After surviving two Category 5 Hurricanes, “Gilbert” in 1988 and “Wilma” in 2005, Martha and Andres restructured MARAND TRAVEL Services “A Virtual Travel Agency” in the village of Puerto Morelos to continue their belief in the growth of the Riviera Maya as well as a major world tourism destination. Back in 1996, they developed their web site and ever since have continued to improve the information flow about Puerto Morelos, its “Coral Reefs National Park” and the local tourism activities where they move to from Cancun, in the fall of 1992.
At that time, Cancun was growing at an incredibly fast pace and many of their customers at Marand Holidays selected Puerto Morelos, a quiet fishing village located 32 kilometers (20 miles) south of Cancun, as a vacation destination. Martha and Andres spent a lot of time in this town, fell in love with the place and slowly moved into the life of the community, deciding that this nature-centered village was where they really wanted to live, a decision they never regretted. They were fortunate to find a cozy Mexican-style house just about 300 meters (1 street) away from the seashore. For a time, they lived in Puerto Morelos while commuting daily to their business in Cancun. In 1997, Martha and Andres changed the name of their business to Marand Travel and moved their headquarters to Puerto Morelos.

Marthe(a) Richard-Uscanga originally from the Province of Quebec, Canada always felt a desire to live in a tropical climate and traveled extensively to Europe, Central America, Hawaii, the Bahamas, Canada and the United States seeking an ideal paradise to semi-retire to. Back in 1977, she came to vacation in Cancun, Mexico, a then genuine tropical paradise and little more than a sleepy fishing village.  She fell in love with the area and also recognized that within the next coming years, it would be an area that would grow very rapidly. In 1980, she had decided to take a sabbatical from her challenging position in Montreal, moved to Cancun and began working a temporary job in tourism in Cancun to assure it was the right place for her as a final life destination.

Martha and Andres Uscanga

Andrés Hernandez Uscanga, originally from the beautiful state of Veracruz Mexico, grew up in Mexico City but traveled throughout the Mexican Republic, discovering Cancun in early 1975. He decided to exchange his hectic pace of life in Mexico City for a more relaxed atmosphere and settled in Cancun, working for several Five Star hotels in the Hotel Zone as well as for a major international airline company at the then small Cancun airport. His hospitable personality helped him to further develop his profesional knowledge into the Tourism industry and the local community.

When Andres and Martha met in 1980, cupid entered the picture and a new destiny was waiting for them. They discovered in each other the same goals and an incredible compatibility. Married in Montréal, Canada in September of 1981 they immediately returned to Cancun to start a very happy and energetic life together. Not only did they join forces romantically but also economically. They worked together in the tourism industry as destination managers & representatives for Canadian agencies who were sending charters flights of up to 500 passengers from Montréal weekly. Trilingual, their dedication to the tourism and growing Cancun never faltered. In 1986, they established their own travel agency, Marand Holidays which continues to exist under the name Marand Travel Services.

Visitors who come to Puerto Morelos seek its tranquility and simplified pace of life. The community is involved in assuring that the natural environment remains preserved for future generations, something Martha and Andres truly believe in its vital importance.