La Ventanilla, Oaxaca - Ecotourism

Ecotourism

Much of the ecotourism was developed here in the 1990s when groups such as Ecosolar worked in this area to help after the ban on the sea turtle and crocodile trade eliminated most people’s livelihoods. This group, along with ten local families began working to offer tours in the lagoon and beach areas, inviting biologists and biology students in Mexico to study the area. This ecotourism revolves around the lagoon of the Tonameca River and the main local cooperative that conducts tours is called Servicio Ecoturisticos de La Ventanilla (La Ventanilla Ecotourism Services). This group has conducted guided tours of the lagoon since the 1990s and income from these tours supports reforestation and other ecological projects. Most of the village’s families are involved in this venture and they have a website at www.bioplaneta.com. Tours of the lagoon are available on both land and canoe to see the mangroves, and the wildlife, especially the birds, iguanas and crocodiles in their natural habitat. On Uma Island, in the lagoon, there is a greenhouse for mangrove reforestation, a nursery to hatch and raise crocodiles for release, as well as captive deer, and other animals. This group is headquartered at a palapa within the village and there is also a small restaurant on the lagoon island.

There is another tour cooperative that operates in the lagoon area, which provides a shorter walking tour that does not include the island, nor does its profits help support conservation efforts.

Other activities that are available include horseback riding on the beach. Further west along the beach is another mangrove area, to which locals can guide for a small fee. Spending a day on the beach and even swimming in the rough surf is possible but there are no typical tourist hotels or lifeguards here. There are camping and bathing facilities and cabins (some even with air conditioning). In addition to the island food stand, there is a restaurant in the village with a view of the beach called Restaurant Maiz Azul (Blue Corn), which specialized in local recipes, including Oaxaca style tamales, turkey in mole sause and chiles rellenos. They also sell their own fresh-ground peanut butter. At night during times when the sea turtles lay their eggs, visitors can accompany volunteers as they collect eggs and can participate in the release of baby turtles.