Mexico Adventure Travel - Mexico Provides the Perfect Natural Surroundings to Appease Thrill-Seeking Adventurous Tourists. Mexico City, If your biggest adventure of late amounts to making your way from your beach towel to the margarita bar, it’s time to explore new options. According to Mexico’s Tourism Secretariat (Sectur) adventure tourism and ecotourism in Mexico generate US$52 million annually. From soft to hardcore, adventure tourism in Mexico takes many forms.

Mexico Canopy zip-lining tours - It’s too bad we can’t commute on a daily basis like this – seems so practical. Zip-lining (called “tirolesa” in Spanish), consists of hooking yourself to a cable, then jumping off the launching point, usually from the top of a tree or the edge of a mountain at point A, “zipping” through the air over tree tops at speeds of 30 to 40 miles per hour while enjoying spectacular views, and arriving safely at point B without a hitch…or in this case, with one. Canopy Tours in the western state of Jalisco offers day trips just south of Puerto Vallarta with 13 cables, the longest being 1,100 feet. The Sumidero Canyon National Park in the southern state of Chiapas is another terrific place to go zip-lining, offering beautiful canyon views. Zip-lining is safe and fun for the whole family, since children as young as six can participate.

Mexico Mountain Biking - Oaxaca State, located in the southern region of Mexico and bordering the Pacific Ocean, is the ideal location for mountain biking. More than 100,000 acres of lush mountains and valleys are owned and conserved by local communities who have built an amazing network of bike paths. More than 100 miles of track wind through forests and traverse the central valley, linking rural villages that specialize in a variety of handicrafts. Rio y Montaña tour operators offer packages that consist of 15 to 20 miles per day of biking, stops in small villages, authentic hut-style accommodations and enjoying Oaxaca’s famous cuisine. Oaxaca Mexico

Mexico Horseback Riding - Mexico boasts countless parks, wildlife reserves and beaches where horses are available for organized tours or for rent. Longer organized calvacades are common in the states of Sonora, Jalisco and Veracruz, just to name a few. Chihuahua State also hosts an annual weeklong scenic cavalgade for the entire family (Villista Cavalcade) from the city of Chihuahua to Hidalgo del Parral, covering more than 136 miles, this year to take place July 13-19.

Whitewater rafting is a popular activity in Mexico and Veracruz State is the ideal destination. Located between Mexico´s highest volcanoes and the Gulf of Mexico, Veracruz has more than 40 rivers, including the popular Rio Actopan and Rio Antigua, offering Class II and Class IV rapids with ominous names like “Doors to Hell”. Most tour operators combine rafting with camping, hiking, visits to quaint towns, archaeological ruins and dips in nearby hot springs.

A great way to experience Mexico’s exotic marine life is in a kayak. Kayaking outfitters are everywhere there is water, with most offering kayaking/camping adventures. The Sea of Cortez (located on the eastern side of the Baja Peninsula and labeled by French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau as the “world’s aquarium”) is where tourists can get up close and personal with finback and blue whales, dolphins, sea lions and exotic fish. Apart from paddling among islands, additional activities include snorkeling and hiking up scenic canyons offering breathtaking panoramas.

Mexico also boasts countless destinations for diving. Top spots include Cozumel, where divers can find the Mayan Coral Reef, the second longest in the world, and enjoy water visibility of 200 feet with more than 200 species of tropical fish; and Isla Mujeres, featuring such famous spots as el Garrafon, Farito, Manchones and the famous cave of the sleeping sharks.

Mexico Jungle Adventure - Sharpen your machete because if you want a true adventure, try staying in a hut deep in the heart of the Lacandon Jungle in Chiapas, located in the southernmost part of Mexico. Chiapas is so lush, machetes are sold right next to toilet paper in some grocery stores. The Lacandon Jungle is part of the larger Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve and offers, apart from its dense vegetation, diverse animal life, deep rivers, Mayan archeological sites and the white-clad Lacandonians, considered the purest descendants of the Mayas.

Mexico Soft Adventure - The Yucatan Peninsula, located in southeast Mexico, brims with enchanting caves which were considered sacred places for the Mayan people. The largest caves on the peninsula are the Lol-tun caves, located in the hilly Pu’uc region, about 65 miles south of the capital city of Merida. Evidence of human existence going back 7,000 years has been found in these caves, and interesting sites include ancient murals and columns that can be "played" like musical instruments. When struck with one's fist, beautiful bell-like tones can be heard. Guided tours in English are offered daily.

Exploring caves on foot is just one option. Yucatan unique “cenotes” are water-filled caverns found all over the state. Cavern diving is also a popular activity in the Yucatan and is considered one of the most exhilarating and easiest forms of diving. Calm waters, perfect temperatures and shallow exploration are just some of the reasons tourists love this option.

Falling the fastest - For some, it’s not enough to climb a volcano or deliberately swim into a cave of sharks. For some, the thrill is in the winning. Several states in Mexico host adventure tourism events including the 4th Annual Extreme Adventure Competition, taking place in Huasteca, Hidalgo from February 23 to 26. This competition, which will take place in the mountainous region of the state, has been labeled by top international racers as one of the most important adventure competitions around the globe, with more than US$ 60,000 in prizes awarded. This year’s route will cover many different disciplines including kayaking, trekking, mountain biking, canyoneering, swimming and caving. Teams from countries well known for their adventure enthusiasts like Australia, the U.S., Sweden, Spain and Mexico will be represented.

Mexico City’s World Trade Center will also host the annual Adventure and Ecotourism Expo from June 3-5, 2005, a one-stop-shop for Mexico’s adventure tourism offerings.

Most tour operators offer a variety of options, from half-day trips to longer packages featuring a combination of activities. The Mexican Association of Adventure Travel and Ecotourism (AMTAVE) is an excellent resource for adventure seekers. They offer a ist of adventure tourism activities available by certified tour operators organized by activity and location. Established in 1994, AMTAVE is dedicated to the development, promotion and protection of ecotourism and adventure-related activities and sites in Mexico.

Mexico is at the forefront of this growing segment, sponsoring countless adventure and ecotourism-related events, winning ecotourism awards such as the 2004 Colibri, and showing its firm commitment to Agenda 21 (Agenda for the 21st Century). Mexico is one of 118 nations to commit to Agenda 21, a United Nations program for sustainable development involving environmental restoration, preservation and social development. Mexico’s commitment to Agenda 21 involves programs including water conservation, certification of sustainability for tourism destinations and sustainable ecotourism development to enable its ecological riches to be enjoyed for generations to come.

About the Mexico Tourism Board - The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico's tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico’s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Latin America.

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