The itinerary below is a loose tentative schedule of your 8 day adventure. We will be in the area for 7 nights with the hopes of seeing an arribada ( the phenomena where hundreds of mama turtles come to the shore to lay their eggs). Since we can’t predict when this will occur or other opportunities that nature might provide for us, we will have to adjust the schedule according to what the weather and the natural habitats bring while we are there! Something magical always awaits!

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 visit the following cooperatives.

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. At the center’s ten-acre complex, biologists, veterinarians and research groups are dedicated to the study, protection and preservation of the sea turtle. We will have an intimate behind the scenes tour of the Center.

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.
At the Sea Turtle Sanctuary we will be aiding local residents, biologists and conservationists count the thousands of turtles and, if the timing is right, release hatchlings into the ocean.

You will be staying at a small boutique hotel that offers quality and elegance to make your stay a true delight. Each room has a private terrace with lovely ocean views of the Pacific Ocean. Your accommodations have air-conditioning and wifi. The excellent restaurant make mealtimes special and sunset watching splendid.

You will also enjoy the infinity pool on the cliff edge, over looking the Pacific and the golden beaches below. The bays nearby are warm and tranquil and you have direct access to the beach.

Dawn Feuerberg (AKA Aurora in Spanish)

Owner and founder of Aurora Adventures, LLC.

Dawn Feuerberg is a mother of 2 daughters, a yoga & meditation guide, a former Spanish professor of 28 years,  and the owner of Aurora Adventures LLC.  She first came to the Oaxaca Coast in 1991 and has been leading tours to Oaxaca since 1995.  It is one of her favorite places on the planet and thoroughly enjoys sharing her access and connections to this magical place with others. She says “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 our adventures 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. ”

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

Read full bio…

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

Join Dawn & Tawny, on a 5 day tour of Oaxaca City and it’s outlaying indigenous villages. This Oaxacan cultural & pyramid tour is unmatched in its unique offerings, its expert private guides, its charming boutique accommodations and its attention to detail. You will explore the beauty and diversity of Oaxacan culture, cuisine, art, artisans, healing arts & history… You will visit Zapotec local artists and healers, tour the colonial city of Oaxaca, eat divine regional cuisine, practice yoga with like minded locals and explore the energy of the pyramids. A unique and authentic Journey not to be missed.

Dates: June 27th-July 2nd 2019

We will be staying in the heart of the colonial center of downtown Oaxaca in a beautiful boutique hotel. The hotel is within is steps away from many places of interest, parks, restaurants and cafes.

• 5 nights shared accommodation in boutique hotel in colonial downtown a with delicious regional breakfast daily
• 4 exquisite main meals
• Welcoming ceremony and ritual with Spiritual Leader of Toltec Wisdom, Armando Cruz Sanchez
• Entrance fees to archeological sites and museums
• 3 Behind-the-scenes excursions with fully insured luxury transportation
• “Temezcal” traditional Zapotec steam bath with Doña Enriqueta
• Off the beaten path tours of Oaxaca City
• Dynamic onsite director and guides
• Transportation from Oaxacan Coast to Oaxaca City
• Airport transfer to Oaxaca City Airport
• Pre-departure advising

Click here  for more details or sign up below.