10 Maya foods that changed the world's eating habits

From an article by Christine Delsol in the San Francisco Chronicle:

The ancient Maya civilization — which ranged from the Yucatán Peninsula to Chiapas and Tabasco states, part of Veracruz state and as far south as Honduras — is well known for perfecting architectural techniques that produced towering cities, and for developing an advanced written language and creating books centuries before anything comparable appeared in Europe. The Maya also were gifted mathematicians who developed the concept of zero. And their astronomers, through centuries of patient observation, created a 365-day solar calendar that varies by less than 2 seconds from the one we use today — more accurate than what Cortés was using when he landed in 1519.

Lost among the laurels heaped upon the Maya, though, is credit for their agricultural wizardry. When the conquering Spanish started carrying Maya food staples back to Europe and to the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, it changed the world's eating habits. We're not talking about the Yucatán's deliciously exotic lime-and-achiote concoctions but food you buy every day in Safeway's produce aisles. Just try to get through a day without:

1. Chocolate
Legions of chocoholics would argue that the Maya's "food of the gods," made from the toasted, fermented seeds of the cacao tree, is the New World's greatest gift to civilization. Though Cortés learned of chocolate from the Aztecs, they had acquired it through trade with the Maya, who first cultivated it about 3,000 years ago. Maya and Aztec aficionados drank their chocolate bitter and spicy; sugar was unknown before the conquest. Even today, chocolate in the Yucatán may be flavored with paprika, annatto or even pepper. But it was more than a drink to the Maya, who believed it came from the gods and formed a bridge between heaven and earth. Cacao seeds were an early form of money, and archaeologists have uncovered counterfeit seeds made of clay. . . .

Read more...

El Niño taming the season's hurricanes

From an article by Patricia Grogg on Tierramérica:HAVANA, Aug 24

(Tierramérica) - The cyclical climate phenomenon known as El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the equatorial Pacific Ocean this year is helping weaken cyclone activity in the Northern Atlantic and the Caribbean. But Cuban meteorologists are warning against complacency.

Cyclone activity is reduced in this area when El Niño is on the rise, but that does not mean a complete absence of intense tropical storms. José Rubiera, head of the Forecasting Center at the Meteorology Institute of Cuba, pointed out to Tierramérica that in 1930 one single hurricane destroyed the capital of the Dominican Republic.

In 1992, another El Niño year, there was very little cyclone activity, but Andrew, one of the few hurricanes that formed during that season, achieved category 5 status, the maximum on the Saffir-Simpson scale that measures wind velocity. Andrew devastated the southeastern U.S. state of Florida.

El Niño, the warm phase of ENSO, occurs when the surface water temperatures of the central and equatorial Pacific Ocean rise above the average.

So far, this season is seeing a "weak" El Niño, but it is expected to intensify towards the end of the year, said Rubiera, who went on to describe the two faces of this naturally recurring phenomenon, which manifests every two to five years.

The "good" El Niño is when it helps neutralize cyclone activity in the Northern Atlantic and Caribbean during the northern summer hurricane season, due to the increase in wind speeds in the upper atmosphere (at altitudes of 10 to 12 kilometers).

Read more...

Guests from Ritz-Carlton, Cancun team up with Mayan Communities to create lasting contribution

From a post on Mexico Premiere:

CANCUN, México – August 2009 – Guests from The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun can team up with volunteers of the award winning resort to help Mayan communities in need. The Mayan Acquaintance Experience is the resorts Give Back Getaway activity, offering voyagers the opportunity to sense the magic of a culture still alive in the jungles of Quintana Roo.

Partnering with Kanché, a local non-profit organization, starting August 14, 2009, the beachfront hotel is offering guests the opportunity to have an extraordinary encounter with the Mayan culture through a full-day giving experience. During their visit, participants travel to a nearby village to join the locals on projects that will contribute to improve the rural conditions of the town and the lack of opportunities for its people.

Once on location, guests work side-by-side with the resort’s volunteers and the community on different tasks, from painting and gardening to simple carpentry and furniture restoration for improvement of the school. In addition, guests can also collaborate in implementing recycling programs to raise environmental awareness in the community. At all times, participants are joined by the hotel’s employees who provide interesting tidbits about this captivating culture and teach Mayan words for visitors to communicate with the locals.

“Give Back Getaways is an inspiring opportunity for guests to team up with our ladies and gentlemen to become more involved with the region and personally enrich their visit” mentioned Hermann Elger, general manager. “The Mayan Acquaintance experience provides a true insight into the Mayan culture while conveying the spirit of giving. We are all eager to join efforts with our guests to create a lasting contribution while providing significant and unforgettable experiences” he added.

Read more...

Progresso: An affordable tropical haven

From an article by Snannon Roxborough on NorthJersey.com:

If you've never heard of Mexico's Emerald Coast, you're not alone.

A two-bedroom home a block from the beach in Telchac - Progreso's neighbor to the east - is $59,900. Mexico Located on the northwestern side of the tongue-shaped Yucatán Peninsula, four hours west of Cancún, it is sometimes called Riviera Flamingo, so named because of the pink birds that congregate there. This is a region of pristine beaches, warm, tranquil waters, and sherbet-colored cottages that dot the shore.

While no part of Mexico can truthfully be called undiscovered, Puerto Progreso, the Gulf Coast port 30 minutes north of Mérida, the quaint capital of Yucatán state, sits blissfully oblivious to the throngs a couple of hundred miles to the east. Which is fortunate, because it looks much as it has for decades. On a powdery stretch free of the large-scale development found in many coastal areas, it feels like a Mexico that's been frozen in time, at least compared with the much-trampled spots on the Caribbean Sea.

Although Mérida, with its colonial-era cobblestone streets, is home to a thriving expatriate community, Progreso has gone largely overlooked. But for years, the harbor town sandwiched between the fishing villages of Dzilam de Bravo on the east and Sisal on the west has been the holiday and second-home haven for upper-income Mexicans who live in Mérida.

Read more...

Tourism going climate neutral

From an article on TravelMole.com:

The relationship between climate change issues and the tourism sector can best be understood in terms of:

•How the tourism sector will be affected by climate change
•How the tourism sector contributes to climate change
•How to mitigate and adapt to climate change by making tourism more sustainable

Luigi Cabrini Director Sustainable Development, UNWTO will present the current stage of work on the Davos Declaration process in the build up to Copenhagen. The Davos process already contains the necessary mitigation and adaptation strategies that can be undertaken to minimize the negative aspects of climate change and move towards a carbon neutral economy. The Davos process asks tourism stakeholders to:

•Mitigate its Greenhouse Gas GHG emissions, derived especially from transport and accommodation activities;
•Adapt tourism businesses and destinations to changing climate conditions;
•Apply existing and new technology to improve energy efficiency; and
•Secure financial resources to help poor regions and countries.

Read more...

The Haciendas hotel chain honored for poverty alleviation

From a Reuters article by Miral Fahmy, editing by Belinda Goldsmith:

SINGAPORE (Reuters Life!) - Most holidays tend to be self-indulgent affairs but the places you stay at need not be, with travel magazine Conde Naste Traveler awarding hotels, airlines and travel companies for being socially responsible.
The World Savers Awards, now in their third year, honor companies globally for their efforts in five areas: poverty alleviation, cultural or environmental preservation, education programs, wildlife conservation, and health initiatives. . . .

The magazine said The Haciendas, a small chain in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, did the most to help the poor, turning abandoned haciendas into chic resorts and hiring villagers as well as helping others to start their own businesses. . . .

Conde Naste Traveler reviewed over 100 applications, picking 36 finalists.

An independent panel of 20 judges, comprised of travel industry executives and experts as well non-governmental organizations, decided the winners, who will be given their awards on September 21 in New York City.

Read more...

Sign up to clean up!

From the Ocean Conservancy:

In partnership with organizations and individuals across the globe, Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup engages people to remove trash and debris from the world's beaches and waterways, identify the sources of debris, and change the behaviors that cause marine debris in the first place. Join us this September: Sign up for a Cleanup near you and get involved today!

Several sites will host clean ups in the Yucatán.

Read more...

How the vacation-bound can limit camage to coral reefs

From an article by Nina Shen Rastogi in The Washington Post:

Quesstion: I'm about to leave for my long-awaited tropical vacation, and now I've gotten myself in a tizzy over whether my swimming and snorkeling might contribute to the destruction of coral reefs. How can I be a more responsible ocean visitor? And what about these reports I've heard about sunscreen killing corals -- is that true? Should I let myself burn to save the reefs?

Answer: You're right to worry. The world's coral reefs are not in such great shape: According to a comprehensive 2008 report from the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, about 19 percent of the world's coral reefs are "effectively lost," meaning that they're so degraded or polluted they can no longer support healthy ecosystems or provide other benefits. Another 15 percent are in serious danger of joining that category within 10 to 20 years. Reefs are more than just awe-inspiring and gorgeous; they're also brimming with wildlife. They provide local communities with food and money from fishing and tourism and help protect coastlines from storms and rough waves.

Vacationing snorkelers and scuba divers aren't the biggest threat to coral reefs; that dubious honor belongs to the trifecta of global warming, the fishing industry and land-based pollution. But tourism is still a major concern: In 2002, the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force identified "recreational overuse" as one of six priority threats facing our country's coral reefs. The deleterious effects may be even more pronounced in developing countries, where rapid expansion of the tourism industry isn't always coupled with well-managed conservation efforts.

Ocean frolickers can damage corals intentionally, by touching them or breaking off branches as souvenirs, and unintentionally, by standing, walking or dragging their gear over them. Snorkelers and divers can also kick up clouds of sediment with their fins. When that grit lands on a reef, it blocks the sunlight that zooxanthellae, the algae that live in and nourish the corals, need for photosynthesis.

Read more...

Nature guide

When you see a plant or animal that you don't recognize in the Yucatán, check the Plants, Animals & Ecology of the Northern Yucatán Penninsula.

Read more...

Bike tour in and around Mérida

From Ecotourism Yucatán:

An adventurous and exciting tour which combines mountain biking, a visit to an underground cave and ends with a refreshing dip into the crystalline waters of a tenuously lit cenote. The 35 kms. traveled during this 3 to 4 hour adventure include three rest stops, visits to 2 archaeological sites, a henequen hacienda, an underground cave and time to swim in 2 cenotes.

Included: 21-speed mountain bike, helmet, purified water, transportation from Merida to departure point and return to Merida, support-vehicle during entire trip with Jeep Wagoneer (not air-conditioned), insurance, entrance fees, ice chest.

Recommended equipment:
+ Appropriate clothes for each of the tour´s activities
+ Biking: shorts, t-shirt, tennis shoes, socks, cap, sun glasses, bio-degradeable sunblock.
+ Cave exploration: Long pants, t-shirt, flashlight.
+ Swimming: Swimsuit, facemask, snorkeling gear and fins, towel, change of clothes for ride back to Merida.
+ Energy snacks (granola bars, dried fruit, nuts, fresh fruit).
+ Food for picnic lunch.

OPTIONAL: Typical picnic lunch for an additional $ 7.00 USD (Please confirm when making tour reservation).

Tour Prices
Please contact us at info@ecoyuc.com to offer you a price. We require a minnimum of 4 participants and a maximum of 12 in order to operate this tour

Requirements: Youthful spirit, good health and physical condition, and passion for outdoor activities and swimming. Participants welcome between the ages of 15 years old and older. (Children must be accompanied by parent/guardian or responsable adult) Minimum weight: 41 kg. / 90 lbs.

Departure from Merida: 8:00 A.M.
Return to Merida: 7:00 P.M.
Minimum: 4 participants
Maximum: 12 participants

Read more...

From Amigos de Sian Ka'an:

ORIGIN
Amigos de Sian Ka’an was founded in June of 1986 by 14 residents of Cancún, their purpose being to promote the preservation of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve (RBSK) and its surrounding areas with the support and participation from the private sector.

The creation of Amigos de Sian Ka’an set a precedent for being the first non-governmental, non-profit assocation formed in Mexico. With the collaboration of conservationists, land owners on the coastal areas of RBSK, developers, interested volunteers and investigators in the field of natural resourses, ASK became critically involved in the conservation of a protected natural area administered by the federal government.

OBJECTIVES
•Identify, protect and preserve areas with an elevated value of biodiversity, as well as those essential to the maintenance of ecological processes or critical to the maintenance of biological cycles of migratory species, threatened or in danger of extinction.
•Generate tools and models to implement alternatives in favor of the conservation of sites and the handling of resources compatible with the sustainable development.
•Supply training and environmental education to the different sectors of our society.
•Collaborate and support international organizations, the different sectors of the government (federal, state, and municipal), the private sector, the local communities, the non-governmental organizations, and the education and investigation centers focused on reaching the preceding objectives.
•Be an exemplary association, efficient and modern, capable of carrying out our mission and objectives for which it was created.

Read more...

Why relocate turtle nests

From an article by Bob Klotz in the Sac Be newsletter:

When walking on the beach at night, visitors frequently come upon sea turtle protection technicians—called “tortugueros” in Spanish—observing nesting turtles, counting eggs, taking measurements, affixing numbered identification tags, marking nest positions, monitoring hatchlings, and under certain circumstances, relocating eggs from one place on the beach to another. Tortugueros are trained in this work, and must carry official identification cards and copies of the federally issued permits which authorize them to work with sea turtles, which are endangered and protected under federal law.

One frequently asked question is why a nest should be moved.
Under ideal conditions, they should not be moved. Sadly, the presence of tourists or local visitors on the beach frequently leads to less than ideal conditions. In addition, preservation efforts are occasionally at odds with “natural” practices.

With respect to managing new marine turtle nests, standard practices recognized by the Mexican federal government offer four options to authorized tortugueros. In order of preference, these are:
(1) leaving the nests where they are;
(2) moving the eggs to an ostensibly safer position near the nesting site;
(3) moving the eggs to a protected area, called a “corral;” or
(4) moving the eggs to an artificial incubation facility.
Leaving the nests where they are is generally the optimal situation, since natural nests have a higher level of hatching success. When left in place, however, they do face some natural threats.

Read more...

Jaguars and Mayan temples in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve

From the 9th World Wilderness Congress, meeting in Mérida, November 6 - 13:

Located in the southern Yucatan peninsula, in the heart of the Mayan jungle, Calakmul is one of the wildest tracks of tropical forests in the region, and an essential wilderness in Mexico. It is a paradise for neotropical mammals, with almost 95 species recorded, including howler monkeys, anteaters, and five wild cats. Here, Balam (Mayan name for jaguar) roams along with ocelots, jaguarondis, margays and pumas, while the shy tapirs bathe in the hidden ponds. Scarlet-macaws and ornate hawk-eagles are two amongst the 330 species of birds that have been recorded, many of them rare migrants that depend on this wintering refuge for their survival.

Amazingly, this wonderful wildlife haven was also one of the most important human settlements of the Mayan culture, and the ancient splendor of the city of Calakmul is still reflected in the colossal pyramids and in the beautifully carved stelaes, that send us an encouraging message about the strong resilience of a true wilderness.

Read more...

Green pays off for hotels

An article by David Wilkening posted on TravelMole:

For anyone worrying whether those green efforts are worth the trouble, there’s a lot of reassurance in a recently released report by J. D. Power and Associates.

It showed, among other findings, that green hotels made great strides in awareness, guest satisfaction and participation in sustainable programs since last year.

Findings included:

 Guest awareness of their hotel’s green programs increased significantly this year with two-thirds of respondents aware of their hotel’s green efforts.

 Many guests or more than two thirds took part in their hotel’s sustainability efforts.

 But perhaps most telling of all: awareness of green programs had a strong impact on overall guest satisfaction.

Read more...