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If you have never done bird watching, or as some people call it: birding, before, there are some things you have to know about this activity. Pack your things, don’t forget a binocular, we go birding! First of all, if you wish to identify a bird, don’t grasp your identification book too quickly; the bird might get away in that period of time. Always observe first, and try to keep in mind as much as possible. When you are looking at birds, observe carefully their color, their size, the shape and wing and head markings. Also, pay attention to the sounds they make. Nevertheless, you should have studied your bird guide before you go birding for the first time it is always easier to identify something that seems familiar. Moreover, you should look at some bird watching websites and blogs…

The first day I arrived at Ecocolors Tours to begin my 4-month intersnhips, everyone told me about a certain “Whale Shark Tour”. What was that? Soon I understood it was THE tour, the one that has made Ecocolors’s reputation. Pioneers of the Whale Shark Tour in Cancun, Ecocolors has now 14 years of experience swimming with them. This tour gives you the amazing opportunity to meet the whale shark, which are the largest fishes in the sea. For protecting this amazing creature, EcoColors Tours has a protocol that says no touching of the whale shark, not disturbing it and keeping a distance of 2 meters at least. Not because it is dangerous, the whale shark is completely harmless, but because we want to take care of our planet and the wonderful animals we are rich of.   This snorkeling tour takes…

Over the past years, backpacking has evolved as a major trend in tourism. More and more young, but also older people enjoy packing their backpack and go on an adventure. The differences between “normal” travelling and backpacking are lower costs, different accommodation (mostly hostels or camping) and the chance to connect more with locals and other travellers. Personally, I enjoy backpacking more than other forms of travelling and the main reason for that is that I can sleep in hostels. Hostels are the place where backpackers meet other backpackers from all over the world, a peaceful place where you can relax as well as party, and where you get inspiration for your next travels. Therefore, I wanted to introduce you to the amazing hostels that are included in EcoColors backpacking trip! Moloch Hostel, Cancún The first two nights you will…

Do Monarch Butterflies hibernate? When we talk about nature in North America, we think about three different countries with three different kind of fauna, with the USA sharing some species with Canada and some species with Mexico but we share one mutual butterfly species who make a long journey from Canada to west Mexico: The Monarch Butterfly Migration. This Butterfly is one of the insects with more life in the world, they can live till 9 months, which it’s perfect to achieve their migration and complete their living circle.   Where do Monarch Butterflies go during the winter months? The Monarch Butterfly migrates for two great reasons: 1) They can’t survive the cold winter in North America, so they make this 2,500kms trip to Mexico. 2) The leaves in the forests of Mexico are good for the caterpillars, they can…

The answer is probably no. The sailfish it is considered to be the fastest fish in the ocean. But to calculate the speed of a fish requires much research and still the results show a rather rough estimation. The sailfish could grow up to over 3.4 m in total length and 100 kg in weight. Pretty impressive, right? However, if you want to enjoy swimming with a sailfish in Cancun typically they weigh up to 50 kg and can live for 10 years. They are found near the surface usually far from land feeding on schools of smaller fish like sardines and anchovies. They also feast on squid and octopus, which makes them unharmful to humans. But what is the speed of the sailfish? The fastest speed reported was the impressive 68 mph (110 km/h). To make it more clear…

Have you ever seen the most beautiful butterfly ever? No? Well, you have to! The Monarch Butterfly are considered as the king of the butterflies. There are some fun facts about this wonderful butterfly and here we will explain that to you.   Did you know that the Monarch Butterflies goes to through four generations in one year! The monarch butterfly life cycle is namely the egg, the larvae, the pupa and eventually the adult butterfly. These four generations are actually four different butterflies and every year it is time to start over again with stage one and generation one. The Monarch butterfly does not have any lungs. Breathing will take place through tiny vents in the thorax or abdomen (that is called spiracles). The Monarch butterfly can lay about a maximum of 250 eggs per day! What really astonishing…

MARINE TURTLES Green Sea Turtle: One of the 6 species you can find in Mexico.   GENERAL INFORMATION:   Size: It is the second largest after the leatherback. Adults they can reach 3 to 4 feet in carapace length (83 – 114 cm). The largest green turtle ever found was 5 feet (152 cm) in length and 871 pounds (395 kg).   Weight: Adults weigh between 240 and 420 pounds (110 – 190 kg).   Diet: When less than 8 to 10 inches in length eat worms, young crustaceans, aquatic insects, gasses and algae. Once adult, they become herbivore, they mostly eat sea grass and algae, and it is the only sea turtle that is strictly herbivorous as an adult.   Habitat: Mainly stay near the coastline and around islands and live in bays and protected shores, especially in areas with seagrass…

MARINE TURTLES Hawksbill Sea Turtle: One of the 6 species you can find in Mexico.   GENERAL INFORMATION:   Size: The hawksbill is one of the smaller sea turtles. Adults are 2.5 to 3 feet in carapace length (71 – 89 cm).   Weight: Adults can weigh between 101 and 154 pounds (46 – 70 kg).   Diet: It is very specialized, feeding almost exclusively on sponges. Its narrow head and jaws shaped like a beak allow it to get food from crevices in coral reefs. They also eat anemones, squid and shrimp.   Habitat:  Hawksbills are the most tropical of the sea turtles and are most commonly found in coral reefs, rocky areas, lagoons, and shallow coastal areas.   Nesting: Nest at intervals of 2 to 4 years. Nests between 3 to 6 times per season. Lays an average 160 eggs in…

Eco travel: It includes all the variants of ecotourism and green travel. It can deal with responsible travel, sustainable tourism, ethical tourism or culturally aware travel. It is recreational travel to natural areas in a way that supports the environment. Anyone who prefers to travel the greenway is an eco-traveler.   Do your research before you go Reading about attractions online is really important to be sure the activities you want to do are sustainable. For example, in Mexico, there are lots of tours with animals and some of them don’t respect their ecosystem and disturb their way of life. So, look for activities that have certifications and awards, so that you can do responsible activities. Reading travel blogs and TripAdvisor can be helpful too.   2. Consider your transportation Of course, it is better to travel by bus, train…

The most remarkable thing about the sailfish is their large dorsal fin that stretches almost twice time the full length of their bodies. With this the sailfish can swim very fast and can use it as a break. The sailfish are very famous because they are the fastest swimmer in the ocean: these fish reach up to 68 miles per hour. Another remarkable sign is their long nose. When they hunt, they make a circle with a high speed around the shoal and then they dive into the middle. Afterwards they eat the fish. Besides the sailfish is very valuable. In Japan for example they make sashimi and sushi with it. Home Sailfish are saltwater fish occupying in warm and temperate ocean waters. There are two main subspecies: the Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific sailfish. These fish prefer waters ranging from 70 to 83…

The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve lies within forested mountains about 100 km northwest of Mexico City. It was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 2008. Every year hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies undertake a great journey of up to 3000 miles in their annual migration from Canada and the United States to their wintering grounds in Mexico. Once in Mexico, the monarchs congregate in the oyamel fir trees of Michoacan and Mexico states. Within the Biosphere Reserve, there are a few areas that are open to the public. Visiting the monarch butterfly reserves offers the visitor a chance to witness a wonder of nature. Being surrounded by thousands of fluttering butterflies and seeing them carpeting the forest floor and weighing down the branches of the trees is truly remarkable experience.   The property includes more than…

The annual Monarch butterfly migration is one of nature’s great spectacles and a top attraction for visitors to Mexico’s central highlands. Each year, as many as 60 million to one billion Monarch butterflies make journey from eastern Canada to the forests of western central Mexico, a journey that spans more than 2, 500 miles. The Monarch butterflies spend their winter hibernation clustered in small areas of the Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca (Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve), a national protected area and nature preserve that covers more than 200-square-miles.   The Monarch butterflies arrive in Mexico each year in late-October and make their winter homes in the tops of the trees high in the mountains of the reserve. Their arrival coincides with Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead); one of Mexico’s most important holidays. During the annual Day…