Programs

Community tourism

Description

Pronatura A.C. Veracruz has put community tourism into practice as a conservation strategy at various priority sites previously identified in the state of Veracruz, Mexico.

We initiated community tourism in 2005 as part of the project called “Developing Birding Tourism as a Conservation Strategy for Priority Central Veracruz Coastal Ecosystems.” The Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature (Fondo Mexicano Para la Conservación de la Naturaleza) financed this project which has supported two community groups working on ecotourism activities and adventure tourism: La Mancha Ecoguides and Dunaventuras of San Isidro. They are both located in the municipality of Actopan.

The project goals are:

• to plan for and create economic opportunities for community groups through responsible tourism;
• to take advantage of natural resources;
• to train staff;
• to create quality socially responsible tourist destinations.

Pronatura’s main role has been to advise, follow up, train, and support with equipment and publicity materials. Examples include:

• roadside promotional posters;
• promotion among travel agencies, tour operators, and hotels;
• publicity brochures;
• birding training;
• group management training;
• a first aid course;
• a Private Conservation Mechanisms workshop;
• experience sharing visits to Tabasco state and one in la Mancha including groups from Chavarrillo, San Isidro, El Pescador and Peña Hermosa;
• generating proposals and links with other actors in the tourism sector;
• systematization of the experiences of the La Mancha Ecoguides group.

With financing from the ADO Foundation (Fundación ADO) for tourism activities, Ecoguides and Cafaselva in Chavarrillo have succeeded in achieving consistency in their work. Cafaselva has created a tourism product called “Paths of Honey” or “Senderos de la Miel,” an entertaining and fun activity with an environmental focus aimed at educating tourists about bees and apiculture.

Thanks to the support of volunteers and interns, these groups have succeeded in achieving consistency in key aspects of their work:

• a catalogue of products for Cafaselva and Ecoguides;
• a blueprint of cabañas for Ecoguides;
• socioeconomic surveys for members of Ecoguides;
• bookkeeping support;
• committee activities manuals;
• English classes.

We currently would like to offer consulting to groups such as Club Playero and Nanchal in Alvarado, Veracruz state, while continuing to provide such services to the more advanced groups.

Ecotourism groups

Name: CAFASELVA A.C.
Date of incorporation: November 18, 2003
Number of members: 21.
Location: 21 km from Xalapa, on the road to Coatepec.
Access road: highway.
Nearest population center: Coatepec.
Nearest airport: Xalapa and the port of Veracruz

Climatic conditions:

• maximum temperatures: 37º C (98º F) in March, April, and May;
• minimum temperatures: 30º C (86º F) from November through February;
• rainy season: light rains throughout the year, heavy rains in August and September, although it is still possible to visit during this season.

Services: tent rentals, boarding in the homes of members.
Activities: You can enjoy a broad range of activities including:

• birding;
• interpretive hikes through oak forests and to waterfalls;
• “Paths of Honey” where you can get a close-up view of apiculture and the environmental benefits of bees and their honey products;
• pottery workshop;
• coffee workshop: “From the Farm to your Cup”;
• sale of pottery and honey products.

Catalogue of activities (spanish)

For more information:
Nely and Eligio Ruiz
eligio.ruiz@gmail.com
Tel: (228) 822-10-84
www.cafaselva.com

Name: LA MANCHA ECOGUIAS EN MOVIMIENTO S. DE S.S.
(LA MANCHA ECOGUIDES ON THE MOVE)

Date of incorporation: June 10, 2001.
Number of Members: 15.
Location: Colonia La Mancha, Municipality of Actopan, Veracruz state.
Access road: take the Cardel-Nautla Federal Highway to Km 23.
Nearby population centers: Cardel, Villa Rica.
Closest airport: the port of Veracruz.

Climatic conditions:
hot/sub-humid with summer rains;
maximum temperature is 35º C (95º F) in May and June;
minimum temperature is 12º C (54º F)in January and February;
strong northerly winds from November through February.

Services: Lodging in eco-cabañas, tent rentals, boarding.

Activities:

• birding;
• interpretive hikes through five different ecosystems (wetlands, fixed dunes, low deciduous forest, coast and mangrove);
• “Paths of Honey” where the tourist gets a close-up look at apiculture and the environmental benefits of bees and their honey products;
• boat trips in the mangroves with interpretive commentary.

Catalogue of activities (spanish).

For more information:
Yari Barradas
ecoturismolamancha@gmail.com
Cel: (296) 100-11-63
www.ecoturismolamancha.com

Volunteers and interns

With your help, we believe that we can achieve many things through community tourism. If you have a great desire to learn and work and to contribute your knowledge to campesino communities,this could be a wonderful opportunity for all concerned.

To become a volunteer:

In order to be a Pronatura Veracruz volunteer you must be knowledgeable about community tourism or environmental education.

There are two volunteer work options:

• In the city of Xalapa, designing promotional materials for community tourism projects.
• In the communities of Chavarrillo and Alvarado, supporting various aspects of environmental education, community tourism, service quality, marketing, etc.

We are also open to new ideas and ways to make a contribution.

Support for volunteers:

• Volunteers will live in the homes of ecotourism group members.
• Food and personal expenses are the responsibility of the volunteer.