This Beach Town Is A Prime Example Of Sustainable Tourism
Located approximately 45 minutes from Huatulco, you will find Mazunte, a beach town known for their sea turtle museum and organic cosmetic factory as well as their dramatic beaches and surf. Mazunte has really made a point of immersing themselves in the idea ofsustainable tourism, ensuring a long lasting stay in the tourist industry.
You have the option of starting your day off by grabbing a coffee at one of the beachfront palapa style restaurants so you can soak up the views of the morning surf. From there, you can make your way to the Sea Turtle Museum.
Mazunte Sea Turtle Museum
Prior to the banning of sea turtle hunting in 1990, sea turtles were killed in mass numbers, resulting in a huge decrease in population. Luckily, thanks to places like the Sea Turtle Center, the sea turtle population on the Oaxacan coast is greatly improving. Their main goal is to educate people on the importance of sustainability for protecting these creatures seeing as many types of sea turtles are still endangered to this day.
Hours and PriceThe museum opens daily at 10:00 am and closes at 4:30 pm, with admission of $25 pesos a person, a very inexpensive option for a day tour. Be sure to pick up a brochure on your way in, as it is an excellent source of information on the center (Available in both English and Spanish). They also have a gift shop on site that is perfect for picking up a few souvenirs to take home.
Ecotourism in the area is doing wonders to make certain that local tourism does not come at the expense of the environment. This interesting and informative outing, supporting sustainable tourism is sure to open your eyes on the harm that can be done if we neglect to preserve the sea turtle population.
Perfect for kids, the museum attached to the center offers a variety of aquariums where you can view all types of turtles, both salt and fresh water. As you move along the guided tour, you will come across several turtles that have been rescued and are in the process of being rehabilitated.
This is one of the main missions of the center, by rehabilitating the sea turtles they hope to keep the numbers of these endangered species up. Outside the center are a series of tanks housing even more sea turtles and eggs.
As part of the up and coming trend of ecotourism in Mexico, the Mazunte Sea Turtle Center takes to the beaches annually to collect the eggs of endangered sea turtles. Taking them back to the center, they incubate the eggs to insure that they hatch before releasing them back into the wild. This process can be daunting and requires the help of volunteers, of which their are plenty.
Upon completing this tour, you can make your way to the small cosmetic factory that has made international news.
Cosméticos Naturales de Mazunte S. de S.S.
The Milagro de Mazunte Natural Cosmetics project was developed by the originator of The Body Shop, Anita Roddick. This project is aimed at helping those that lost their jobs due to the banning of sea turtle hunting in 1990 by providing them with employment.
Located on the main street of Mazunte, this small cosmetic shop offers everything from shampoo to shower gel, and more. The cosmetics are made inclusively with locally grown products that truly encompass the idea of sustainable tourism. Typical ingredients used include; coconut oil, avocado oil, maize oil, soya oil, sesame oil and beeswax.
ORGANIZED TOURS TO MAZUNTE AVAILABLE at My Huatulco Vacation
So when you’re book your Huatulco vacation, be sure to check out this amazing beach town that is truly shedding a light on the benefits ofsustainable tourism.
If you are interested in this day trip, email contact@myhuatulcovacation.com or feel free to leave a comment below!
