Articles with the theme Tours

5th Sacred Mayan Journey | Xcaret Park [Photo Essay]

Yesterday’s afternoon, Xcaret Park was filled with tradition and mysticism for the grand opening of the 5th Sacred Mayan Journey, a recreation of the ancient Mayan tradition of worshiping moon goddess Ix Chel. The event began with the representation of the ancient market of Ppolé (original Mayan name of the place where the eco park is located today) where visitors were able to buy original handcrafts & food, using ancient Mayan currency – cacao seeds.. The night ended with the official inaugural ceremony, with a show that transported guests back in time. Starting today, more than 300 canoeists will begin the journey to Cozumel Island, where the temple of the goddess is located.

10 tips for a Romantic Valentine’s Day in the Riviera Maya

Couples have been trying to create romance in their relationships since the beginning of time, yet every Valentine’s Day many frantically search for a way to make the day memorable for their special someone. There are many ways to celebrate this special day, but for the truly romantic, spend this February 14th doing something unique and special with the one you love.

Here are 10 great ways to spend Valentine’s Day in the Riviera Maya:

1. Relax and Recharge: Leave behind the stress of daily life and surprise your special someone with a soothing moonlight couples massage on the beach.
2. For Music Lovers: There are many restaurants and bars in Cancun and Playa del Carmen that feature live music. Cozy up with a cocktail (and your honey of course) and groove to their smooth sounds.
3. A Day in the Sun: Pack a picnic basket and your swimsuit for a romantic day on the white sand beaches of the Mexican Caribbean. Swim in the crystal clear, turquoise blue Caribbean Sea, and then watch the sun set and that lovely afternoon light wash over your loved one’s face.
4. For Night Owls: If you prefer moonlight over sunlight, plan a nighttime beach champagne picnic under the stars, and begin an endless night on the Riviera Maya’s magical beaches.
5. The Adventurous Couple: If you are one of those couples who connect during the adrenaline rush of a great adventure, Cancun and the Riviera Maya offer some great options for you this Valentine’s Day. Fly over the jungle canopy on a zip line or discover nature’s wonders in underground caves and cenotes.
6. Cooking for the Heart: If the expression “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” is true, then reach his (or her) heart by learning to create some special recipes in the Riviera Maya. If you prefer someone else doing the cooking, enjoy a delicious meal at one of our restaurants that range from Mexican to international cuisine.
7. The Language of Love: Since Spanish is such a romantic language, romance your partner and tell him or her how much you love them, in Spanish. “Te amo” = “I love you”.
8. Give a Little: While reconnecting with your special someone on a romantic getaway, consider including a tour from Kanché, a non-profit civil association that uses the proceeds from its tours to generate socially oriented projects that help the environment and the community.
9. Reconnect with Nature: With its lush green jungles and soft white sand beaches, the beautiful Yucatan Peninsula offers you many wonderful ways to reconnect not only with your partner, but also with nature. Visit a preserved nature park and enjoy a day of hiking through the jungle or snorkeling or scuba diving in the clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.
10. Do Not Disturb: Spend the entire day with the “do not disturb” sign on your door at one of our all inclusive, luxury resorts. Enjoy the company of your partner in private while relaxing in a soothing bath or bubbling hot tub.

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About the Author

Kristin Busse is currently a travel writer but has worked in many different industries. She lives in Cancun, Mexico and plans to use her diverse experiences to write about the Yucatan Peninsula from her unique perspective.

Cancun – The Pleasure’s All Mayan

 by Sharon Drechsler

CEO and president of Cancun-based tour and excursion-providers, Yucatán Holidays, Erika Garcia is pretty excited: “We just learned that Orbitz has listed Cancun as the number one, top global destination!” she exclaims.

“Earlier in May, Cancun had already been listed in the Orbitz Index as second of ‘Top 10 Summer Travel Destinations for 2010,” adds Jesus Almaguer, director of the city’s visitors bureau. This comes as no surprise to Cancun’s Secretariat of Tourism Dario Flota. “We survey the 6 million visitors per year here all the time who say they’ve had unforgettable vacations,” he says. “Visitors from all over the world return to Cancun year after year. And they tell us they feel 100 percent confident about security throughout their stay.”

I know Flota feels the need to mention security due to recent negative press concerning border unrest. But with the tender care afforded us by a special security unit assigned solely to assist tourists, I felt more comfortable than at home! Plus, where else in the world can you find such perfect ingredients for an ideal holiday? Unspoiled, white-sand beaches; warm, Caribbean climate; exceptional hospitality…. Check. But wait. There’s more! “Sure, most of Yucatán Holidays’ guests are coming for a beach vacation,” says Garcia. “But with our vacations, they have so many additional options! You should see a kid snorkeling over the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the longest reef on the continent. Or talk to a couple after they’ve gotten out into the community, learned about the history of the Mayan people and viewed how we live today.”

“I can’t tell you how many people have told me this trip has changed their lives! One couple called me the other day and said, ‘Erika, we can’t go home yet!’” laughs Garcia. “I told them to relax; we can help them.” “Yucatán Holidays makes it easy to add on days to their stay. We do what it takes to protect our resort clients’ interests. With us, their special guests never need to go online, call another resort provider or a travel agent.” The Yucatán Peninsula has supported a sophisticated level of civilization since as early as 1,000 B.C. “We’ve found that visitors want to explore the local history, culture and heritage,” she adds. “Yucatán Holidays is the first local tour provider to incorporate our rich heritage into a sustainable tourism portfolio.”

One of their steps in meeting this commitment is to partner with an alternative tourism agency called Kanché. “Visitors interested in science and nature can take a Kanché tour through protected jungles and mangrove forests and learn about the fascinating history and culture of the region,” adds Garcia. “We are a major supporter of this non-profit, non-governmental group.”

But this is just one layer of the Yucatán Holidays onion I peeled back on a recent trip there. Fresh off the plane, my first stop is to Ocean Spa Hotel in the heart of Cancun.

Day 1: Sensations massage, sensational meal
After checking in, I am treated to an 80-minute-long Sensations massage that turns me into pliable puddles of joy. Lia at Ocean Spa Hotel’s Ya’ax Ché spa uses four different techniques including acupressure, reflexology, lymphatic drainage and body stretching – decidedly therapeutic – to send me to a different plane. Soon I’m humming a restful “Om.”

The next morning I visit the buffet table of the all-inclusive Ocean Spa Hotel’s indoor/outdoor restaurant, where I make the day’s toughest decision: Should I go native with Mexican-styled refried beans, huevos rancheros and tortillas or stick to a made-to-order omelet? Instead, I opt to sample one of the Ocean Spa’s juice therapy concoctions. Wellness is a common theme at Ocean Spa, from activities promoting exercise to restorative spa treatments and healthy food choices. The menu promises that my choice, the ‘Purify,’ an elixir of pineapple, lime, pear, kiwi and even a touch of cactus and parsley leaves, will rid me of unwanted toxins. It sounds perfect.

Thus detoxed, I believe I’m ready for the resort’s morning Latin dance class. Along with several other women and one brave fellow, we all cha-cha, hip-swivel and shimmy through an hour of salsa, bachata, merengue and mambo. (Relax. It isn’t as hard as it sounds.)

Later in the evening, my Yucatán Holidays pals and I attend an impressive evening show at the Hacienda Andalucía. An old-time hacienda that’s been converted into an equestrian venue is a weekly draw for locals and tourists alike. While we enjoy a truly sumptuous buffet, we are entertained by Mexican folk singers and dancers. After we’re suitably fortified, we watch the show as horseback riders demonstrate their skills, balancing precariously on their galloping steeds while performing intricately choreographed feats.

Hacienda Tres Ríos, Riviera Maya, Mexico
“What is your favorite resort in Mexico?” the couple from Pennsylvania asks when they hear how much I travel. There is no hesitation on my part, “This one!” By my second day, I am checked into the five-star Hacienda Tres Ríos, an all-inclusive, luxury hotel located on the edge of 326 acres of jungle and mangrove forest and bordering a strand of beach on the Gulf of Mexico in the Riviera Maya.

I dare any top-rated hotel, anywhere, to beat Tres Ríos for luxury. It would be tough. Plush bedding, tastefully decorated suites, fine amenities, extraordinary service and haute cuisine – Tres Ríos is ready for royalty, Mayan or simply mine. Not to mention, the property was the first-ever purpose-built green resort in all of Mexico and is held to be the model of sustainability, earning top awards from Green Globe, the World Travel Awards and others. (Based in Los Angeles, Green Globe sponsors independently-audited certification that supports Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, an agreed upon international standard for the sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses.)

Maybe Hacienda Tres Ríos means endless luxury in Mayan?
On a tour of the hotel’s kitchen, award-winning Chef Oscar Orbe shows us how he keeps his seven operations (plus room service) running at top efficiency. We tour through a sparklingly clean, climate-controlled, glass paneled facility as Orbe points out the prodigious division of pastry, salads, sides, meat, poultry and fish. Preparation of each of these is compartmentalized in rooms that surround and pump completed masterpieces into a final plating area that fairly hums with activity. (And, speaking of humming, Norah Jones’ gentle tones are piping throughout the hundreds of square feet of kitchen. Happy people/happy food.)

As in all things ‘Tres Ríos,’ careful planning has contributed to a health-oriented kitchen that’s won notice from the likes of Travel Weekly and Travel Age West. The resulting menus and buffets present diners with an endless variety of healthy choices. Guests are encouraged to experiment with their food selections, much like early hunters and gatherers – ‘molecular gourmet’ cuisine, if you will. Endless luxury is taking time to relish each bite. My friend and I are seated in the kitchen, Italian style, for our reserved private service at the Chef’s Table. While the eating establishments throughout Hacienda Tres Ríos are part of an all-inclusive system, you can reserve a special VIP seating here through the concierge.

Mentally, we gird our loins as three elegantly-dressed starters to a nine-course spread begin to appear in rapid-fire succession. First is a crispy shrimp cake, followed by tender filets of venison and tuna sashimi. Main courses follow: lobster, lamb and beef tenderloin carbonara. Like we could handle it by this time, the piece de resistance is a molten chocolate, phyllo dough basket filled with mamey (similar to passion fruit) sorbet and topped with caramel and chocolate-covered raspberries.

A Mayan view of nature
The next day finds me on the eco-friendly Jaguar Tour exploring the philosophy of Tres Ríos Nature Park – an immense nature preserve supporting 90 species of animals and 120 plant species. The resort has made ecological history by successfully reforesting mangroves, palms and other flora. We get a close-up look at how it’s done at the property’s own nursery where they plant palm trees, mangroves, herbs for the kitchen and other plants and flowers to repopulate the grounds. During planting season, a personal concierge can schedule an opportunity for you to learn how to replant one of these incredible trees and earn a certificate for your contribution.

There are 10 cenotes, or sinkholes, and three rivers. (Oh, as in tres ríos, do you think?) After being assured this one is crocodile-free, we take a plunge in its brackish water and later kayak down one of the rivers. Next, Yucatán Holidays has me signed up for the Sub See Explorer & Snorkel adventure at Aquaworld. Located on the main drag in Cancun, the venue offers everything from scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing, to swimming in Isla Mujeres. I am dutifully garbed in a bathing suit with a light pair of shorts and t-shirt, plus plenty of sun block. First from a glass-bottomed boat and later while snorkeling, we feel truly privileged to spend a day exploring the massive Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. We pass coral garden after garden and see schools of angelfish, damsels, parrotfish, rabbitfish, wrasse and the occasional sea turtle. After swimming, sun and surf, the next day’s itinerary is distinctly inland…I mean, truly “in” land. Four years ago, a landowner was chasing an armadillo, which led him to unearth a rocky entrance to an underground cavern. His discovery, Río Secreto, turned out to be the longest partially flooded cave in the Yucatan Peninsula. While most caves in the region are completely submerged and only accessible by scuba diving, this one is only partially filled by water.

Garbed in ‘shorty’ wetsuits, helmets and reef shoes, we follow as our guide Pablo explains how ancient Mayan priests and leaders would take hallucinogens, enter the darkest parts of the cavern and meditate in the watery dark. As we haltingly tread its Stygian depths, it’s like a mausoleum of those ancients. You can visualize a warrior donning the skin of a jaguar to become invisible, over here. Over there, a priest with a headdress of Quetzal feathers is placing offerings before a shrine.

The spiritual side of Mexico
Our trip west from the state of Quintana Roo to Yucatán’s capital city, Mérida, over featureless jungle-filled flatlands, induces us to snooze in the back seat. We apparently pass through a time warp and awaken several hundred years in the past to find ourselves in the region’s colonial period; only three hours later and we’re in the early 1900s! As we drive down the main boulevard, Avenida Montejo, we ogle dozens of elaborate turn-of-the-century mansions. We visit the city hall – Mérida Palacio Municipal – to view impressive murals relating the Mayan struggle for freedom.

Finally, it’s time for dinner at La Chaya Maya, just before being famished turns into really being famished. Fortunately, we arrive on the early side – 8 o’clock. Very soon waiters are scrambling to bring us lime soup, roast chicken-topped tostados called panuchos and the Mayan version of a corndog, joroches. By the time we finish, the line is almost out the door.

We’re pretty proud of ourselves for having beaten the crowd and head back to our abode for the night – a  contemporary, boutique hotel housed in a beautifully renovated hacienda, the Hacienda Sacnicte just outside Mérida. Hipsters of the ilk of Sting, The Police and others have rented this exclusive hideaway. Owned by an Italian architect and his wife, the two have remodeled the 17th century stone manse into an unforgettably serene vacation home to which Yucatan Holidays has access.

Here, they have restored the massive, centuries-old stone remnants of the home and outbuildings of landed Spanish gentry, reverently intermixing antiquities with the contemporary. We ogled all six of the boutique hotel’s suites with their 20-plus-foot-high ceilings, admiring the eclectic décor and noting the designer’s acute attention to detail. Bathrooms are enormous caverns with stonecrafted spigots and huge, sunken stone tubs under open sky. Bedrooms are quiet temples of muted colors with beds swathed in fine linen and walls adorned with unique contemporary art.

A continuous theme of spirituality threads throughout my visit to this part of Paradise and is tied into a bow (or maybe a love knot) in Izamal. Pope John Paul II paid a visit here in 1993 to beg forgiveness for the Church’s wrong doings throughout Latin America. In his honor, Izamal’s buildings are painted Vatican-yellow. Bicycle driven pedicabs and horse-drawn buggies trace streets encircling the Convent de San Antonio de Padua, the first church to have been completed in Mexico in 1549.

Yucatán Holidays’ slogan, “The Power of Paradise,” is appropriate in a multitude of ways, not the least of which is signified by hundreds of ancient Mayan ruins dating from the years 300 to 900 AD. We decide to save the most famous, Chichen Itza, for another day. Instead, we visit Tulum, a collection of lofty stone remains cresting a craggy, 39-foot-high cliff that has shot up out of the Caribbean Sea. Looking down at turquoise and azure waters from this promontory puts me in a worshipful mood.

I’m reminded of all the ways my Yucatán Holidays adventure has touched me. Yes, they’ve all been powerful…uplifting spiritually, engaging experientially. But visitors may need to hurry! According to experts, the Mayan calendar ends in 2012. I pay a parting visit to the ever-gracious Erika Garcia who embraces me and tells me, “Mi casa es su casa. Bring your husband next time and stay longer!”

Original Article: Perspective Magazine

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About the Author

Sharon Drechsler (DrechslerCommunications.com), lives aboard a Catalina 470 sailboat, S/V Last Resort, which is currently moored in Los Angeles, California. In addition to operating a public relations firm, Drechsler has recently co-launched SocialMediaServicing.com, content-providers for clients engaged in online networking.

Mexico Mayan Ruins of Coba: Traveling back in time

The enormity of a green, luscious jungle and the ruins of an ancient civilization are suddenly broken up by the imagination as you see a clear, open space and in the middle of it all a pyramid measuring 42 meters (138 feet) painted in bright red. Suddenly you are transported to a different time period centuries from now.

These temples in Coba in the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula jungle were known to the ancient Mayans as “Houses of the Gods” where the deities would be called to Earth by the elite through rituals, hallucinogens, and self-inflicted pain.

The ancient Mayan community was attracted by the beauty of colors and decorated the buildings of the elite in a bright red that could be seen for miles away. The red represented blood. The jungles that are now toured by thousands of visitors were once clear spaces and open areas in the community.

Coba once spread over 80 square kilometers. Built between two lakes, the city is one of the most important archeological sites in the Yucatan Peninsula. The main pyramid—Nohoch Mul—stands 138 feet tall. On top it, a sea of green spreads over your vicinity as a certain peace spreads over you.

In the corners of its mysterious beauty, the jungle hides an estimated 6,000 structures that remain buried under centuries of thick jungle.

Right before climbing the amazing main pyramid in Coba, our tour guide from The Mayan Express summed up what archeologists have imagined Coba was when the ancient Mayans inhabited the land during the Classic Period (600-900 A.D.). This pre-education prepares us to enter the city with an open sense of understanding that enhances the experience of visiting Coba.

The ruins now stand as a testament of time, but the Mayan communities remain vibrant in the area. After descending the steep pyramid—a little exhausted and yet somehow rejuvenated—we head over to a Mayan ceramic shop to learn pottery making from Paco and Jorge. Paco and Jorge—two young children in this community—are learning techniques that have been lost for years and in that way preserve their culture. These works are then offered to visitors to help sustain these communities.

With this connection to the community, we are able to learn about the modern Mayan communities and their way of life, including the delicious traditional Mayan food.

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The Mayas are surrounded by legends of mysticism. These legends and beliefs have made this culture a fascinating aspect to explore. One of the legends tells of the twin brothers that fought the gods of the underworld in a game and won. As part of our visit, we descend into a dark pit of a cenote to the symbolic underworld to watch a Mayan show performed by the local community. The vibrant show is also part of the community’s efforts to showcase their heritage.

This ancient civilization has left us with an enormous treasure in history and tradition. The Mayan Ruins stand waiting for visitors to uncover its beauty. Although the Peninsula is sprinkled with archeological sites, Coba is an impressive must while visiting the region.

The Mayan Express Tour | Coba Sunset Mayan Show from Jorge Tejada on Vimeo.

View all the photos in our Coba Visit Gallery.

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About the Author

Pamela Acosta is a Mexican travel photographer and writer for Yucatan Holidays. She is seeking to travel throughout the Yucatan Peninsula, Riviera Maya & Cancun in an attempt to capture beauty and wonder in words & pixels. Follow Pamela on Twitter.

The Whale Shark Adventure | Cancun – Isla Mujeres

If you visit Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Holbox or Isla Mujeres take one day off the beach and wake up early to enjoy one of the most exciting adventures. Join our expert tour guides for the unique experience of swimming with WHALE SHARKS; season is coming to an end next month!
Do you have an underwater camera? Don’t forget to bring it or get one for less than $20 USD! If you want to see all the photos, click in our Whale Shark Adventure Photo Album.

Have you ever image to swim with the biggest fish on earth? Will you do it? Share your thoughts in the comments below! We want to know!

Cenotes: The Yucatan’s Natural Attraction

Just saying the word cenote conjures immediate excitement, right? Well, maybe for some but for the majority, it is literally and figuratively a foreign word. Cenote, pronounced, /sɛˈnoʊteɪ/, is a collapsed caved filled with stalagmites, stalactites and an array of natural life. Well, that doesn’t sound special, does it? Wrong! Cenotes are distinctive and here is why:

Divers and Snorkelers, Welcome to paradise.

Cenotes, found primarily in the Yucatan Peninsula and surrounding Caribbean islands, are filled with crystal clear ground water with a tinge of blue and stunning marine life. One could spend hours swimming with the fish or simply staring at the uniquely formed underwater rock formations.

They are as rich in history as they are in color.

Cenote, is a word derived from the Mayan word D’zonot and it is widely believe that the ancient Maya used cenotoes for ritualistic purposes. Nobody seems to agree on exactly how the cenotes were utilized by the Maya. Regardless, when the sacred cenote at the archeological site Chichen Itza was dredged, over 100 human skulls were found. But, don’t let this deter you from swimming in one. The discovery was over 100 years ago and the skulls were found in only one cenote out of many. The connection between the Mayas and the cenotes is not the only link to ancient history. Cenotes are thought to be formed during a meteorite impact on earth, the same meteorite that led to the distinction of dinosaurs.

They are simply captivating.

With their uniqueness alone, they are enchanting. Used by locals and tourists alike to cool off, think of them as the old fashion swim hole but 100 times better. No muddy water, they are clear, crisp and unbelievably refreshing. After a long day touring the Yucatan Peninsula, cenotes are the perfect place to cool off while enjoying natural beauty.

The Yucatan Peninsula’s Most Popular Cenotes:

· Dos Ojos Cenote, located in the Riviera Maya is well known amongst divers.

· The Sacred Cenote of Chichen Itza, made famous by the archeological findings in 1904.

· Dzitnup Cenote, located near Valladolid, Yucatan is known mostly for its unique blue color and cylindrical shape, is one of my most photographed cenotes in the world.

 

Kristin McCollum is a travel writer that has spent the past year traveling and working throughout Europe and Mexico. Now settled on the Yucatan Peninsula, she finds inspiration in every person she meets and in the natural beauty which surrounds her. Follow Kristin on Twitter.

Cancun Underwater Museum with AquaWorld

Last weekend the guys from AquaWorld invited the writer Sharon Drechsler and Yucatan Holidays to experience a subsea adventure. The first stop was a Submarine and later on, an snorkeling tour to the Mesoamerican Reef (the second largest in the world, just behind the one in Australia) to visit one of the Cancun Underwater Museum’s sculpture: La Jardinera de la Esperanza (The Gardener of Hope). This is what happened:

A great tour and a great experience! If you want some information on this tour (or many others), drop me a line to info@yucatanholidays.com. 

A Spa of the Senses: The SenseAdventure Tour

It is an adventure like no other, an adventure of the five senses. Mr. Gerardo Carrera Saucedo and the sense adventure staff at Hacienda Tres Ríos Nature Park and Spa Resort in the Riviera Maya have carefully crafted a tour to engage all five senses either in harmony or one by one: The SenseAdventure Tour™.

It reunites the soul with nature and rekindles the inner-child. Taste, touch, smell, see and hear the uniqueness of the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. The distinctive and matchlessness flavors, flora and wildlife of the region make this luxury all-inclusive resort’s nature park the perfect place to experience a tour of the senses.

The adventure team guide sense adventure seekers through a small portion of the three hundred twenty-six acres of natural untouched beauty that is nestled next to the pristine waters of the Caribbean Sea. Upon completion of the tour, adventure goers experience a type of feeling, warmth, relaxation and happiness that no in-spa massage could accomplish.

About the Author

Kristin McCollum is a travel writer that has spent the past year traveling and working throughout Europe and Mexico. Now settled on the Yucatan Peninsula, she finds inspiration in every person she meets and in the natural beauty which surrounds her. Follow Kristin on Twitter.

How Your Swim with Whale Sharks Will Save the World

 
Being named the largest fish species with an estimated measurement of up to 20-35 feet, the whale shark tends to leave a large impression wherever it swims.

And now, the life-changing experience of swimming with the whale shark will not only affect how you view the world, but how the world sees the whale shark and the efforts being made to preserve the environment. These THREE contributions—by no means small—will be the result of your once in a lifetime experience with the whale shark.

1. Citizen Scientist Track Whale Sharks:

The ECOCEAN Whale Shark Photo-Identification Library is a virtual database of whale  shark encounters. The pictures are uploaded by snorkelers—citizen scientists—and biologists use a system similar to the Hubble telescope used to identify stars to match the skin patterns behind the gills of each shark and any scars to distinguish between individual animals. The white, checkered-pattern is unique to each whale shark and functions as a fingerprint. The images are compared to existing photographs and categorized as a new sighting or flagged as a returning visitor. With cutting-edge software, biologists use these white-checkered designs to identify migratory patterns and learn more about this mysterious creature. To date, more than 28,000 photos have been collected from around the world. Tip: When photographing the whale shark, the most important thing to remember is to remain at least 3 meters (10 feet) away from the shark to not alter their behavior.

2. Awareness Leads to Conservation:

Despite an increase in research over the past decade, the biology and ecology of whale sharks remain an enigma, with still much to learn to assist efforts in conserving the species. The whale shark is currently listed as vulnerable in the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Up to 1,000 whale sharks were hunted in Taiwan last century before a government ban in 2001. The change of attitude towards the world’s gentle giant is in large part due to the attention people like Dave Duran bring to the animals. Duran is a cameraman turned diver in Taiwan who 12 years ago shared his footage of the whale shark with the world and brought the international spotlight to that part of the world and to the whale shark. Because of this and the diffusion of information, in 2005, the Mexican government set aside 247,105 acres of Isla Mujeres ocean as a protected area for the whale shark. But despite all these advances, there is still a threat to the future of this beautiful creature. By bringing attention to the whale shark and this kind of tourism, travelers highlight the beauty of the world’s largest fish species, encouraging others to learn and preserve.

3. Economic Gain for Local Economies:

Well-managed ecotourism has a tremendous economic and ecologically sustainable impact. The economic gain—from a business perspective—generated from whale shark ecotourism benefits the local economy and the environment. Whale shark tourism first started in the late 1980s in Australia and has now proliferated to at least 20 other locations around the world, including several locations in Mexico. An estimated 100,000 people participate in whale shark tourism activities around the world annually, paying up to $350 USD for a single encounter, which in turn generates millions of dollars for local economies. In Donsol, Sorsogon in the Philippines, the whale shark ecotourism industry shifted the municipality poverty line from rank 76 amongst the poorest to a rank of 17. In Mexico, tourism represented income for the country in 12,900 million dollars in 2007. Tourism provided more than 180,000 jobs. Mexico is properly positioned for prosperity and growth in tourism, benefiting local communities throughout the country. The country’s leading tourism authorities are aware of the benefits of ecotourism and plan future investments with this in mind, including such things as the preservation of the whale shark in the warm waters of the Mexican Caribbean.

Will you contribute to saving the world?

 

About the Author.

Pamela Acosta is a travel photographer and writer for Yucatan Holidays. She is seeking to travel throughout the Yucatan Peninsula, Riviera Maya & Cancun in an attempt to capture beauty and wonder in words & pixels. Follow Pamela on Twitter. 

Comment your way to Cancun | Yucatan Holidays

Mexico just won the football match against France in the World Cup and to celebrate we’ll give away 2 Cancun vacations! So, what do you have to do? Easy!

A) LIKE this post and (if you are a Twitter user) RETWEET this post!

B) Get inspired and write in a small paragraph (less than 60 words, please!) a story where you MUST include the phrase “YUCATAN HOLIDAYS” and at least 2 of the following words:

• World Cup
• Goal
• France
• Mexico
• Winner

C) Go to the bottom of this post and paste your story as a comment. Name and email are obligatory. You have until TUESDAY, JUNE 22nd to post your comments! 

D) Congratulations! You are now in the raffle to win 5 days and 4 nights in CANCUN*. The raffle for the 2 prizes will take place AFTER the match of MEXICO – URUGUAY on Tuesday, June 22nd.

So, let loose your imagination and come to visit us in paradise this summer!

 

*Taxes may apply.