By J. Nichols

From the moment an egg is deposited in a sandy nest on a tropical beach, to the first time a baby turtle touches the sea, to decades later when she returns as an adult to lay her own eggs on very same beach, life is an endless series of life-and-death challenges for a sea turtle. Nature is stacked against survival, which is why a mother turtle lays thousands of eggs during her lifetime in order to simply replace herself.

Las Salinas – the salt flats – are 5 kim from Playa Viva near the Pacific Coast of Mexico, about 45 minutes south of the resort of Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa. 120 families are members of a salt harvesting co-op. Of these, eighty are actively harvesting salt. Of those, less than half are using traditional means to harvest the salt. Playa Viva is a sustainable boutique hotel located nearby. Playa Viva has been working in this area for the last for years with the goal to go beyond green (doing less damage) and sustainable (net neutral) to be a truly “regenerative” resort, improving the biodiversity and resilience of the ecology and community.

Millions of people travel all over the world every year. Some have the hopes in spending their vacations relaxing by white sandy beaches, while others have high hopes in doing things like helping a tiny turtle hatchling find its way to the sea and become familiar with a variety of yoga practices. This is where Destination:PEACE comes in. As a brainchild to PEACE Mexico, Destination:PEACE combines a cultural and adventure experience with the chance to practice different types of yoga.

One of the most important protected areas in the Mexican Caribbean, the Biosphere Reserve of Sian Ka’an (Mayan for “Gift from the Sky”) is a place with an incomparable natural beauty and immense richness in flora and fauna. For these unique characteristics in biodiversity and its cultural treasures Sian Ka’an was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, and has gained significant importance as a destination for ecotourism and sustainable livelihood development projects for local communities.

In the middle of the Sonoran Desert lie an enormous dormant volcano and the largest “sea” of sand dunes found in North America. Welcome to El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve, the fourth largest land reserve in Mexico, where you will find some of the most diverse and fascinating ecosystems in the Sonoran desert.

By Michelle Rodrigues – Tourism in Mexico has seen a drastic drop since the swine flu fright and the recent economic downturn experienced throughout the world, but this doesn’t stop everyone. Mexico is still optimistic and thriving with the continuation of its beautiful colors, traditions and cultures. Initiatives like La Ruta del Tequila and the public awareness of World Heritage Sites in Mexico have been able to release knowledge and understanding of the deep history Mexico holds.

By Jacqueline Baleon – Located in the Ejido (communal land) of El Rosario, only 45 minutes to the south of La Paz (the capital of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur), is the lonely Cactus Sanctuary (Santuario de los Cactus), in which 50 hectares of parkland have been divided into 50 distinct areas to preserve cacti and endemic plants found only in this part of the globe. Despite its beauty, the sanctuary has been mostly forgotten, as is too often the case with many of the small communities in this area.

Between one of the driest deserts on Earth – the Sonoran Desert – and one of the richest seas – the Gulf of California – lie the estuaries of the Northern Gulf of California, areas unique in their great beauty and extraordinary biodiversity. Morúa Estuary, near Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, is a prime example of an ecosystem vital to the biology and socio-economics of this region.

By Stefanie Baeker, Project Mayan Encounter – There is a lot to learn and explore in Riviera Maya, if one chooses to go beyond the tourist areas. Having lived in this region for six years, I have personally gained valuable insights in terms of downsizing my life. Simplifying our lives does not mean that we have to let go of quality. Knowledge and experience gained through travel lasts for a whole life and beyond; material gains are subject to the law of impermanence.