Mexico's Expo Aventura 1999/Planeta.com

Rough Notes from Expo Aventura
by Ron Mader

July/Julio 1999

Editor's Note: These are "rough notes" compiled during the conference. They will be edited somewhat in the next few weeks, but the original point was to provide timely information from the expo.

Day One | Day Two | Day Three

Expo Aventura concluded Saturday. Personally, I was exhausted. The previous two days of meeting people - for extended platicas wore me out. I cannot express how much this event assisted me in collecting information for future articles and the revision of my guidebook. But I was tired!

Old and new friends who visited the Planeta.com stand yesterday were:

Martin Morales Robles, director of Guias Ecoturisticas y Ecologicas de Mexico displayed a new map of the Sierra Madre Oriental that crosses Northeastern Mexico. The map free is free and is available in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. Local businesses offered financial support for the publication. For info, write to Mr. Morales at Chiapas 1450, Col. Ancira, 64720 Monterrey, NL. Phone: (8) 387-7172.

Campgrounds

A small, ecologically-friendly campground, Club Quetz, has opened outside of Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosi. Open from October to March, this campground requires reservations beforehand as there are only 12 camp sites. Contacts: Francisco Ternazas and Eduardo Garate. For information, call 58-94-40-56. Email: cquetz@yahoo.com; Web: http://www.clubquetz.com.mx

I also visited a few other stands. KOA Campgrounds now has operations in Mexico, including an operation in Creel, Chihuahua. Reservations: (800) 710-6422 or (421) 70-88. In the planning stage are campgrounds in Amecameca, Cuernvaca, El Golfo de Santa, Puebla, San Jose del Cabo and Taxco. Web: http://www.koakcampgrounds.com

Ecoturismo Campesino operates in the Ejido Lopez Mateos in Catemaco, Veracruz. The nascent operation is supported by Pronatura Veracruz. Phone: (294)2-06-41 in Catemaco; ask for Lorenzo Arteaga or (28) 17-71-48 in Xalapa and ask for Luisa Pare.

Chiapas

Chiapas's El Triunfo and Encruciaja parks are promoting ecotourism within the National History Institute in Tuxtla Gutierrez. For information about tours contact Martha Eugenia Barrios or Claudia Virgen

Rosa Bacelis Lacroix who runs Na Chan Kan in Palenque (Av. Hidalgo (on the corner of Jimenez) was present. Her operation - a small travel agency - slash - pizza resteraunt is recommended. Phone: (934) 5-02-63

Fernando Ochoa from Laguna Miramar: Ecoturismo Comunitario spent some quality time at the booth. He's in the process of adding agricultural tourism to treks to forest community. For details, reads his article submitted to Planeta.com a few years ago.

Baja Connections

Malarrimo Eco Tours
Blvd. Zapata
23940 Guerrero Negro, Baja California
Phone (115) 7-0100
U.S. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 284, Chula Vista, CA 91912-0284
Email: malarimo@telnor.net
Web: http://www.malarrimo.com
Contact: Enrique Achoy
- Local trips for whale watching and treks to the state's famous cave paintings from Guerrero Negro, a 10-hour drive south of San Diego

Laguna Tours
Blvd. Emiliano Zapata
23940 Guerrero Negro, BCS
(115) 7-00-50
info@bajalaguna.com
lagtours@mail.nextgeninter.net.mx
http://www.bajalaguna.com

Victor Manule Cerecer
Baja California Sur

I met Luis Garduño who is developing the Spanish-language version of the website.

Baja Expeditions
2625 Garnet Ave
San Diego, California, 92109
Fax: (619) 581-6542
Phone: (800) 843-6967 and (619) 581-3311
Email: travel@bajaex.com
Web: http://www.bajaex.com
- Whale watching and natural history treks

Baja Quest
Sonora 174 (between Rangel and Topete) La Paz, BCS
Phone: (112_ 3-53-20
Email: bajaqust@balandra.uabes.mx
Contact: Adria Rocio Lozano
- Scuba diving and adventure travel services

Espacio Profundo
Mar Celebres 12-A
Col. Popotla
11400 Mexico, DF
Email: espacio@scubalatin.com.mx
Web: http://www.scubalatin.com.mx
- Mexico's finest diving magazine was present at the conference. Subscriptions cost 220 pesos/year or $58 for delivery to other countries.

Internet Connections

An article appeared on the Mexis website about the presentation. Internet was the key word. Among the people present at the conference were:

Paolo Kapapis y Manuel Guillen
Mexview - Promoted its website creation for Mexican businesses, providing 4 pages, an email mail box and three photos per page for $2,940 pesos ($290) per year.

Guillermo Abud
Unete ISP
Web: http://www.unete.com.mx

PLANETA.COM GUIDES

Mexico Hosts Expo Aventura - Planeta.com

Eco Travels in Mexico

Author and journalist Ron Mader lives in Mexico and hosts the award-winning Planeta.com website -- www.planeta.com -- and is the author of the Mexico: Adventures in Nature guidebook and the Exploring Ecotourism resource guide. Ron leads workshops throughout the Americas.