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| the environment |
| contact |
| access |
| Los Manglares de Sontecomapan Juan Sixtega Phones: (294) 947 4124 / 4122 ? Email: anbasonte@hotmail.com |
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| links |
| Revised July 2010. Laguna Sontecomapan is one of the true idylls of the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas, half an hour north of Catemaco along the Gulf of Mexico in southeastern Mexico. So someone had the bright idea to open a community ecotourism enterprise. Instigated by the management of the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere in 2002, and supported by an alphabet soup of Mexican government agencies, an ecotourism center was built, including various multi room cabins, a meeting hall, some outhouses, a temazcal and several animal enclosures. 13 members from the ejido Sontecomapan formed a cooperative to manage the center. The center is located less than a half kilometer inland from Laguna Sontecomapan, with an entrance off the Catemaco to Montepio highway. The cooperative has cleared a waterway from the center to the Laguna to allow kayak exploration. Also a three kilometer trail was cleared through the neighboring mangrove forest. A lookout tower also graces the grounds. Confusingly, the center is called both "Las Cabañas" and "Los Manglares" of Sontecomapan. The primary attraction is to have a hands on experience of mangroves, see some fishes, crabs, turtles, and enjoy the flying and crawling wildlife. At one point the cooperative was supported by RECT, the "Los Tuxtlas Ecotourism Network", which specialized in bringing in bus loads of visitors primarily from Mexico City. That association failed, and the number of visitors has shrunk below maintenance levels. It is a sad situation because the center is an ideal destination for groups wishing to explore the beaches, mangrove creeks, waterfalls and bat caves of the neighboring region. For an encompassing description of the touristic offers of the region please A museum, supposedly featuring the history of mangroves, is being built along the center since 4 years ago. Perhaps its completion will generate some interest in the place. The place does not cater to individual travelers. I have visited the "Cabañas" 5 or 6 times over the last 6 years, and have never met a living person there. But the bathrooms are great. |
| A poorly maintained, paved highway runs from Catemaco to Sontecomapan and beyond. The facility is about 2 kilometers north of the end of the village of Sontecomapan, on the right (east) side. The entrance sign may be missing. About 13 miles, 30-40 minutes from Catemaco. Piratas (pickups used as taxis), and standard communal taxis have frequent departures from the north end of Catemaco. 10 pesos, about 40 minutes. But you must take a pirata that goes beyond Sontecomapan, else you have to walk 2 kilometers. A regular cab should cost about 80 pesos. There are no buses. |
| A good book about the area, written by a student of the formation of the center: Sontecomapan - Cabeza de Ríos (Spanish) Historia de las Cabañas (Spanish) Planeta Azul - Ecoturismo en Sontecomapan (Spanish) Laguna Sontecomapan Attractions around the Laguna Sontecomapan Ecotourism in Los Tuxtlas |
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Cabañas
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| Las Cabañas Laguna Sontecomapan, Catemaco, Veracruz |