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Hiking is a great way for families to get to know the local flora and fauna. // © 2010 Eva Serrabassa |
Mexico has all the trappings of a dream destination for any nature lover: Ecological preserves that cover some 18 million acres and protected areas (147 in all) that include unspoiled biosphere reserves and sprawling national parks. Add to that its resident populations of flora and fauna — 30,000 species of flowering plants, nearly 1,000 species of birds and more than 1,500 kinds of reptiles, mammals and amphibians — and you’ve got quite a proposition for anyone considering a trip south of the border.
So, how do you make all these natural wonders accessible for kids? Happily, connecting family travelers with fun and educational ecotourism activities is easy, thanks to the many tour operators, hotels and facilities geared toward the needs of adventurers of all ages. Regardless of a traveler’s age or interest level, Mexico is as rich in family-friendly ecotourism possibilities as it is in beautiful scenery and interesting wildlife.
Baja California’s Gentle Giants
The Baja California peninsula offers excellent opportunities for families to witness wildlife up close. Beginning in November, more than 10,000 California gray whales migrate from the cold waters of the Bering Sea to Baja’s warmer climes. January through late March is the best time to head out by boat to see these gigantic creatures and their newborn calves. Day trips are available from many local tour operators or, for a more in-depth experience, clients may consider Lindblad Expeditions, which offers eight-day cruises that include whale watching at Magdalena Bay; or Baja Ecotours, which stages a five-day trip that departs from San Diego for San Ignacio Lagoon.
On a smaller scale than the gray whales — but no less interesting — are the giant sea turtles that begin their nesting season along the Baja coast in July. Five species frequent this stretch of sand, and several hotels participate in a well-organized preservation effort. Guests at these hotels — which include the Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa, Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort and Marquis Los Cabos, to name a few — may participate in the program, witnessing the incubation of eggs and the release of baby turtles. At The Westin Resort & Spa Los Cabos and the Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar Golf & Spa Resort, guests can opt for special Family Weekend packages with discounts for children, as they learn about the nesting process and protection of the Olive Ridley turtle.
Pacific Coast Pleasures
“Mazatlan has a slew of new eco-adventures for families,” said Christie Gregovich, a spokesperson for the Mazatlan Hotel Association, the destination’s largest tourism organization.
Indeed, visitors will find an array of possibilities in the so-called “Pearl of the Pacific.” Hotel Playa Mazatlan is home to EduVentura, an educational recreation center open to the public, complete with climbing walls, rappelling stations, ziplines and even a pre-Hispanic temazcal spa. Children’s programs include ecological workshops that use games and direct contact with animals and natural surroundings as educational tools.
In Puerto Vallarta, families can head to scenic, peaceful places such as the Marietas Islands Marine Reserve to view sea turtles, dolphins and blue-footed boobies or join tour operators, including Vallarta Adventures, for interactive programs with dolphins at the Dolphin Adventure Center. At Las Caletas, an adventure park, even smaller children can enjoy the thrill of a canopy tour, thanks to a special double-line zipline. The Kids Summer Camp at Las Caletas ranges from two to five days in length, and features diving, snorkeling, surfing and sailing programs.
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Clients headed to Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo with children might consider checking in at Playa Viva, a 200-acre ecological boutique hotel resort where guests may participate in La Tortuga Feliz, a sea turtle program that comes to a head during World Turtle Day on May 23, 2011.
“Participating in the protection of endangered species is one of the most unique and rewarding opportunities available to our guests at Playa Viva,” said owner David Leventhal. “From families with young children to adults, working at La Tortuga Feliz is an awe-inspiring process that really helps our guests reconnect with the environment.”
Caribbean Beauty
Both Cancun and the Riviera Maya serve as gateways to countless family-friendly ecotourism adventures. Among the newest options is a community-based tourism network called Puerta Verde (Green Door). It offers tours operated by 14 cooperatives from seven different Mayan communities, with a portion of the proceeds reinvested in local, environmental and cultural projects. Tours depart from both Cancun and the Riviera Maya and include activities such as camping in the jungle, visiting butterfly houses and sampling authentic Maya cuisine.
“It’s one of my favorite real sustainable activities,” said Erandeni Abundis, public relations manager for the Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Mexico’s Caribbean coast is famed for its ecological parks, especially Xcaret, where kids can explore underground rivers, wander through a butterfly pavilion and swim with dolphins. The park’s Snuba Family program provides adults and kids ages 10 and older with a good introduction to Snuba, a cross between snorkeling and scuba diving, in a safe and peaceful stretch of the Caribbean Sea.
At Rio Secreto, just south of Playa del Carmen, families with children over 6 years of age can tour an underground river with thousands of dramatic stalactites and stalagmites.
“We have lots of options in our destination, but Rio Secreto has the flavor of a personalized experience, since they handle small groups and it truly is a sustainable activity,” Abundis said. “You not only experience adventure, you also become more aware of how fragile our limestone Yucatan Peninsula is.”
Among the local hotels that offer children’s programs with an ecological bent is the Fairmont Mayakoba, where kids ages 4 to 12 get complimentary access to the resort’s Discovery Club and Adventure Camp.
“From late August through early December every year, hotel staff liberate baby turtles raised in their own turtle farm,” noted Ashley Bleimes, a spokesperson for Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. “Each child at the kids’ club has the opportunity to free a turtle, receiving a diploma and the hotel’s special thanks for helping us to preserve the marine turtles.”
Just across the water on Cozumel, kids can experience encounters with yet another interesting animal. At Stingray Beach, expert guides provide the inside scoop on the lives of — you guessed it — stingrays, and visitors can actually meet, touch and snorkel with them. (Barbs are clipped, so the experience is safe for children of all ages.)
It may not be possible to expose your clients’ children to all 147 protected ecological areas in Mexico but, with so many options in nearly every major tourism destination, there is more than enough to fill any vacation itinerary.
Baja Ecotours
www.bajaecotours.com
EduVentura
www.eduventura.com
El Eden
www.canopyeleden.com
Hidden Worlds
www.hiddenworlds.com
Huana Coa
www.huanacoa.com
Lindblad Expeditions
www.expeditions.com
Onca Explorations
www.oncaexplorations.com
Rio Secreto
www.riosecretotours.com
Sian Kaan Biosphere
www.cesiak.org
Stingray Beach
www.stingraybeach.com
Xcaret
www.xcaret.com
Xel-Ha
www.xelha.com
Vallarta Adventures
www.vallarta-adventures.com
