Mexico’s Tulum is well known for its majestic ruins situated on 40-foot-high cliffs overlooking the Caribbean Sea along the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. This pre-Columbian Mayan walled city dating back to the 13th century is also home to another popular albeit lesser-known tourist attraction:  native sea turtles. 

The 2018 turtle nesting season in Tulum has officially begun with the initial discovery of a handful of nests. However, according to local reports, officials are expressing concern about the endangered species’ safety.

Existing Environmental Threats

Francisco Chan Chable, director of municipal ecology, says that Sargasso seaweed has been spotted along Tulum’s beach areas, and a large number of plastic materials have arrived with the seagrass. He explains that the plastic effectively “traps” the turtles.

Chable says another threat to the turtles is the abundance of hotels and vacation rentals in the area. Sea turtles are nocturnal animals who roam the beaches at night and are attracted by hotel food waste. It is important for hotels and guests to keep organic waste covered to discourage the attraction to the animals and reduce risk.

Riviera Maya News reports that members of the sea turtle committee are reinforcing efforts in an attempt to combat sea turtle egg looting, something that has become a reoccurring problem. Lucelly Ramos Montejo, president of the State Committee of Sea Turtles, says that they will coordinate surveillance and protection in the nesting areas that registered looting last year.

Also, many people engage in snorkeling or diving in attempts to swim with these majestic, docile creatures of the sea. It is important to remember not to touch them and remain a considerable distance away so they can swim freely and without stressors. Finally, avoid using sunscreen when doing so as the chemicals stay in the water and contaminate their environment.

Sea Turtles in a (Nut) Shell

Sea turtles have been around longer than the ancient ruins around them – more than 150 million years! Six of the seven remaining species are found in the warm waters around Mexico. And while they swim great distances around the world, the female turtles who make it to breeding age always return to the beach that they were hatched on to lay their eggs; thus, the cycle of life continues.

Between May and October, many Green (Tortuga Blanca) and Loggerhead (Tortuga Caguama) turtles return to lay their eggs in the white sands of Tulum. On average, approximately 300 nests are made each season between the Tulum ruins and Turtle Bay.

Federal laws and international agreements currently protect all species of sea turtles.  Despite these efforts, they are all now classified as vulnerable or endangered.

Members of several organizations patrol the beaches each night of the nesting season, marking nests and moving eggs to a secure location if the nest is exposed. Then, when the eggs hatch, they assist the babies in navigating safely to the ocean. All in all, viewing the process is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you will never forget.

Be the Hare, Not the Turtle

Due to the popularity of the spectacle of sea turtle nesting season, it is imperative to book as soon as possible to reserve your perfect vacation rental in Tulum and Turtle Bay. The Puerto Aventuras vacation rental specialists at Sea Side Reservations are ready to assist you! Contact us today and grab a front-row seat to this unforgettable ecotourism adventure.

Additional Information:

1. National Geographic, “Searching for Nesting Sea Turtles on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula,” https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2013/09/16/searching-for-nesting-sea-turtles-on-mexicos-yucatan-pen
2. TravelAddicts.net, “Tips for Snorkeling with Sea Turtles – Updated 2018,” https://www.traveladdicts.net/2016/07/akumal-snorkeling-sea-turtles.html

How are millennials changing the travel industry? A new survey of adults aged 20-35 has generated some eye-opening revelations about millennial travel in 2018.

Endangered Ecosystems

Millennials’ heightened awareness of climate change translates into a desire for sustainable eco-tourism. This may include trips to places with fragile or potentially threatened areas, such as the Galapagos, the Arctic, Costa Rica, and Canada’s Columbia Ice Fields.   

Passports in Hand

Millennials, according to the survey, plan to head abroad more frequently than their older counterparts — nearly twice as often, on average. In all cases, the Caribbean (including Mexico), Latin America, and Europe are the most popular international destinations cited.

No Rollover Vacation Days

Millennials do not believe in letting any vacation days go unused: eight out of 10 take all their earned time, the most of any age group. Here’s a recent article that details all the reasons why taking a vacation is good for you AND your career.

A Remote Office

Three out of four millennials confessed that when they go on vacation this year, they plan to bring work with them. Just over half of baby boomers would be willing to bring the office with them.

Big Spenders

Millennials surveyed estimated they’ll be spending nearly $7,000 in 2018 for their vacations. Sounds like a lot? Maybe you’re a Gen-Xer: they’ll spend only $5,400 on their travel plans this year. 

Adventure Travel

Millennials are interested in adventure travel. From white-water rafting to mountain-climbing, over one-quarter of millennials are planning an extreme vacation in 2018.

Your Source for Mexico Memory-Making

Sea Side Reservations caters to millennials and travelers of all ages, offering incredible deals on vacation rentals at all the hottest destinations in Mexico, including Puerta Vallarta, Rivera Nayait, Cancun, and La Paz, just to name a few. Since 1996, we’ve been bringing property owners and guests together, offering affordable rentals in beautiful villas, furnished condos, and beachfront homes, steps away from all the attractions you want to experience. Let us help you rent a Mexican property and own an unforgettable memory!

More info on 2018 millennial travel trends:

1. NY Times, Sustainable Travel Can Be Budget-Friendly, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/27/travel/sustainable-travel-budget-affordable-tips.html
2. Reader’s Digest, Here’s Scientific Proof that Vacationing More Helps Your Career, https://www.rd.com/advice/work-career/vacation-good-for-career/1/

At some point, most serious cyclists start dreaming of hitting the trails in Mexico. Much of the highways in Mexico aren’t necessarily ideal for cycling—very narrow shoulders—but most cyclists flock to Mexico for the backcountry views anyway. If you plan to hit the trails with a mountain bike, be sure to bring extra tubes and a well-stocked repair kit.

Punta Venado Mountain Bike Park

Mountain bike enthusiasts can’t leave Mexico without a visit to the Punta Venado Mountain Bike Park, which is located in Riviera Maya. It’s a relatively recent recreational endeavor, with miles of well-maintained trails for novice, intermediate, and advanced cyclists. At the end of 2014, the bike park reported having 16 miles of trails through jungle, and along mangroves, cenotes, and of course, the beach. Try not to bike too fast, as you might miss the wildlife. Bring a durable camera and get some shots of the spider monkeys.

The bike park is just a quick drive away from Cancun. If you’re coming from Cozumel, take the ferry. In addition to riding the well-groomed trails, this eco-adventure destination features plenty to do for those who love snorkeling, horseback riding, kite-surfing, and more.

Peto to Piste in the Yucatan

The Yucatan is a much-beloved destination of serious cyclists. The route from Peto to Piste is 96 kilometers. It’s a fairly easy route with predominantly flat terrain that passes through sleepy towns, some of which operate on the Mayan language, not Spanish. The route from Peto to Piste is a great choice for beginner to intermediate cyclists who are interested in experiencing Mayan culture first-hand.

Merida to Chichen Itza in the Yucatan

The colonial capital of Merida is about a four hour drive from Cancun. Arrange transportation for you and your bike to this drop-off point, but don’t get started cycling right away. Take some time to tour the market—a must-see for every new visitor. Then, head out on paved roads and enjoy views of the jungle as you head toward Izamal. It’s known as the Yellow City. As you might expect, the buildings are all painted a cheerful shade of yellow. Take a rest here and check out the Mayan pyramid of Kinich Kak Moo.

Continue on through the jungle and small villages until you reach Chichen Itza. This revered pyramid is far more heavily visited than Kinich Kak Moo. You could end your trek here, or, if you’re interested in extending your stay, continue on to the Mayan village of Uayma. It’s not far from the Cenote Samula, a sinkhole with a natural underground pool. Celebrate your journey with a swim to cool off.

Whether you’re interested in a cycling day trip or you plan a long-haul trek across Mexico’s beautiful countryside, you can find the accommodations you need with Sea Side Reservations. We are an industry leader in arranging safe, fully vetted accommodations for visitors throughout Mexico. Just let us know your check in and check out dates, and your destination(s), and let our travel experts handle the rest.

CEDO is the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans. Located on the Sea of Cortez in Las Conchas, scientists and interns work to find ways to preserve the nature around them, while being a source for education as well. Working with

CEDO is the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans. Located on the Sea of Cortez in Las Conchas, scientists and interns work to find ways to preserve the nature around them, while being a source for education as well. Working with local fishermen, CEDO helps to maintain a healthy balance of resource use in this part of the ocean.

An event on Saturday, November 8th will showcase some of those who are working with local resources. Weather through crafts, seafood, or ecotourism, all of the vendors use what they find locally in a sustainable way. This makes sure that what Mexico’s oceans have to offer is here for future genrations.

The CEDO facility is in a rambling old building on a hill of sand that rolls down to the sea. The building hosts camps for children to learn about the worlds oceans, exhibits about the local sealife, as well as serving as a base for projects involving local fisherman. A distinctive part of the CEDO building is the complete Humpback Whale skeleton that sits at the very top of the hill.

CEDO is easy to reach on the main road into Las Conchas. The CEDO Naturarte Market Place Sustaonable Local Prodcts Event will be in the parking lot on Saturday, November 8th, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The event is designed to “encourage responsoble people doing doing efforts towards sustainability and a space to sell their products.”

fishermen, CEDO helps to maintain a healthy balance of resource use in this part of the ocean.

An event on Saturday, November 8th will showcase some of those who are working with local resources. Weather through crafts, seafood, or ecotourism, all of the vendors use what they find locally in a sustainable way. This makes sure that what Mexico’s oceans have to offer is here for future genrations.

The CEDO facility is in a rambling old building on a hill of sand that rolls down to the sea. The building hosts camps for children to learn about the worlds oceans, exhibits about the local sealife, as well as serving as a base for projects involving local fisherman. A distinctive part of the CEDO building is the complete Humpback Whale skeleton that sits at the very top of the hill.

CEDO is easy to reach on the main road into Las Conchas. The CEDO Naturarte Market Place Sustaonable Local Prodcts Event will be in the parking lot on Saturday, November 8th, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The event is designed to “encourage responsoble people doing doing efforts towards sustainability and a space to sell their products.”

 

Stand up paddle boarding is cool. It is not hard to get the hang of, and then it kind of feels like your’re out taking a walk. On the water! With some experience, you can play in the surf. But hey, this is a vacation, so take it easy.

Sitting out on the water as the sun sets is one of the greatest experiences you can have while in Rocky Point. Morning and just before sunset are the two best times to catch a glimpse of dolphins as they pass by in a pod. Curious and intelliegent, many times they will come close to check YOU out.

First timers or even experienced boarders can have everything they need delivered to your resort, if you are renting your condo through Seaside Reservations. If you have never done it, it is a painless way to check out a new sport.

Or how about kayaking. Sit-on-top kayaks are available as well. Whatever your preference, Seaside Reservations new rental program gives you, your family, and friends, a couple more ways to make memories on your Rocky

Stand up paddle boarding is cool. It is not hard to get the hang of, and then it kind of feels like your’re out taking a walk. On the water! With some experience, you can play in the surf. But hey, this is a vacation, so take it easy.

Sitting out on the water as the sun sets is one of the greatest experiences you can have while in Rocky Point. Morning and just before sunset are the two best times to catch a glimpse of dolphins as they pass by in a pod. Curious and intelliegent, many times they will come close to check YOU out.

First timers or even experienced boarders can have everything they need delivered to your resort, if you are renting your condo through Seaside Reservations. If you have never done it, it is a painless way to check out a new sport.

Or how about kayaking. Sit-on-top kayaks are available as well. Whatever your preference, Seaside Reservations new rental program gives you, your family, and friends, a couple more ways to make memories on your Rocky Point vacation.

by Richard Scott

The Midnight Wreck Off Road Race

The long last weekend of Summer is right around the corner. Southern Arizona Desert Racing brings two night off road excitement as the next in their series of events here in Rocky Point.

Things start on Friday August 29th with a poker run. The night races start with bikes, quads, and UTV’s. Two more races will be for trucks and pre-runners, then finally for cars and pro-trucks.

For More information, check out the SADR on Facebook.

The turtles are back!

We recently saw the natural process play out on Rocky Points’ beaches, as a sea tutle laid eggs only to have them fail to mature successfully. Our beaches are on the very edge of the range for the Pacific Olive Ridley to nest, so the failure rate is expected to be higher.

Now, just a couple of weeks later, another nest of eggs has been laid, this time further out of town heading towards the Mayan Palace Resort. A protective barrier has gone up, and we will all wait with crossed fingers. An average of 100 little turtles can hatch in approximately 50 days, give or take.

by Richard Scott

 

As I came home from a muggy afternoon. I sit down and answer a phone call from my niece. I talk with her and look out the window to notice a group of people gathered around the protective fencing directly below. I rush down the elevator. “Great” I think, they must be hatching. “I’m anticipating getting to see them making a run for the water.” As I approach the beach it seems odd to me that I don’t see tracks or little turtles. I only and see children and adults standing inside the fenced area exactly where the eggs should be.
I tap a gentleman on the shoulder. “Sir, what’s going on? Are the turtles already gone?” It turns out its “Larry” who owns several properties I manage.
Larry proceeds to tell me that the turtle that laid her eggs here must have confused her location. Unfortunately it was too hot for the eggs to survive and when the Ocean Biologists checked on the eggs none the embryos had survived.
The little black bag that this child is holding is what is left of what our little city or Puerto Penasco held our breath for waiting for the Turtles to return to the sea.
Steve Schwab

Just in time for the Fourth of July, it appears that an Pacific Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) has come ashore on Sandy Beach to deposit her eggs! We see one or two of these events every few years, so it is pretty special. Olive Ridleys are found in the oceans throughout the world. The western coast of Mexico is one of the prime nesting areas, but it is more common to see them a lot further south, especially around Puerto Vallarta.

‘Arribadas’ are when masses of these turtles come together to give birth on one beach. Here in Rocky Point, this lone nesting site will be protected by the authorities to enhance the chances that the eggs will reach maturity (something that takes around fifty days, and produces up to one hundred eggs).

Visitors to town were walking Sandy Beach near Puerta Privada when they came across the turtle, wading out of the water. They made a call to the local police, who contacted Profepa, more or less Mexicos’ EPA. Minutes later, eggs tucked into the sand, the turtle hit the waves and was gone.

The nesting of this endangered species is a reminder of just how connected to the natural world Puerto Penasco is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eco-Tourism in Rocky Point is a growing business. There are boat trips to Bird Island; a place where you can experience a colony of Sea lions up close. People choose to kayak or dive in, you can actually swim with the young and curious animals.

The nearby Pinacate Biosphere Reserve is popular with those who love a true wilderness experience. Over six hundred square miles of black lava flows, cinder cones, and seas of rippling sand dunes spread to the horizon, inviting the adventurous to see Mexico at its’ wildest.

Puerto Peñasco is also the point of departure for voyages to the remote Islands that dot the Northern Sea of Cortez. Much of the treasure of Mexicos’ natural world lives in its’ oceans. The 110 foot Rocio del Mar takes divers to explore places that can be seen no other way. This fourth of July weekend, the Rocio heads out for a week long live-aboard dive trip to the Midriff Islands.

Once called ‘The worlds’ aquarium” by dive pioneer Jacques Cousteau, the Sea of Cortez still maintains an attraction for those who want to encounter the large pelagic species that frequent these waters. Schools of hammerhead sharks, humpback whales, manta rays and more are a regular part of a dive trip. A live-aboard allows for multiple days in remote locations, as well as the ability to dive in more than one spot.

Dora and Francisco Sandoval, experienced dive masters, own the Rocio del Mar. Beginning its’ sea going life in 2009, the Sandovals built her from scratch, with the intention to provide a ship designed around the experience of diving, unique in a sport where most are modified fishing boats. The Rocio accomodates twenty divers, and is in service with multiple trips per year to not only the Sea of Cortez, but out to the Revellagigedo Islands, known as Mexicos’ Gallapagos. Having just completed her yearly maintenance in the docks of Rocky Point, she readies for her next adventure.

These voyages are for experienced divers, coming from over the globe. Normally sold out months in advance, the next voyage departs this Fourth of July from the Fonatur docks. Over a dozen dive sites are possibIlities as the Rocio del Mar plys thewaters around Angel Island and others.

*Rocio del Mar departs out of Rocky Point and Cabo San Lucas during the spring and fall

*Trips exlore the Sea of Cortez and Soccoro Islands

*Twenty divers maximum, with a very experienced staff and state of the art supporting equipment.

*Visit rociodelmarliveaboard.com or contact 602-558-9580

One popular way to start a visit to Rocky Point is to board one of the Sunset Cruises that set sail in the evening. Some boats are small with an intimate feel, others are a big floating party. All offer a chance to unwind, have a drink and a snack, and enjoy the beauty of a Rocky Point sunset with friends and family. These cruises are popular with dolphins too! It’s very common for them to swim along in front of the boat, like tour guides taking you to their favorite spot.

You can find the boats in the harbor as you drive into the Malecon area. The front desk where you are staying can usually help you reserve a spot.