Vol.003 June 2009
EXPERIENCE g
Rio Dulce Riviera, Izabal, Guatemala
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EXPERIENCE g
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What’s new... Voluntourism is now making more sense to guests visiting Guatemala and the region.
The Big Green Deal Tijax’ natural reserve in Rio Dulce is an example of green tourism in the region
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Guatemala goes Green The Rainforest Alliance initiative looks to promote all entities working in tourism to go green Page 4
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A (H1N1) Virus Important notice about the Influenza A (H1N1) in Guatemala
El Estor, Bocas del Polochic Refuge of wildlife; Nest of life! a paradise for nature lovers and bird watchers.
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*For each shore excursion you pruchase with us!
3 *Each coupon is valid for a shore excursion booked and paid cash at our booth at the cruise terminal at an adult rate. Not valid on previous purchases. May not be combied with any other offer or discounts. Cash will be given to the passenger’s reservation name. Must present a valid ID. Must present this coupon to cashier prior making purchase.
Coupon number: TRX-WCPC-001--030309
The conscious, seamlessly integrated combination of voluntary service to a destination and the best, traditional elements of travel — arts, culture, geography, history and recreation — in that destination. As part of this blessed country we are well aware of the social challenges that VolunTourism can potentially address but also the opportunity it represents to Guatemala. But we are also asking ourselves at least two very important questions: Is such an approach feasible, sustainable, etc.? Can volunteerism, which is generally not categorized nor planned for as episodic engagement, be converted to do so? There are several VolunTourism models that are being utilized by other countries in the world over. These models have been developed primarily from the goals and objectives that each country has established for itself, while honoring its community. Guatemala may focus upon any of the following: • Long-term sustainability and decent work source for the community • Risk mitigation & development diversification • Donor familiarization & cultivation • Collaboration & partnership • General education & awareness • "Voluntourist" recruitment & placement for episodic engagement Guatemala should be in the process of determine the primary purpose of our VolunTourism initiative and what audience we should target with our promotional efforts. Once we have selected a VolunTourism model that supports our goals and objectives, we will be ready to begin a cycle of our own - the perpetual cycle of implementation, evaluation and modification. Improvement will derive from the sincerity of our efforts to follow a steady diet of these three elements and to receive and make use of input from all the interested parties as they respond to each facet of the Guatemalan VolunTourism program.
Coupon is valid from: march 4th till april 22nd, 2009
VOLUNTOURISM Travel, learn and get in touch with locals as close as it gets. by PPDM, June 2009
This season’s savings! $ cash back
WHAT’S NEW IN GUATEMALA
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EX P ER I EN C E G U ATE M AL A accepted as a “brand” with some meaning for the visitors and users of our services. In order to obtain the Certificate we had to comply with endless paperwork mostly to prove compliance with all existing local laws such as: labor legislation, safety and security, sanitation and cleanliness, taxes and legal framework of the company, land ownership; is it registered? do we have a contract with the government for the shore
The Big Green Deal Written by Eugenio Gobbato Hacienda Tijax, Rio Dulce, Izabal We got the Green Deal certification for the Hacienda Tijax, second year. Big Deal! One would think that after having: Planted over 100,000 trees; separating and recycling our organic garbage; putting double septic tanks on every toilet; designing and building in ways to blend into the environment; building 2.5 Kilometers of trails by hand; conserving over 42 hectares of Tropical Jungle forest; making maps, bird lists, list of trees; medicinal plants and for over 17 years struggling to keep the poachers out of the land; saving the few remaining little beasties; returning to the wild uncounted turtles, iguanas, snakes and crocodiles; producing over a million pounds of natural rubber; conserving our own watershed and water supply system; we should have earned our stripes, or established our “Green Pedigree” so why trouble with the “Green Deal Certificate” ?
Guatemala goes Green The Rainforest Alliance's sustainable tourism program is working with scores of governmental and non-governmental organizations. We helped create the Sustainable Tourism Network of the Americas, which currently includes 60 member organizations from 23 countries in the region. As Secretary of the Network, the Rainforest Alliance has the responsibility of making sure that tourism businesses, local communities and tourists themselves understand how they can benefit from and contribute to sustainable tourism in the countries that safeguard a wealth of biodiversity and endangered ecosystems.
First because we (Hacienda Tijax) think of ourselves as members of a wider network of Institutions and business that genuinely want to keep Guatemala “Green” and literally save the planet, we work closely with Alianza Verde, Rainforest alliance the “Green Deal” people and many other Institutions like the CONAP, ECORIO, FUNDAECO, MADRESELVA and many others on issues such as the Mining in Izabal, Garbage Collection and processing, reforestation and more. In fact by being one of the first to sign up and participate we hoped to give the Green Deal Seal recognition and a chance to be
line? and much more. The “Green Deal” evaluating team reviewed our books, our social security payments, our payroll to insure proper wages are being paid and so on. So when and if you do visit us you may see we proudly post our “Green Deal” certificates and you should know that our staff is well paid, that we do pay taxes and social security, pick up our trash and try to keep the planet healthy. I post this to make this point as in the past we have had comments from some passengers questioning our “Green” status. One actually thought another small Hotel was actually more “eco-friendly” than ours, another questioned our having a swimming pool. In the fist case we were being compared to a little Hotel which is quite popular with the backpackers but other than “Invading” a small piece of shoreline on what used to be one of the more pristine rivers in the area and thus changing the nature of the place for ever, they have done nothing for the environment that I know of in the last ten years, no tree planting, who knows what they do with their garbage and sewage what kind of wages they pay, whether they have built in security and safety features like fire extinguishers, first aid kit, etc. They were just lucky that no one threw them out when they should have mostly due to governmental incompetence, now they brag about being Ecological… Now about having a Swimming Pool, first let me say that the vast majority of visitors DO NOT complain about the Pool, second let me say that no matter what mitigating measures a place like ours implements it will have an impact on the environment. The important thing, I think, is to carry out enough positive actions like the ones mentioned above in order to offset the inevitable negative impact from the presence of humans in a given space. So if the pool is a no-no please forgive us we promise to continue doing a lot more good than harm to the environment.
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EX P ER I EN C E G U ATE M AL A Photo Gallery
Guatemala important notice
Antigua streets
Antigua Canopy Tour
Indigenous wearing
Enjoying Atitlan lake
turixativo.com
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EX P ER I EN C E G U ATE M AL A
Bocas del Polochic, El Estor, Izabal Defensores de la Naturaleza is an none p r o fi t a n d n o n e g u b a r n m e n t a l organization that supports many environmental projects, including the preservation of nature and wildlife in several regions. Currently “Defensores” has six reserves spread throughout Guatemala: Sierra de las Minas in Zacapa & El Progreso, Sierra del Lacandon in Peten, Parque Naciones Unidas in Guatemala, Bocas del Polochic in Izabal, Valle del Motagua in El Progreso and Jardin Botanico in Escuintla. Bocas del Polochic is officially considered as a wildlife refuge and is called “Nest of life” due it abundant vegetation, well preservation and other natural conditions that allows wildlife, including the Manatee to leave there. Before roads and railroads, Lake Izabal was the link between Alta Verapaz and the rest of the world. What is now known as "El
Estor" was the landing and trading post for cargo and travelers to frontier towns such as Cobán. Commonly referred to as "the store" in English, the name evolved to its present form due to Spanish-speakers style of pronunciation and spelling. Recent construction of roads has left El Estor a minor port visited mostly by locals and the adventurous traveler. The population of El Estor consists largely of Kekchi speaking indigenous people.
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EXPE RIE N C E G UA T E M A L A 16 calle 4-53 Zona 10 Edif. Marbella, Of. 4C Guatemala city, Guatemala 01010 reservations@turixactivo.com
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