Quintana Roo Governor Roberto Borge Angulo was named Peace Ambassador, and the state was designated as the 2012-2013 World Tourism Capital for Peace by the World Organization for Peace (WOFP) on Sunday.

These honors were given to the region because it is considered a model for outstanding cultural and tourism programs, as well as the preservation and promotion of Mayan culture, the kindness of its people and its quality of tourism services.

During the event, the governor said that the awards will serve to showcase to the world the region’s tourism and culture. He was accompanied by Quintana Roo Tourism Secretary Juan Carlos Gonález Hernández; the WOFP Director for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean Danclair Darío del Valle Hamilton; and WOFP consultant Juan Pablo Mirabent Pizarro Suárez. 

After receiving the lifelong honorific of Peace Ambassador, the governor spoke about the significance of Quintana Roo’s programs being recognized by the United Nations as a model for building a better world.

He said that the awards imply more responsibility and new challenges, and that he will continue with the intense task of promoting the region’s cultural, archeological and tourism treasures, as well as increasing the quality of services, infrastructure and life of the people of Quintana Roo.

“Quintana Roo was selected among eight important international tourist centers because of its sustainability, organization, and quality services and activities. It was judged for its archeological sites and splendid culture, as well as the people’s dedication to service, and its pleasant year-round climate,” he said.

Quintana Roo was selected on May 7 in Geneva, Switzerland by the WOFP, an organization governed by the United Nations, among the following international tourism center finalists: Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; Giza, Egypt; New York, United States; Agra, Uttar Pradesh State, India; Rome, Italy; Dubai, the United Arab Emirates; and Paris, France.

The state of Quintana Roo is an amazing, diverse and safe place to visit and live.  Cozumel is a wonderful jumping off point to experience the history, culture and wildlife of the Yucatan.  Be sure to stay in your home away from home.

Cuban Born Deborah Andollo, holder of 16 world apnea records, including one in both the masculine and feminine categories, has recently relocated to Cozumel and opened up a freediving academy. Academia Blue Yemaya is the first SSI facility in Latin America. 

Deborah, who has an amazing 6 liter lung capacity, teaches breathing techniques, relaxation, and even meditation to safely practice the sport. She speaks 4 languages, English, Spanish, French and Italian. Her husband, Eric Testi, is from Luxemburg, also speaks 4 languages and oversees the operation of the Academy.

Academia Blue Yemaya offers classes in Freediving 1 & 2, including academic, confined and oper water training. For more information, check out, http://www.academiablueyemaya.com/

May 15th is the official start of the 2012 turtle nesting season according to the Comité de Protección a la Tortuga Marina. Brigades in search of early nests have already discovered 10, nine of which have been discovered in Playa Box, located on the eastern side of the island.

Cozumel is fortunate to be a protected breeding area to two species of turtles, the loggerhead (careta careta) and the green turtle (chelonian mydas). During the months of May through September these turtles come ashore to lay their eggs on Cozumel’s eastern beaches. Sea turtles generally lay between 150-200 eggs each time and can nest up to 6 times in a breeding season. The eggs take around 60 days to incubate before the baby turtles head toward the sea.

Cozumel is fortunate to play host to thousands of sea turtles coming ashore to nest each year. During the nights of May through September, on the Eastern shore of the island, two species of sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs on the beaches of Cozumel.

The turtles, known as the loggerhead turtle (Careta careta or as they’re commonly known caguamas) and the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), generally lay from 100-150 eggs and can nest up to 6 times in one season. Roughly 60 days later, the young hatchlings emerge at the surface of the nest, typically at night when the temperatures are cooler, and immediately head for the ocean following the light reflected off of the water's surface.

In addition, the bays and reefs of the Cozumel area are also foraging areas where sea turtles such as hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricate) turtles and giant leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) turtles have been sighted swimming just offshore.

Since the nesting season began this year, already over 600 nests have been identified. Of these nests 75 of them are loggerhead turtles and 56 are from green sea turtles. Volunteer brigades are patrolling the eastern side of the island from Mezcalito’s down to the ecological reserve “Faro Celarain” in search of nests. 

During the Cozumel nesting season, the City works in co-ordination with local police and Federal armed forces to limit activity on the east side at nights during turtle nesting season. In the evenings of nesting season, only the salvation program participants with specifically designated biologists, interns, and volunteers are allowed to walk the beaches in search of nesting female turtles, turtle nests, and recent hatchlings. Among their duties include the protecting and tagging of females, the collection scientific data, the relocation of eggs to more favorable locations on the beach, and the release of hatchlings to the sea. From the data collected, the salvation program is then able to determine turtle hatching success, behavior, distribution, and population.

At this time there are essentially two turtle salvation efforts in progress:

1. The Parks and Museum Foundation's Punta Sur Park Salvation Program - This program began in 2000 and covers the beach area from the entrance of Punta Sur Park all the way to the south lighthouse. Since access to the park is closed to the public at night, this program enjoys significant protection from poachers. This is a FOR PROFIT endeavor that offers tours that are publicized through the Cozumel Museum. Tickets for these excursions run about $50 per person and are sold through the Cozumel Museum downtown.
   
   
2. The City of San Miguel's Volunteer Salvation Program - This program began back in the late 1980's and covers the beaches from Mezcalitos south to the Punta Sur Park entrance. What began as a grassroots effort by a few citizens interested in turtle conservation, eventually evolved into a small City funded program whereby the City relied upon volunteers to do the nightly work, but were able to fund the salaries of 2 biologists to supervise the sanctuary and the work of the volunteers. For many years, no other funds were available to further develop the program or to provide supplies, gas or vehicles for the volunteer groups working the beaches each night.

Beginning with the 2006 season, in an attempt to generate more interest and increase awareness of Cozumel’s turtle population, the Turtle Salvation Program’s governing Committee of Brigades has made a provision to allow “one time guests” to participate in the Program provided these guests are supervised and work within the structure of a Brigade.

Those wanting to participate and work with a Brigade for 1 or 2 nights during their vacation stay must request permission in advance, be approved and be assigned to a Volunteer Brigade. 

There are 2 ways to participate ~

Tourists visiting Cozumel or those living here who would like to work for an entire night (or morning) side by side with a turtle brigade can do so during the sea turtle nesting season for a nominal donation per person June 1 through November 15th annually.

Tourists visiting Cozumel or those living here who would like to observe, learn and release baby turtles one night for a few hours with a turtle brigade can do so during the sea turtle nesting season for a nominal donation per person from June 1 through November 15th annually. 

To make a request to participate or observe please visit
Turtle Brigade Participation Application or Observation Request Form

NOTE: Requests are submitted to an approval process and are handled on first-come, first-serve basis. Please allow 1 week for a response.

Also, please remember to never take dogs to the other side of the island during the turtle nesting season (day or night).  Many dogs will dig holes and take out the eggs.  Also, the scent of dogs may discourage a female turtle to nest where she smells 'predators'.