About EcoColors

EcoColors is an environmental aware tour operator stationed in Cancun, México. From here we offer ecotours to the amazing Maya World in the Yucatan Peninsula and beyond. The tours include a variety of different activities such as biking, bird watching, hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, visiting archeological sites and much more.

Please read our Mission Statement , our Tour characteristics , and Our Code of Ethics to understand what we want from ecotourism and how we implement it in the Mayan World.

Perhaps after reading this you do not only want to know us better, but even work for us. Check our employment page to find out if you are the one we are looking for.

Our Code of Ethics

This is a list that helps you to enjoy and respect the environment while limiting the impacts on the visited area.

Plan and prepare your trip in advance
o Know the regulation and special needs of the area you are going to visit
o Prepare yourself for an extreme climate, dangers and emergencies
o Program your trip to avoid the hours of major crowds
o Visit in small groups. Divide big groups in small groups of maximum 10 persons
o Repack your food to diminish the waste (Tupperware, thermo bottles for water)
o Use a map and compass to avoid the use of signs

Travel and camp on resistant and safe surfaces
o The resistant surfaces include tracks and established camps, stone, sand, herbs or snow
o Protect the areas in which you camp with at least 70 meters from lakes and creeks
o The good places to camp are established and not self-made. It is not necessary to change the places you visit

In popular areas:
o Use the paths and existing camping places
o Walk in a line in the center of the path, also when it is humid or muddy
o Conserve small camping areas, focus your activities in areas where there is no existing vegetation

In special areas:
o Stimulate a spacious distribution of the visitors of the area
o Avoid places where the alteration to the environment has begun

Get rid of your waste appropriately
o Check your camp and rest area, pick up spread out your garbage and food
o Pack all your garbage
o If you want to make a ecological toilet, make it between 20 and 40 centimeters deep and at least 70 meters away from water, camping areas and paths. Cover them well.
o Pack your toilet paper and hygienic products
o To wash yourself or your dishes carry water 70 meters away from lakes and creeks and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Spread out the dirty water

Leave all you find
o Preserve the past: investigate, but don't touch the historical or cultural artifacts and structures
o Leave behind rocks, plants and other natural objects as you found them
o Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species
o Do not build structures, nor dig a ditch

Diminish the consequences of bonfires
o The bonfires could cause disastrous effects to the natural environment. Use a light stove and enjoy a camping light to illuminate
o Where fire is permitted use established stone circles or a container to maintain the fire
o Keep the fire small. Only use small branches or splinters from the ground that can be broken by hand
o Burn all the wood and the coal to ashes, put out the fire completely and afterwards get rid of all the fresh ashes

Respect the wildlife
o Observe the wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach the wildlife
o Never feed the animals. Feeding them can damage their health, alter their natural attitude and expose them to predators or other dangers
o Protect the wildlife and your food. Store your rations and garbage safely
o Control your pets all the time or leave them at home
o Avoid the wildlife during sensitive times: breeding period, the screaming of birds, the growing up of young ones or winter

Respect and take into consideration other visitors
o Respect other visitors and respect the quality of their experience
o Be polite. Allow other people to move around
o Take breaks and camp far away from paths and other visitors
o Permit natural sounds to surround you. Don't talk too loud or make much noise