Eco-tourism Network

The buzz words in this article are eco- tourism and sustainable tourism – two words that are friendly both environmentally and globally and lots of fun.

Red de Ecoturismo de Yucatan is a year-old company that has grouped nine different rural co-ops in the state that are offering natural, low impact tourism options. These co-ops are made up of groups of fishermen and sisal fiber farmers who were without work due to less fishing and a dying sisal fiber industry.

The fishermen have a wealth of mangroves right in their backyards and the sisal fiber farmers have cenotes and wilderness in their areas. What both groups did was cut paths into the mangroves and to the cenotes so that they are accessible. They have taken safety courses, in some cases English classes, bird watching seminars, etc. to enrich their offerings.

Red de Ecoturismo de Yucatan works with six different co-ops that offer rapel, zip-line, mountain biking, camping, sport fishing, bird watching, kayaking and snorkel.

Three of the places are on the coast and the other three are inland of the state. On the coast you will find Ria Progreso, Isla Cerritos in San Felipe, and Chuburna Carboneras. Inland the places are Ox-Watz north of Izamal, Cenote X-Canche at Ek-Balam and Parque Chuum Pich near Tizimin.

Red de Ecoturismo offers different options that vary from one day excursions to overnight camping trips that can last several days. The camping trips are good options for student groups and families as they offer environmental and cultural experiences.

English spoken. To reserve stop by the office calle 56-A No. 437 by 29 Edificio Cristal #9 (the glass building right by the Monument to the Flag on the Paseo Montejo) Tel. 926 7756 or send an e-mail: ecoturismo.ac@gmail.com, open Monday – Friday 10 AM – 2 PM and 4 PM – 6 PM, Saturday.

To read in Spanish click here

Recommended reading
 Ecological Tourist
 Sustainable Tourism
What you can do
 Tips on how to save water
Photography in the Yucatan
 Cenote X'canche

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