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