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eco paraiso
property
description: The hotel is surrounded by a 100 hectares (240 acres) coconut grove. Our terrain lies on a small peninsula. To the west, lies the Gulf of Mexico with breathtaking sunsets; to the east the famous "Ría de Celestún", a salt water inlet with unique flora and fauna. Because of its importance as the main feeding area for the American Flamingo and countless species of waterfowl and shorebirds it was decreed a Special Biosphere Reserve in 1989.
Our 15 spacious cabañas (bungalows) are embedded in the natural surroundings. All of them offer a wonderful view of the Gulf of Mexico.
Every cabaña has a veranda with 2 hammocks and 2 comfortable armchairs.
The bungalows are equipped with 2 queen size beds, a sitting area with sofa bed, desk, spacious bath with shower, closet and safety deposit box.
For ecological reasons the rooms are not equipped with air conditioning. Instead, 2 ceiling fans, a well-designed air circulation system and the Mayan technology, la palapa (thatched roof), will provide for enough refreshing ventilation.
La Casa Club is our main building, which offers a large variety of activities.
Here our guests meet for a leisurely chat at the bar, or for a game of table tennis or billiard. In our small library which has books in 4 languages you can sit down and read, or watch videos. We have a wide range of educational videos (culture, nature) and entertainment to choose from. Board games are also available for you to use.
All meals are served in the Casa Club Restaurant.
Take your time and relish on a tasty Mexican breakfast!
Among many other delicious items we offer fresh fruit juices, a seafood omelet and our homemade whole meal bread "Pan Xixim".
In the evening we prepare a 4-course candlelight dinner for you. Fresh fish, seafood, Mexican, Yucatecan or international dishes are served. Our kitchen crew is proud of their creations!
Our fresh water swimming pool is perfect for relaxation. A pergola provides shade while you read a book, look at the natural surroundings, or listen to the sound of the waterfall.
From the pool you have great views of the dunes and the unaffected beach with its countless seashells.
Enjoy a cool drink while watching the incredible sunset. It takes place right in front of you!
ECO PARAISO Xixim is an ecological hotel.
Construction and gardens:
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Very low construction density. From the 25 hectars (61.8 acres) land that we own, we only have constucted about 3,000m2 (9,842.5ft), that is about 1.2%.
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We have constructed our hotel from the second dune on, so that the first dune and the beach are intact - pristine. This is very important, as precisely in this first dune, the sea turtles come to hatch. I was told (I do not know if this information is correct) that only 5% of this first dune is intact in the whole world - we try to preserve what little is left of it. Also, the vegetation that you find in this first dune is unique, you won't find it anywhere else.
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The topography of the land was also kept intact, that is, we didn't level out the land when constructing, we left the dunes as they where.
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We took great care in the lay out of our resort - all our bungalows (only 15) blend into the surrounding nature. We also tried to use, wherever possible, natural products, e.g. thatched roofs.
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All our garden has been replanted with plants that grow in the region - we did not introduce exotic flora like grass, for instance.
Recycling
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We recycle all our water biologically. The gray waters (showers and washbasin) go to a biological filter that has a stone (antracita) and bacteria - this filtered water is then used to water our garden. The black waters (W.C.) are pumped to our SIRDO = integrated organic recycling system - there it sediments and is used as an inoculous for our compost pile. The remaining water goes to a perfectly sealed jardiniere. The greasy waters of the kitchens and soapy waters of the laundry have each special filters with sand, gravel, stone and bacteria - this water is also used for our garden. For this system to work properly, we obviously had to install two different water pipelines.
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All our waste is separated accordingly in organic waste, recyclable and not recyclable waste. The organic waste is chopped and put in the SIRDO where we have two chambers - we use one for 6 months and then let it dry out for another six months when our compost is removed and serves as fertilized earth for our vegetable garden. The recyclable waste: wood, glass, plastic, paper and metal is collected and then transported to the next recycling facility that is 110km (68 miles) away from us in Uman. The non-recyclable waste - less than 3 bags a week we dump in the municipality garbage dump.
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We do not buy individual packed products to avoid this non recyclable garbage. Jam, butter and cereals are served in bulk, also for the toilet amenities like soap, shampoo and conditioner we have dispensers.
Resources
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All our water comes from a salty well. We have taken great care in not pumping too much water out of the well - we have a little 1hp pump that pumps about 2 liters per second. This water is filtered with sand, gravel and activated carbon, stored and chlorinated. This water goes to the main water system of our hotel. Part of it is then pumped to our potable water system. We installed an inverse osmosis and ultraviolet rays to make our water potable, so that we can avoid buying water bottles that would cause more garbage.
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All our lightening system is done with low voltage bulbs. To avoid that the little sea turtles get confused and do not find their way to the sea, we have kept our illumination as low as possible in our resort.
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We have installed solar panels to heat the water of our
swimming pool.
Teaching
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From the moment of check in, we induce our guest to respect nature. He gets a welcome brochure, where he can read about or efforts of conservation. He can help separating his waste, avoiding the ritual of laundering every day sheets and towels and putting the lights and ceiling fans off when he leaves the room.
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We have a little Natural History Museum in our reception. There, our guests can inform themselves about the amazing biodiversity that we have in the reserve. Our collection include specimens of plants, bird nests, sea shells, some skeletons of mammals, reptiles and insects. We also have about 70 books and other material where he can inform himself in depth about this and other matters as archeology and mayan culture.
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We also have a 1km (0.6 miles) interpretative trail where he can observe and experience first hand this vast biodiversity.
Miscellaneous
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We offer ecological tours to the surroundings.
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We have a small vegetable garden.
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In the adjacent land (that by the way is also ours = 500 hectares (1,235 acres) we have planted about 20,000 malayan dwarf coconut palm trees which are resistant to the lethal yellowing decease that is killing all the palm trees.
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The nearby town, Celestun, also profits from our resort: about 1/3 of our staff comes from the town; we use the services of the local boatmen to make the Celestun inlet tour; we buy local products like fish, seafood, vegetables and bread; etc.
tours
and things to do: we
offer a number of different tours:
Celestun Inlet
Half day tour. Includes snack. Binoculars are provided. This tour is a must! Regarded by ornithologists as a true treasure trove, the "Ría de Celestún" is home to over 300 species of birds, 3 of which are found nowhere else in the world.
Our tour guide, indigenous of Celestun, will take you to the world's largest population of pink flamingos. Up to 30'000 of these elegant birds live here. You will be surprised at the brightness of their color! But bird watching is not all you will do on this tour. We will also show you the untouched natural beauties of the Petrified Forest, where you will consider yourself in another world, the dense mangrove channels and the sweet water spring of
Baldiosera. The 3-hour boat ride gives you an overall view of the many ecosystems which have existed before mankind. In the estuary, the ecological balance of microorganisms, crustaceans, birds and vegetation, of sky, waters, sun and winds is perfectly intact. Come with us and discover this world, accompanied by pelicans, ospreys, cormorants and the singing of thousands of other birds. If you're lucky you might even see the eyes of a crocodile or the elegant movements of an ocelot.
Uxmal and Kabah
All day. Includes lunch. Of course we can't tell you all of the Mayan's 5000-year-old history. But not far from us, there are two major archaeological sites of great importance. Come and travel through the past with us!
The tour takes you first to Uxmal, a renowned gem of Mayan architecture. The beauty of the Puuc style surpasses the even more important and larger site of Chichen Itza in many ways. The most outstanding buildings are the Pyramid of the Magician, the Convent of the Nuns, and the Palace of the Governor.
After visiting Uxmal we drive on to Kabah, about 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) south of Uxmal. Kabah is a large archeological zone, which stretches along the road. "Codz Poop", the Palace of the Masks, is the most important attraction of this place of worship. Here you will see innumerable masks representing the rain god
Chaac. Return to ECO PARAISO in the evening.
Haciendas and Cenotes
All day. Includes lunch.
On this tour you will visit various haciendas to discover the culture and traditions of the past. At the end of the 19th century, Sisal production was the main industry in Yucatan which brought wealth to the peninsula and its more than 600 haciendas. The age of the “green gold” ended in the 1930ies, when the natural fiber was swept from the markets by the synthetic nylon. Today you can still feel the glory of those times past when you enter an hacienda. Each has its own charm and style, and each has a story to tell.
In all of Yucatan, there is not a single river to be seen, but still there is enough water! An underground system of rivers runs beneath the surface of the peninsula. Where the limestone layer which covers the ground is broken, a pond of fresh water is revealed that can be reached from the surface. This gift from nature is called "cenote". Is there a better way to end your tour than to take a dip in the cool, crystal clear water of a
cenote?
WHAT TO DO IN CELESTUN
Boat rides:
Take a boat trip out to the estuary or ría and admire the impressive waterbird populations. As many as 18,000 flamingos can be seen at once, offering an incredibly pink spectacle. Explore the mangrove swamps and plunge in one of the beautiful sweet water springs.
The Beach:
Celestun boasts long stretches of pristine beaches. It is a superb place to avoid the crowds and enjoy the sun, sand and the warm emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Seafood:
No stay in Celestun is complete without a visit to one of the sea front restaurants specializing in fresh, locally caught seafood.
Birdwatching:
"Birders" look for more than just flamingos in Celestun. Up to 320 species of birds have been recorded. A tour lasts six to seven hours. Part of the tour is by land and part by water.
Fishing:
You won't return to your hotel barehanded after this tour! The richness in zoo and phyto plancton of the Gulf of Mexico assures you a very good catch. Besides, the chef will be delighted to prepare your seizure to your taste.
Night boat rides:
This exciting tour allows you to see animals that you normally don't see during the day. They hunt at night while others sleep: crocodiles, boat-billed heron, yellow-crowned night heron, great-horned owl, etc. The boat ride lasts approximately 2 1/2 hours and covers about 30 km. (18 miles) of the estuary.
CELESTUN DO'S AND DON'TS
DO take a boat trip to see the flamingos and other wildlife on the estuary, but DON'T ask your boatman to force the flamingos into flight (it's illegal!).
DO take a night beach walk in summer or fall, looking for nesting or hatching sea turtles, but DON'T disturb the turtles if you find them.
DON'T leave Celestun without trying its seafood!
location:
From
Merida:
To get to ECO PARAISO, you may either book a transfer for pick up in Merida, take a taxi or the public bus to Celestun, or drive yourself with your rental car:
Leave Merida in the south and drive towards Uman. In Uman, take the 3rd street to the right after the principal plaza and take route no. 281 to Kinchil-Celestun. In Celestun turn right and take the road that follows the coastline in a northern direction. After 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) you reach ECO PARAISO. There are many signs along this road, so you can't miss us.
Merida - Celestun
From Cancun:
There are various airline connections between Cancun and Merida. Please refer to the above paragraph to see how to get from Merida to Celestun.
Of course you can also rent a car in Cancun and drive across the Yucatan Peninsula. The drive takes about 5 hours, and the road between Cancun and Merida is an excellent highway (toll). If you plan on taking your time, you may want to visit the stunning Cenote of Dzidnup in Valladolid, the world famous archeological site of Chichen Itza and/or the magnificent 16th Century Franciscan Convent of Izamal on your way over.
Yucatan
Flights:
The Yucatan Peninsula has two international airports: Cancun and Merida. Many American and European airlines provide flights to Cancun, while Merida is only served by Mexican and some American airlines.
Ask your travel agent to find the flight connections that suit you best.
other
guests say:
We spent two days of our Yucatan tour in Ecoparaiso Xixim and it was perhaps one of our most memorable times ever. The location was breathtaking, the staff helpful and simpatico, a superb & knowledgable guide in Alex, few other guests and great facilities. We hope to return and hope the long & rocky road to the hotel never gets paved over! The little natural history museum in reception is just one of the unusual touches. The fishing village of Celestun is well worth a long visit as well.
Samantha & Vincent
London, UK - Monday, January 19, 2004
We came to Eco Paraiso to relax and to enjoy some solitude. The bird watching was so enjoyable that we did not spend much time lying around in the hammocks. The resort's setting is superb, the cabañas are private and comfy, and the staff are incredibly helpful. We took a trip with Alex Dzib, the staff nature guide and we were most impressed with his skills in the field. Not only did we see nearly all the endemic species, we also were treated to a vast array of other tropical species. Alex knows all the great birding spots and the important aspects of natural history and local history, too. Right down to where to get the best ceviche in town. Everyone associated with the resort was helpful and accommodating, even to the point of helping us to make reservations elsewhere in Mexico as we were leaving. We highly recommend Hotel Eco Paraiso as a great destination for a quiet getaway, or for some thoroughly engaging tropical bird watching. Thanks! We'll be back....
Bill Thompson, Julie Zickefoose
Ill. USA - Monday, May 09, 2005
pricing
and contact
details: please
contact owner for further details:
Toll free from USA and Canada
Solsierra Destinations
Phone: 1 - 800 - 400 - 3333
Hotel Eco Paraiso Xixim
Municipio de Celestún
Yucatán, México
Phone: ++52 (988) 916 2100 & (988) 916 2060
Fax: ++52 (988) 916 2111
E-Mail: info@ecoparaiso.com
Verena Gerber - Director
Mexico City
Phone: ++52 (55) 5575 0126 & (55) 5559 9774
Fax: ++52 (55) 5575 4412
E-Mail: reservations@ecoparaiso.com
www.ecoparaiso.com
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