Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel

Mexico: Say ‘Si’ to Ecotourism and More

Record numbers of visitors are saying ‘si’ to Mexico’s many offerings, with special interests like ecotourism leading the way. While the country can boast more visitors than ever, it can rarely feel crowded, thanks to its sheer size and geographical and cultural diversity. All those ecotourists can’t be wrong.

Record Tourism

International travel to Mexico registered record numbers in 2000, with the country on track to welcome about 20 million foreign visitors for the year. This virtually doubled the approximate 10 million visitors in 1999.

This is due in part to the formation earlier in the year of the new Mexico Tourism Board (MTB), a unique public and private partnership formed by the country’s tourism industry and state and federal governments. Formed to promote travel throughout Mexico, a new ad campaign (“Discover the Many Moods of Mexico”) has brought the country to the forefront of travelers minds and plans.

“We expect these record-breaking numbers to continue and are proud to be a part of this historical moment in Mexico’s tourism history,” says Javier Vega, General Director of the MTB. The group is dedicated to positioning Mexico as a complete travel destination and increasing the country’s tourism presence internationally by promoting special sectors like ecotourism. “Whatever your travel needs and desires may be, Mexico has developed infrastructure, diverse product, and exceptional service to meet and exceed them,” says the MTB’s Patricia Echenique.

Green is Good

Thanks to its incredible diversity, Mexico is an up-and-coming ecotourism hotspot just now being discovered. It’s a great time to get green south of the border.

With its white sandy beaches, world-famous scuba diving, mystic ruins, and rich history and culture, Mexico’s increasing popularity with travelers is in large part due to its variety of natural resources. For this reason, Mexico has become one of the most popular destinations with ecotourists.

Ecotourism is an area of specialty travel that seeks to conserve the environment and sustain the well-being of the local people. The number of ecotravelers in the U.S. has increased to around 35 million in the U.S., as figured by those planning to take a nature-based vacation in the next year.

These travelers look for a variety of features when seeking out their ideal ecologically sound and interesting destination. Mexico’s diverse natural environment provides the perfect setting for this responsible form of travel.

Mexico’s environmental features include: more than 18 million acres of ecological preserves; 44 national parks; 111 protected areas; 24 biosphere reserves; and several national marine parks and other protected areas for flora and fauna. Mexico is also home to one-fifth of the total world wildlife population, nearly 30,000 species of flowering plants (including 1,000 species of orchids), more than 1,000 species of birds (50 species of hummingbirds alone), and 1,500 species of reptiles, mammals, and amphibians.

The geographical diversity is phenomenal, with the possibilities include dry northern deserts, tropical forests in the south, snow-capped mountains (including three more than 17,000 feet in altitude, plunging canyons and gorges (including the hemisphere’s largest series of canyons), a string of active volcanoes, and four distinct bodies of water lining more than 6,000 miles of coastline.

Where to Go

While all of Mexico offers ecotourism opportunities, five areas of the country have become best-known for opportunities. Three of the areas lie in Mexico’s dry northern region, while the other two are in the wet and tropical southern part of the country.

In the north, the newly designated Sea of Cortez Biosphere and the neighboring Baja California Peninsula offer experiences unlike anywhere else in the world. From diving, snorkeling, or boating (including whale watching) the famed waters to exploring the unusual peninsula below the U.S.’s California, this is a great introduction to Mexico ecotourism.

The third major option, Copper Canyon, is also completely unique. This geographical wonder, rightfully compared to the grandeur of the Grand Canyon (it’s four times the size), is best seen on foot through varied hikes or by way of the spectacularly beautiful train service. The area is the habitat of a pre-Hispanic Indian tribe.

To the south, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve on the country’s Caribbean coast features more than 1.3 million acres of protected land 85 miles south of Cancun. Named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations, the reserve consists of wetlands, savannahs, tropical forests, freshwater and saltwater lagoons, cays, marshland, and barrier reefs. It’s white sand beaches cover more than 60 miles of the coastline. Local communities support low-impact tourism with tours that might include birdwatching, snorkeling, scuba diving, or visits into the heart of the mangroves. Of course, Mayan ruins are yet another highlight of this Yucatan Peninsula area.

The state of Chiapas is literally a frontier region in the confines of North America, with wild rivers, deep canyons, and a thick rainforest jungle among many highlights. Six of Mexico’s top national parks and nature preserves are located here, including Sumidero Canyon, Agua Azul, and Lagunas de Montebello.

Of course, these six ecotourism hotspots aren’t the only places to get green in Mexico. Outside of virtually every city and village or just off the coast, the great outdoors, culture, and history await. It’s just a matter of heading south of the border and saying ‘si’ to the friendly locals and record number of (smart) visitors choosing Mexico as a ‘bueno’ tourism destination.

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For further information about Mexico tourism, call (800) 4-4-MEXICO or visit their website at www.visitmexico.com.

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The Caribbean island of Cozumel off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is a perfect example of the ecotourism opportunities in the country. From Mayan ruins to world famous scuba diving, Cozumel welcomes ecotourists and so does La Ceiba Hotel. Highlights of this popular hotel include all oceanview rooms, a restaurant with sea views, pools, 5-Star PADI scuba diving, island tours, discounts on Jeep rentals, and more. For more information, visit their website at www.dive-cozumel.com or call (800) 435-3240

Another Sidebar/Box Possibility

One of the most dazzling sights each winter in Mexico occurs just three hours away from Mexico City in a protected area called Angangeo. Here, millions of Monarch butterflies converge on the oyamel fir trees to keep warm, lay eggs, and mate. The sky and the trees literally turn yellow as they make their yearly sojourn. Ecotourists are now making the trip as well (generally from November to March).