EcoColors Tours

Whale Shark Season --> Are you ready!?

2011-05-10T12:11:00.000-07:00

Are you in or coming to the Mayan Riviera? Are you looking for adventure and excitement? The Whale Shark Adventure is for you then - come and spend a day snorkelling with these amazing creatures! With the whale shark season starting this month, many people still wonder about these creatures. Therefore, we have compiled a list of important and interesting facts for you! Find everything you have ever wanted or needed to know below:

*The slow moving, filter feeding whale shark is the largest living fish
*They can weigh up to 36 tonnes (79,000 lbs) and be over 12 meters (40 feet) long
*Whale sharks are found in warm tropical waters (see map below for detailed area)
*They can live up to 70 years!
*It is capable of diving to depths of 700 meters (2,300 ft)
*With a mouth that can be up to 1.5 meters (4.9 ft), it can contain between 300 and 350 rows of tiny teeth
*It has five large pairs of gills
*The body of a whale Shark is mostly grey with a white belly with three prominent ridges along the side
*There can be a "checkerboard" of pale yellow spots and stripes (which are unique to each individual and is helpful for counting populations)
*It is one of only 3 filter feeding species of shark (the others being the Basking shark and Megamouth shark)
*Its diet consists of macro-algae, plankton, krill, and small sea animals such as squid
*Are they SAFE!? Although it is large and impressive in size, the whale shark is not dangerous towards humans
*They are extremely large, but are docile animals that are actually quite gentle (towards humans and other sea life!)

And lucky you:
One of the spots Whale Sharks can be seen are near Isla Holbox and Isla Mujeres in Mexico!

Come with the best: with over 9 years of experience, EcoColors Tours promises you a one of a kind experience! Book online and get 15% off! (Book before May 31^st and receive a free t-shirt as well!*)
*restrictions apply

New Additions, New Adventures

2011-04-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

At EcoColors we are always trying to expand and try new things. We strive to offer something unique and one of a kind experience for our guests. Whether this means constantly updating ourselves with social media trends or adapting our tours, we strive to make you happy!

One of the newest editions is our (soon to be released) Extreme Reptile Adventure. The tour is a combination of two other tours; our Kantemo adventure and crocodile adventure. We decided to combine the two to be able offer something truly extraordinary. The tour starts in the early evening with the departure to Kantemo, where upon arrival you will be able to explore the caves and find hanging snakes! This is truly a one of a kind experience, as this is not known to occur anywhere else! After, you take part in a conservation and preservation of crocodiles, where you will help capture them to obtain data and learn more about these great creatures. Upon the release back into the wild, you will start your return back to your hotel.

Note: this tour is not for the unadventurous, but rather the people who seek thrill!

The other announcement is our partnership with ISIC! If you are a student, you are now entitled a 15% discount* on all our tours! It’s a great deal, so book now! Whether it be adventure you seek in the Whale Shark tour (one more month to go!) or a multisport activity in Sian Ka ’an, pick your favourite and enjoy a tour with EcoColors Tours.

Hope to see you all there! Visit our website to keep informed!

*restrictions apply, please see website

Sustainability – Playing a small part in a very big world

2011-03-08T09:14:00.000-08:00

I recently read a very interesting article, one that made me think of world around me and the impact that we have when we travel. The article talks about the future of travel and mentions many unique and diverse trends that are on the horizon. I became intrigued by such things and wanted to share one of my favourite trends: Tradecations.

Tradecations definition: “cooperating with radical plans by hotels and resorts to slash their carbon footprint in return for carbon reward points that can be traded for visits to local sites of interest, spa treatments or dinner and drinks - ‘fly-and-swap’ holidays where travellers spend time helping the local community and environment, or with a regional non-governmental organisation (NGO) in return for extra holiday perks.”

This was something I was super intrigued by - what a great concept (not to mention a great name!) As a company that works in the tourism sector, we are aware of the impacts we have the on the earth. This is why we have always strived to create the smallest impact on the earth, with our tours, as well as right here in the office! This inspired me to question what we do at work to be sustainable, and I compiled a list of things we do here at EcoColors to play our part in sustainability.

Some of the things we do to be sustainable:
- recycling (paper, plastic, glass)

- Compost

- Reusing paper (when printing)
- Making sure all electric outlets are unplugged at night and when not in use
- LED Lighting

All our tours are run as sustainable as possible as well and we work with local communities, donating proceeds to local organizations such as Amigos de Sian Ka’an, in return helping preserve our environment. We also work with international companies such as the Coral Reef Alliance, which we help to promote the preservation of coral reefs in the area to guests and other companies. We work with local school groups as well, inorder to educate students. EcoColors realises that every step counts and we strive to play a part in protecting our environment!

Don’t forget Earth Hour March 26th, 2011 & Earth Day April 22nd, 2011 Do your part – it’s easy!

*Sources: The Future laboratory: 13 : 12 : 2010. Thomson holidays: sustainable holiday futures (Ask me for the complete article to read more!)

News Alert!

2011-02-22T08:31:00.000-08:00

Great news followers: our first ever Newsletter! We have been asked by many of our customers if we had a newsletter, and now we can finally say we do!

We value our customers and want to keep them informed of the upcoming things. Therefore we have been working for a few months now on creating a layout and picking content.

We want people who have taken our tours, and people who might be interested in learning more about our tours, to have the ability to do so. People often have questions, before and after a tour and this will be a great opportunity to get more informed, or ask any questions. Also, we want to let our guests know more about us, and what we do, outside the company. For example, we work with many local companies to help promote sustainability and conservation. We also provide educational trips with local and international schools in order to educate youth.These are important aspects, and things we want to share with you!

Our goal is to keep our guests informed with new and exciting information. We also would love to hear your comments and/or suggestions for ideas. Our first edition will be out soon, so sign up now on our homepage if you want to receive the newsletter or contact us for more information!

Sailfish Adventure!

2011-01-31T10:04:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered about Sailfish? What are they, and where can you find them? Well the life of a Sailfish is that of a peculiar one. Not only are they the fastest fish in the world, but they are also quite versatile. They are able to change their body colors (ranges of blues, yellows & grays to even shades of purple and silver) almost instantly and raise their sail (the dorsal fin that stretches the length of their back) when they feel threatened. The sailfish season is considerably short, usually lasting from December/January until about March/April but Sailfish can reach up to 11 feet long and weigh up to 220 pounds! There are two types of sailfish (Atlantic and Pacific) but the type present in and around the Cancun area is the Atlantic Sailfish – they prefer warmer waters.

Spotting Sailfish this year has been difficult, but we finally spotted them! Our first Sailfish Adventure tour (ever!) went out this past Friday and it was a success, with lots of Sailfish present. The tour begins with a hotel pick up and then departure to the dock. There is a short boat ride out towards the Island of Contoy and from there snorkeling with the Sailfish is possible. Dive in and let the experience begin!

Have you wondered how it’s possible to find them – the ocean is quite large! Well, interesting to know is, we are able to find the sailfish by means of spotting birds first! Sailfish and birds (such as Frigates and pelicans) all feed on the same ocean delicacies such as sardines. If there are birds present, this usually means there will be Sailfish. The more birds, the more Sailfish!

Swimming with the fastest fish in the world is exhilarating, as they sure are fast! If you are up for a new adventure, contact us now - Tours go out every Wednesday. Please visit our homepage for more information!

Tourism and Research – the Crocodile Adventure

2010-12-22T10:53:00.000-08:00

One picture – two totally different reactions: Many people, mostly the adventurous type, who see this photo will think “Wow, capturing a crocodile, that’s sounds like real fun! Where can I book that tour?”. Others will say “Oh my god, capturing a crocodile, doesn’t that harm them? Shouldn’t Ecotourism help to conserve our planet and to protect its animals?”. But who says that these two different opinions can’t go hand in hand?

Actually it works quite well. We have been operating the Crocodile Adventure in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve for several years now. Supported by the local NGO, Amigos de Sian Ka’an ("friends"), which is in charge of the whole reserve, we invite interested tourists to join us on a nocturnal research excursion. Of course, during this tour we capture a crocodile for a certain period of time but not just for fun or an amazing photo memory. Principally we do so in order to collect different data of the crocodile like f.e. its length, sex or species. Sometimes we also take blood samples. Amigos de Sian Ka’an then uses this data for instance to determine the exact number of crocodiles in the reserve’s lagoons or to monitor their state of health.

This type of monitoring is very important for the ecosystems of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. As an ecological aware tour operator we see tourism not mainly as a threat for our nature but more like a chance to conserve it. During all of our tours, environmental education of our clients is a main goal. Furthermore, we would like to remind you that a certain amount of every tour is donated for environmental projects like those of Amigos de Sian Ka’an in order to protect the Mayan Nature.

We operate the Crocodile Adventure every Monday night. Visit our homepage for further information.

COP16/CMP6: What can we expect from Cancun?

2010-12-02T13:55:00.001-08:00

This year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference will be held in Cancun, Mexico, from November 29^th to December 10^th 2010.

Without doubt, there are several important questions in the course of this conference. Among them one that has been debated a lot in advance: Can we expect more from Cancun than from Copenhagen?

2009, the world was hoping for a fair, effective and binding agreement, vainly. The 193 states merely agreed on a minimum solution that could not be enough for our planet and therefore disappointed all the people that fought so bravely for an improvement of the worldwide climate policy.

Because of that and the economical problems many countries are still facing as a result of the financial crisis, the world looks skeptically towards Cancun. Observers are in doubt if the larger economies of the industrial nations like the US, the UK, Germany, Japan, Russia or China, but also the newly industrializing and developing nations like South Africa, Brazil, India or Mexico are even willing to sign a multilateral agreement.

But only with such a multilateral agreement we can avoid that, after the expiration of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012, we will face a climate policy vacuum without climate protection targets.

As an environmental tour operator we are very aware of the importance of the COP16/CMP6 to our planet’s future. Therefore we would like to invite the participants of this Conference to join us on one of our amazing Eco-tours and offer them furthermore a 20% Eco-discount!

Backpacking Adventure 2010 – Week 5

2010-11-27T08:11:00.000-08:00

The group's current location: Tulum/Mexico

This week’s blog entry is written by Corbin, one of our Danish Backpackers.

When we left Mexico and entered Guatemala we crossed a big river and after many hours of driving we reached the small town of El Remate. El Remate is located close to the ruins of the ancient Mayan power center called Tikal and right beside the town was a lake, wonderful to swim in! The following day we went to Tikal. It was everything I had expected and much more, our guide, Luis, was supreme and new all the details. We found some tarantulas in their burrows and we got to hold them. Luis got the others to take a picture of me with the spider in front of my mouth, but while doing that it actually spit something into my mouth, that was disgusting haha. The ruins were of course massive and climbing them turned out to daring at some parts, due to their steepness. The jungle surrounding the area was lush and full of animals, especially howler monkeys and toucans.

The day after we went to an animal rescue center, I like the idea of volunteering at a place like that. We also went zip-lining which is basically sliding on a cable from one point to another. We went from one tree to the next and it was very enjoyable, maybe a bit short but fun while it lasted. The same day we went to the local market, here we could purchase all kinds of wooden figures which is the areas specialty. I found them all to be very fascinating, but the ones I wanted were too hard to travel with, that's life.

The journey led us to Rio Dulce thereafter. Rio Dulce is a sleepy town right onto an inland bay. The hotel we stayed at was without a doubt the best so far and while staying there we basically just relaxed, went swimming, kayaking and played pool. After 2 days of relaxation we sailed for three hours through pretty rough water in a speed boat to get to Belize, the whole ride felt like being in a roller coaster which made it very amusing!

Were now down to the last three days, these days we have spent in Belize. Belize is much different than anticipated and the country actually seems to function well. The people here are very nice and they all speak English although the spoken language really is Creole, which is very broken pirate like English. Our hostel was located straight at the beach and I and two other boys got the best hut right at the shore line. The place was owned by a Canadian and he was a really nice guy, but the place needed a helping hand and the facilities weren't very good. Things like running water weren't common, which was too bad because besides that I actually had a really good time. We did a lot of kayaking and swimming, but yesterday was the best day yet on the whole trip, I think.

Yesterday just six of us agreed to go on a river rafting trip in kayaks. The drive out there took three hours and was through beautiful landscape, real jungle and Mayan villages were the pigs ran free and everything seemed so idyllic. The rafting trip took a total of 4 hours and it was goooooood! I get amazed every time how beautiful things are here and then there was also the "waterfalls". I think me and my buddy tipped over at least 5 times due to the falls, it actually hard to describe so I'm hoping that I can get a hold of the pictures for the next update so I can show it! The falls were between 1 foot to the highest of 13 feet, the really gave a good adrenalin rush which is always a great feeling! The hike out from the river was also quite the experience that was really like hiking though the jungle. It was tough, slippery and there was sharp plants and insects everywhere, also a cool thing to try.

Right now they should be in Tulum, back in Mexico where they will experience further unforgettable adventures.

Catch up on them on their way through the Mayan World. Read about the different destinations, about their experiences meeting other people and about all the adventures on their way. In the following weeks we will publish articles about their tour right here in this blog. Check out our photo album, too.

COP16/CMP6 hosted in Cancun

2010-11-24T11:12:00.001-08:00

This year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference will be held in Cancun, Mexico, from November 29^th to December 10^th 2010.

COP16/CMP6 is the 16^th edition of Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (194 states) and the 6^th Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties (CMP6) to the Kyoto Protocol (184 states). ‘Parties’ in this context refers to all the nations that committed themselves to cooperation against the climate change.

The COP16/CMP6 will be held at the Moon Palace Hotel and the Cancunmesse, a new international conference and exhibition center located between Cancun and Playa del Carmen.

Backpacking Adventure 2010 – Week 4

2010-11-20T09:10:00.000-08:00

The group's current location: Placencia/Belize

This week’s blog entry is written by Cris, one of our guides for this Backpacking Adventure.

14^th November

Today we got up very early to go to Tikal and after breakfast we drove to the archaeological site. We were the first ones to enter and after a general explanation we started our tour in the most important Mayan site. It was an amazing day: We saw, crocodiles, tarantulas, coatis, agoutis, ocelated turkeys, and a lot of birds, including two different types of toucans and an orange breasted falcon. After 15km we left the park to have a nice lunch by the Peten Itza Lake back in El Remate and afterwards we enjoyed swimming in the lake. In the afternoon we went to a Guatemalan birthday party, the youngest daughter of our Tikal guide was turning 3 years old, so we enjoyed a clown show and some piñatas. It was a great day.

15^th November

After breakfast we departed to Cerro Cahui Biotope where we had a good hike, not so long (just 6km) but a bit challenging, the highest point is close to 600m altitude, so when we had finished we went to refresh at the lake and have lunch. During the afternoon we visited a school, a bit far from El Remate – this is a school for poor kids where they get free education and food. After a tour in the facilities we did some community service. It was a nice place the only downfall is that the kids where on winter brake so we couldn´t see them.

16^th November

After breakfast we departed to Ixpanpajul Park where we did the canopy tour. They have 6 zip lines, the tallest one was 18 m high, it was exciting. Then we went to Flores, an island in the middle of Peten Itza Lake, where we had a great lunch. Some of the guys tasted agouti, armadillo, wildboar, wild turkey and deer at LA MESA de los MAYAS restaurant. We visited ARCAS, an animal rescue center. To get there we had to take a boat and we saw monkeys – spider and howler –, macaws, crocodiles, ocelots, deers, jaguars, rabbits, ship and lots of different types of birds. We met some Danish who are volunteering at the park. During the afternoon, the guys had some free time to enjoy the island and to get some souvenirs.

17^th November

After breakfast we departed to Rio Dulce. We arrived around 4pm. The place where we are staying looks great; everybody agreed that it´s the nicest place where we have stayed. The rest of the day was pretty much to chill, playing pool, swimming and kayaking.

18^th November

The morning was pretty slow, some of the guys went for a swimming and relaxed. In the afternoon we went to the town to do some groceries and to check the handcrafts. This is a great place for relaxing and having fun by the river.

19^th November

It had been raining yesterday in the afternoon so we decided not to go to the waterfalls. Instead, we had a pool tournament and played some chess and cards. We agreed in using the money for the waterfalls in something else in Placencia, so everybody gets to enjoy it.

Right now they should be on their way to Placencia in Belize where they will experience further unforgettable adventures.

Backpacking Adventure 2010 – Week 3

2010-11-12T08:30:00.000-08:00

The group's current location: Flores/Guatemala

This week’s blog entry is written by Alejandra, one of our guides for this Backpacking Adventure.

3^th November

This was my first day with the group so I tried to memorize all Danish names. On the way to Campeche we visited the best hat maker, Don Baldomero who showed us his wonderful job. The “Jipijapa” is the common name of the plant that hats and other handy crafts are made from. He told us that the children of Becal start to learn the “Jipijapa Culture” when they are 8 years old.

After the hat maker we went to Pomuch to try the Pichon bread. But Pomuch is also very famous for its cemetery. The tradition is to remove the body of the loved one after 3 years and clean the remains. Due to this it is possible to walk through the cemetery and watch small uncovered boxes with remains inside but with flowers and woven blankets.

4^th November

According to the itinerary we made the city tour starting with the “Land Gate”, where it is possible to walk on the wall. Right in front there is the “Sea Gate”, a custom house for the pirates and buccaneers that wanted to cross the city. Then we entered to the Casa 6, a colonial house with period furniture. And after that we visited the cathedral.

5^th November

Because of the bad weather in Campeche it was impossible to go fishing. The destiny took us to Yax-Ha (green-water). The place is a nice Hacienda surrounded by lovely nature, horses and lot of history. When we arrived there, David told us about its history and the importance of this Hacienda.

Later we started our Paintball challenge with 3 teams. David explained the rules and how we should play. We had a lot of fun! Everybody was very hungry at the end so we eat some chicken tacos with a delicious “Guacamole”.

6^th November

Early in the morning we left “El Pirata” Hostal in order to get to Palenque.

7^th November

We started the day with rain. I was afraid we couldn’t enjoy the visit to the archaeological site of Palenque but fortunately the clouds allowed us to see the magic of just 2% of this beautiful place.

Our guide’s name was Salvador, better known as ”the cat”. He took us through the jungle and showed us some of the houses buried in hundreds of years. We visited the palace of the red Queen, learned about the Mayan numbers and how they could count just with three numbers.

After that we drove to the Misol-Ha waterfall which is about 30m high. The local people say that cold water is very healthy and that it also helps with the circulation of your body system. So some of the guys and me swam and enjoyed the beauty of the Water (Ha) Fall (Misol).

8^th November

On the way to San Cristóbal de las Casas we stopped at “Cascadas de Agua Azul”. The water is blue since it has a high mineral content. This waterfall consists of many cataracts following one after another. Once again the water’s temperature was very cold so that we could just swim for a couple of minutes.

A winding and long road took us after some hours to San Cristóbal de las Casas, located in the Highlands of Chiapas at an elevation of approximately 2,100 m above sea level; the main reason for this COLD WEATHER.

9^th November

It’s still freezing!!! Early in the morning we continued our Spanish lessons. The majority of the group already speaks more than a word. We walked around the city, visited Santo Domingo Church, San Cristobal Cathedral, Del Carmen Arch and climbed more than 300 steps to the San Cristobal Chapel.

10^th November

After practicing some Spanish, we visited San Juan Chamula. The town has an autonomous status and they have their own police force. The church of San Juan, the head town, is filled with colorful candles, and smoke. Along the walls of the church, there are statues of saints in large wooden cases, many wearing mirrors to deflect evil. The group could see how a Shaman practices their customs and beliefs. It was a nice experience!!

After visiting the church the handcrafts market was waiting for us with very cheap prices. Now everyone has a new hat, gloves or scarf to wear for this cold in San Cristóbal de las Casas.

11^th November

After breakfast we took the road to Chiapa de Corzo, a nice town. This is one of the places where it’s possible to take a boat ride through the Sumidero Canyon. It is hard to describe the feeling of being so small between walls and 900m cliffs. During the trip we could see some pelicans, herons, crocodiles, vultures, waterfalls, caves and lots of natural formations.

The group thoroughly enjoyed the trip and ate the famous giant quesadillas.

12^th November

Today I handed the group over to Cris again. The weather is still cold but everybody is ready for more fun in Guatemala!

Right now they should be on their way to Flores in Guatemala where they will experience further unforgettable adventures.

Backpacking Adventure 2010 – Week 2

2010-11-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

The group's current location: Campeche/Mexico

After their little diving adventure on the island of Cozumel, our Danish backpacking group headed to Nuevo Durango, a Mexican community in the north of Cancun. During their first night they could already experience one of nature’s astonishing spectacles: the arrival of the swallows at their cave, A’aktun Jaaleb.

The next day, our group went to another famous cave, Tacbiha, where they even were able to do rappelling in order to hike through the cave’s interior. During the afternoon, the children of the community challenged our Danish visitors in a football match.

After breakfast, the group went on to a marvelous cenote (freshwater limestone sinkhole) where their guide, Cris, informed them about its formation and in general about the importance of cenotes to this region. In the evening, they finally arrived in the city of Merida.

The next morning, our group departed to the center of Merida, “the white”, where they learned about the city’s history and why it still the most important city in the entire Yucatan Peninsula. Furthermore, they visited the government’s palace with its beautiful murals full of history and the monumental cathedral, full of incense smell due to the celebrations of the “Día de los Muertos”. At the “Lucas de Galves” city market they finally got amazed and also scared by the way meat is sold in Mexico (photo). During the afternoon they had a Spanish lesson where they learned some new words very helpful for its daily activities. A highlight was to learn a few pickup lines to use during their next visit to the disco, like “Quieres bailar guapa?” (Do you want to dance sweety?).

Right now they should be on their way to Campeche, another state on the Yucatan Peninsula where they will experience further unforgettable adventures.

Crocodile Adventure by Hernan Esquivel

2010-11-02T14:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Alejandra and I went on the crocodile adventure with a Russian family: Alexander, Svetlana and their daughter Anna.

The night was very dark with an excellent temperature so that we could catch a 1m long crocodile. Furthermore we were able to observe at least three more crocodiles of more than 2.5m length. The Russian Family was very happy but also a little scared.

But at the end they realized that, despite of being a top predator, the natural reaction is always trying to survive. Therefore the only reason for attacking someone is because they face danger or feel fear.

Hernan Esquivel

EcoColors Guide

For more photos of this amazing adventure check out our photo album on Facebook.

Backpacking Adventure 2010 – Week 1

2010-10-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

The group's current location: Nuevo Durango/Mexico

After their first day in Cancun’s hotel zone and some Spanish lessons with their guide, Cris, we planned some fun at night for our group of backpackers. On Saturday they went together to the most famous nightclub in the Riviera Maya, the Cogo Bongo. There, they could enjoy the amazing show and a lot of Latino-nightlife.

The next day, the group went on their bicycles to famous Isla Mujeres, a rather small but relaxing island a few kilometers away from the mainland. Because of its crystal clear water, Isla Mujeres is a really famous snorkeling spot.

After a free Sunday and further Spanish classes, our Danish visitors headed to Mexico’s third biggest island, Cozumel. Located approximately 20km away from Playa del Carmen on the mainland, this island is worldwide popular for its marvelous diving opportunities. So actually there would be no better place for our group to do their PADI diving certification course than Cozumel. During three days of practical and theoretical training with experienced dive instructors they finally passed the tests which was rewarded with a great certification party.

Right now they should be on their way to Nuevo Durango, a Mexican community north of Cancun where they will participate in the local life and gain great experiences.

Backpacking Adventure 2010 - Day 1

2010-10-22T11:24:00.000-07:00

The group's current location: Cancun/Mexico

Today is the beginning of our amazing Backpacking Adventure: 60 days of traveling off the beaten track through Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime-experience for our 16 Danish participants. Have fun, guys!

EcoColors and the Nichupte Lagoon Clean-up

2010-10-12T10:12:00.000-07:00

Some days ago, the EcoColors team and some good friends and supporters participated in the 4^th Clean-up of the Nichupte Lagoon in Cancun’s Zona Hotelera.

Today we received the final results of this annual clean-up: All the 450 volunteers of different institutions collected that day over 7 tons! of trash of which approximately were 800 kg PET, 6,635 cigarette stubs, 3,761 tin cans, 1 ton of glass, auto parts, electronic scrap and several other types of trash.

As an ecological tour operator it is our responsibility to educate our clients about the importance of sustainability and f.e. recycling. Participating in these kinds of events, we always try to give a thought-provoking impulse for our current and mainly our new generations.

Limpieza de la Laguna Nichupte en Cancún / Clean-up of the Nichupte Lagoon in Cancun

2010-09-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

English version please see below!

La cita va a ser el 02 de octubre a las 7:30 am en el estacionamiento de la Semarnat en el km 4.5 de la zona hotelera.

Durante este evento se realizarán actividades de recolección de basura dentro del cuerpo lagunar y a orillas del mismo, en la zona comprendida entre el Canal Sigfrido y Canal Nizuc, tomando en cuenta los perímetros de esta zona (km 4.5 al 22).

Estaremos participando en la etapa terrestre y por lo cual estamos solicitando de su apoyo para formar dos brigadas con 10 voluntarios cada una, en donde se nos asignará un punto específico a limpiar (aproximadamente 500 metros). Buscando en conjunto la limpieza de 16 a 18 km aprox.!

Como ya saben, tanto CORAL como EcoColors, apoyamos este tipo de actividades de conservación, por lo cual es fundamental contar con su participación y confirmación al evento.

El día del evento, es muy aconsejable portar:

- pantalón de mezclilla

- bota o zapato cerrado (menos aconsejable tenis por si hubiera vidrio)

- playera blanca de manga larga

- bloqueador solar

- gorra o sombrero

El mecanismo de separación de basura se los explicará el mero día.

Si quieren confirmar este evento o tienen algunas dudas o preguntas, pueden contactar Adriana Gonzalez de Coral (agonzalez@coral.org).

Gracias por su atención y esperamos su confirmación!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The appointment will be October 2 at 7:30 am in the parking lot of Semarnat at km 4.5 of the hotel zone.

During this event there will be garbage collection activities within and along the Lagoon system in the area between the Sigfrido and Nizuc point, taking into account the perimeters of this area (km 4.5 to 22).

We will be participating in the terrestrial stage of the cleanup, and for which we're requesting your support to form two brigades with 10 volunteers each, where we will be assigned to a specific point to clean (approximately 500 meters), looking for the overall cleanup of 16-18 km approx.!

As you know, both CORAL and EcoColors, support such conservation efforts, so it is essential your participation and confirmation to the event.

The day of the event, it's advisable to wear:

- Denim pants, jeans

- Boots or closed shoes (tennis are less desirable in case there were glass)

- Long-sleeved white shirt

- Sunscreen

- Hat

The garbage separation mechanism will be explained that day.

If you would like to confrim you participation in this event or if you have any doubts or questions, please do not hesitate to contact Adriana Gonzalez from CORAL (agonzalez@coral.org).

Thank you for your attention and look forward to your confirmation!

The oil-well is finally closed but the pain will remain

2010-09-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

Last week, the US government and BP pronounced that the oil-well in the Gulf of Mexico was finally sealed and that there won’t be any more oil spilling in the future. This means that after five months and 4.9 million barrels of oil that leaked into the ocean, the largest maritime spill ever was declared dead.

Certainly that does not mean that from now on all the problems are solved. There are still lots of oil in the water, straining the life in and around the Gulf of Mexico. Besides the 11 people that died on April 20 as the oil rig exploded, besides all the animals that perished because of the oil in the water and besides all the people that depend on fishing for their survival and that still can’t sell their fish, there are also long term effects that yet, no one can determine.

Even though this catastrophe does not yet affect the Yucatan Peninsula directly, it means a lot to EcoColors as an environmental aware tour operator to draw your attention to this big issue so that this won’t happen again to our planet.

Bye Bye Whale Shark

2010-09-16T14:56:00.001-07:00

This morning, the last boats for this year left Puerto Juarez for our amazing Whale Shark Adventure. But that does not mean that all the Whale Sharks are leaving the area around Isla Holbox right now. Some will stay there for a few more months, others already left in different directions on their search for food.

This means that the Whale Shark season from May to September is not determined by the Whale Sharks but by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP). In order to protect the Whale Sharks, the CONANP doesn’t give permission for this area to any tour operator from September to May.

As an ecological tour operator, we would furthermore like to inform you that it is very important to us to operate our tours in a highly sustainable way. That means for example that we only take small groups on our Whale Shark Adventure in order to keep the impact on the Whale Shark as low as possible and to provide you as much personal attendance as you need to enjoy this amazing experience.

We would already like to invite you to come with us on one of our next Whale Shark Adventures in 2011!

EcoColors & marti - the MesoAmerican Reef Toursim Initiative

2010-09-09T09:59:00.000-07:00

With a length of about 1,000 kilometers, the MesoAmerican Reef is the largest coral reef in the Western Hemisphere and at the same time the world's second largest barrier reef. It stretches from near Isla Contoy on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico along the coast of Belize, Guatemala and Honduras.

The MesoAmerican Reef is home to a huge biodiversity, including 65 types of coral and 500 species of fish. On the other hand, there are also numerous endangered species living in or around the reef, linke f.e. different types of sea turtles or the American crocodile.

As the reef provides labor, natural resources and food to everyone living within its area, many people and animals depend on it. Therefore the MesoAmerican Reef Tourism Initiative (marti) works as a joint initiative to ensure its survival for current and future generations.

As a tour operator of sustainable tourism, EcoColors supports this initiative actively and will also in the future try to help it with all its knowledge about a responsible way to operate tourism on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Aventura única e inolvidable.

2010-07-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

Realice el tour de Tiburón Ballena con Ecocolors Tours. Es una experiencia inolvidable.

Llegamos al muelle de Punta Sam a las 7:30 de la mañana, ya había un coffee break esperándonos. Después de un briefing muy interesante sobre el tiburón ballena y el proyecto de conservación del mimo, ya estábamos listos para ir en busca del con el pez mas grande del mundo, nuestro guía nos explico que cuando viéramos una aleta muy grande sobre las aguas del océano, rápido diéramos aviso al capitán para ir y poder observar y nadar con el Tiburón ballena o mas bien con los tiburones ballenas.

Estaba muy emocionado, nuestro guía nos hablaba sobre el tour, nos daba las indicaciones y recomendaciones para hacer de nuestra aventura un momento único en nuestras vidas. Subimos al bote que lleva por nombre FLOR DE AZALIA, nos pusimos nuestros chalecos, y arrancamos en busca del tiburón ballena, llegamos a Isla Mujeres como en 10 minutos y después fuimos mar abierto como 40 minutos, hasta que por fin a lo lejos pudimos observar una aleta muy grande, era el momento mas padre del tour, al ver a este pez mi corazón se estremeció y no dude en tirarme al agua con la indicaciones de mi guía.

Cuando me sumergí, al voltear a ver hacia la superficie, cual fue mi sorpresa, estaba a tan solo 5 metros del tiburón ballena, su boca era muy grande, entonces empecé a observarlo y a nadar junto a la dirección que el tiburón ballena llevaba, fueron 7 minutos formidables, después regrese al bote, para que los demás pudieran disfrutarlo igual. Nuestro guía no dijo que podíamos nadar cuantas veces quisiéramos con el tiburón, y en efecto así fue, tuve la oportunidad de nadar 5 veces, porque después ya me había cansado.

Después partimos hacia Playa Norte en Isla Mujeres, donde comimos un rico seviche de camarón y nadamos un rato en las aguas azules de Isla Mujeres.
Fue un día maravilloso.

Gracias.
.

2010-07-03T08:44:00.001-07:00

There are 2 worlds in Sian Ka'an: day and night. Only the peace that prevails is timeless. At dusk, the chirping of birds is up to the frogs and the only master of the site remains to crocodiles.

Looking for crocodiles is a real adventure, in a quiet way. Only the reflection of its red eyes in the dark allows us to follow his trail, and finally when time comes to catch it, the adrenaline is at its peak!

What a grandiose animal. Observing its morphology, measure it, weigh it, makes this tour so unique. It is nature at its best. And when time comes for souvenir photos, the animal does its best smile and let us capture this unforgettable moment.

Once the "medical examination" is complete, it is time for us to release the Crocky, and what a feeling to look it getting back home, sweet home; also time to get back, a head full of images and a wonderful life lesson especially!

The Whale Shark Tour by Alejandra Rojas

2010-06-30T08:18:00.000-07:00

Every day is a lucky day, because each adventure is different from each other. One day I could see the sea as I’ve never seen it before; it was like a swimming pool, quite and transparent. Right in front of the Women Island there were many dolphins. It was supposed that they were mums teaching their kids how to swim. On the way we also saw turtles, fly fishes and a sail fish. But the main role did it the whale shark. Very nice and friendly it allowed us to swim and learn a little bit more about its life. Nice people, ceviche cocktail and a different experience, what more can I ask for as a guide?

Alejandra Rojas
Guide EcoColors
Spanish, English, French and German

A new challenge for Whale Sharks

2010-06-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

Sharks are without any doubts the greatest and most talented group of animals that have been able to adapt to the many challenges they have been facing through time on Planet Earth. They have been able to survive enormous dinosaurs, glaciations, meteorites and more recent big fisheries, climate change and now the new one, the terrible oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. For years Whale Sharks have come to the waters of the Yucatan Peninsula to feed in the summer. Last year, we in EcoColors had days where we literally could see more than 400 Whale Sharks. Now with the oil impact on plankton, fish and all living organisms, Whale Sharks face a new challenge. My personal believe is, as usual and due to the fantastic adaptations they possessed, they will be able to survive this new challenge however, this is still a mystery. Lets hope for the best and lets all do our part in this world to really achieve a responsible way of living. For this moment we should all take advantage and enjoy the fantastic Whale Sharks in Mexico. This is definitely a must activity in each persons bucket list!

WIN a FREE Whale Shark Tour with EcoColors!

2010-06-09T11:33:00.000-07:00

Guess from today on how many Whale Sharks we will see untill the 15th of August and WIN a FREE Whale Shark Tour for this year or next year´s season!!

Only on Facebook and Twitter

Send us a message or a comment with the number of Whale Sharks you guess will be seen!

Adivina!!! ¿Cuantos tiburónes vamos a ver desde ahora hasta el 15 de Agosto??? Y gana la oportunidad de nadar con el Tiburòn Ballena, esta temporada o e...n la proxima, Gratis!!!

Sólo en Facebook y Twitter

Envianos un mensaje o un comentario con el numero de los tiburones tu adivinas

que se van a ver.

Free Whale Shark T-shirt, Book Now!

2010-04-28T08:39:00.000-07:00

The 20st of May, only 23 days left, EcoColors will start the new Whale Shark season. The Whale Shark Adventure will depart daily from the 20st of May untill the 15th of September. Reserve your seats now before the 16th of May and you will receive a free EcoColors Whale Shark T-Shirt!

Book here now!

The group arrives in Guatemala!

2010-04-28T07:23:00.000-07:00

By Alejandra

EcoColors Guide

Following our adventure we arrived to Corazal, a small village at the Usumacinta River. Next day we took a boat to cross to GUATEMALA; our next destination.

It was a long way but on a different kind of transportation toward EL REMATE. Definitely was worth waiting the sunset to swim in the Petén - Itza Lake. It was a relaxing and refreshing welcome to this nice country. The night seemed to be as usual but suddenly we assisted a real storm in the jungle, nothing dangerous just amazing.

For another view of this place we undertook the trek to the Cahui hill, considered one of the best areas for wildlife observation in Central America.

Next time more!