_{Photo Jeff Rotman/Getty}

Although its wide mouth may look menacing, the whale shark is a filter-feeder that subsides mainly on plankton and krill, so swimming with these gentle giants is a very safe activity. Whale shark season in the Mexican Caribbean has just begun, and if you would like to live this experience for yourself, visit Cancun or the Riviera Maya between mid-May and mid-September when these giant fish congregate where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Caribbean Sea. Here the water is particularly nutrient-rich, and the whale sharks spend the summer months feeding and breeding in the warm tropical water. Learn more about swimming with whale sharks, and other wildlife encounters in Mexico.

Club Med is having a flash sale this week, from May 17 to 22. This is a good opportunity to enjoy a trip to Mexico at a reduced rate. By booking during the sale, you'll save 40% on 7-day stays at the Cancun Yucatan Club Med during the month of June (June 1 to 29, 2013). Rates start at $1049 USD per adult for a 7 night all-inclusive stay. The Cancun Yucatan Club Med is an excellent option for a family vacation, with an excellent location, friendly atmosphere and lots of activities for both children and adults, plus, kids under 4 stay free. Read a profile of the Club Med Cancun Yucatan from About.com's Guide to Family Travel. The offer expires on May 22, so book now to take advantage. More info on the Club Med website: Club Med Flash Sale.

Find more deals for family vacations: Kids Stay Free at Mexican Resorts.

_{Photo courtesy Club Med}

For the past few days Popocatepetl, an active volcano located 45 miles southeast of Mexico City and only 25 miles outside the city of Puebla, has been spewing smoke and ash. Seismic activity has also increased around the volcano. On Sunday the alert level was raised to Yellow Phase 3, the fifth of a seven stage warning scale.  There is at present a 7.5-mile restricted zone around the base of the volcano. Authorities are preparing evacuation routes for the vicinity in case the volcano's activity increases.

At nearly 18,000 feet in height, "el Popo" as it's affectionately called, is North America's fourth highest peak, and the second highest in Mexico. It has had minor eruptions in 2000 and 2005, and has shown moderate activity since 2012.

See the latest alert from CENAPRED (Mexico's National Center for Disaster Prevention). More information from the LA Times: Mexico prepares for more intense eruptions from Popo volcano, Volcano Discovery, and read about Coping With the Volcano: Popocatépetl Safety Tips from All About Puebla.

_{Photo Susana Gonzalez/Stringer/Getty}

Museum Night is celebrated in Mexico City on the last Wednesday of each month from 7 to 10 pm, but this Saturday, May 18 is International Museum Day, and over 50 museums in Mexico City will participate, with a variety of special activities throughout the day. Some of the museums will have free admission and others are offering a discount on entrance fees. Many of the participating museums will have extended hours. Shuttles will provide free transportation along four different routes from 11 am to 9 pm. See maps of shuttle routes, and a full list of activities: Día Internacional de Museos (in Spanish).

International Museum Day celebrations are coordinated by the International Council of Museums. The event began in 1977 as a way to raise awareness about the importance of museums in the development of society. This year over 120 countries will participate in the event. The theme for this year's International Museum day is: Museums (Memory + Creativity) = Social Change.

Don't miss some of our favorite Mexico City museums:

• National Museum of Anthropology
• Templo Mayor
• Frida Kahlo Museum
• Soumaya Museum