Selva del Marinero

Overview

Description

Among the countless beautiful attractions in the state of Veracruz, the Los Tuxtlas Reserve stands out for its extraordinary biological diversity, beautiful landscapes, and wide variety of ecosystems that range from cloud forest, jungle, volcanoes, and mangroves, to beautiful beaches that were once hideouts for pirates in the 17th century. All of this is located in a relatively small area.

This small region has extensive biodiversity and attractions. For example, Los Tuxtlas is home to 55% of the species recorded in Costa Rica, making it an ideal site for the development of ecotourism.

The region is also famous as the setting for several films such as Mel Gibson’s “Apocalypto,” “Medicine Man” with Sean Connery, and “La Sombra Verde.” These were filmed at sites including the Roca Partida, the Eyipantla waterfall, and Nanciyaga near the city of Catemaco.

“Selva del Marinero,” which belongs to the Los Tuxtlas Community Ecotourism Network S.C., offers quality services so you can discover this region and its people, who will help you learn about their customs and traditional way of life.

Rooms

10 (each sleeps up to 5 people)

Making a Difference

Number of employees: 35

Percentage of local employees: 100%

The Los Tuxtlas Community Ecotourism Network carries out activities in regions adjacent to the Core Zone II of the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve. It began operations in 1997 as the first ecotourism business in the region and it has been designated the Guardian of the Northern Gate of the Reserve.

We are working on consistent, concrete actions that can be appropriated, which are derived from needs and obligations in a way that externalities can be internalized yielding models for natural resource conservation and sustainable development with a sense of cultural identity. The result is a method for sustainable cultural identity and conservation, in a way that ensures consistency and the permanence of the community-based enterprises and their conservation actions, expressed through their true identity.

It is important that the new generations appropriate this process and we work in a three-dimensional environment that considers: the space, the means and the time that should address the personal and family expectations of the partners of the community enterprises and the local population, aimed at achieving a fitting stability in the quality of life.

This initiative aims to be established as a model for sustainable identity and conservation in a three-dimensional context, and its purpose is to expand the spectrum of factors, needs, limitations, requirements, and integral responses that can occur in this process. Thus, the goal is to evolve from an alternative project toward the creation of a sustainable community-based enterprise model that is durable and inheritable.

This business is operated by a community group; the partners themselves are the employees and sometimes up to 10% of hirees are local people.

Rates

$51 – $75

Normally we sell packages that include a 3-day, 4-night itinerary, but special quotes can be provided in accordance with your needs.

For more information about the rates and packages, write tarifa@tuxtlas.org.

Getting There

Nearest international airport: Mexico City (MEX) and Veracruz (VER)

Nearest local/national airport: Minatitlán (MTT)

The two nearest airports are both 3.5 hours away via federal highway 180 to the city of Catemaco; from there you travel approximately 16 miles (25 km) to the centers; around 5 miles (8 km) of these roads are gravel and a pick-up truck is recommended (four-wheel drive is not necessary).

Additional Information

Additional Web sites

• www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nTDp6hd49Y&feature=related (available in French and Spanish). Ecotourism Stories López Mateos -- Video in French or Spanish with French sub-titles. 9.57 minutes

Date This Information Was Provided

September 2009.

Photos courtesy of Selva del Marinero, Mexico, for SustainableTrip.org.

Histoires d'écotourisme 3/5 - Lopez Mateos