|
MEXICO DISCOVERY Discover the many moods of Mexico and its appeal as one of the world's most popular travel destinations. Archaeology has always had an appeal for adventure travelers, and with an abundance of natural wonders such as national parks, biosphere reserves, untamed jungles, ice-covered volcanoes, soaring cliffs, and rushing rivers, Mexico is one of the best places in the hemisphere for off-the-beaten-path adventure. And, as a destination, Mexico is the first country to package Archeoastronomy as a travel concept with packages designed to appeal to all types of travelers and offer introductory knowledge about archaeoastronomy while combining other fascinating aspects of Mexico's history and culture, including Ecotourism and Soft Adventure. Also, each year, visitors flock to Baha California and Mexico to view the majestic blue and gray Whales that migrate thousands of miles to these warm waters every winter. Ask our Mexico Specialist to arrange your Mexico discovery! Archaeology Eco Tourism/Soft Adventure Archaeoastronomy Baja Whales Here are two newly-opened sites deep in the heart of Mexico's Maya land in Yucatan. EL BALAM 40 miles east of Merida, and was a powerful force in its time. Close to the sea, the settlement was driven by a marine economy and had two concentric walls surrounding its "inner city", a rarity among Maya sites. Forty-five structures have been identified so far, including the enchanting Torre (Tower) pyramid set off by two small temples with staircases. A giant monster mask at the summit of the structure is embedded with stucco teeth and marvelous glyphs and friezes. Studies show that the Tower was built as a mausoleum for King Ukit Kan Le'k Tok, whose tomb was discovered recently. Several thousand funeral offerings, including alabaster vases, gold, jade, pearls and thousands of seashells were found in perfect condition. Another important ruler, Hun-Pik-Tok, was part of a ruling triumvirate of the Maya City of Chichen Itza in its latter phase of development in the 9th century A.D. XTAMBO Coconut plantations surround this site 26 miles northeast of Merida and only two main plazas have been excavated. Salt, a much sought after trade commodity in the Maya empire, was produced here and made the people of this city prosperous. This wealth can be verified by the 600 skeletons of ancient Maya citizens unearthed at the site. The remains showed they did not suffer from common diseases of the time but were healthier than the average Maya. They also practiced cranial and dental mutilation, which was thought to enhance the appearance. The tallest temple in the excavated area is the Pyramid of the Cross, which is devoid of ornamentation. Ceramics found at the site indicate that Xtambo traded with other Maya groups as far away as Belize and Guatemala. Today, every state in Mexico has something to offer and the options are growing. COPPER
CANYON In the state of Chihuahua, Copper Canyon is regarded as one of North America's most spectacular canyons. Also referred to as Barranca del Cobre, encompassing 900 square miles, it is four times the size of the Grand Canyon in the United States and is the habitat of a pre-Hispanic Indian tribe. Now it's easier than ever to see the canyon by rail. The old Chihuahua Pacifico has been refurbished into a modern, comfortable vehicle to travel the canyon from end to end. Millions of dollars have been spent to add a brand new dining car, a bar/smoking lounge and four air-conditioned passenger cars with carpeting and reclining seats. The rail line includes 88 tunnels and sections of tracks that literally meet themselves in circles in order to get through challenging terrain. It runs past canyons with depths of more than 12,000 feet and cliff walls that plunge 6,000 feet to the canyon floor. The starting point for the trip is Los Mochis, Sinaloa on the west of Chilhuahua City, on the east. The first-class train leaves at 6 a.m. and takes 13 to 14 hours. The second-class train leaves at 7 a.m. and takes 17-18 hours. There are several stops along the Barranca that are perfect for overnight visits. Posada Barranca sits halfway between Chihuahua City and Los Mochis. A few miles down the road lies Divisadero, which is famous for its natural mirador or lookout point with sweeping views of the largest canyons of the area. In the area, you will find Tarahumara Indians, a pre-Hispanic tribe that has inhabited the high sierra since before the arrival of Hernan Cortes. Famous for long-distance running, they call themselves the Raramuri, or "men of winged feet". They guard their traditions and scorn modern ways. Many make a living selling handicrafts at the train stops. Another popular stop is Creel, a rugged, but picturesque, logging town at an altitude of about 7,400 feet. The main street is clogged with small inns and hotels and a jumble of craft shops selling Tarahumara baskets, pine bark carvings and handmade fiddles. Numerous day excursions can be made from Creel, including a visit to the Mision de San Ignacio and to caves shared by two Tarahumara brothers and their families. Another excursion to consider, is to the Valle de los Hongos (Valley of the Mushrooms), where huge boulders perch on tiny rock stems. This bewitching array of forms is rivaled by the Valle de las Ranas (Valley of the Frogs), where giant rocks look like sitting frogs. Other places along the train route, great for exploring, include Basaseachic Falls, with Mexico's highest waterfall measuring 900 feet; Batapilas Canyon with the ruins of a colonial hacienda; the nearby mining towns of La Bufa and Batopilas and Cerocahui, with an old Jesuit mission still in operation MONARCH
BUTTERFLIES One of the most dazzling sights each winter are the millions of Monarch butterflies that converge on Mexico in the state of Michoacan at a protected sanctuary called Angangueo. The very sky seems to turn yellow as they blanket the trees that provide shelter for them during this yearly sojourn. Starting from Canada, the orange and black-tipped wing creatures fly thousands of miles to Mexico to mate and give birth to their young. By the first of November, they are in place in the Angangeo reserve, 10,000 feet above sea level, where they remain until March when they begin the journey back to Canada. Experts believe that the butterflies are guided by magnetic forces emanating from the earth and that the migration has taken place for at least 40,000 years. The Monarchs are attracted to the sanctuary by the oyamel fir trees where they stack up like pancakes to keep warm, lay eggs and mate. On any given day, the sight of them coating the sky and flapping their wings to produce an ethereal sound called "surrursus", is otherworldly. About three hours by car from Mexico City, cars or trucks can reach the mountain sanctuary to a point one kilometer from the top. From there, visitors must walk the rest of the way. Several hotels in the area offer lodging. SIAN
KA'AN Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve is a 1.3-million acre area located in the State of Quintana Roo, 85 miles south of Cancun along the Caribbean coast. Named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations, Sian Ka'an protects its threatened and endangered species to maintain the biological diversity of the region. The Reserve consists of wetlands, savannas, tropical forests, freshwater and saltwater lagoons, quays, marshland and barrier reefs. The white-sand beaches cover 60 miles of coast and the area is ideal for bone fishing. Local communities receive modest funds from low impact tourism to the area and are being encouraged to protect the environment through jobs that have no impact on the sustainable development programs. A half-day boat tour of the area offers bird-watching, visits to Maya ruins, mangroves and a chance to plunge into a channel of water and float downstream. CALAKMUL This biosphere reserve in the State of Campeche covers one million acres. The area includes ruins of Maya temples where more than 6,999 ancient structures have been identified. Experts estimate that Calakmul was occupied around 1000 BC. Calakmul has more than 300 bird species and 100 wild orchids, including a rare black orchid. In addition, endangered species, like jaguars, roam the jungle along with pumas and ocelots. RIO
LAGARTOS The Rio Lagartos National Park along with the Ria Celestun National Park in the state of Yucatan are home to the largest colonies of pink flamingos in Mexico. Flamingos migrate here from North America in March through June. In addition, the Celestun Park, which is located in a 100,00-acre wildlife preserve, holds the distinction of being the fourth largest migration area for wild ducks with more than 200 bird species found here. RIVER
RAFTING The green state of Veracruz with its myriad rivers is perfect for the high adventure of river rafting with rapids at the II-V class levels. The most popular waterways are the Actopan, Pescados, Antigua and Filolobos, some of which have as many as 22 rapids along the route. Several base camps located near the town of Jacomulco, with instructors, tents, equipment and dining areas, are available for all levels of participants. BACK TO 'ECO-TOURISM/SOFT ADVENTURE' Archaeoastronomy Throughout history, astronomic observation has been the inspiration of many hopes and dreams, but it also guided the evolution of ancient Mesoamerican civilizations. Ancient astronomers who lived by and worshipped the movements in the heavens left evidence of their beliefs through temples, city structures and rivers - all in alignment with the stars. The term "archaeoastronomy" combines archaeology and astronomy and studies the development of Mesoamerican cultures through the meaning of architectural remains, mythologies and religions. Many of the structures studied indicate their construction was based on celestial events such as lunar or solar eclipses or particular stars that rose during certain parts of the year. * "Skywatchers of Ancient Mexico" helped establish the field of archaeoastronomy and it remains the standard introduction to this subject. Combining basic astronomy with archaeological and ethnological data, it presented a readable and entertaining synthesis of all that was known of ancient astronomy in the western hemisphere as of 1980. In this revised edition of "Skywatchers", Anthony Aveni draws on his own and others' discoveries of the past twenty years to bring the "Skywatchers" story up to the present, offering new data and interpretations in many areas. The revised edition of "Skywatchers" is available from www.amazon.com Baja Whales From January through March, visitors to Baja can see blue and gray whales as they come to rest and bear their young in the protected waters off the Pacific coast. Mass hunting or whaling nearly killed this species in the earlier part of the twentieth century. The International Whaling Commission began an anti-whaling movement in the 1960s with the realization of the possibility of the whales' extinction. Under protection, the last fifty years has allowed the whale population to increase, although today's numbers are nowhere near the days before mass whaling. Boat expeditions offer visitors the chance to observe the habits of the whales in action. Most mothers and their calves stay close to shore, primarily for safety. The older, larger whales swim further out. The sound of these large mammals surfacing as they spout water 25 feet into the air through their blowholes is an exciting event. Some lucky visitors may get the chance to touch the whales or see them lunge feed, which is the process of gathering food by diving, then resurfacing and rolling on their backs to allow the food to gather behind their teeth. Visitors can view the whales from the shoreline, but should make sure to use binoculars for best visibility. The best viewing conditions are earlier in the day when the waters are usually calmer. |
Page