SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN PROTECTED AREAS IN … · The Caribe Maya is an initiative of the sustainable tourism promoted by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Inter-American Development

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN PROTECTED AREAS IN THE CARIBE MAYA

The Caribe Maya is an initiative of the sustainable tourism promoted by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Guatemalan’s Caribbean coast and in the coastal zone and islands of northern Honduras, that are part of the Mesoamerican Reef System.

This fascinating region is distinctive due to its white sand beaches and the turquoise sea, its exuberant nature and the highest mountains of the Caribbean as well as its barrier reef, which is catalogued as the second biggest in the world. This region is the place where the Mayan and the Garifuna living cultures converge.

Through this initiative, we are demonstrating that it is possible to promote a model of sustainable development in protected areas, in harmony with the host communities as direct beneficiaries of the tourist activity, thus contributing to improve their quality of life, through their commitment to the conservation and enhancement of their natural and cultural heritage.

Caribe Maya represents one of the most biodiverse regions of the planet and it is here where there are 5 protected areas and 12 community initiatives that integrate the Active and Cultural Tourism Network of the Caribe Maya.

We invite you to live adventures that will leave you breathless in sublime protected areas and experiences that will fill you with teachings, connecting you with the environment and its wealth, together with communities that value and protect their natural reserves... their roots, their most precious assets.

WELCOME!

Pictures: ©Antonio Busiello/WWF ©WWF Guatemala Mesoamérica ©INGUAT Instituto Guatemalteco de Turismo ©Shutterstock

WHERE THE NATURE IS PRAISED 2nd WORLD'S BIGGEST CORAL BARRIER

5 sublime protected areas

•Pico Bonito National Park

•Río Dulce National Park

•Archipelago Cayos Cochinos Natural Marine Monument

•Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge

•Multiple Use Area, Sarstún river

WHERE TWO LIVING CULTURES CONVERGE

PROTECTED AREAS OF THE CARIBE MAYA IN GUATEMALA

In the region of Izabal, on the Caribbean coast of Guatemala, there are two protected areas of spectacular beauty and an invaluable natural and cultural heritage.

RÍO DULCE NATIONAL PARK

Río Dulce National Park was declared a protected area in 1955. It has approximately 13 thousand square hectares of extension, and it is recognized mainly for its spectacular scenic beauty and for being the natural habitat of several species of fauna, some of them are endangered, like the manatee.

This imposing biological corridor links Lake Izabal with the Caribbean Sea, in a route of

approximately 43 kilometers long, surrounded by a lush tropical rainforest, as well as stunning limestone walls of approximately 60 meters high, covered with plants of the place and where 202 species of birds live, 44 species of amphibians, 87 species of reptiles and 128 species of mammals, being the most emblematic the manatee.

In this protected area, the Q'equch'i, Garífuna and Ladinos cultures coexist in harmony with nature.

•Agua Caliente Ecotourism Site

•Ecotourism Center Tatín Ak’ Tenamit river

•Cayo Quemado Ecotourism Site

•Livingston, picturesque village that is located at the rivermouth of the Río Dulce and the Amatique Bay, where you can find:

•Buga Mama School Restaurant and Information Center

•Laru Beya – House of Casabe

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DESTINATIONS WITH COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT THAT YOU SHOULD NOT MISS

ENJOY SUSTAINABLE TOURISM EXPERIENCES IN THIS MAJESTIC NATURE RESERVE

•Boat trips, canoe or kayak

•Birdwatching and observation of local fauna

•Natural spa visit: hot springs, sauna cave, relaxing massages, natural drinks

•Ceviche preparation workshop

•Trekking

•Artisanal fishing

•Encounter with the Garífuna culture in Livingston

MULTIPLE USE AREA, SARSTÚN RIVER

The Sarstún river Multiple Uses Area consists of 35,202 hectares. It is recognized as a wetland of global importance and is integrated into the biological corridor of the Caribbean of Guatemala. It provides a place of shelter, growth, and reproduction for the fauna and flora of the place, having at the same time a symbiotic activity with marine and coastal ecological systems.

Here you can see 116 species of reptiles, 148 species of birds and 52 species of mammals. Maya Q'equch'i communities are located in this protected area.

•Plan Grande Quehueche, Q'eqch'i community offering sustainable tourism experiences.

•Quehueche river that offers the attractiveness of the river combined with mangrove forests.

•7 Altares, formed by seven natural ponds surrounded by virgin nature.

•Punta Cocolí, right next to the Tapon river and Playa Blanca, where you can enjoy a white sand beach and crystalline waters. It is also recognized for being a place where manatee comes to eat.

•Laguna Grande, manatee s migration, feeding and rest site. Here you can practice sport fishing, enjoy the benefits of sulfer water and the mangrove view at the river.

•Sarstún river which is a natural border between Guatemala and Belize. It is a main site for fishing tarpons and sea bass, watching river turtles and possibly crocodiles.

•Tatín river headwaters, one of the main rivers in the area, supplies water to several local communities.


•Mountain biking

•Trekking

•Espeleotourism in the El Tigre cave

•Artisanal fishing

•Snorkeling

•Birdwatching and observation of the fauna of the place

•Encounter with Q'eqch'i culture and Mayan ceremonies

•Visit to natural ponds of 7 Altares


HOW TO GET THERE?

From Guatemala City, take the CA-9 North road, towards Puerto Barrios (about 300 km, 4 hours). In Puerto Barrios go to the Muelle Municipal and take a public boat to Livingston (approx 30 mins.). In Livingston you will find the Buga Mama School-Restaurant Information Center, House of Casabe and Laru Beya Association, but if you head towards Cayo Quemado, Agua Caliente or Ak 'Tenamit, you must take a private boat (approx 35 mins.). To get to Plan Grande Quehueche you must hire a pick up 4x4 or bicycle for a 6 km route.

Laru Beya Association: (502) 5425-5817

Plan Grande Quehueche, “Flor de la Montaña” Association: (502) 5718-1872

Buga Mama y Ak' Tenamit Association: (502)4745-9103•(502)3020-0172

Comité de Cayo Quemado: (502)5043-3973•(502)5935-4713•(502)5006-0649

Tiq’walha’ Association: (502)3071-2415•(502)5165-2447

CONTACT PHONES:

WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING? Fresh clothes, suitable for adventure experiences • comfortable shoes and sandals • swimsuit •towel •waterbottle • sunglasses • caporhat •sunblock • mosquito repellent • binoculars •camera•waterproofjacket.

www.visitcaribemaya.comapp: Visit Caribe Maya

PROTECTED AREAS OF THE CARIBE MAYA IN HONDURAS In Honduras, the Caribe Maya has 3 protected areas, with a significant biological diversity. Each protected area host communities of people who have lived in armony for many years with nature, which created a unique culture.

PICO BONITO NATIONAL PARK

The Pico Bonito National Park is the biggest in Honduras, its territory is distributed among 5 municipalities and with a size greater than 1000 Km2. The National Park's most iconic point is Pico Bonito, the highest mountain biggest in the park with 2,435 meters (7,988 feet), which is considered the highest peak near the sea from Florida in the USA to Colombia.

In this park there are 2 touristic areas of high biological diversity such as the Cangrejal river and Zacate river.

Cangrejal river Zone is a cluster of activities of nature and adventure that will immerse you in the tropical rainforest, is a place where you can observe birds like toucans and kingfisher, besides being part of the habitat of the largest feline of the americas the Jaguar and other species of mammals such as anteater, danto, whitetail deer, mountain pig, capuccino and howler monkeys.

With the support of the local guide service of Cangrejal Tours, which are located in the community of Las Mangas, you can visit different trails, such as the Bejuco waterfall, Guarama educational trail, among others.


ENJOY SUSTAINABLE TOURISM EXPERIENCES IN THIS MAJESTIC NATURE RESERVE•Eco lodge and smoked

meats with nance firewood in Cabañas del Bosque

•Trekking

•Tour of tropical fishes

•Wildlife photography tour

HOW TO GET THERE?

The tourist area of the Cangrejal river is accessed from the CA-13 road in La Ceiba, taking the detour to La Ceiba - Yaruca Road.

Zacate river zone is located close to the community of El Pino, 8 km from La Ceiba. In the surroundings of this area you can find a variety of tourist services, highlighting the bird watching, especially because here you can find the Lovely Cotinga, an iconic species for birdwatching lovers. Also the community stands out for the presence of an art school, where children and young people learn to paint birds and landscapes of the national park and with whom you can hire a tour of art and nature, offered by Cotinga Art, which will allow you to appreciate this national park from a different perspective.

HOW TO GET THERE?

From La Ceiba take the CA-13 road to San Pedro Sula, at km 13 in the community of El Pino, you will find the center of craftsmen and guides of El Pino.

CUERO Y SALADO WILDLIFE REFUGE

This protected area is formed by a group of rivers and estuaries that forms a RAMSAR site wetland, an international category of protection for these ecosystems. Cuero y Salado it s highlighted by a great biodiversity of birds, where has been identified more than 200 species. For this reason, it is a bird watchers “hot spot”.

However, the iconic species of Cuero y Salado it s the manatee, an endangered aquatic mammal, that lives on the rivers and channels of this wetland. To take a tour around the aquatic trails, it s possible to hire a tour offered by Cuero y Salado Tours, an specialized community enterprise. On this tour, you will enjoy watching monkeys, crocodiles, bats among other animals, besides to be surrounded by a mangrove forest.

Salado Barra Town: when you arrive to Cuero y Salado don t forget to visit the vicinity, where you can enjoy several gastronomic experiences and learn about the local culture and their coexistence with this beautiful natural environment.

Cuero y Salado rivers aquatic trails: offered by Cuero y Salado Tours.

Ereba Chips Casabe Factory: Casabe Tour and Gastronomic Workshops, where the visitor can have an encounter with local casaba producers and learn to cook delicious canapes.



•Water trails for observation of flora and fauna of the place in the Cuero and Salado river, offered by Cuero and Salado Tours

•Meet the Salado Barra community

•Birdwatching

•Cuero y Salado experience

•Casabe cultural experience

•Gastronomic Workshop of Casabe

HOW TO GET THERE?

Take the CA 13 road towards Tela, approx. at Km 20 take detour towards La Unión and look for the train station that goes to Cuero y Salado.

To reach this protected area, the most common way is through a tourist train or motorcycle that adds value to the experience, since the same in a symbol of the Honduran banana heritage and the railway line is considered the first Which was built in the country.

ARCHIPELAGO CAYOS COCHINOS NATURAL MARINE MONUMENT

This archipelago is made up of 2 large islands and 13 islets or cays, its waters are clear and have a significant diversity of approximately 115 species of coral and more than 150 species of fish, it is possible to see 60 of those species at authorized snorkel sites. An entire festival of colors where the species of parrot fish, surgeon fish and the varieties of coral brain, fan and deer horn among others stand out.

In the terrestrial part of the island we can find 2 iconic species, the pink boa of Cayos Cochinos, an endemic variety found on the mainland and the spiny-tailed black iguana, endemic of Cayos Cochinos and the Aguan Valley, territory located south of the Pico Bonito National Park. These species are found only on the large islands, where we suggest the visit to the Information Center at the community of East End, to learn more about these species and others living in the tropical forest of these islands.

SUSTAINABLE TOURIST DESTINATION WITH COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT THAT YOU SHOULD NOT MISSEast End, Cayo Mayor offered by the Laru Beya Association.


•Garífuna Experience

•Snorkeling

•Ecolodge

•Trekking

•Pink boa tour

•Local gastronomy

HOW TO GET THERE?

The departure point of the boats to Cayos Cochinos is the Garífuna community of Sambo Creek, 25 km from La Ceiba.

Reservaciones "La Ceiba"(504) 9489-6058

CONTACT PHONE:

WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING? Fresh clothes, suitable foradventureactivities•comfortable shoes and sandals •swimsuit•towel•waterbottle•sunglasses•caporhat•sunblock•mosquitorepellent•binoculars•camera•waterproofjacket

www.visitcaribemaya.comapp: Visit Caribe Maya

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SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN PROTECTED AREAS IN … · The Caribe Maya is an initiative of the sustainable tourism promoted by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Inter-American Development