Environment Leaders Along with Tourism Council Announce Dates for the 7th Annual Whale Shark Festival

ISLA MUJERES, Mexico - April 11, 2014 - PRLog -- Celebrating the beauty and culture of Isla Mujeres, Mexico, the Department of Tourism for Isla Mujeres, Mexico, along with Ceviche Tours, an eco-tourism company; Amigos de Isla Contoy, which promotes the conservation of Isla Contoy and several environmental leaders have partnered to announce that the 7^th Annual Whale Shark Festival will take place July 25-27, 2014.  The festival is an annual event that showcases the achievements, the traditions and the environmental splendor of Isla Mujeres.  As in past years, the Festival will be held in Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

A dazzling parade kicks-off The 7^th Annual Whale Shark Festival on Friday, July 25.  Following the parade, the Festival will showcase time-honored dances, local cuisine, nearby businesses and works from local artisans.  Guests can visit nearby attractions such as the Whale Shark Exhibition and view a display of the winning marine figures made by local high school students.  Guests will also have the chance to participate in a sand figure contest on the beach across from the Posada Del Mar hotel.

Whale Shark season on Isla Mujeres runs from May 15^th till September 15^th, visitors can have an ecotourism adventure of a lifetime and swim with the whale sharks, the largest fish in the ocean and endangered species.  Don’t worry: these magnificent whale sharks are filter feeders, like whales they feed on plankton, algae and krill.  And, all swimmers will swim with fully licensed, expert diver/guides.  Besides swimming with the whale sharks, guests can participate in some of the other water activities that have made Isla Mujeres a favorite vacation spot: sport fishing, diving, and snorkeling tours of the pristine reefs.

“The Whale Shark Festival is a true celebration of the islands’ culture, heritage and the beautiful marine habitat that make Isla Mujeres the Jewel of The Yucatan Peninsula,” said Sr. Gustavo Rodriguez Orozco, director of tourism for Isla Mujeres. “We are proud to be partnering with several environmental leaders as well as Ceviche Tours, a crusader for sustainable eco-tourism conservation, Amigos de Isla Contoy A.C., a nonprofit organization and Blue Realm A.C. a Marine research and preservation NGO, to bring this festival to life for a 7^th year in a row.”

Sustainable Eco-Tourism

In addition to celebrating the beauty of Isla Mujeres, the Whale Shark Festival is a concerted effort to raise awareness of the need to preserve the area’s marine ecosystem.  It is part of the second largest barrier reef on the planet, and serves as the nursery of the Caribbean and the migratory path of whale sharks, Manta Ray’s and Dolphin as well as sea turtles, water fowl and game fishes.

“Sustainable eco-tourism engages guests in the effort to preserve the indigenous culture of Isla Mujeres, their way of life and the marine environment,” said John Vater, who co-founded Ceviche Tours with his wife, Adriana, and longtime friend and Isla Mujeres native Louis Refugio “Cuco” Aguirre, his son Jesus and their family.  “Fishing was the key industry for local Islanders; it is how they eat, how they make a living.  We work with them helping to promote environmental preservation and sustainable eco-tourism as the future for the Island’s people and the economy to sustain Isla Mujeres for generations to come.”

Getting Kids Involved in Saving the Planet

With over 60 hotels ranging from five-star resorts to cabanas on the beach, Isla Mujeres is the perfect staycation. The island is the safest island in the Caribbean and the downtown center is alive with fine restaurants, bars and music in the streets every night of the week.

Isla Mujeres is chock full of activities for families such as a visit to the turtle farm, sport fishing or a dive off our pristine reefs.  If you are more an adventure seeker, Isla Mujeres is the closest place to depart from to swim with whale sharks and giant manta rays. A quick 15-minute ferry ride from the port of Cancun and you are in old Mexico, escaping the maddening rush of Playa Carmen and the Cancun hotel zone.

The Whale Shark Festival will include several fun activities for children geared toward getting the kids excited about environmentalism.  “Everyone in the community of Isla Mujeres is becoming aware of the marine environment and biodiversity at sea,” said Catalina Galindo de Prince, executive director of Amigos de Isla Contoy, A.C.  “People must also learn about the birds that use the island as a rest stop in their migratory path and the birds that make the island their home.  Furthermore, with better practices islanders will contribute to a healthy environment for themselves and for nature around and on their island.”

For a complete listing of 2014 Whale Shark Festival activities and for more information, visit http://www.whalesharkfest.com or www.cevichetours.com.  Information about Isla Mujeres can be found at www.islamujeres.gob.mx.

About Blue Realm A.C.

Blue Realm A.C. is a Marine research and preservation NGO whose mission is to ensure a healthy, sustainable area of marine biodiversity in Northern Quintana Roo, which provides superlative natural phenomena for years to come.  For more information about Blue Realm A.C. and to further read about the several projects that they are working on in order to create a UNESCO world heritage site for the Northern Quintana Roo Marine Ecosystem so that we can protect, enjoy and study its inhabitants for many generations to come visit www.bluerealmproject.org

About Amigos de Isla Contoy

Amigos de Isla Contoy was founded on October of 1994 to promote the conservation of Isla Contoy, nature areas and regional projects of the Yucatan peninsula through the sustainable development of local communities in collaboration with the National Commission of Nature Protected Areas.  Amigos de Isla Contoy develops environmental education programs for the entire community.  With a special focus on educating children, Amigos de Isla Contoy has also initiated a successful Conservation of Coral Reefs program for all students, beach cleanups, plays that teach about recycling and an elementary program on the environment with materials for teachers.  For more information, visit www.amigosdeislacontoy.org.

About Ceviche Tours

Ceviche Tours provides sustainable ecotourism and travel services to the Yucatan and Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Founded by John and Adriana Vater of Spa Adriana in Huntington Village, NY, with longtime friend and Isla Mujeres native Luis Refugio Aguirre, his son Jesus and their family, Ceviche Tours works with the indigenous islanders of Isla Mujeres to help preserve their culture and maintain the integrity and beauty of the surrounding marine environment. Through education and photo identification efforts, Ceviche Tours joins the worldwide effort to protect and preserve whale sharks. As participants on our whale shark tours, guests are invited to be part of those identification and tracking efforts. For more information, please contact www.cevichetours.com.  Follow us at www.facebook.com/cevichetours and www.twitter.com/cevichetours.

Booking Travel

Travel arrangements and bookings for whale shark tours can be made through the Ceviche Tours Website www.cevichetours.com  or call 631.470.6315 (US)/998.241.3345 (MX).