Day 1: Arrival

Arrive at the Cancun airport, where your transportation to Akumal awaits you! Transfer by van to Hotel Villa Maya, where you can relax and settle in. Your guides will be available to answer questions and help you get comfortable. A welcome cocktail party and dinner with the group will provide an informal orientation to the week's adventures.

Day 2: see Sea turtles

Get to know the group and develop our teamwork skills. Then jump right in to marine biology by starting the morning seeing sea turltes. Swim and snorkel with green, loggerhead, or leatherback sea turtles in Akumal Bay. Learn from the local conservation center about how they protect these animals in Akumal. Our evening will be spent searching for nesting females along the beach.

Day 3: Reef Research

Learn about coral reefs and underwater research methods. In the afternoon, we will practice snorkeling and draw transects (if you don't know how, don't worry, we will learn this together). Then we will apply our newly acquired underwater research methods and record data. After dinner we will focus on reef diversity and identify fish, coral, and other animals we saw in the afternoon.

Day 4: Local Conservation Issues

Wake up and get wet! Snorkel in the morning and implement research; collect data to help monitor reef health. Certified divers may conduct underwater research with the Akumal Dive Shop (5-star PADI facility). Eat lunch, take a siesta, and then meet with the group for an afternoon beach walk. Fun activities will facilitate our exploration of Akumal and help us to meet people and businesses in town. Following dinner at the Lol Ha Restaurant, participate in our evening seminar: What is CEA (Centro Ecologico Akumal, the local environmental center)?

Day 5: Akumal and Local Communities

After breakfast, we will walk next door to CEA and learn about their research projects to conserve and protect the local environment. Scientists there will describe their important ecological efforts including waste water treatment. An afternoon trip to Playa del Carmen will provide another beach for transect comparisons and can also be fun for shopping! After dinner we will watch a movie about coral reefs that was filmed in Akumal.

Day 6: Mayan Culture

Explore the coastal Mayan ruins of Tulum. See majestic views of the Caribbean Sea from pre-Hispanic sites dating back from 900-1500 AD. Learn about the origins of Mayan civilization at the Coba ruins. Finish the day right with an authentic Yucatan buffet dinner and an evening presentation about the modern Mayan people.

Day 7: Mangroves

Take a day trip to the Siaan Ka'an Biosphere reserve (UN World Heritage Site). On our boat tour we will see the protected mangrove forest and native birds. Swim and snorkel in the slow moving water to relax as we float back toward shore. End your trip with a festive farewell dinner party.

Day 8: Reflections

Following breakfast and getting ready to leave, we will ask you to contribute reflections or journal entries. Then say your final goodbyes to the Yucatan Peninsula and fellow travelers. Transportation back to the airport is provided on the last day of the program.

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