The Protected Zone

Since 1993, the southern coast of Quintana Roo has been envisioned as a low-impact tourist destination and the Costa Maya (which runs from Punta Herrero to Xcalak) has been seen as an important tourist corridor.

Community members, most of whom were dependent solely upon fishing, saw an opportunity to integrate the development of tourism into their economy and, in 1999, with the support of the Amigos de Sian Ka'an, organized and formed the cooperative society Bahia Blanca to develop and provide tourist services.

The community of Xcalak took the additional initiative to propose establishing a national protected natural zone to permit sustainable resource use and rational management of the marine resources on which both fisheries and sustainable tourism depend. On November 27th, 2000, the "Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak" with 17,377 hectares was officially created and designated a National Park. An important aspect of the park's management is the development of alternative, sustainable activities for the local communities that minimize detrimental impact and protect the natural resources.

In addition to extensive coastal, reef, mangrove and selva flora and fauna resources in the Protected Zone, there are seven known archeological sites between Punta Gavilán and Xcalak. They were called by the residents near them Punta Gavilán, La Curva, Siete Cocos, Laguna Xcalak, Xcalak, Xcalak Cementerio and  Necax. These sites are known only to locals and they have neither been explored by archeologist nor opened to the public.