The San Pedro Sun is delighted to announce that the preparations for this year's International Costa Maya Festival® are well underway. Naturally, readers will be delighted to know that the Reina de la Costa Maya delegates from all eight countries have already confirmed their attendance.
The pageant is scheduled to take place on Thursday August 6th, the first night of the festival. But what about the remaining two nights? Well, fear not, the committee has been working feverishly behind the scenes to ensure they bring you music, entertainment and culture once again!
After the pageant kicks off the festival with beauty and color, the Friday night festivities will include a lot of culture and some amazing musical performances. Mexican Dance Troupe Alma Caribe�a will grace us with their presence, and joining them will be the Belize Dance Company, an international DJ (to be announced at a later date) and of course, the mighty GILHARRY 7 Band!!
Saturday's entertainment is being kept under wraps for now, but be assured that there will be entertainment galore courtesy of Grupo Crash from El Salvador, an international DJ and international band for the die-hard Costa Maya fans!
Of course, events leading up to the grand weekend of August 6th - 8th include the highly anticipated Noche Sanpedrana, hosted at Ramon's Village Resort, as well as tons of activities with the beauties once they arrive on La Isla Bonita on July 29th. As is customary, Fido's Courtyard will be hosting the beauties on the first night of their arrival, so the public is invited to come on down and mingle with the lovely girls before they begin their rounds of preparations for the pageant.
Click here for the rest of the story and more pictures in the San Pedro Sun!
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Costa Maya Festival 2015 Readies for Grand Pageant Night The eight countries that compete for the coveted crown of Miss Costa Maya (Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant) have confirmed their participation for this year's pageant. Three countries have already sent pictures and information of their chosen beauty ambassador. This week we introduce Miss Costa Rica Costa Maya delegate: Corlina On Porras, Costa Rica. Miss Costa Rica will join candidates from Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Panama on Pageant Night that has been set for Thursday, August 6, 2015, kicking off Costa Maya Festival with a bang. The pageant will have a Carnaval theme with planned entertainment by the Belize Dance Company and Alma Caribena dance group from Mexico, among others.
Grupo Ladron confirmed for 2015 International Costa Maya Festival®
It is official! The International Costa Maya Festival® will be hosting Grupo Ladron as its international artist on Saturday, August 8th. Be sure to get ready to storm the festival grounds at the Honorable Louis "Cuz" Sylvestre Sporting Arena in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye for a night of romantic ballads.
Group Ladron is a Mexican musical "Grupero" romantic group that formed in Nuevo Leon, Monterrey in 1991. It is currently composed of Sergio Villarreal (vocals), Orlando Contreras (drums), Jorge Salas (keyboard) and Raul Zambrano (bass). They became a musical sensation with their international hit song 'T� me quieres lastimar', launched in 1992 by Discos Sabinas. Of course, their music spans the decades (and generations), and will be sure to bring memories for those who attend.
There will be many events that will lead up to the grand weekend of August 6th - 8th. One of the most anticipated is Noche Sanpedrana, hosted at Ramon's Village Resort. The pageant contestants will be presenting their cultural costume, model and mingle with guests that evening, capturing the hearts of the audience before the main event. In fact, the beauties will be quite busy upon arrival on July 29th to La Isla Bonita. Fido's Courtyard will be hosting the beauties on the first night of their arrival, and the public is invited to come on down and mingle with the lovely girls before they begin their rounds of preparations for the pageant. There will be tours and water activities, as well as photo shoots/calls along with much practice for a fabulous pageant the night of Thursday, August 6th.
After the pageant kicks off the festival with beauty and color on Thursday, the Friday night festivities will include a lot of culture and some amazing musical performances. Mexican Dance Troupe Alma Caribe�a will grace us with their presence, and joining them will be the Belize Dance Company, an international DJ and of course, the mighty GILHARRY 7 Band!!
Saturday will see entertainment galore courtesy of Grupo Crash from El Salvador, an international DJ and the highly anticipated Grupo Ladron!
Grand Sponsors for the event are the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) and Ramon's Village Resort. Also providing valuable support to the festival are Victoria House, Sunbreeze Hotel, Blue Tang Inn, Moncho's Golf Cart Rentals. Businesses wanting to sponsor may do so by contacting the committee at [email protected]. Ticket prices and outlets will be announced soon.
Costa Maya Festival - a celebration of beauty and culture Every year without fail, San Pedro Town welcomes hundreds of visitors to the island - many from our mainland - to the International Costa Maya Festival®! What started in 1992 as the Sea and Air Festival, the celebration has evolved into a musical and cultural festival that also brings a touch of beauty to the three-night extravaganza. This year's event will take place from Thursday, August 6th to Sunday, August 9th. Local and international musicians, deejays, performers, artisans and even carnival fair-style rides fill the Sunset Boardwalk venue, where throngs of festival-goers enjoy different events each night. Organizers of the festival try and spread the entertainment to incorporate the entire family. Always held on the first weekend of August, Costa Maya® begins on a Thursday night. This is now officially kicked off with the selection of a Costa Maya beauty ambassador. Representatives from Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama grace the stage in hopes of capturing the crown.
Belizean Beauty to Represent at Costa Maya Pageant
Samalia Vernon, 5'8" of Belize City, Belize District, is Miss Belize 2015 for the Reina de la Costa Maya 2015 international pageant, which is scheduled to take place in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize on August 6, 2015.
Samalia, who is pursuing a degree in business and marketing, enjoys reading, painting, meditating, cooking, fashion, traveling and modeling. To stay fit she does yoga, dances, and plays tennis.
Eight delegates representing Central America and Mexico are expected to compete in the beauty pageant. At the end of the night, Elisa Espinosa Gomez, of Mexico, will crown her successor.
Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the Ambergris Today
The entertainment lineup for the festival has come together nicely with performances for all ages. Below is the list of entertainment:
International Costa Maya Festival 2015
Thursday, August 6, 2015 7:00 p.m. Festival Gates Open 8:00 p.m. Miss Costa Maya Intl. Pageant
Entertainment by The Belize Dance Company Alma Caribe�a - Mexico After Party with DJ Smallz
Friday, August 7, 2015 7:00 p.m. Festival Gates Open 8:30 p.m. Opening Ceremonies Mexico Cultural Presentation Belize Cultural Presentation - Belize Dance Co. El Chevo "Electro Punta" - Honduras Gillharry 7 - Belize
Saturday, August 8, 2015 7:00 p.m. Festival Gates Open 8:00 p.m. El Slavador Dance Presentation - Grupo Crash Guatemala Cultural Presentation Almost 7 Band - Belize
Midnight - International Entertainer "G R U P O L A D R O N"
2015 Sponsors Grand Sponsors Belize Tourism Board Honorable Manuel Heredia San Pedro Town Council Ramon's Village Resort Diamond Jose Luis Zapata Photography (Official Photographer) Designing Solutions
Platinum N.I.C.H. Reef Radio & Reef TV Great Belize Production Love FM/Estero Amor Caribbean Rum
Gold Ambergris Today San Pedro Sun Milo's Center Moon Dancer Boutique Flowers Salazar Associates
Silver San Pedro Belize Express Tropic Air Maya Island Air Moncho's Golf Cart Rental Grand Caribe Resort Belize Border Management Fiesta FM Radio Oye Cruise Solutions Tabony's
Steel SMART Pete Enterprizes Ltd.
Bronze Refri Tech Belize Wally Electrical Seaduced by Belize Mata Chica Resort Victoria House Karen Brodie
Hotels Holiday Hotel Victoria House Blue Tang Inn Sun Breeze Hotel Sun Breeze Suites Mayan Princess Corona Del Mar Caribbean Villas The Ocean Tide Isla Bonita Yatch Club/Kay Brown Captain Morgan's Retreat
Restaurants El Fogon Restaurant Fido's Courtyard Mambo's Restaurant @ Mata Chica Caramba Restaurant Pineapples Restaurant Wild Mango's Caprice Bar& Grill Annie's Pastries Hurricane Ceviche Bar
Come join us at Ramon's Village Resort for Noche San Pedrana on Friday, July 31st and meet all of the contestants vying for the title of La Reina de la Costa Maya including:
Miss Belize Samalia Vernon Miss Costa Rica Carolina On Porras Miss Honduras Gabriela Vanessa Salazar Valle Miss El Salvador Genesis Margarita Fuentes Bola�os Miss Guatemala Lisa Hayet Francis Miss Nicaragua Yuliset de Los Angeles Sotelo Laguna MIss Mexico Samantha Gut�errez G�nzalez-Rubio Miss Panama Mar�a Cristina Saavedra
Live entertainment by Rompe Raja Band, National Costume Presentation and a special appetizer menu from Pineapples On The Beach! Don't miss this spectacular event at Ramon's Village Resort!
With the Reina de La Costa Maya® Pageant, only a week away, the delegates have arrived in San Pedro. The pageant opens The International Costa Maya Festival® on Thursday, August 6th, and promises to be an unforgettable show. Vying for the title and the coveted crown is Miss Costa Rica Corlin On Porras, Miss El Salvador Genesis Margarita Fuentes Bola�os, Miss Honduras Gabriela Vanessa Salazar Valle, Miss Mexico Samantha Gut�errez G�nzalez-Rubio, Miss Nicaragua Yuliset Laguna, Miss Panama Maria Saavendra, Miss Guatemala Lisa Hayet Francis and Miss Belize Samalia Vernon.
The delegates arrived via Maya Island Air, who is the official airline of the festival. Throughout the course of the week, the delegates will participate in several activities leading up to the pageant. The official welcome event will be held on Thursday, July 30th at Fido's Restaurant and Bar starting at 8PM. Noche San Pedrana will be held on Friday, July 31st from 7:30PM at the Ramon's Village Resort and will see the National Dress Competition. A new activity for the delegates this year, will be their attendance to the Belize National Tourism Award Ceremony and Gala on Saturday, August 1st at Holiday Hotel from 7PM. They are also expected to enjoy a sunset cruise, snorkeling trip and tours across Ambergris Caye.
The La Reina de La Costa Maya Pageant is scheduled for Thursday, August 6th at the Honorable Louis Sylvester Sporting Area at 7PM. The field has been undergoing major renovations, and it seems all systems are working overtime to ensure the grounds are ready in time for the festival.
Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the San Pedro Sun
Ramon's Village Resort will be hosting Noche San Pedrana on Friday, July 31st from 6:00PM until 10:00PM. Come and meet all the contestants vying for the title of La Reina de la Costa Maya including:
Miss Belize Samalia Vernon Miss Costa Rica Carolina On Porras Miss Honduras Gabriela Vanessa Salazar Valle Miss El Salvador Genesis Margarita Fuentes Bola�os Miss Guatemala Lisa Hayet Francis Miss Nicaragua Yuliset de Los Angeles Sotelo Laguna MIss Mexico Samantha Gut�errez G�nzalez-Rubio Miss Panama Mar�a Cristina Saavedra
Live entertainment by Rompe Raja Band, National Costume Presentation and a special appetizer menu from Pineapples On The Beach! Don't miss this spectacular event at Ramon's Village Resort, 2015 Grand Sponsor of the International Costa Maya Festival!
Saga hosts fundraising event alongside Costa Maya delegates The Saga Humane Society held a successful fundraising event on Sunday, August 2nd at the SandBar and joining them were the beautiful contestants of La Reina de La Costa Maya. To raise funds, Saga sold food, held raffles and guests could pay for photos with the beauties too! The proceeds of the event benefit the care of the animals under Saga's watch, as well as the Spay/Neuter Initiative Program (SNIP).
The event kicked off at 6PM with the serving of a delicious roasted pork dinner for a price of $20. The meal included homemade baked beans, potato salad, and coleslaw not to mention a good helping of slow cooked pork. Raffle tickets were sold in different forms to give supporters good chances of winning one of the many great prizes. Those ranged from 24-hour Moncho's golf cart rental, a grooming session at Pamper Paws (valued at $50) to lunch at Caramba Restaurant and sunset cruise with Seaduced by Belize. Around 7:30PM the Costa Maya delegates arrived at the event, ready to mingle and help our furry friends! For a donation of $5, patrons had the opportunity to have a picture taken by professional photographer Jose Luis Zapata with all the delegates.
Costa Maya Pageant Behind Scenes Bikini Photo Shoot 2015
Ambergris Today and Photographer Jose Luis Zapata take on the eight contestants of the Miss Costa Maya Pageant 2015 in the official swimsuit photo shoot held at Ramon's Village Resort in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.
Miss Honduras wins the 2015/2016 Reina de La Costa Maya Pageant
Taking the 2015/2015 Reina de La Costa Maya title and crown is none other than Miss Honduras Gabriela Vanessa Salazar Valle. She charmed the judges and audience in all four segments of the 20th annual pageant. As the opening event of the International Costa Maya Festival, this year's Reina De La Costa Maya pageant brought the carnival vibes to San Pedro with a display of color, music, dance and, of course, beauty. Even though only one could take home the crown, all eight contestants from across Central America and Mexico performed exceptionally well, certainly making their home country proud.
Each delegated answered a single question on global issues. Judges for the night were: Gricel Graniel, Idolly Saldivar, Manuel Ancona, Tanya Giacoman Ayala, and Diane Tabony. One by one, the delegates approached center stage, then chose and answered their question. The judges then begun the arduous task of selecting a winner.
Nail biting anxiety started to kick in as the time approached to announce the new Reina! The crowd cheered as the second runner-up was announced, and she is Miss Belize Samalia Vernon.
First runner-up was Miss El Salvador Genesis Margarita Fuentes Bola�os�
Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the San Pedro Sun
Miss Honduras Crowned Miss Costa Maya 2015
It's Honduras' second claim to the coveted Miss Costa Maya crown since 2006 as Miss Honduras Gabriela Vanessa Salazar Valle was selected as the new Miss Costa Maya 2015 at the Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant that kicked off the San Pedro International Costa Maya Festival 2015, on Thursday, August 6.
Miss Honduras Claims Costa Maya Crown 2015 It's Honduras' second claim to the coveted Miss Costa Maya crown since 2006 as Miss Honduras Gabriela Vanessa Salazar Valle was selected as the new Miss Costa Maya 2015 at the Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant that kicked off the San Pedro International Costa Maya Festival 2015, on Thursday, August 6.
The pageant was bursting with Caribbean flavor as the theme embraced Carnival in the region during the four segments of the pageant. Entertainment that kept ties with the Carnival theme were performances by The San Pedro AIDS Commission Carnaval Group with the opening act, the Belize National Dance Company with Belizean Soca Entertainer Ernestine Carballo and Alma Caribe�a dance group from Mexico. The pageant was hosted by Mr. Eiden Salazar and Karen Jordan, Miss Costa Maya 2012 from Panama.
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