Ecotravel In Tulum

Tulum is a Mexican town south of Cancun and Cozumel just a short moped ride to one of the most spectacular beaches ever! With the ruins of a once thriving Mayan city overlooking the sea from an impressive and stately cliffside perch, Tulum and its beaches are practically other-worldly; and particularly other-worldly when you consider how close the tourist metropolises are to the north, and how protected and pure, as an ecotravel destination, it remains.

That protection does not come without effort, however. Fighting the capitalist consumer urge, hotel owners have successfully sustained a wonderful combination of earthy and primitive with sufficient creature comforts to create a truly resort-like ambience, but without the glitz.

My choice when I stayed there was called Zahra. Like all of its neighboring hotels (which adhere to ecotourism principles) along the several mile long strip of sand, Zahra was comprised of palapa style huts, ranging from a single room with a large queen size bed and shared bath, to multi level, family style townhouse style palapas, including bunks, several baths and a dining area.

All are situated on the beach, steps from the crashing surf and a myriad of beach chairs and chaises. Prices range from around $35.00 per night to several hundred. Restaurants abound, all of which offer entertainment, serve fresh fish delicacies at reasonable prices, and allow bare feet on their sandy, literally on-the-beach floors.

Fresh water is precious, as is electricity and all forms of energy. Close attention is paid to conservation and to minimal disruption of natural habitats. Along those lines, several of the hotels provide spa services, such as that found at Maya Tulum , located next door to Zahra. Again, reasonably priced, one can be regaled by a vast array of unique services ranging from a standard massage to ancient healing rituals resurrected from Mayan traditions.

For anyone conce
ed about the future of the planet, while wanting to enjoy the riches that it still offers, an ecotourist visit to Tulum can help to satisfy both needs.