Ecotourism cooperatives contribute to the development of community groups and strengthen the conservation activities and improvement of rural communities. On the Oaxacan Pacific Coast there are numerous cooperatives that have formed in the last few decades to help the local economies and support sustainable living practices. We will vist the following 6 cooperatives.

Aurora Adventures was granted special permission by the National Mexican Turtle Research Center to design and offer a one-of-kind short-term volunteer program at the Center and the Sea Turtle Sanctuary on the Oaxacan Pacific West Coast. The participants of this tailor-made volunteer program will be trained at the Center to help the Olive Ridley sea turtle and their habitats. At the Sea Turtle Sanctuary and Cooperative the participants will be aiding local residents, biologists and conservationists count the thousands of turtles, patrol the beaches and, if the timing is right, release hatchlings into the ocean.

EL Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga, also known as the Mexican National Turtle Research center, has undertaken a conservation program that is attempting to restore the sea turtles and their habitat on the Pacific West Coast. It houses a museum, which opened in 1994, that is actually more of a reserve, it holds a turtle hatchery, aquarium, and study center. All varieties of sea turtles that live in the coastal waters of Mexico are on exhibit, as well as six species of freshwater turtles and two species of land turtles. At the center’s ten-acre complex, biologists, veterinarians and research groups are dedicated to the study, protection and preservation of the sea turtle.

The Sea Turtle Sanctuary on the Pacific West Coast of Oaxaca, Mexico is of primary importance worldwide and receives the largest number of turtles in the country. Thousands of female turtles that were once endangered come back during egg laying season to nest in the wildlife ecotourism sanctuary. Participants in this volunteer program may see females coming ashore after journeys of hundreds, even thousands, of miles, to bury their eggs in the sand. This stretch of coast is one of the best in the world for observing the arribada, a Spanish word meaning “arrival”, used to describe the mass nesting of Olive Ridley sea turtles. The local residents, aided by the Mexican Ministry of the Environment patrol the beach to protect turtles from poachers.
The Mexican National Turtle Research Center has a permanent research camp at the sanctuary that first began its nesting monitoring operations in 1996. The research camp is a collaboration of various diverse institutions, including non-government organizations, state government, fishing cooperatives, leading educational institutions, as well as volunteers from practically every corner of the globe. Current Projects at the camp accomplish a better understanding of the state of various sea turtle populations by way of evaluating their nesting grounds, observing behavioral patterns during the reproduction process, and aiding in their conservation.

The first 5 nights you will stay at a unique ecolodge of traditionally crafted palapas cooled by ceiling fans and ocean breezes. Each bungalow is built with native materials which blend into the lush Mexican Landscape. Every Bungalow is perched alongside a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with it’s own wrap around balcony to hang a hammock and enjoy the lovely ocean views. The excellent restaurant on the upper level make mealtimes special and sunset watching splendid.

The last 3 nights you will sleep in secluded comfortable cabanas in a wildlife lagoon sanctuary near the sea turtle sanctuary and camp. The lagoon sanctuary, cabanas and restaurant are run by several indigenous Zapotec families in the cooperative. They serve typical food from the Oaxacan Coast and Guerrero that is delicious, nutritious, all organic without preservatives or pesticides.

If you are planning to travel with the group, contact us immediately to find out the specifics of the group flight. The sooner you make your reservation the more likely you will be able to travel with the group. Otherwise you may make other travel arrangements.

Each program includes:

• Insured, comfortable and air conditioned vehicles are provided for transportation in the host country.
• Optional International Medical Travel Insurance for each participant.
• Pre-departure advising
• Pre-departure and onsite orientations
• Risk Management & Crisis management plan

Dawn Feuerberg (AKA Aurora in Spanish)

Owner and founder of Aurora Adventures, LLC.

Traveling for me is all about the connections. My ability to subtly bridge cross cultural connections between my travelers and the locals abroad is what sets me apart. At a very young age I began to travel on my own seeking out and connecting with the aboriginal, the indigenous and the authentic local life abroad. Often times finding myself being the only non-native in the region. My longstanding relationships abroad give my clients access into an enriching, in depth local experience. I am both well connected and extremely enthusiastic about sharing my access with others.

I value the genuine art of discovery travel for all ages. I create flexible itineraries within my tours that provide individuals the opportunity to make new discoveries. This tone of flexibility and openness in my approach to travel is equally matched with my attention to detail, my ability to multi-task and basically get the job done in a coherent, safe, comfortable and if desired, luxurious manner.

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