Life's a Beach | Expat Life in Playa del Carmen : Cozumel

37,829 Hectares Declared Protected Nature Reserve on Cozumel

Rob Kinnon — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:30:00 GMT

The northern portion and much of the eastern coastline of the island of Cozumel, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, has been declared a Protected Natural Area, through a decree from the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources. The Environment Department says about 146 square miles (378 square kilometers) of the island and coastal waters will be protected under the measure.

The area designated Wednesday constitutes the shores and offshore shelf on the northern half of the island. The area is mostly unpopulated and well away from Cozumel's town, marinas and cruise ship dock.

This new protected nature area, will be a haven for regional animal and bird life. Two species in particular have native ranges only on the island: the Cozumel spiny lizard and the critically endangered Cozumel racoon, which is a dwarf raccoon.

This piece of land with a total area of 37,829 hectares, has become a part of protection initiatives developed during the administration of President Felipe Calderon, according to a statement released by Government official, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada. Quesada stated that with this new declaration the Government is meeting its conservation commitment. He also stressed the importance of monitoring the care of these protected areas and their resources through management programs.

Mexico already has 175 federal protected natural areas covering a area of 25,372,182 hectares.

I moved to Mexico with my family in 2004 with the hope of offering our children a more global education and world view. Since then, we have traveled through Mexico, Belize and Guatemala, gathering friends and life experiences and learning a lot about ourselves along the way. When we are not out and about exploring, Rob and I own and operate BuyPlaya, a Playa del Carmen real estate company and FurnitureMex. "Life's a Beach" is a catch-all blog where you may find anything from restaurant reviews, to recipes, gardening tips, commentary about expat daily life, local events, information about moving to Mexico and educating children in Playa del Carmen. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

The 6th Annual Travesia Sagrada at Xcaret

Rob Kinnon — Sun, 20 May 2012 11:00:00 GMT

The Sacred Mayan Journey or Travesia Sagrada Maya, is recreated each year and is one of the Riviera Maya's most beloved events. It is a great honor to be chosen to take part in this beautiful celebration. The lucky men and women chosen as canoeists train for months in anticipation of this test of endurance. At dawn, the boats and the canoeists, dressed in traditional garb, leave Xcaret, once called Ppolé, and make the long and arduous crossing to the island of Cozumel, a trip that takes these small crafts over 6 hours. The following day, the participants paddle back to the ancient port city of Xaman Ha, known today as Playa del Carmen.

Thousands of years ago, people came from all across the Mundo Maya every Spring to order to worship Ixchel. Ixchel is well known as the Goddess of fertility but she was also believed to control general health, water and agriculture. The ancient Maya honored Ixchel in order to bring rain for crops and ensure a bountiful harvest for the year.

One of the special attractions enjoyed by the participants and invitees of the annual Travesia Sagrada at Xcaret is the traditional municipal market lovingly recreated by ancestors of the ancient Maya still living in this region. The public markets of the Maya were created for the use of all the inhabitants from all socio-economic classes. Most commonly traded were products created from natural materials of the region such as coconuts, seeds, thorns, shells and carved bones and gourds. Rare and desirable items such as colorful feathers, jewelery, jade and mirrors were exclusively traded by the upper classes.

Upon entering, guests trade in their pesos for small cloth sacks filled with cacao which they must use for currency to purchase the artifacts, crafts, food and drink and other items offered in the market. I had a great time checking out all the stalls and the various goods for sale. A haze of smoldering copal hung in the air adding to the atmosphere. Attendees lines up to try tortillas made fresh over the fire, tamales and warm atole. Guests could get up close and personal with animals indigenous to the region and have their faces painted with traditional designs and dyes.

Once the sun set, we all took our seats on the shores around Xcaret's Bahia Dos Playas to enjoy the inaugural dedication and the following show performed by some of the park's talented actors and dancers. This was the only event I was able to attend this year and from my location it was difficult to capture on film the majesty of this presentation so please click through to see an amazing album of photos from Del Sol Photography and Xcaret covering the event.

Land For Sale on Cozumel - Perfect for Eco-Park!

Rob Kinnon — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:00:00 GMT

• "Perfect for Eco-Park" - $10,000,000 USD - 47 hectares of raw land

Cozumel, Quintana Roo - An amazing opportunity to build your own community or business on the ever popular island of Cozumel!

This 47 Hectare plot of land is a developer’s dream! Currently there is very little for the 5,000 -10,000 arriving cruise ship guests to do on this amazing island and this would be the perfect plot of land to develop some sort of eco-park or other tourist development. If you are not interested in the tourist trade, you could use this property to build a lovely housing project. The zoning is very flexible on this amazing piece of land. Just bring your ideas and you can make them happen on this giant slice of land!

For more information and to arrange to see the property, contact Rob@BuyPlaya.com or call 984-115-4611 MX or 518-250-1269 US/CA.