A coastal exploration

Today's outing had us journeying north of the city and along the coastline. We learned about the importance of mangroves, the Mayans that controlled coastal trading and the astounding community effort in one pueblo that is proving to be socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.

Our first stop was to spend a quiet minute observing our new environment

And then we headed to the Mayan ruins of Xcambo

On this site the Virgen May appeared and a chapel was built in her honor.

Maria tells us about the ancient techniques of separating salt from ocean water and storing it in large quantities to trade

Observing the details

View from the top

Our next stop was in the coastal town of San Crisanto, renowned for their coconut products and their commitment to sustainability. We headed out with trash bags to clean up litter among the mangroves while our guide told us a little bit about the community.

"Protect the flora and fauna"

Ancient stone walls created lagoons to trap ocean water for the salt harvest

We marveled at the red tint of the water among the mangroves, colored so because of the tannins released by the roots

Our guide describes the different varieties of mangroves found here

"Care for and protect the ecosystem"

A glimpse of pink...flamingos!

Last but not least we had a boat tour of the mangroves, eyes peeled for termite nests, frogs, small mammals and fish

Feeling some fish-kisses from the little aquatic animals in the cenote

Yaxunah: Our Days in the Pueblo

Before our next adventure began in the community of Yaxunah,Yaxcabá,Yucatán, we first visited the traditional pottery studio “Najil Kat” belonging to the family Espadas Xooc, in Uayma. Here, the students had the chance to explore the diverse materials and traditional techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation in this family of artists. With the help of Virgilio, we learned about the many types of local soil and clay that are mixed to make a diverse range of creations like vases, plates, mugs, toys, musical instruments, incense holders and more. As part of the workshop, each student sculpted their own little artistic creation, exploring their creativity and the skills necessary to work with the clay. Similar to the time spent in the city of Mérida, the families in Yaxunah are an invaluable aspect for the students to settle into the rhythm of everyday life. The arrival to Yaxunah marks the beginning of a beautiful new family relationship. Students can make s...

Immersion Practicum and Ninth Intercultural Unversity Forum 2025

In the final part of the Yucatan Program, our students have the opportunity to complete their Spanish Language and Cultural Immersion Practicum while living in a community apart from the group for three weeks. At this point they get to put into practice everything they learned during the program, as well as getting to know another host family and interact with new people. During this span of three weeks, the students are visited by their professors to see that they are having a positive experience, and above all to make sure that they don't have any problems in developing their independent project, which they were later able to share with us along with their experiences in a presentation upon their return to Merida. Each student’s experience was unique. In Merida, Emmaline was able to help usher in new life through her experience in the birthing unit of a local hospital. On the coast, Drew and Theo discovered new ways of experimenting with their patience in the co...

A Visit to the Coast and our Return to Merida

A Visit to the Coast and our Return to Merida Before beginning the next stage of our program in San Felipe, a small coastal community on the northern edge of the Yucatan Peninsula, we visited the Biosphere Reserve of Ria Lagartos for a boat tour of the estuary. During this tour, we learned about the importance of different types of mangroves, we saw the diverse species of migratory birds that arrive to nest in this region and we admired the endemic bird species that are a key part of the mangrove ecosystem. We also were lucky enough to see majestic groups of flamingos, different types of fishing eagles, herons, pelicans, cormorants, gulls, frigates, plovers and of course, the stars of the “Ria”, Morelet’s crocodiles! Once in the community of San Felipe, the process of meeting our new host families is always a clash of the nerves and excitement that are natural when entering into a completely new sociocultural context. Above all, it is a new opportunity to meet people with big hear...

Adventures in Yucatan, Mexico

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