BTW - The November issue of El Planeta Platica will focus on community-based
ecotourism throughout Latin America.
Regards,
Ron Mader
Eco Travels in Latin America
http://www.planeta.com
ron@greenbuilder.com
FONAES Programs
Yuneuen Island, Michoacan
Isla Yuneuen (Yuneuen Island) is located in Lake Patzcuaro with departures
from the dock in the village of Patzcuaro (a 45 minute bus ride from Morelia).
Purepechan residents of the island have chosen tourism as a means to diversify
their income from fishing. Cabins on the island cost 145 pesos/person per night
with breakfast and transportation included. If you want to learn more about the
local culture, you can arrange a sewing and fishing workshops at the lodge, or
you can take a Purepecha language courses for 60 pesos. For more information,
call Jorge Morales (434) 210-74 and 244-73 or contact the government's rural
microenterprise development agency FONAES via email: comsocl@fonaes.gob.mx.
Maruata 2000, Michoacan
Inbetween Tecoman, Colima and Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan on the Pacific coast
is the town of Maruata. The beach is a refuge for sea turtles, and the local
community is developing ecological tourism. The water is off-limits to speed
boats. There are 14 cabins and camping facilities available at 40 pesos/person.
Daily meals 85 pesos/day. You can rent a horse for 50 pesos/hour or bicycles
for 30 pesos/hour or a boat for sport fishing or snorkeling. Bus service to
Maruata is available from both Tecoman and Colima. For more information, call
Ezequiel Garcia at (332) 503-68 or contact the government's rural
microenterprise development agency FONAES via email: comsocl@fonaes.gob.mx.
Santa Maria de los Cocos, Queretaro
Seven kilometers from the base of the Sotano de Barro (Mud Basement) is the
cheerful town of Santa Maria de los Cocos. A simple hotel costs 160 pesos/night
and can accommodate eight people. Daily meals cost 80 pesos. Guides offer trips
to the Sotano de Barro for 100 pesos/person. Cañon Ayutla 150 pesos/person. You
can rent a horse for 75 pesos/day. The town is 30 kilometers from Ayutla. If
you are taking a bus from Mexico City, take a bus to Jalpan where you can get a
combi to Santa Maria de los Cocos. The lodging is 30 meters before the town.
For information, call Sabas Ledezma at (429) 602-22 or contact the government's
rural microenterprise development agency FONAES via email:
comsocl@fonaes.gob.mx.
Barrancas de Uruachi, Chihuahua
The town of Uruachi is home to a brand new tourism center, geared to
environmental travel. The Baseaseachi waterfall is just one attraction. There
are numerous opportunities for hiking. The region is a refuge for protected
species such as cougars and the Mexican wolf. You might also see eagles,
falcons and wild ducks which migrate annually from northern Canada. Lodging is
officially available only by cabin, not person or per bed. There are ten
"regular-sized" cabins that accommodate six people. This costs 450 pesos/night.
The largest cabin accommodates twelve and costs 850 pesos/night. Meals are an
additional 60 pesos a day. A four-hour horseback ride with guide costs 80
pesos. Getting there is an adventure, but not impossible. Take a bus or drive
from Chihuahua or Ciudad Cuauhtemoc to Baseaseachi, 120 kilometers away. At
Baseaseachi, a 40-kilometer dirt road leads to Uruachi. For reservations or
information, write to Fernando Dominguez, Parque Nacional de Baseaseachi,
Chihuahua or contact the government's rural microenterprise development agency
FONAES via email: comsocl@fonaes.gob.mx.
Arareko, Chihuahua
Seven kilometers southeast of Creel is the Tarahumara ejido of San Ignacio de
Arareko, which is home to about 400 families. In 1991, the state government
attempted to expropriate the land for tourism development. But this was foiled
by the residents who insisted that if tourism were to come to Arareko, they
would develop it themselves. Since then a new governor has taken office and has
officially handed government properties over to the ejido.
The Complejo Ecoturistico Arareko is now a successful tourism operation, with
20,000 hectares of pine and oak forest and a small lake. You can rent bicycles
for 25 pesos/hour or horses for 40 pesos/hour. A guided tour of the lake via
lancha costs 60 pesos/hour. The entrance into the ejido is 10 pesos/person.
Note that on the main highway, there is a women's cooperative store that sells
handicrafts, clay pottery, wood carvings and ritual drums.
Accommodation is available at the deluxe Segorachi Lodge, which costs 200
pesos/night. The more rustic Batosarachi cabins run 45 pesos/night. For
reservations and information, call (145) 6-01-26 or contact the government's
rural microenterprise development agency FONAES via email:
comsocl@fonaes.gob.mx.
Ara Macao, Chiapas
Located in the tropical rainforest, the town of Ara Macao has recently opened
an ecotourism center, including cabins and a restaurant, all located on the
Lacantun River. Among the rare species in the area are crocodiles, ocelots and
the blue macaw, whose scientific name is Ara Macao. A cabin for four people
costs 680 pesos/night. A cabin for two people costs 540 pesos/night. Meals cost
almost 200 pesos/day. Renting a boat to explore the Lacantun River costs 80
pesos. Guides organize trips into the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve for 80
pesos/person. From Palenque, take a bus to Pico de Oro and from there, take a
minibus to Ara Macao. This takes roughly five hours from Palenque. For
reservations and information, call Enrique Galvez in Tuxtla Gutierrez at (961)
534-76; Fax: 265-05 or contact the government's rural microenterprise
development agency FONAES via email: comsocl@fonaes.gob.mx.
Escudo Jaguar, Chiapas
Located 20 kilometers away from Frontera Corozal is the Escudo Jaguar tourism
center, which boasts rustic lodging and a restaurant. Simple cabins for two
people cost 540 pesos/night. "Duplex" cabins for four persons cost 680
pesos/night. Daily meals cost 187 pesos/day. The community offers tours to
Yaxchilán for 65 pesos/person or the Isla Frontera for 25 pesos. From Palenque
take a bus to Frontera Corozal (147 kilometers away). Just before the town of
Frontera Corozal is a dirt road which leads to Escudo Jaguar, 20 kilometers
away. For reservations and information, write to Luis Arcos Perez, domicilio
conocido, Frontera Corozal, Chiapas or contact the government's rural
microenterprise development agency FONAES via email: comsocl@fonaes.gob.mx.
Agua Azul/Cascadas de Misol-Ha
On the road from San Cristobal to Palenque, travelers will find two impressive
waterfalls: Agua Azul and Cascadas de Misol-Ha. Agua Azul is just 60 kilometers
south or an hour away of Palenque. The indigo blue Yax River cascades down a
natural staircase of 500 individual falls. This is one of the more impressive
sights in all of Mexico. There is a swimming area, but be cautious - whirlpools
and underwater currents can be fatal. Admission is $1 per car or 50¢ per
person.
The 40 meter high waterfalls at Misol-Ha are closer to Palenque - 18
kilometers- and then two kilometers from the highway. There is a restaurant and
lodging. Cabins that accommodate two people cost 200 pesos. There are also
larger cabins for four persons that cost 440 pesos/cabin. Daily meals cost 75
pesos. Camping is allowed and they also rent hammocks.
It's very easy to get to either attraction. You can take a bus from San
Cristobal de las Casas to either destination. From Palenque, there are combis
that take passengers for a quick stop at Misol-Ha and a three hour break at
Agua Azul before returning to Palenque. But if you have more than a few hours,
plan on staying the night at Misol-Ha. For more information, contact the Centro
Coordinador Indigenista de Palenque at (934) 512-10 or contact the government's
rural microenterprise development agency FONAES via email:
comsocl@fonaes.gob.mx.
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