Biography

Kai Behrendt is a native of Germany who intended to be a scientist, but discovered he is a "Renaissance Man" who is more at home in the hospitality industry. Mr. Behrendt attended several universities in eastern Germany, studying chemistry, physics and statistics. While working as a lab assistant at the University of Freiberg, he realized he liked people more than microbes and moved to Cancun to take a job with a travel agency.

Behrendt started as a hotel reservations agent with the Eurolatino Travel Agency and earned increasing levels of responsibility there to become the firm's operations manager. He found his scientific training made him comfortable juggling the countless details of organizing trips, tours, transportation schedules, and airline arrangements.

Kai then joined IVI Destination Management as a marketing assistant, and then became the company's corporate communications director, in charge of web site design and content, intra-company communications and continually informing the IVI customer base about breaking news, new events and more.

Kai, who lives in Mexico since 2000, is married to a Mexican woman and says he enjoys the countries' easy-going lifestyle and its friendly and open-hearted people, too much to return to the colder climate (and people) in his European homeland. In his leisure time, he is a voracious reader of science fiction and lengthy classic novels, and enjoys cooking, playing snooker and watching rugby. His favorite sports team is the New Zealand All-Blacks.

Personal Favorites

Local Attraction – Taking your time exploring Valladolid, Merida and other tranquil Colonial towns. Do this leisurely, and enjoy the many small sidewalk cafes, street vendors and historical buildings. In these places, the clock – and your stress level – operate at a slower rhythm.

Recreational Activity – Swim in a cenote. There are many of them in the Yucatan. When you need relief from the summer heat, nothing beats cooling off with a refreshing jump into one of these cool fresh water holes.

Restaurant – John Gray’s Kitchen in the village of Puerto Morelos. John is a former Ritz Carlton chef who now has five critically-acclaimed restaurants in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. The Kitchen was his first. It has the intimate feel of a European bistro, and serves gourmet versions of Mexican and American comfort food.

Local Tour – Mayan Encounter. Let’s face it, “culture” can be boring. But not on this tour. First, it’s fun, offering zip lines, swimming and canoeing in the authentic setting of a Mayan village hidden in the jungle. You’ll also witness a Mayan ritual performed by a local shaman, visit Nohoch Mu’ul (the highest Mayan pyramid in the Yucatan) and enjoy a great meal with your Mayan hosts.

Local Event – The Riviera Maya Film Festival in October is cool. And I enjoy the fishing tournament held in April and May in Puerto Morelos. It has music, entertainment and great food, including fish right off the fishing boats.