Mexican Maya Village Opens to GeoTourism

Viente de Noviembre Accepts Visitors to Create a Sustainable Economy

Nov 10, 2008 John Lamkin

A small Maya community receives tourists and makes traditional cottage-industry crafts as a way to supplement the village economy and to maintain their ancient culture.

The Mexican Maya village of Viente (20) de Noviembre in the state of Campeche is now open to geotourism as a way to create a sustainable economy. This Mayan "ejido," close to the ruins of the ancient Maya city of Rio Bec, now creates traditional cottage-industry crafts and accepts eco-tourism.

A Defination of Geotourism

Geotourism "sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place – its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents." National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations

Viente (20) de Noviembre (November the 20th) is a remote Maya village in the Mexican State of Campeche, near the border of the State of Quintana Roo, named after the day it was founded in 1971. It is in an area that abounds with the ruins of ancient Mayan cities, the closest being Rio Bec.

Tourism in the Maya Ejido

Recently the Maya ejido of 20 de Noviembre accepted its first group of tourists--20 plus journalists from the United States, Australia and Canada. The village is opening to tourism as a way to supplement their economy, to help retain their traditional customs, and to help keep the young people from going elsewhere to get work after finishing their schooling. The two young villagers, Ezequiel and Noemi, that were guides for the group had been given a two-month crash course in tourism and English. They performed very well with both (Mayan is spoken in the village and Spanish is the second language).

Ejido Land

In 1969 the first people arrived here from Dzitbalché, in the northern part of the State of Campeche to make a better life. The government granted them the land, a 40 by 40 meter (about 44 yards) plot per family for living and a 40 hectare plot (about 99 acres) for farming and forestry, in hopes each family could work the land and make a living. The men arrived first to build the houses, clear the land and start planting. Two years later, in 1971, their families followed. "In this ejido," said Ezequiel, the young Maya guide, "we use only organic farming methods. We sell what we produce – mostly corn, chiles, and honey – at the closest market in Xpuhil."

Village Activities for Sustainable Living

In addition to the new focus on tourism, geo/eco-tourism--which accentuates nature and the culture (including walking and birding tours), the village engages in the following sustainable activities:

Agriculture- mainly corn and chiles, but also beans, squash and other crops for their own use. Livestock- cattle, pigs, chicken, turkeys and sheep.
Beekeeping- honey
Tropical wood harvesting
Woodworking – building bee hives
Harvesting chicle for chewing gum.
Hammock making- hammocks cost from about $20 to 50 USD, depending on size and quality.
Huipiles, the traditional Maya garment worn by the women- To make takes from two weeks (machine made) and one month (hand made). They sell for from about $30 to 60 USD for machine made and from about $70 to 90 USD for the handmade.
Horseback tours to the Rio Bec Maya ruins are planned for the future.

The Tour of Viente de Noviembre

As the group entered the village they were greeted by several women attired in the traditional Maya shift called a huipil. They were ushered into a thatched hut where they were served a breakfast of typical Maya food—brazo de reina (“the queen’s arm” – a tamale-like dish, covered in a red sauce), breads, tropical fruits and freshly-ground hot chocolate. After the meal Ezequiel and Noemi escorted the people around the village to see how people lived.

They were shown corn grinding (for masa for tortillas, tamales and other fare), hammock making, embroidery of the huipiles, and beehive making. The tour ended in a makeshift store where people from the group bought handicrafts made by the villagers.

IF YOU GO TO (20) DE NOVIEMBRE:

For trips to 20 de Noviembre contact:

Maya Nature +52 (981).811.1620 (outside of Mexico) or (01) 981.811.1620 (in Mexico)

Hotels:

Chicanna Ecovillage +52 (981) 811.9193 (outside of Mexico) or (01) (800) 560.8612 (in Mexico)

The copyright of the article Mexican Maya Village Opens to GeoTourism in Latin Am/Caribbean Travel is owned by John Lamkin. Permission to republish Mexican Maya Village Opens to GeoTourism in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

20 de Noviembre, Campeche, Mexico	Greeting Committee - 20 de Noviembre, Campeche	Village Scene - 20 de Noviembre, Campeche, Mexico
Typical Maya Food - 20 de Noviembre	Embroidery for Traditional Garment (huipil)