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Mayan Encounter |
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NEWS |
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PRESS RELEASE Press Release: New Destination for Senior and Disabled Group Travel New eco-conscious expeditions in the Mexican Caribbean launched to provide alternative for seniors and disabled. Playa del Carmen, Mexico, 12 Sept 2008 Project Mayan Encounter launches expeditions in the Riviera Maya that combine nature with cultural experience. Tours are geared towards small groups, but individuals are welcome, too. The idea is to bring the beauty of this geographical location and its rich culture to the so-called baby boom generation, senior citizens, and people with disabilities, as well as anyone who chooses to explore fauna, flora, culture and the region’s archaeological wealth at a relaxed pace. Most tour operators are forced to work within a tight rotation schedule, while those that have an environmentally and socially conscious focus oftentimes specialize in physical activities and adventure. A forum has been opened to serve as a knowledge base for vacationers and trip planners, such as senior or disability organizations and agencies, group travel agents or any eco-conscious individual, to pick from a variety of activities and design their perfect “à-la-carte” travel experience. Behind the project stands Stefanie Baeker, a German native from the North Sea coast, where green tourism prevails. Her understanding of tourism, coupled with her association with an online portal for low vision and blindness resources since early 2004, as well as her interest in Mayan history and the local biosphere reserves, have sparked the idea for Project Mayan Encounter. She has lived in the Riviera Maya for 5 years. |
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Bird Watching The winter months are usually best for bird watching in the Sian Ka’an biosphere, although there are still a gazillion of tropical birds to see year round. We take you out on a boat ride in the lagoon and you get to float in the crystal clear and cool canals, the ancient trade ways of the Mayans. The price inclusive guided roundtrip transfer from and to Playa del Carmen is $128 per person, and comes down if you are a small group. Please let us know if we need to make any accessibility preparations to ensure that this will be a special day for you: info at accessecotours.com |
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Copyright 2008. Stefanie Baeker. All rights reserved.
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Medicinal Plant Workshops Together with the ’alchemists’ in the Mayan communities we are offering plant workshops to show you the benefits and use of medical plants for alternative healing. Bring your list of questions! |
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Tulum Green House Tours If you are interested in ecological construction join Tamara for a house-tour. This will be an interesting alternative while visiting Tulum, and you may find some inspiration for modifications of you own home, or even decide to move here and build your eco-house! Look at wind and solar energy, green building material, compost toilets, natural irrigation, recycling, permaculture etc. Tamara also sells biodegradable house cleaners and cosmetics. Email us at info @ accessecotours.com to set you up, or call Tamara directly if you are already in Tulum: 984-135-3773. Tours are ongoing and the cost is 200 pesos (aprx $20). |
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Blind School in Playa del Carmen Further developments of the blind school in Playa del Carmen: The Braille printer that ViewPlus has generously donated was delivered to DIF (Family Development Agency), specifically to Juan Simon, the Braille instructor, on August 28, 2009. See pictures on Facebook. This would not have been possible without the equally generous help of “Scottie”, my fellow volunteer at the diabetes program at Angel Notion, who donated the shipping costs. The next step is to get warm with using the printer. More exciting news is that HumanWare, one of the largest manufacturers of assistive technology for the vision impaired, is going to help with slates, styluses and other voice-output technology. We are always grateful for any help in form of computers, audio or large print books, Braille paper, note takers, talking watches or calculators, canes, abacuses, headphones, speakers, manual or e-magnifiers, talking dictionaries and cell phones, curriculum and lesson plans in Spanish or English. Please email me at info @ accessecotours.com or stef @ ocusource.com to arrange things—whether you are coming down yourself, send small stuff through someone you know is coming down, or send a shipment. Or call Juan Simon on his cell phone in Mexico: +52(1)984-137-3063 or at his desk: +52-984-877-3037. Donations can be tax write-offs. |
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Green Expo Tulum 2009 Tulum is the eco-pearl of the Riviera Maya, where sustainable living is written in capitals. Besides eco-conscious locals, tourists and investors develop an ever growing interest in this area. The entire “hotel zone” (they are actually neat cabana-style eco lodges, appealing to various budgets) generates electricity with solar and wind energy. The 2nd Green Expo Tulum is a two-day event, where ecologically-minded businesses from across the country will meet to show new and trusted technologies for sustainable living and environmental protection. If you happen to be in the area, visit on Friday, Aug 7 and Saturday, Aug 8. In the name of Project Mayan Encounter I am going to speak on eco tourism and the integration of disabled & senior travelers on Saturday at 10.00 am. |
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Swimming with Whale Sharks These peaceful ocean creatures reach a length of about 12 meters (40ft) and are one of the largest living fish species. They can weigh up to 15 tons. Experience coming eye to eye with these giant vegetarians when they pass the north tip of the Yucatan Peninsula between June and August. I went to their feeding spots with Ocean Tours on May 26th and got to swim with some of them already—what a trip! But that’s not all: we passed by Isla Contoy, an uninhabited bird sanctuary, and did some snorkeling at the reef near Isla Mujeres, where we saw many other marine species under & above the water level. |
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Kohunlich Ruins in Southern Mexico Coming back from an awesome trip to the Kohunlich ruins and Bacalar lagoon. View photos on Facebook! |
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XCACEL TURTLE SANCTUARY needs serious help! In a nutshell, some business heads are trying to build a hotel and mess up the ecosystem. This site has an English translation in the left navigation bar. The Riviera Maya is one of the world’s most desirable vacation destinations, in particular because of its beautiful marine life, and therefore is a very valuable area for the Mexican economy. So your signature can make a difference! |
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NEW EXPEDITIONS Project Mayan Encounter is expanding… working with Mela, a professional nature guide and passionate photographer, we conduct eco-cultural group trips on the Yucatan peninsula and in the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca and the peninsula of Yucatan that include special needs groups—but as always: anyone is warmly welcome! We also support cross-general traveling. To find the trip that best suits your needs please have a look at the tour descriptions, or email us: info @ accessecotours.com. Info is coming on these roundtrips: 1. Arrive Mexico City—Oaxaca—Chiapas—Yucatan—Leave from Cancun 2. Arrive Mexico City—Chiapas—Yucatan—Leave from Cancun 3. Arrive Cancun—Yucatan—Leave from Cancun 4. Argentina: Patagonia trekking from Calafate or Punta Arenas, 15-20 days (5-13 people), postponed to aprx. Jan/Feb 2010. |
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Guide Published: Open Britain Tourism for All & Radar in the UK have partnered-up and published a new guide on accessible tourism. Click here to read the press release on their site. Accessible Diving We want to invite Veterans and anyone with mobility impairments to join us on a dive trip to sites at the Pacific coast, Hawaii, or around Cozumel Island in Mexico. Please email us about dates, details and prices. |
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BotaniK: Biodegradable Sun Block, After-Sun Balm & Mosquito Repellent—Made in Mexico |
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I met the producer at the Think Green Expo 2008. Their organic line is free of paraben, petroleum derivates, preservatives, synthetic colorants or sodium lauryl sulfate. Not quite sure whether you can eat it, but for sure this is organic stuff! Products are good for approximately six months. The 100 ml (3.5 oz) bottle is sold at $8.95 plus shipping & handling, if applicable. I am offering these to my travelers now. The producers don’t have a website yet, but please email me if you are interested in the ‘traveler line’, or any other cosmetics (for face, hair, body, baby, hands, or feet). |
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web by michi Ich möchte diese wunderbare Webseite mit allen teilen, die der deutschen Sprache mächtig sind, und sich sowohl fuer Natur & Umweltschutz, als auch für effiziente Webpräsenz interessieren. Die Verfasserin –ich habe das Glück, sie persönlich zu kennen— spricht damit zwei der aktuellsten Themen unserer Zeit an. Mir gefällt, wie klar und kompetent der Inhalt gestaltet ist, und freue mich schon auf Updates. Bremerhaven ist auch mein ‘Heimathafen’, und ich glaube, dass Michi den ein oder anderen Leser zu einem Trip an die herrlich frische Nordseeküste inspiriert! |