On the second day in the Yucatán, we set off to the tranquil fishing village of Chuburná located roughly 40 minutes south of Mérida near the town of Progreso, the Yucatán’s main port and the launching off point to the stunning yet relatively unknown Isla Columpios.
This rich mangrove ecosystem and group of small islands and sand banks on the coast were formed as a consequence of the devastation of Hurricane Gilberto in 1986. The hurricane wiped out all the infrastructure and it took the community over 15 years to rebuild and recover working with community leaders and local government with a focus on developing sustainable fishing practices and community-based tourism.
Today, the area is managed by four groups of fishermen and community leaders who work together as a cooperative to effectively manage this rich ecosystem and ecotourism project. The cooperative ensures loyal competition among the fisherman including price regulation and effective conservation and management of this delicate ecosystem.
