniticpated to arrrive here in the Riviera Maya some time early Tuesday morning. Hurricane Dean is headed toward Jamaica as of this morning so the course of the storm could shift, and that will determine the severity of the storm here in Playa del Carmen and the outlying areas. The latest update from just mintues ago (10:00 AM Central time) is that Hurricaen Dean may acutaly hit the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, which would affect Cancun more then the communites south of Cancun. Our mottto is "hope for the best, but prepare for the worst" so we have included a list of guidelines and recommedations on how you can be prepared to ensure the safety of you, your family, and your property.

Don't forget that the annual Playa del Carmen Tequila Festival kicks off tomorrow!

The 2007 Playa del Carmen Tequila Festival and Expo will run from August 16th through August 18^th and will be held the corner of Fifth Avenue and Calle 16 Bis in downtown Playa del Carmen. Admission is free, and there will be over 500 different tequila products available for tasting, along with a celebration of Mexican culture and traditions. This year's event also will feature a special tribute to legendary Mexican singer/actor Pedro Infante. New tequila bearing his name will be released on the 50th anniversary of his death.