| As the world becomes more and more overcrowded | | | | near the Costa Maya that will make you feel as if |
| and cities of concrete have evolved to become our | | | | you've taken a step back in time. Other natural |
| natural habitat, the eco-tourism industry has exploded. | | | | adventures include a visit to the numerous freshwater |
| Eco tourism is a form of tourism focused around | | | | cave pools called ceynotes, beachside horseback |
| natural activities such as scuba diving, rock climbing, | | | | riding, and fishing excursions. |
| and horseback riding. Mexico has been at the forefront | | | | Running parallel to the Costa Maya coastline is the |
| of the eco-tourism industry for years and has | | | | Meso American Reef, the largest coral reef in the |
| successfully developed several eco-tourism based | | | | Northern Hemisphere. The warm Caribbean weather |
| vacation destinations, the latest of which is the Costa | | | | and crystal clear waters make snorkeling and scuba |
| Maya. | | | | diving along the reef an absolutely breathtaking |
| If you haven't heard of the Costa Maya, it's a name | | | | experience. After immersing yourself in the slow |
| that will no doubt become as well known as Cancun | | | | motion world of the colorful Caribbean fish, sea turtles, |
| or Cozumel in the near future. Like Cancun and | | | | and anemones, you may leave the Costa Maya with a |
| Cozumel, the Costa Maya region is located along the | | | | new hobby - or decide never to leave at all. |
| Caribbean Sea in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. But | | | | Perhaps the most exciting opportunity in the Costa |
| unlike Cancun, the nightclubs, bars, and skyscraping | | | | Maya is the real estate investment potential. The |
| hotels aren't part of the development plan for the | | | | Costa Maya is one of the last remaining stretches of |
| Costa Maya. Instead, the majority of the 57 mile long | | | | unexploited coastal land anywhere in the Caribbean. |
| Costa Maya will be gently developed to retain its | | | | Part of the Mexican government's investment in the |
| Caribbean coastal beauty. | | | | area included brining power and water to this stretch |
| Majahual, located toward the southern tip of the Costa | | | | of beachfront, now zoned for residential living. As the |
| Maya, is where most of the structural tourism | | | | eco-tourism industry in the Costa Maya has grown, so |
| development is taking place. Once a small, sleepy | | | | too have the real estate values. At this point in the |
| fishing village, Majahual is now a major focus of the | | | | area's development, beachfront lots are still selling for |
| Mexican government's efforts to promote eco-tourism | | | | as little as $50,000 US dollars and are expected to sell |
| in the area. Like the Mexican government's former | | | | for values in excess of $1 million in 10 to 15 years. |
| tourism expansion projects in Cancun and Playa del | | | | If you're starting to feel run down by deadlines, |
| Carmen, the once sleepy village is quickly growing into | | | | schedules, and traffic jams, an eco-tourism adventure |
| a nature-inspired resort town. | | | | in the Costa Maya may be just the thing to revive |
| The name "Costa Maya" literally means, the Mayan | | | | your spirits. Perhaps you'll find even more than a |
| Coast. Remnants of this enchanting ancient Mayan | | | | week-long adventure and stake a permanent claim to |
| culture can be found all over the Yucatan peninsula. | | | | your own little slice of Caribbean paradise. |
| There are 5 different Mayan ruin sites located in or | | | | |