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Exploring the Biosphere Reserves of the Ancient
Maya, Mexico
A Special Departure for The Nature Conservancy
$3250.00 (from Cancun, departing Merida)
November 9-18, 2007
Overview
The Maya Forest forms the heart of the Yucatán
Peninsula, covering more than six million acres
from the Caribbean coast of Mexico through Belize
and into the Petén region of Guatemala.
The ecological importance of the region is truly
astonishing; mature tropical jungle, seasonally
inundated lowland forests, and wetlands provide
refuge for rare and endangered species. Also of
great significance is the fact that these forests
accommodate a large concentration of ruins of
the Maya civilization. Using a variety of strategies
specific to each region of the Maya Forest, The
Nature Conservancy works in Belize, Guatemala
and Mexico to conserve the magnificent forest.
On this trip, we plan to explore the approach
that the Conservancy and its governmental and
NGO partners are taking to protect the Mexican
portion of the Maya Forest: the Calakmul Biosphere
Reserve. Encompassing 1.7 million acres, the Calakmul
Reserve is located in the northern portion of
the Peten Region, and contiguous with 6 million
more acres of the Maya Forest in Guatemala and
Belize. Five feline species - puma, ocelot, jaguar,
jaguarundi, and margay- reside in the region.
Other species seen frequently are spider and howler
monkeys, peccary, and the endangered tapir. Three
hundred species of birds have been recorded at
Calakmul, which also shelters one of largest bat
caves in North America with a spectacular mass
exodus at sundown.
We will also visit the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve,
Mexico's greatest wetland area. This amazing site
protects one of the last remaining expanses of
tropical forest, savanna, mangrove, and coastal
habit along the Maya Riviera - all protected in
the same contiguous World Heritage site. In between
Biosphere Reserve visits we will also be visiting
numerous Mayan archaeological sites. Some are
so far off the beaten track, that we may be the
only visitors of the day. We will also visit with
local community members that have agreed to stop
slash and burn agricultural practices, visit a
Maya history museum in a colonial fortress, and
search for howler monkeys, mot mots, and toucans
in the many tropical natural areas that we will
be visiting.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Los Lirios
Our hotel is located on the beach approximately
90 miles south of Cancun and just north of the
Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. Your trip leader
from Emerald Planet will meet the group at the
Cancun airport along with our local guide and
drivers. After an hour and a half drive to our
Caribbean beachfront hotel, we check in and have
some free time to walk along the beach before
trip orientation followed by dinner.
Overnight: Los Lirios
Day 2:
Pez Maya and Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
Sian Ka'an, is Maya for "Where the Sky is
Born". Here the land melts with marine habitats
forming a complicated hydraulic system that encompasses
a variety of wetlands and coastal habitats such
as seasonally flooded forest, savannas, mangroves,
fresh water canals, lagoons, bays, cenotes (limestone
sinkholes), and coral reefs. Approximately one-third
of the reserve is covered by tropical forest,
while another third is composed of savanna and
mangrove. The last third contains coastal and
marine habitats, including 70 miles of the second
longest barrier reef in the world. The great variety
of habitats houses all the mammal species normally
found in the region including jaguar, puma, ocelot,
margay, jaguarundi, spider and howler monkeys,
tapir, white-lipped and collared peccary, manatee,
and red brocket and white-tailed deer. In addition,
the reserve provides habitat for crocodiles and
beaches for nesting endangered green, loggerhead,
hawksbill and leatherback sea turtles. Over 300
species of birds are found in Sian Ka'an, including
the rare jabiru stork. We will take a boat trip
through its canal system, do some freshwater snorkeling,
and relax along the beaches of Pez Maya, a 3 kilometer
long beachfront property recently protected by
TNC and their local counterparts, Amigos de Sian
Ka'an (ASK). We will visit an island rockery with
Roseate Spoonbills, Boatbill Herons, and Reddish
Egrets. At night, we will explore the lagoons
of Sian Ka'an by boat to search for crocodiles.
TNC's local partner Amigos de Sian Ka'an has been
conducting research on the crocodile population
of these lagoons for over a decade and has the
most extensive crocodile database in the region.
We'll have the opportunity to held our expert
guide (and crocodile handler) capture the animals
and bring them into the boat, take their measurements,
and tag them. This is a wonderful awe-inspiring
opportunity to feel like you are part of a live
Discovery Channel program.
Overnight: Los Lirios
Day 3:
Snorkeling on the Mesoamerican Reef
Our day starts off a little bumpy, literally,
as we travel the dirt road toward Punta Allen.
Upon arrival, we will head out to the second longest
barrier reef in the world for a half-day of snorkeling.
We will have several stops to enjoy the incredible
marine environment. We will have lunch on the
beach with the bounty of the sea prepared in traditional
manner. The afternoon is free.
Overnight: Hotel Los Lirios
Day 4:
Laguna Azul de Senor, Caste War Museum, Hanging
Boa Bat Cave
This is an active day. We start with a visit to
a small inland community of Senor. We will spend
the morning exploring the Laguna Azul de Senor
by kayak (optional) with our Mayan guides. We
will have a traditional Maya lunch prepared by
the families of our guides. In the afternoon we
will be immersed in the local Maya culture visiting
some of their artisan product workshops, learning
about traditional medicines from the local forests
and seeing how traditional musical instruments
are made. Late afternoon we will visit the Caste
War Museum in Tihosuco. (You need a good map to
find these places!) At sunset we have a special
treat, visiting a bat cave that has boa constrictors
hanging from the roof of the cave that feed on
the passing bats. This is an incredible opportunity
to see nature in its wild and pure form. In addition
to the snake/bat spectacle, a water source in
the cave is home to albino blind catfish and shrimp.
We mountain bike (or walk) to the cave entrance
just before dusk and participants can opt for
the thrilling night-bike-back or walk the 1 kilometer.
We will have a late dinner, but snacks will be
provided to carry us over. The hotel is very basic
and the only hotel option in Felipe Carrillo Puerto.
(The night trip to the bat cave is optional for
those with fear of bats or snakes or both).
Overnight: Hotel Esquivel, Felipe Carrillo Puerto
Day 5:
Arriving in Calakmul
After breakfast we depart for our 4 hour trip
south to the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. Calakmul
is located in the northern portion of the Peten
Region, and is a 1.7 million acre Biosphere Reserve,
contiguous with 5.5 million additional acres of
forest reserves in Guatemala and Belize. Pronatura
Peninsula de Yucatan, a TNC partner organization,
is very active in this area. We should arrive
in the early evening with time to freshen up before
happy hour and dinner.
Overnight: Hotel Ecovillage Chicanna
Day 6:
Project visit and Mayan archaeological sites
This morning we will visit an agrarian community
in the buffer zone of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve.
The Nature Conservancy and partner Pronatura Peninsula
Yucatan are working with farmer Valentine Gomez
Farias and others in communities that border the
forest to develop an integrated agricultural system
that allows the community to abandon the traditional,
destructive slash and burn techniques, while at
the same greatly increasing their profit margins.
We return to Ecovillage Chicanna for lunch, and
then travelers will have time to visit nearby
Mayan archeological sites like Becan and Chicanna.
Overnight: Hotel Ecovillage Chicanna
Day 7:
Calakmul Biosphere Reserve visit
Today we will be visiting the Calakmul Archeology
Site located deep within the Biosphere. At its
height in the classic Maya period, Calakmul rivaled
Tikal and, in fact, defeated Tikal not once but
twice! Oceallated turkeys and chachalacas are
commonly seen as are many other tropical bird
species. Five wild felines have healthy populations
in this region, although seeing one requires lots
of luck. The jaguar, for example, has its strongest
Mexican population in this reserve. We are often
fortunate to catch the Howler Monkeys in between
naps and on occasion find a couple Spider Monkeys
passing through the Reserve.
Time permitting, we also visit Balamku, an archeological
site with three 15-foot masks inside the main
pyramid structure. We hope to see toucans, trogans,
parrots, and agouti. Over 300 species of birds
have been recorded in the area, including over
twenty species of birds of prey. Right before
sunset we will visit one of the largest bat caves
in North America. Very little is known about this
cave, however, the population has been estimated
at between 5-10 million. We will arrive just in
time to witness their nightly mass exodus.
Overnight: Hotel Ecovillage Chicanna
Day 8:
Calakmul to Campeche City
From Calakmul, we will turn west and head towards
the Bay of Campeche. After lunch we will continue
on for a visit to Edzná, a spectacular
archeological site. This is one of our favorite
archeology sites due to its beautiful structures
and non-existent crowds. It's a wonderful way
to finish of our exploration of the Yucatecan
Mayan Sites.
Overnight: Hotel del Mar, Campeche
Day 9:
Campeche City
Campeche City. We have a full day to enjoy this
beautiful colonial city that is off the beaten
track for tourists. We will visit the Mayan archaeological
museum, set in a Fort that was built to protect
the original walled city of Campeche, a city first
constructed by Spanish conquistadors in 1531.
In 1999 UNESCO added the city of Campeche to its
list of World Cultural Heritage Sites.
Overnight: Hotel del Mar, Campeche
Day 10:
Departure
In the morning, we will depart Campeche City for
the drive to the Merida airport to catch our international
flight connections.
Logistical
Details
Biosphere Reserves of the Ancient Maya: Calakmul
& Sian Ka'an
November 9-18, 2007
Trip
Details:
This trip covers a wide variety of activities.
We will be both on foot and in boats, and the
possibility of rain always exists. We are, however,
visiting during the dry season and we hope for
good weather throughout the trip. The accommodation
will have showers and ceiling fans.
Financial Arrangements:
The fee for the tour is $3250 per person based
on double occupancy. Single rates are an additional
$655. This price includes: a detailed pre-trip
packet including a reading list, country bird
list, packing suggestions, and background reading
and conservation project information; all food,
three meals per day, from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast
on Day 10; all lodging for 9 nights during the
tour; ground transportation; in country airfares,
and guide services provided by the tour leader
and local expert guides. The tour fee does not
include international airfare, alcoholic beverages,
special gratuities, phone calls, passport fees,
airport departure taxes or items of a personal
nature. Rates are based upon group tariffs; if
the group does not have sufficient registration
a small party supplement may have to be charged.
Flight arrangements (not included) for this tour
can be made through your local travel agent.
Tour Size:
This tour will be strictly limited to a maximum
of 16 participants and a minimum of 10 participants.
Sign up early in order to secure your space.
Tour Registration:
To register for the tour, complete the enclosed
registration form and return it with a deposit
of $500 per person. Full payment of the tour fee
is due ninety days prior to the tour departure
(August 9, 2007). If you have any questions please
contact Katherine King of Emerald Planet (970-231-4890
or toll-free, 888-883-0736).
Travel Documents:
A US passport valid beyond your anticipated date
of return to the US and tourist card (available
on flight) is required. Currently no visas or
immunization certificates are required. Those
with foreign passports should contact the Embassy
of Mexico for details.
Cancellation Policy:
Refunds are made according to the following schedule:
If cancellation is made ninety days or more before
departure date, the deposit less $150 is refundable.
If cancellation is made between eighty-nine and
seventy days before departure date, the deposit
is not refundable, but any payments covering the
balance of the fee will be refunded. If cancellation
is made sixty-nine days or less before departure
date, no refund is available except for amounts
recoverable through our agents. We recommend that
you purchase trip cancellation insurance to protect
yourself. Trip cancellation insurance can be arranged
through Travel Insured International by calling
1-800-243-3174 or by visiting www.travelinsured.com.
Insurance can also be arranged through CSA Vacation
Guarantee by calling 1-800-645-5926 or by visiting
www.csatravelprotections.com.
Responsibility:
Emerald Planet, The Nature Conservancy, and/or
their Agents act only as agents for the passenger
in regard to travel, whether by railroad, motorcar,
motorcoach, boat, or airplane and assume no liability
for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or
irregularity which may be occasioned either by
reason of defect in any vehicle or for any reason
whatsoever, or through the acts or default of
any company or person engaged in conveying the
passenger or in carrying out the arrangements
of the tour. They can accept no responsibility
for losses or additional expenses due to delay
or changes in air or other services, sickness,
weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other causes.
All such losses or expenses will have to be borne
by the passenger as tour rates provide for arrangements
only for the time stated. The right is reserved
to substitute hotels of similar category for those
indicated and to make any changes in the itinerary
where deemed necessary or caused by changes in
air schedules. The right is reserved to cancel
any tour prior to departure, in which case full
refund will constitute full settlement to the
passenger. No refund will be made for any unused
portion of the tour. The right is reserved to
decline to accept or to retain any person as a
member of the tour. Baggage is at owners risk
entirely.
Health Precautions:
For comprehensive health information, please contact
the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov/travel
or by phone at 1-877-394-8747 (traveler's health
hotline). The CDC information is a comprehensive
listing of any disease reported in a particular
region or state. We have not had any problems
with diseases; however, you may need to discuss
with your physician what is best for you individually.
If you have any questions please consult your
physician. For general information about Mexico
please refer to the Consular Information sheet:
http://travel.state.gov/mexico.html
Please check with your medical insurance provided
to make sure that your insurance covers you while
you are abroad. Several companies can provide
additional international insurance as well as
emergency evacuation insurance. See MEDEX for
an example of one such provider: http://www.medexassist.com/
or 1-410-453-6300
For more information contact:
Katherine King
Emerald Planet Tours
1706 Constitution Court
Fort Collins, CO 80526
Cell: 970-231-4890
Toll-free: 888-883-0736
Office: 970-231-4890
E-mail: katking@emeraldplanet.com
To sign up for
this trip, please fill out and return the registration
form (downloads are in PDF format)
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