Grand Velas Riviera Maya PRESSROOM

New Fashion & Wildlife Photo Safari Experiences Offered At Grand Velas Riviera Maya

Riviera Maya, Mexico (July 25, 2017)

Grand Velas Riviera Maya now offers guests the opportunity to learn photography all while experiencing the best of the destination with three new photo safari packages. In partnership with Bushman Photography, the workshops feature a mix of cultural, wildlife, landscape, portrait and architectural photography. In the Zen Wild Safari, guests will explore highlights of the resort and its jungle, such as ceiba and chaka trees, cenote, and mangroves. A model accompanies through the same locations during the Zen Fashion Safari to offer guests the experience of how professional photographers do lifestyle photo-shoots. A third option takes guests off property and through the rich biodiversity and ecosystems of the Yucatan peninsula. Photography locations include the Mayan ruins of Coba, age-old caverns within a cenote, native Mayan village, and Punta Lagoon, home to a sanctuary for spider monkeys. Inclusive of a professional photographer guide, all of the workshops are designed for both experienced and beginner photographers, with a focus on putting one in the right place at the perfect moment to capture pinnacle photographs. A Canon DSLR Reflex camera with 2 lenses is supplied for each guest to use during the workshop while a memory card captures the shots to take home.

In case guests don't want to miss out on the resort's gourmet cuisine when outside of the resort, Grand Velas Riviera Maya packs a basket of carefully selected gourmet foods. The to-go picnic includes a bottle of red or white wine, four varieties of salads with house-made dressings, smoked salmon, French cheeses and charcuterie, fresh baked artisanal baguettes, and a selection of fresh roasted turkey breast, roast beef and duck terrine made from a special recipe of Michel Mustiere, Executive Chef and MaÎtre Cuisinier de France. And, of course, there are all of the condiments and nibbles to start off, including olives, capers, pickles and grapes. The best way to finish off a picnic? Sweets! Dessert options to vary based on daily chef creations.

Rates for the photo safari workshop packages start at $601 per person per night based on double occupancy. The gourmet picnic to go costs $100. A three night minimum applies to all packages. All-inclusive rates at Grand Velas Riviera Maya always include luxury suite accommodations, à la carte gourmet meals at a variety of specialty restaurants, premium branded beverages, 24-hour in-suite service, taxes, gratuity and more. For more reservations or more information on Grand Velas Riviera Maya, please email [email protected], call 1-888-407-4869, or visit http://rivieramaya.grandvelas.com/.

About Grand Velas Riviera Maya

Set on 206 acres of pristine jungle and mangroves and with the finest white sand beach in the Riviera Maya, the AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya is an ultra-luxury all-inclusive resort. Guests can choose among three separate ambiances in this Leading Hotel of the World, including adults only oceanfront, family friendly ocean view and a Zen-like tropical setting, embraced by the flora and fauna of the Yucatan Peninsula's jungle. All 539 designer-like suites are exceptionally spacious, more than 1,100 square feet each, all with balconies, and some with private plunge pools. All feature fully stocked mini bars, plasma TVs, Wi-Fi, L'Occitane amenities, artisanal tequila, and Nespresso coffee machines. Bathrooms deserve special mention with walk in glass shower, deep soaking Jacuzzi tubs and marble interior. Eight restaurants, including five gourmet offerings, present a tour through Mexico, Europe and Asia. Cocina de Autor, at the hands of world celebrity chefs Bruno Oteiza, Mikel Alonso and Xavier Pérez Stone, holds the AAA Five Diamond Award, the first all-inclusive restaurant in the world to win this prestigious distinction. Grand Velas Spa, a Leading Spa of the World, is the region's largest spa sanctuary at more than 90,000 square feet, known for its authentic Mexican treatments, offerings from around world and signature seven-step water journey. Other features include 24-hour Personal Concierge; 24/7 in-suite service; three swimming pools; two fitness centers; water sports; innovative Kids Clubs and Teen's Club; Karaoke Bar; Koi Bar; Piano Bar, and business center. The resort offers more than 91,000 square feet of meeting space and outdoor areas for events inclusive of a 31,000-square-foot Convention Center, able to accommodate up to 2,700 guests. The resort has won numerous awards from Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, USA Today and several other magazines and major companies worldwide. This year, the resort entered TripAdvisor's Hall of Fame for obtaining the Certificate of Excellence for five consecutive years in addition to the Signature Spa being awarded "Best Luxury Resort Spa-The Americas" at the World Luxury Spa Awards 2014. Grand Velas Riviera Maya was built and is operated by Eduardo Vela Ruiz, majority owner, founder and President of Velas Resorts, with his brother Juan Vela, Vice President of Velas Resorts.