THE RESORT DESTINATIONS
Many are aware that Quintana Roo is by far the most well-known and highly-touristed state in Mexico, and this is because it is home to now-very-recognized and sought-after resort and beach destinations like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel, Bacalar, and Holbox.
When people think of all these tourist places, they conjure up the all-inclusive resorts, the white sand, the crystal-clear and blue oceans, the warm weather, a vibrant nightlife, and a delightful gastronomy, to mention some.
Quintana Roo and its sites draw certain tourists in addition to its more than 2000-year-old Mayan heritage, history, and culture. With locations like Cobá, Chachoben, Muyil, and Tulum, this state is a global archaeology enthusiast’s dream come true.
But many tourists come to Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen in search of the “authentic Maya life,” or what they refer to as the “real Mexican culture.” Nevertheless, despite their best efforts, which primarily involve visiting ancient sites, a lot of the narrative leads them to believe that the Mayans have disappeared or that their civilization has collapsed, which is a grave mistake.
While the ancient Mayan people described in archeological publications and on guided tours hasn’t been around for a long time, that doesn’t imply their descendants aren’t around.
“WAY YANO’ONE”
“WAY YANO’ONE”, (¡Aquí estamos! – Here we are!) is the phrase used in the now recognized as the Mayan culture capital and in its surrounding areas.
The Mayan culture capital is called Felipe Carrillo Puerto. Its Mayan name is “Noj Kaaj Santa Cruz Xbáalam Naj” and it means “the great town Santa Cruz home of the jaguar”.
Felipe Carrillo Puerto is also the name of one of the 11 municipalities of Quintana Roo and its territory contains 88 localities, of which, “Noj Kaaj Santa Cruz is the main one.
In contrast to the massive growth observed in Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum, Felipe Carrillo Puerto has not (yet) been affected by the uncontrolled growth of the beach destinations, but it hasn’t benefited either, which seems wrong (to me), considering that a great part of the allure of the tourism destinations of Quintana Roo is the Mayan culture.
Even if the benefits of tourism have not reached all Mayan communities, this does not mean that no efforts are being made, with or without the assistance of the government, institutions, or even the private sector.
Many Quintana Roo localities have incredible community tourism initiatives that have been around, some since 1999 and some for less time, but all are characterized by being a cooperative of the local inhabitants, a sustainable business that benefits the local people and strives on the preservation and protection of the ecosystems, flora and fauna, promotion of their culture, and strengthening of their way of life.
MAYA KA’AN
The collection of some of these community tourism projects that have been working, learning, and training together for almost 22 years has a somewhat well-known brand name: “Maya Ka’an” since 2014.
Maya Ka’an is currently a network of ecotourism cooperatives made up of more than 15 communities in a geographical region that includes the center of Quintana Roo in the municipalities of Felipe Carrillo Puerto and José Mara Morelos, with certain spaces within the Reserve of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere. It is associated with low-impact, rural tourism, as well as a deeply established Mayan identity, which they regard as its most important bastion.
Some of these projects are:
Síijil Noh Há in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Selva Bonita in Chunhunhub, Community tours in Muyil and Sian Ka’an, Kantemó in Dziuche, Xyaat in Señor and U Belilek in Tihosuco.
All these projects feature tourism offerings, including cabins in the forest or near lagoons, animal spotting and bird watching, kayaking in lagoons, swimming in cenotes, gastronomy, and local life experiences, among others.
These initiatives all have one thing in common: they make certain that their methods do not surpass the carrying capacity of the natural ecosystems in which they are situated. They are also taking precautions to avoid inviting mass tourism, which could jeopardize their identity and the natural environment, which is an important component of their customs.
Its main goal is to truly illustrate what Mayan culture is all about, to make visible the geographical space where the communities are located and what they are doing in terms of ecotourism.
IS THERE MORE?
Besides the mentioned Maya Ka’an, there are several other community projects that have been around for a while too and that are working more independently.
Localities such as Chemuyil, where we can find Bejil-Ha, a cooperative made up of a group of young people from the community who seek to raise awareness among their visitors and their town of the critical importance of caring for the cenotes and flooded caves that exist in Quintana Roo through ecotourism tours.
Localities such as Nuevo Durango, where we can find Mayan Kajtaj, a cooperative of local people interested in preserving their culture and language, came together to offer experiences that respect and give their place and value to nature while also assisting them in achieving a dignified life.
Localities such as Felipe Carrillo Puerto itself, where you can find several groups of people working together to promote the appreciation and love for the Mayan identity and culture. Groups like the Mayan Art center Hum Batz where music and craft are used to work with children and teenagers.
Or organizations such as Manos Mayas Wayak’ab, a store that collects arts, crafts, and local Mayan products and promotes and sells them through the fair commerce system, benefiting many people in the communities who have no easy method to generate revenue through their craft.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
Quintana Roo and the entire Yucantan Peninsula are currently undergoing significant transformation and may be entering a new phase of rapid development.
The so-called Mayan Train’s debut run is approaching, while the airport near Tulum has already begun operations.
Another ambitious project in the works is “La Puerta al Mar” (the door to the sea), which will offer access to the ocean from Felipe Carrillo Puerto.
These three projects, as well as many more that we don’t fully understand, will have an impact on community tourism initiatives; we just hope it’s a beneficial one.
IN CONCLUSION
So, we already know that community tourism entails travel experiences managed and led by local community-owned businesses, non-governmental organizations, cooperatives, and social enterprises, and that it bridges the gaps that keep communities from making major improvements in their lives.
We discovered that Quintana Roo has much more to offer than just sun and beach or archeological sites.
We now understand that many Mayan communities are working hard to protect the environment, preserve their customs and traditions, and benefit themselves and construct a decent existence for themselves, and they are doing it responsibly by harnessing the power of sustainable and community tourism.
It is now our responsibility to learn more about what the territory has to offer in that regard and to support them by spreading the word about their projects & activities. We should also, of course, visit them or encourage our friends and family to do so, always remembering that these are places and initiatives that aim to be respectful of the environment and protective of their identity, and we should act in accordance with their values.
