San Lorenzo River Clean Up with Save Our Shores and Mackintosh Academy – April 21, 2012

For three decades, Save Our Shores (SOS) has cared for marine environments in California through ocean awareness, advocacy and citizen action. Key accomplishments by SOS include helping to establish the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and preventing offshore drilling in California Central Coast waters. Now, SOS works to educate youth on the importance of watersheds and organizes annual cleanup events in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties to help reduce plastic pollution.

Today, we volunteered for SOS’ annual San Lorenzo River cleanup in Santa Cruz. The event corresponds to local Earth Day events. We spent the morning searching for trash along the river’s edge, recording each piece on our cleanup data cards. Collected items ranged from Q-tips to cigarette butts to plastic bottles. As we walked the edge of the San Lorenzo, we were treated with sightings of a variety of birds and calla lilies and California poppies in bloom.

During last year’s event, more than 3,000 pounds of trash were collected. The final tally was much lower today. It looks like ongoing efforts to reduce trash along the San Lorenzo are paying off.

San Francisco Food Bank with Mackintosh Academy – April 20,2012

Today marks the beginning of our third service learning trip with Mackintosh Academy’s 8th grade class. Our first volunteer shift was at San Francisco Food Bank (SFFB). SFFB serves the San Francisco Metro area including Marin County. In 2011, 450 million pounds of food were delivered to the community. SFFB depends heavily on volunteers to meet their mission. Volunteer hours exceeded 130,000 hours last year, equivalent to 55 full-time employees.

During our afternoon shift, we packed boxes to be delivered to senior citizens in need. The boxes included cereal, tomato juice, canned fruit, vegetables, and salmon, peanut butter, rice, and milk. On an average day, volunteers pack 1000 boxes. Our group packed 1,145 boxes totaling 20,900 pounds of food! Next week, more than 1,100 seniors will benefit from our volunteer efforts.

Peru Discovery with Denver Botanic Gardens – Orchids at Inkaterra’s Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

Guest blogger: Nick Snakenberg of Denver Botanic Gardens

For several travelers in our group, today is the day we’ve been looking forward to since we first signed up for this trip.  Today we will receive a guided tour of the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel grounds to see the hundreds of orchid plants and flowers being tended by the staff.

Sudamerlycaste heynderyexii in bloom.

Since 1975, Inkaterra has been using profits from sustainable tourism projects to fund rescue and preservation of Peru’s cultural and natural resources.  The Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel opened in the early 1990’s and was envisioned as a village in a botanical setting.  Located adjacent to the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary, the hotel grounds are home to some 370 plus species of orchids.  The sanctuary covers over 80,000 acres and spans a number of different biological life zones – the largest zone being the cloud forest. The area we visited can receive over 90 inches of rain per year and when it is not raining, there is still relatively high humidity.  This, combined with the cool night temperatures, makes for a perfect environment for many orchid species.

Sobralia setigera

We began our orchid experience with an orientation lecture from Carmen Soto, a biologist working on Inkaterra’s conservation efforts.  After an overview of the area’s orchids, and a brief discussion of the birds and butterflies of the region, we donned our rain jackets, grabbed a magnifying glass and set out to enjoy the orchid blooms.  Standing in the rain to look at tiny orchid flowers might seem a little extreme, but after flying several thousand miles to look at orchids, we weren’t going to let a few raindrops get in our way.

Orchid lovers in the rain.

When most people think of orchids, they probably think of Phalaenopsis flowers which can be found in any good garden center and even in the local grocery store.  Or they may think of large Cattleya flowers – a staple in the corsage world.  Most of the flowers we were looking for were quite small – many less than one centimeter wide – but there were still many large and showy flowers to enjoy as well.

One of the orchid flowers the Machu Picchu area is most known for is Masdevallia veitchiana, an orange-red beauty known locally as Waqanki.  According to Inca legend (and the orchid field guide published by the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel), “In the kingdom of theAndes there was a beautiful young princess. She fell in love with a brave and handsome warrior of the Inca.  Once her father, the Inca, knew of the love affair, he prohibited any relationship between them because the princess was destined for the Sun God.  When the princess learned of his decision, she ran over theAndes, crying for her forbidden love and was turned into the beautiful “Waqanki” flower. So, each time the warrior found this flower in theAndes, he also would cry remembering his lost love”.  We were fortunate to see this plant in bloom atMachu Picchu as well as in several locations at the hotel, but as far as I know, no one was brought to tears.

Masdevallia veitchiana- Waqanki.

By my count, in the three hours we stood in the rain to look at orchid flowers, we saw nearly 50 different species.  There are few (if any) other places on earth where you can so conveniently witness this diversity of orchid flowers growing in a natural environment.  Despite the rain, we felt lucky to have had this opportunity.  We also felt lucky that we had warm dry rooms and a wonderful meal in the hotel restaurant to look forward to.

Q&A with Martha “Pati” Ruiz Corzo of Sierra Gorda Ecological Group

In October 2011, I traveled to Chiapas, Mexico for the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s Annual World  Summit.  While there, I had the fortunate opportunity to meet Martha Isabel Ruiz Corzo (“Pati”) between seminars.   Martha “Pati” Ruiz Corzo is the founder of Sierra Gorda Ecological Group and former federal Director of Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve in Querétaro, Mexico.  She has won accolades and awards for her dedication to environmental protection in the Sierra Gorda Mountains of Mexico.

My short meeting with her certainly left a lasting impression.  It’s not often that you meet a person so passionate about the environment and conservation.

We thought our readers might like to know more about Sierra Gorda so we recently caught up with Martha “Pati” Ruiz Corzo (MPRC) for a quick interview.

R2R:  What makes Sierra Gorda so special?

MPRC: Sierra Gorda is an area in which the protection of our territory has been built up in a participatory way for 25 years, a live case study of climate change and poverty mitigation practices. One hundred and sixty-seven activities are carried out, such as mobilization of citizens to carry out restoration and regeneration of natural resources, best practices in livestock management and agriculture, community environmental education, development of productive reforestations and ecotourism. In addition, we have 24 micro-enterprises that we continuously support.

Sierra Gorda is a living natural exhibit with 14 vegetation types and incredibly beautiful scenery that still retains its wild character, both in terms of biodiversity and the rural society that inhabits these mountains.

Cuatro Palos Overlook - Sierra Gorda, Mexico

Sierra Gorda is unique as a tourist destination due to the social capital we have, with intrinsic participation of local, community-run, micro-operators.

R2R:  How did you become involved with the project?

MPRC:  As conservation operators in a biosphere reserve in which the land is nearly all privately owned by the inhabitants of the Sierra Gorda (only 3% of the reserve is federal land), the administration of the protected area is very complex due to the need for economic and social development opportunities. So in response to this need, we are developing ways to place an economic value on the services of nature, such as the scenic beauty of the Sierra Gorda, which represents capital for communities through a culture of tourism. By building infrastructure for local micro-operators and improving customer service, we are building a bridge between local communities and the external public.

R2R:  Can you explain how community members are receiving economic incentives to preserve the area’s forests and biodiversity?

MPRC:  We currently have 40,000 hectares of forest with 400 beneficiaries that are receiving payments for capture of carbon and water, who are registered with the national program for payment of ecosystem services.

Our work also results in new skills and many days of paid work restoring steep hillsides as well as carrying out harvesting activities in reforestations that we have established over the years.

We have generated an annual income of 33 million pesos for activities that have come out of our model, which has become a paradigm in the Conservation Economy of the Reserve.

Chuveje Waterfall - Sierra Gorda, Mexico

R2R:  What can travelers expect if they visit Sierra Gorda?

MPRC:  A visitor in the reserve will find inherent hospitality in their hosts, delicious gastronomy, and eco-lodges to suit the needs of any traveler, from the most difficult to please, to family groups who come to camp.

Nature tourism in a variety of different expressions: hikes, cycling, horseback riding, canyoning, educational experiences, culture and traditions.

Macaws in flight - Sierra Gorda, Mexico

An active society on the way to building regional sustainability.

The pleasure of a simple life with great internal rewards and a transcendental life experience.

R2R:  When we met in October at the Adventure Travel World Summit you shared a story of a nickname given to you by your son.  Would you mind sharing that story with our readers?

MPRC:  Due to my privileged opportunity of living in touch with nature and while enjoying incredible family moments, I was honored by one of my sons when he gave me the name Jabalí Rojo (red wild boar). It fulfills me as a nickname as it represents tenacity and strength in numbers, characteristics which reflect my inner feeling and the persistence that characterizes me.

R2R:  Is there anything else you’d like to add?

MPRC:  That it is time to recognize our relationship with the Earth, our fraternity with biodiversity, and the internal satisfactions and transcendental capital we should generate as we walk through life. That to come to the Sierra Gorda is an unforgettable experience due to a communion with the assets of the extremely poor, an unknown experience in our materialistic society. The blessing of nature as a refuge of life of which we are custodians in the Sierra Gorda, a last, well-conserved stronghold of wildlife.

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Sierra Gorda Ecotours:  Sierra Gorda Ecotours was created as a business for conservation whose objective is to promote the unique tourism opportunities of the Reserve within a network of eight locally-owned and operated eco-lodges and campgrounds. Sierra Gorda Ecotours creates sustainable livelihoods for the Reserve’s inhabitants through supporting small local handicraft businesses and eco-tourism establishments.

The mission of Sierra Gorda Ecotours is to facilitate the introduction of tourists to the natural and cultural richness of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve. Through tourist services they promote learning, observation and participation in the conservation of the region.

Visitors to the Sierra Gorda can explore tropical forests, deserts and cloud forests on guided hikes, mountain bike rides or on horseback, enjoy excellent bird watching and wildlife observation, and experience the traditions of rural mountain    communities.

For more information on tourism opportunities in Sierra Gorda check out http://www.sierragorda.net/ecoturismo/index.php or contact us at www.ReefsToRockies.com.

Peru Discovery with Denver Botanic Gardens – Machu Picchu

Guest Blogger: Nick Snakenberg of Denver Botanic Gardens

I have wanted to visit Machu Picchu since I first glimpsed a photo of it in my 4^th grade geography text book.  Today, along with the rest of our tireless group, I would get that opportunity.

Machu Picchu

Construction of Machu Picchu is believed to have started around 1440 although the surrounding river valley had been inhabited and farmed for hundreds of years before that.  American historian Hiram Bingham is credited with “discovering” Machu Picchu in 1911 but there is evidence that many other outsiders new of its existence and locals were certainly aware.  In fact, a young boy of 11 actually led Bingham toMachu Picchu where he found several Quechua families living in some of the original structures.  Bingham began archeological studies and the site has been a center of research and fascination ever since.

There are many theories of how Machu Picchu was used by the Inca Empire but several are more accepted than others.  Some believe it was an estate of the Inca emperor Pachacuti (who may have overseen most of the construction of the site).   Many of the human bones recovered from the site are female, leading some to believe Machu Picchu was some sort of monastery for chosen women.  Based on the number of trails leading to and from Machu Picchu, some now believe it could have been a center of commerce as well as a political, religious, and social center.  Whatever its function, it is an impressive site and an incredible example of the blending of architecture into natural surroundings.

Machu Picchu sturctures.

There are over 140 individual structures at Machu Picchu including temples, parks and individual residences with thatched roofs.  There are hundreds of stairs (some flights carved from single blocks of stone) and of course, the agricultural terraces.  The city sits in a seismic zone and many architectural details indicate the Inca had a strong understanding of engineering which resulted in minimal building damage due to earthquakes.  Water was supplied from a natural spring that fed into an intricate system of channels and fountains that flowed throughout the city.  Carlos, our guide, told us how construction of the terraces began simultaneously from the top and bottom of the mountain and then met in the middle resulting in each terrace being a different width. There is evidence that a wide range of crops were cultivated on these terraces including at least four different types of potato as well as corn, squash, peanuts, quinoa and avocados.  More than 60% of Machu Picchu faces east and the terraces are positioned to maximize exposure to sunlight.  I especially enjoyed visiting a small garden near the center of the complex where we were able to see several species of orchids growing on the stone and in the leaf litter of the garden.

Machu Picchu orchid in flower.

As grand as Machu Picchu is, it was only inhabited for about 100 years.  As the Spanish approached, the Inca evacuated in the mid 1500’s allowing the lush vegetation to quickly reclaim the city.  Sacred stones that were destroyed in other cities the conquistadors plundered were left untouched, leaving Machu Picchu a largely intact archeological site.

Today, Machu Picchu sits in a 325 square km Historical Sanctuary which not only protects the city, but also helps protect the areas rich flora and fauna.  In 1983, UNESCO designated Machu Picchua World Heritage Site and in 2007, a worldwide internet poll voted Machu Picchu as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.  During our visit, we saw many workers performing maintenance and restoration work, including removing plant growth from between stone work, repairing mortar, and (along with several llama) trimming grass. Machu Picchu is the largest tourist attraction inPeru and concerns have risen over the impact of so many visitors to this ancient site.  The government has set restrictions on development in the area and just last year started restricting the number of daily visitors.  There have been attempts to construct a helipad in the area but the Peruvian government has yet to approve such a plan.  In fact, there is a no-fly-zone over the site.

Worker at Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu llama.

While we visited the site, clouds were continually moving in and out – we were occasionally misted with light rain and just as quickly, we would be treated to sunshine.  While we probably could have lived without the rain, the weather made for an ever-changing view of the city and surrounding mountains and an appreciation for the engineering of the city’s drainage systems.  It is hard to describe the awe inspired by visiting this site.  All I can say is it lived up to dreams inspired by my 4^th grade geography text.  It is a magical site – get there if you can.

Travel Safety in Mexico

Early last month, the US State Department updated its travel advisory for Mexico. This version is broader and more detailed than those in the past and it lists specific areas that should be avoided by travelers. Less than a week later, Mexico’s Tourism Board reported a record number of foreign visitors in 2011. More than 22 million foreign travelers arrived in Mexico by air in 2011, the highest number since the onset of tracking in 1980.

The State Department’s travel advisory even notes that “millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year for study, tourism, and business, including more than 150,000 who cross the border every day.”The full advisory can be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5665.html?utm_source=March+2012&utm_campaign=February+2012+Newsletter&utm_medium=email.

When you hear the unfortunate news coming out of Mexico, it’s easy to think that all areas of the country are being affected by violence. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The vast majority of Mexico (some 95% of the country), including areas most visited by international tourists, are safer than US cities like New Orleans, New York City, and even Orlando, Florida.

For an interesting perspective on safety in Mexico, check out the Huffington Post article titled “How Not to Get Beheaded in Mexico“.  http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/douglas-anthony-cooper/canada-attack-resort_b_1232486.html?utm_source=March+2012&utm_campaign=February+2012+Newsletter&utm_medium=email

Mexico still ranks among our Top 3 Selling Destinations along with Peru and Costa Rica. If you’re thinking of a trip south of the border but aren’t sure what to expect or whether it’s safe to go, please feel free to contact us. We travel to Mexico regularly and we’re happy to discuss the most recent developments and all that’s on offer in the region.

Peru Discovery with Denver Botanic Gardens – Day 3

Guest Blogger: Nick Snakenberg of Denver Botanic Gardens

After a quick breakfast at our hotel, our adventurous group of travelers loaded a bus and began a day of exploration of the Urubamba Sacred Valley.

Cuyuni Ridge

 After following the UrubambaRiver out of Cusco, we began climbing along a new highway to Cuyuni Pass, a mountain peak at an elevation of nearly 14,000 feet.  After being greeted by our guide, we spent the next several hours hiking along an Andean mountain ridge where we caught a glimpse into the daily lives and cultural traditions of the Cuyuni Native Community.

To begin our hike, a Cuyuni shaman and his son prepared an offering to Pachamama or the Earth Mother who presides over planting and harvesting of crops.  The shaman prepared a small satchel containing coca leaves, cuy (guinea pig) meat, llama fat and other valued items that was then burned so the smoke could reach the farthest reaches of the mountain peaks above and fields and valleys below.

Cuyuni Shaman

As we continued our hike, we came upon a group of women spinning wool harvested from the sheep and llama that the community tends.  Further along the ridge, another group of women were weaving the fibers into colorful fabrics. The clothing of these Andean people is iconic and the natural fibers are dyed using natural pigments created from roots, flowers and fruits of the surrounding alpine flora.

Cuyuni women spinning wool.

We began a slight descent and participated in the blessing and celebration of the beginning of the harvest of one of the most beautiful potato patches I have ever seen.  The plants were lush and sturdy, the blossoms were large and brightly colored, and as we would find out a little later, the potatoes were delicious.  Over 400 varieties of potatoes are grown throughout the region, a lesson in bio-diversity of our food crops that many food producers could learn from.  The celebration of the harvest concluded with a joyful dance that we were all welcome to participate in.  I hope our hosts were not disappointed in our enthusiasm for the dance.  It’s just hard to dance too wildly when you are at an elevation approaching 14,000 feet!

Potato garden.

We were next treated to a delicious lunch at a nearby café where we enjoyed freshly boiled potatoes served with a wonderful salty cheese.  Both were delicious by themselves, but together they were out of this world.  We also dined on the freshest and most local French fries possible, quinoa-crusted chicken, colorful vegetable trays, a delicious (if oddly colored) olive infused rice and a wonderful potato soup.  For dessert – hot doughnuts with a sweet dipping sauce.  So much for losing weight on this trip.

After lunch, we were able to view the “baptizing” of a llama to ensure a productive breeding season.  The baptism concluded with another celebratory dance – a good opportunity to work off a bit of the amazing lunch.

Llama

After shopping for hand-made scarves, hats, gloves and other items made by our hosts, we said our good-byes and headed for slightly lower ground.  The Cuyuni people were so genuine and open, I felt like we had made many new friends.  Apparently during the potato harvest dance, I made a favorable impression on one of the young women in the group and with a little arm-twisting, I could have stayed and begun a new life as a potato farmer.  I can think of worse jobs and much worse places to start a new life but I decided I would decline and continue with the group.  It was an honor and pleasure to have the opportunity to learn more about Cuyuni customs and to be invited to participate in their daily lives.  It was an experience that I won’t soon forget.