New Theme Park in Mexico to Compete with Disneyland

Mexico will construct a theme park inspired by the Mayan civilization to rival Disneyland. (AFP)
Mexico will construct a theme park inspired by the Mayan civilization to rival Disneyland. (AFP)
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New Theme Park in Mexico to Compete with Disneyland

Mexico will construct a theme park inspired by the Mayan civilization to rival Disneyland. (AFP)
Mexico will construct a theme park inspired by the Mayan civilization to rival Disneyland. (AFP)

Lovers of the ancient Mayan culture can now learn and spend a good time in a new under-construction theme park on the Caribbean coast of Mexico inspired by the civilization.

The massive project, dubbed Amikoo, or “friend” in the Mayan language, is located about 55 km south of Cancun. It will house a museum, hotel, beach resort and recreation park, according to AUSA and Gala groups for properties development.

The two companies have invested $840 million in the new amusement park in the Riviera Maya district. The park is expected to compete with the famous Disneyland.

According to the German News Agency (dpa), the first phase of the project includes a museum, a 320-room hotel, flight simulators, a diving center, a leisure center, restaurants, a surfing pool and a ballroom.

The two investing companies said that the second phase will see the establishment of a 1,200-room beach resort and a theme park by 2020.



Pamplona Holds Opening Bull Run during San Fermín Festival

Participants run ahead of bulls during the first "encierro" (bull-run) of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, on July 7, 2025. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP)
Participants run ahead of bulls during the first "encierro" (bull-run) of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, on July 7, 2025. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP)
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Pamplona Holds Opening Bull Run during San Fermín Festival

Participants run ahead of bulls during the first "encierro" (bull-run) of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, on July 7, 2025. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP)
Participants run ahead of bulls during the first "encierro" (bull-run) of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, on July 7, 2025. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP)

Thousands of daredevils ran, skidded and tumbled out of the way of six charging bulls at the opening run of the San Fermín festival Monday.

It was the first of nine morning runs during the famous celebrations held in the northern Spanish city of Pamplona.

The bulls pounded along the twisting cobblestone streets after being led by six steers. Up to 4,000 runners take part in each bull run, which takes place over 846 meters (2,775 feet) and can last three to four minutes.

Most runners wear the traditional garb of white trousers and shirt with red sash and neckerchief. The expert Spanish runners try to sprint just in front of the bull's horns for a few death-defying seconds while egging the animal on with a rolled newspaper.

Thousands of spectators watch from balconies and wooden barricades along the course. Millions more follow the visceral spectacle on live television.

Unofficial records say at least 15 people have died in the bull runs over the past century. The deadliest day on record was July 13, 1980, when four runners were killed by two bulls. The last death was in 2009.

The rest of each day is for eating, drinking, dancing and cultural entertainment, including bull fights where the animals that run in the morning are slain in the bull ring by professional matadors each afternoon.

The festival was made internationally famous by Ernest Hemingway’s classic 1926 novel “The Sun Also Rises” about American bohemians wasting away in Europe.