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The Sierra de San Francisco archeological site, located in the central part of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, has a set of rock paintings belonging to what is known as the Great Mural, a pictorial tradition that experts consider to be one of the greatest in the world. It is estimated that these paintings were made at least 7,500 years ago, amid canyons in the area's majestic mountains.

This photograph shows a group of images in the "La Pintada" cave, located on a cliff nearly 200 feet above the bottom of a ravine. La Pintada is more than 550 feet long and its large mural is almost entirely decorated with hundreds of images of human figures wearing strange headdresses and bearing long spears and arrows painted black and ochre tones; different animals are also portrayed.

In 1993, UNESCO designated the rock paintings of Sierra de San Francisco a World Heritage Site.

This photograph is courtesy of Ecoturismo Kuyimá.

This entry was posted on February 7, 2014 at 12:24 PM and has received 149 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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They say the best part of travel is the journey, not the destination. Many tourists will visit the ancient ruins at Machu Picchu, but fewer will complete the Salkantay Trek, a longer and more intense alternative to the popular Inca Trail. The Salkantay Trek was named one of the 25 best Treks in the World by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine, offering travelers up close views of some of the most beautiful mountains in the world.

This photo was taken by Mountain Lodges of Peru during its lodge-to-lodge trek to Machu Picchu, which begins at Salkantay Lodge.

This entry was posted on July 19, 2013 at 1:26 PM and has received 614 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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All over the world, Catholics are preparing to celebrate Holy Week. This holiday involves prayer, fasting, devotion, and, in many countries, traditional parades. It is a great time of year for travelers in Latin America and other regions to enjoy an authentic cultural tourism experience!

A "procession" is an organized religious parade of people on a journey, usually as an offering to God, the Virgin, or the saints. The processions are inspired by biblical passages, so participants are dressed in costumes from the Roman era, and they carry images of Jesus and the Virgin, among others. During the journey they may go quietly, sing hymns, or chant prayers.

The processions can begin during Lent and be held every Sunday until Easter. Starting on Palm Sunday, there are sometimes daily processions, but the largest and most elaborate parades are from Holy Thursday until Easter Sunday.

Spain, Argentina, Peru, and Guatemala are world renowned for their colorful and moving processions. However, the processions of Guatemala are said to be the best of America, especially those of the colonial city of Antigua.

During Holy Week, the narrow cobblestone streets of Antigua are filled with domestic and foreign tourists who travel there just to appreciate these acts of devotion. But there is another element that makes them unique in the world: the beautiful carpets of sawdust the Guatemalan Catholics carefully produce to decorate the route the processions will pass.

The carpets display impressive Maya and Roman designs and others inspired by nature, which are made using colored sawdust, flowers, fruits, vegetables, pine and other materials. Families, neighborhoods, and entire guilds organize themselves to decorate the streets outside their homes and churches, combining their talent and effort and pooling money to buy the materials and molds needed to create the carpets.

Depending on their length and difficulty, the preparation of a carpet can take a few hours or even full nights and days. Some carpets in Antigua may be nearly a kilometer in length.

Seeing Antigua converted into an artists' studio is a visual feast for visitors who wander through the streets capturing the images of the creative process and the final works. The life of a carpet is short, making it even more special.

The start of the procession marks the carpets' greatest moment of splendor, but also their end. The crowded streets fill with white incense, followed by the group of people with special clothing and prayers or chants, while the strongest carry very heavy litters bearing the precious images. Everyone marches slowly on the beautiful carpets that have patiently awaited this moment. Within minutes, only remnants of the colorful tapestries remain, and a cleaning crew sweeps up the waste to leave the streets clean again.

In a few hours on another street of Antigua, the process is repeated again and again until Holy Week ends.

This entry was posted on March 19, 2013 at 3:34 PM and has received 644 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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How would you like to visit the country with the second-highest level of biodiversity in the world? Besides its breathtaking natural setting, this country produces some of the best quality coffee and the most beautiful emeralds on the planet. Its people are known for their great warmth and the best rumbas of South America.

This alluring country is Colombia.

Located on the southeastern border of Panama, Colombia is a country that has almost everything: beautiful beaches on its Pacific and Caribbean shores, lush forests and Amazon jungles, deserts, snow-capped mountains, a pleasant tropical climate, cosmopolitan cities and a rich cultural heritage. It is home to 102 indigenous ethnic groups, around 64 Amerindian and Afro-Columbian languages, more than 30 traditional festivals, and 191 folk rhythms. UNESCO has named seven cultural traditions as elements of Intangible Cultural Heritage and seven natural and cultural properties as World Heritage sites.

Thanks to these various attractions, highly increased government security measures, and improved political and social stability in recent years, Colombia is being reborn in the eyes of the world as an excellent tourist destination. Between 2001 and 2011, the number of visitors to the country grew by 10% per year on average, which is almost four times the world average.

Tourism in Colombia is a huge industry and offers something for every type of visitor. The country officially promotes 17 specialized tour themes, including sun and sand, culture, agrotourism, nature, cruises, diving, golf, bird-watching, religious tourism, and wellness tourism.

For example, ecotourists can enjoy dozens of protected areas, which encompass ten percent of the national territory, or they can venture into the Colombian Amazon region, which represents one third of the country. They can tour the Archipelago of San Andrés and Providencia or visit Cartagena, San Blas, and Santa Marta--tourist favorites that they combine beautiful beaches with nature and colonial history.

The Colombian coasts are also a delight for diving, snorkeling, and sailing enthusiasts, with plentiful coral and endemic and migratory marine species, such as sea turtles and humpback whales that visit from July to October.

Another popular destination is the Coffee Triangle, or the area in the beautiful highlands of the Caldas, Quindío and Risaralda departments, where you'll find the heart of Colombian coffee farming and a reflection of authentic rural life.

The different routes connecting the Triangle offer the opportunity to visit and stay in typical coffee haciendas, tour small coffee farms managed by local families, and, of course, taste what many consider to be the best coffee in the world. You can also go horseback riding or biking in the mountains, go bird-watching, participate in adventure sports, tour nearby towns, and visit the Coffee Park and Panaca theme parks. Because of its beauty and high cultural value, the Colombian coffee landscape was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2011.

Finally, you can't go to Colombia without appreciating its large cosmopolitan cities: Cali, Bogotá, and Medellín.

Bogotá, the nation's capital, is known as the "Athens of South America" and is compared with cities like London and Buenos Aires. It is the financial and political center of the country, home to famous universities, exquisite architecture, a modern transportation system, museums, and endless accommodation options for visitors. Medellín is considered the cultural center of Colombia and is a vibrant and modern city that still retains a regional charm. Meanwhile, Cali is positioned as the world capital of salsa--the perfect destination for those who want to dance and enjoy authentic Colombian rumbas.

All of Colombia's charms can be enjoyed sustainably. The government has tools such as the Quality Tourism Certification and the Colombian Environmental Seal to identify and distinguish services and products that meet certain environmental and social criteria. The international seal SmartVoyager also certifies tourism businesses in the country.

Visit our directory for a list of sustainable businesses in Colombia and discover this up-and-coming tourism destination before the rest of the world catches on!

This entry was posted on March 5, 2013 at 7:53 AM and has received 1113 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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Central America and Mexico contain a rich tapestry of history, culture, and nature built from the various indigenous civilizations that first inhabited the region, before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores in the Americas. This Spanish heritage is visible today in the regional cuisine, an exquisite fusion of local ingredients with those brought from the old country.

The same holds true with architecture – in most of these countries, beautiful colonial cities have become very popular tourist destinations, because they offer a unique opportunity to travel back into history. They can see bits of Spain in the narrow cobblestone streets, large plazas, houses with interior terraces and gardens, beautiful cathedrals, convents and monasteries, and even carriages and horses that share the road with automobiles.

Here are some of the most well-known colonial cities in Central America and Mexico – all are amazing destinations to discover:

Mexico

Oaxaca, Merida, Puebla, Querétaro, San Miguel de Allende, San Cristobal de las Casas, and Morelia are some of the most beautiful colonial cities in Mexico. Many of them are UNESCO World Heritage Sites because they preserve infrastructure from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Rich in colonial ruins and monuments that are still well preserved, these towns are also home to Mexican art and folklore.

Guatemala

Antigua is the best example of a colonial city in Guatemala. Founded in the 16th century, it was the capital city of the Kingdom of Guatemala, the Spanish colonial government that controlled southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. The city was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1773, but its main monuments still stand, and many are open to the public. It is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Honduras

Comayagua, Valle de Angeles, Ojojona, San Antonio de Oriente, Santa Lucia, Santa Rosa de Copan, the Copan Ruins, La Esperanza, Tegucigalpa, and Gracias are the best examples of the colonial architectural heritage in Honduras. They are located in the middle of the mountainous highland areas of the country, as these sites were ideal, safe places to build the forts that today still dominate the landscape of these cities.

El Salvador

Santa Ana, Suchitoto, and Panchimalco are key colonial destinations in El Salvador. Along their cobblestone streets are Baroque and even Gothic-style churches, such as the imposing Cathedral of Santa Ana. Suchitoto is said to be very similar to Antigua Guatemala, with its colorful houses, cobbled streets, large plaza, and church, but with fewer tourists.

Nicaragua

Leon and Granada, Nicaragua, were named after Spanish cities and both are emblems of the colonial period in the country. Granada is a very colorful and lively city, with a large cathedral and park, a walkway, and boardwalk filled with tourists who walk on foot or ride in traditional carriages. Leon has several 17th and 18th century churches, as well as the outstanding ruins of León Viejo, one of the first cities established in America which has been declared a World Heritage Site. This ancient city was buried in ash after the eruption of the Momotombo volcano.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica does not have as many colonial cities as the rest of Central America. Nicoya is considered the oldest colonial city in the country, since the parish church was presumably built in 1522, but Cartago was actually the country's main colonial seat. Today few traces remain from this period.

Find sustainable hotels near these colonial cities at SustainableTrip.org.

This entry was posted on October 16, 2012 at 11:10 AM and has received 1160 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

The Mundo Maya, or Mayan World, consists of the modern day countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. This year, the entire world has been captivated by the prophecies of the ancient Mayan civilization. According to the Mayan calendar, December 21, 2012 marks the world's rebirth: the end of a 5,125 year cycle and the beginning of a new era. What does this mean? Well, for travelers, it means that 2012 is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience the special year-long celebrations and discover the mysterious and beautiful Mundo Maya firsthand.

Read on for our 5 tips to make the most of your trip to the Mundo Maya in 2012!

1) Hidden history

There are many world-famous Mayan sites to explore, but did you know that there are also tons of lesser-known ruins tucked deep in the jungle? These hidden ruins, surrounded by dense forest, where only the calls of birds and monkeys accompany you, leave quite a different impression than the crowded museum-like experience of the more popular Mayan sites. The forests of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico are full of these hidden petroglyphs (stone carvings) and pyramids, their already mysterious air compounded by the overgrown foliage and desertedness. The ruins at Calakmul in Mexico are one of the most impressive of these off-the-beaten-path destinations.

2) The early bird...

Despite the crowds, the breathtaking magnificence of the frequently visited Maya sites makes them also worth the trip. (Hey they're popular for a reason, right?) Among the most popular sites are Chichen Itza and Tulum in Mexico, Tikal in Guatemala, Copán in Honduras, and Altun Ha in Belize. When you do go, make sure you arrive in the morning – the earlier, the better. For one, you'll beat the majority of the tourist traffic, and second, you'll avoid the oppressive afternoon heat. As an added bonus, you're far more likely to see wildlife in the morning, as most animals retreat into the shade to escape the midday sun.

3) Consider your impact

Keep in mind that the Mayan ruins you'll be visiting are thousands of years old and are thus in varying degrees of deterioration. One person climbing on the stone may not cause any visible damage, but the sum of millions of tourists stepping on the same spots each year eventually causes noticeable erosion. To make these amazing sites last for generations to come, make sure to respect all roped off areas and signs. And don't gripe about the nominal fee you may have to pay to enter the park – that money goes directly to protecting and preserving these cultural landmarks, so be proud of the contribution you're making!

4) The Mundo Maya lives!

The Mayan World isn't just a relic of the past -- it still lives on in the descendants of this ancient civilization, who still practice some of their ancestors' traditions to this day. Engage with them, learn from them, and you'll see the Mundo Maya come alive! You can learn about Mayan customs, sacred shamanic rituals, cosmology, medicinal plants, and traditional recipes. Some groups even offer travelers a chance to participate in activities such as spiritual ceremonies, chocolate making, and traditional healing.

5) Take a tour

If you're not an archeological expert yourself, a local guide can really enrich your experience by explaining the history and meaning behind the architecture and petroglyphs and drawing your attention to the best and most interesting spots. A tour operator can also set up the aforementioned cultural activities with local Mayan people. There is nothing wrong with being an independent traveler, but when it comes to the Mundo Maya, going on a tour can really enhance your experience – that is, IF you pick the right company. Be sure to pick a responsible tour operator that hires locally, like the ones in the SustainableTrip.org directory.

We hope you found these tips for travel in the Mundo Maya in 2012! If you're looking for environmentally and socially sustainable accommodations to book for your trip, check out some of the highlights from our directory below:

• Hotel & Bungalows Mayaland, Mexico – Built alongside the temples of Chichen Itzá on the Yucatan peninsula and within driving distance of over a dozen Mayan archeological sites, including Cobá, Tulum, Ek Balam, and Uxmal.
• Proyecto Ecoturísitco Los Robles, Mexico – Located in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve along the access route to the Calakmul archaeological zone.
• Ecolodge El Sombrero, Guatemala – An ecolodge offering tours to the famous Tikal ruins, as well as the ruins of Yaxhá, Topoxte, Nakum, Naranjo, and El Kuch.
• Black Orchid Resort, Belize – A resort near the Mayan sites of Altun Ha, Lamanai, Caracol, and Xunantunich.

This entry was posted on June 15, 2012 at 9:00 AM and has received 1677 views. There are currently 3 comments. Print this entry.

Mexico offers a range of experiences that is as large as its geographical size. Driving through vast deserts for hours, sipping cocktails by the beach, visiting authentic and colorful markets, strolling through colonial towns, and exploring Mayan ruins are all possible in this spectacular country. Mexico features a total of 31 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, or those deemed by UNESCO to be of special cultural or physical significance. Here, we feature five of these amazing sites - if you are headed to Mexico, we highly recommend fitting at least one of them into your trip

1. Historic Centre of Mexico City 

Declared a World Heritage Site in 1987, the "Centro Histórico" of Mexico City hosts a myriad of treasures. Built on the ruins of the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, its entire history from the construction of the pre-Hispanic city in 1525, through the country's independence from Spain is reflected in 1,550 historically important buildings. Its collection of archaeological sites and colonial and contemporary buildings include the Metropolitan Cathedral, National Palace, pre-Hispanic ruins of the Templo Mayor (Great Temple), and the Palace of Fine Arts. A variety of famous museums such as the National Museum of Anthropology, the National Art Museum, the Casa Azul of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, and the Museum of Modern Art round out the cultural riches of the country's capital city.

2. Historic Fortified Town of Campeche

Declared a World Heritage Site in 2002, Campeche combines history and culture with exuberant vegetation. This colonial harbor town served as a starting point for several major expeditions. Its historic center is still surrounded by intact walls that were commonly used in  the 17^th and 18^th century to protect cities and towns against invading pirates.

Hacienda Puerta Campeche

This hotel used to be one of the haciendas, beautifully designed by famous European architects, for a flourishing sisal industry in the Yucatán Peninsula in the 1920s. By the 1990s, the magnificent sisal haciendas lay abandoned, and Puerta Campeche is bringing back to life not only this and other former sisal haciendas, it is also committed to the socially and environmentally sustainable development of rural Maya communities.  The Hacienda is certified by the Earthcheck program.

3. Pre-Hispanic City of Chichén Itzá, Yucatán

Declared a World Heritage Site in 1988, this is one of the most famous Mayan ruins in the world and one of the most important examples of Mayan-Toltec civilizations. Buildings such as the El Caracol Great Ball Court, Temple of Kukulkan, El Castillo, and Temple of the Warriors are counted among the masterpieces of Mesoamerican architecture. Moreover this pre-Hispanic city was voted one of the seven new wonders of the world.

Lodge at Chichen Itzá

This beautiful lodge is located in the heart of the Chichen Itzá archeological area. The lodge even features a direct entrance to this fascinating pre-Hispanic city. Its cabins were built in a traditional Maya style, adhering to ecological criteria such as using tropical woods, marble, and palm fronds, yet all cabins are equipped with modern-day conveniences. This Rainforest Alliance Verified lodge serves as a forum for expression and interpretation of Maya traditions, uses, and customs. Located on 62 acres (25 hectares) with beautiful subtropical gardens, it is hard not to be relaxed and inspired after a visit here.

4. Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve

Meaning "Origin of the Sky" in Mayan, Sian Ka'an was established as a World Heritage Site in 1986.  Located on the Caribbean coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, this beautiful reserve is a nature lover's paradise – it contains tropical forest, mangroves and a section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.  Local tour operators offer kayak trips through ancient Mayan lagoons that served as trade routes, excellent opportunities to observe the more than 300 bird species that live in the reserve.   A total of 103 mammal species have been found here, including jaguar, puma, ocelot, tapir, manatees, spider and howler monkeys, deer, anteaters and more. Four species of endangered sea turtles - green, hawksbill, loggerhead, and leatherback- nest on the reserve's beautiful beaches.

Papaya Playa

Located in Tulum, a charming town just north of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, Papaya Playa lies on a spectacular white sand beach. The hotel enhances its beautiful natural surroundings to create an atmosphere for guests to relax their minds and bodies. Moreover, the hotel helps preserve native plants, carries out reforestation projects, and protects sea turtles that nest in the area. It also participates in local community programs and supports organizations such as the local Red Cross.

5. Pre-Hispanic City and National Park of Palenque

Palenque is one of the most impressive ancient Mayan sites. Located in the lush green jungle of the Lacandon forest in the state of Chiapas, this site boasts well-crafted architecture and beautiful sculptural art. From 600 to 900 A.D. when at its peak, the site's influence extended over what are today the states of Chiapas and Tabasco.Its most famous buildings are The Palace and the Temple of Inscriptions.

Centro Ecoturístico Las Guacamayas (Las Guacamayas Ecotourist Center)

Named for the endangered scarlet macaw, the community-run Las Guacamayas Ecotourist Center hosts a macaw breeding program, an orchid garden, and a wildlife reserve. The community has also set aside 3,615 acres (1,463 hectares) of forest as a private protected area.

 

This entry was posted on September 22, 2011 at 12:49 PM and has received 867 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.