Centro Ecoturístico Las Guacamayas

Overview

Description

Due to its history, geographic location, climate, and social setting, the Lacandon forest is a region of great importance for Mexico. Most of its territory consists of tropical forests with abundant natural resources that provide water, air, and raw materials. Chiapas is known for its many water resources; in fact, many tributaries originate in this forest. These waterways form a network of springs, creeks, and rivers that flow into the largest river in southeastern Mexico, the Usumacinta.

These conditions make the Lacandon forest an ideal refuge for a large number of plant and wildlife species, many of them endangered. The forest is also a mystery to archeologists, because many archeological remnants are hidden under the vast blanket of the high forest, waiting to be discovered.

Lacandon has beautiful attractions that make it one of Mexico's most highly visited tourist destinations. These include the archeological areas of Palenque, Bonampak, and Yaxchilán, the lakes of Montebello, and many kinds of activities including excursions to the interior of the forest on foot or by boat, visits to scarlet macaw nests, bird-watching, and of course, experiencing the exquisite Lacandon culture.

Rooms

• 4 triple rooms
• 2 cabin suites
• 6 cabins with 2 double rooms each
• 1 cabin with 2 double rooms and river view
• 7 community cabins

Making a Difference

Number of employees: 25

Percentage of local employees: 60%

The Reforma Agraria community was founded in 1976 by a group of Chinanteco immigrants from the state of Oaxaca, who since then have organized to manage their land sustainably. In the 1990s, the community began activities to protect and conserve the scarlet macaw (Ara macao), an endangered species.

Las Guacamayas Ecotourist Center is a model and example of sustainability that is using several techniques and actions to distinguish it from other businesses. For example, it has a scarlet macaw breeding program, an orchid garden that features several kinds of the region’s orchids, and a conservation unit to manage and make sustainable use of wildlife, especially white-tailed deer.

The community has now designated 3,615 acres (1,463 hectares) of its communal lands as a protected area to conserve the tall evergreen forest as part of the community’s conservation vision.

Rates

$101 – $150

In the link below, in the same section, you can find information about the rooms and prices.

Average prices of activities:

• Boat trip:
  • 3 hours: $155 (1,950 Mexican pesos)
  • 2 hours: $140 (1,750 Mexican pesos)
• Hiking:
  • 2 hours: $70 (900 Mexican pesos)
• Excursion to the bird sanctuary:
  • 1.5 hours: $40 (520 Mexican pesos).

For more information about rates, please visit:

• www.lasguacamayas.mx/#/habitacion-1/ (available in Spanish).
• www.lasguacamayas.mx/#/ROOMS/ (available in English).

Getting There

Nearest international airport: Villahermosa (VSA)

Nearest local/national airport: Tuxtla Gutiérrez (TGZ)

Travel time to nearest airport: 6 hours

Distance, by land, to the nearest airport: 225 miles (362 km)

Both airports are international and they are about 6 miles (9.7 km) apart.

The road is paved from any of the airports to the community of Reforma Agraria, which is only half a mile away from the Las Guacamayas ecotourist center. The gravel road from there is accessible by any kind of vehicle.

Additional Information

Awards or Recognitions

• The “M” award, given by Mexico’s Tourism Secretary for implementing the Modernized Quality Program, endorses the adoption of best practices and recognizes model tourism businesses.
• Global Quality Gold Award (Elite Category) awarded by the Global Quality Foundation in recognition of excellent work and efforts to support scarlet macaw conservation and reproduction.

Date This Information Was Provided

September 2013.

Photos courtesy of Centro Ecoturístico Las Guacamayas, Mexico, for SustainableTrip.org.