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