Previously at risk of extinction in the region, the Cozumel Pearl Farm’s conservation efforts are bringing it back from the brink. At this same time, these rare oysters are producing some of the rarest pearls in the world. 

At a mere 18 years old, the pearl farm is in its infancy by industry standards. It takes years to grow a pearl, so production is limited. This makes the beautiful Cozumel pearl exceptional. A rare treasure of the ocean found nowhere else on Earth. 

The Pearls

Each pearl is hand-crafted into an exquisite piece of jewelry. Of course, you can buy a pearl on its own or have it made into a one-of-a-kind creation by a very talented Mexican artisan.

Cozumel Pearl Farm believes in supporting Mexican entrepreneurs and artisans. Building a strong partnership, each piece is unique so they sell out fast. If you are interested in purchasing a pearl, or piece of jewelry, contact the farm to check availability. 

Conservation 

Conservation efforts and sustainability are top priorities of Cozumel Pearl Farm. Alongside working with nature to establish almost zero environmental impact. The Pearl Farm’s core ethos is working in harmony with nature. In fact, the entire operation is self-sufficient, using solar, wind, and wave power to provide their needs. 

By doing this, the farm actively educates people on how to reduce environmental impact and damage. Each structure is built on stilts made from recycled telephone poles. The large palapa, where you enjoy a beach barbeque lunch when visiting, is made from sustainably sourced local materials. All water needed for the operation of the farm is collected in rainwater tanks. 

Conservation efforts involve work on both land and sea. For over a decade, the farm has been working with the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) to restore the balance of plant growth. They are also working to eradicate an invasive pine species on Cozumel island itself. 

With Guadalupe’s Blessing

Aside from CONANP, the oysters have another protector as well. The Holy Virgin Guadalupe. 

A serene sunken statue of the Holy Virgin Guadalupe watches over the pearls. She protects them and the pearl farm from natural disasters, poachers, and harm. ​

After Hurricane Wilma’s devastation in 2005, the owners — the Camaño family — learned their lesson. So, the clever Francisco Camaño (Pancho) invented an ingenious new anchoring system. Offering greater support for the oyster’s growing towers. They attach to the ocean floor. Which reduces the impact of Caribbean hurricanes. 

Guadalupe’s protection and this anchoring system kept the pearls safe. Strong tropical storms and unpredictable weather wreak havoc each year from July to November.

It also helps nearby coral from the bleaching effects of climate change. Another conservation effort is an artificial reef for coral gardening. With the added benefit of providing local economic benefits. A diverse range of beautiful marine biodiversity is drawn to this location, making it a popular attraction for divers and snorkelers. 

Touring the Pearl Farm

Yes, I went on a tour of the Cozumel Pearl Farm and can honestly say it was one the best day trips of my life. Being a pearl girl, I found learning all about pearls very fascinating. Information included how they are graded and the difference between a good pearl and a great one. Luster, shape, surface, size and color were all factors in grading quality pearls.

After touring the lab, we’d had burgers at a beach barbecue for lunch. They were delicious. They have veggie burgers too. As a vegetarian, I valued the thoughtful consideration. 

Then came my favourite part of the day. A speed snorkel!

It’s the most wonderful experience. Peaceful and the perfect way to see the aquatic part of the pearl farm. They pull you behind the boat at a slow pace. There is a long line to hang onto. You float above the pearls serenely sitting undisturbed on the ocean floor. There is a long line to hang onto, and you don’t have to be a strong swimmer.

Afterwards, you can snorkel on a pristine reef. It’s full of colorful tropical fish and teeming with marine life. I dived down and said hola to Guadalupe. I made sure to blow her a kiss of thanks for looking after the pearls before I continued my snorkel. Every color of the rainbow of fish was there. The best was hanging out with a stunning Queen Angelfish for a while. 

Swaying sea fans and anemones gently danced. Lobsters peeked out from under coral ledges. None of the wildlife seemed to be in a hurry or scared of humans, knowing they are safe in this protected area. A sweet little spotted yellow ray glided along the bottom. It displayed a true island vibe and seemed to be in no hurry. 

This was a truly unique experience. A true Mexican treasure. Because the Cozumel Pearl Farm is the only pearl farm that uses the Atlantic Pearl Oyster, they may just be the rarest pearl in the world. 

Mexico Correspondent for International Living, Bel is an experienced writer, author, photographer and videographer with 500+ articles published both in print and across digital platforms. Living in the Mexican Caribbean for over 7 years now she’s in love with Mexico and has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon.

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Travelers and frequent Mexico visitors have likely heard of these amazing magic towns. This is because of their special historical and cultural importance. There are 177 of them throughout Mexico. They’re rich in traditional arts and crafts and are full of beautiful, friendly locals. Plus, they have great food. Which, for a foodie like me, is important.

They are the real Mexico. Mexico’s lesser-visited regions. These smaller, more rural towns are full of welcoming locals, great hospitality, and a million smiles. 

These magic towns can be found in every state, and in the Yucatán region, where I live, we’re lucky to have nine — no, ten. Cozumel Island has been named a Pueblo Mágico. So far, I have visited six out of the ten, live in one, and have plans to see the last three as soon as I can. 

Out of these ten, Izamal is easily my favorite. 

Where is Izamal? 

Izamal sits on the Yucatán Peninsula in southeastern Mexico. It is only 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of Mérida, the capital. At less than an hour’s drive and is a popular day trip. 

I’ve visited a couple of times and have plans to return again with a friend. Once again, I want to walk the town bathed in the golden glow cast from the saffron-coloured streets. Izamal, Mexico is a photographer’s dream. Being a photographer (my friend is as well), I can’t wait to show her one of the most beautiful towns I’ve ever seen. 

She’s going to go bananas over this place (hahaha bananas are yellow, too)! 

What’s so great about Izamal? 

Where do I start? Every time I arrive in Izamal, something inside me rejoices. The canary-yellow town radiates joy, like looking into the cheery face of a sunflower. But on a town-sized scale.

But it’s more than the elegance of the golden Spanish colonial architecture trimmed in perfect white. It’s a feeling. Like the color can somehow make you happy on the cloudiest of days. Then add in the friendly people. I swear they radiate warmth as well.

What is there to do in Izamal?

I love nature, history, and photography. So, I climbed the pyramid. I explored the San Antonio de Padua Convent, with its stunning architecture. Then, I spent hours wandering the streets taking enough photos to rival a Japanese tourist.

The pyramid, Kinich Kak Moo is Mayan for “the fire macaw with the sun face”. It’s the most important Mesoamerican pyramid located on the edge of town. The plaque is written in Spanish, Mayan, and English. 

It’s dedicated to a Sun God. According to legend, he appeared as a fire macaw. He descends daily to collect offerings from the limestone pit, which  is now enclosed by the pyramid. Something about this story captures my imagination. Standing on top of the pyramid with Izamal lying at your feet, I can almost see a giant gliding fire macaw soaring the skies. Yes, you can still climb the pyramid, but it’s steep and the view is good from the bottom, too. If you do climb it, make sure to do so with care and take your time. 

The church, the San Antonio de Padua Convent, is the crowning glory of the center of town. I love the symmetry of its massive atrium. Golden arches stretch in long lines, revealing impressive scale and grandeur. Fun fact: This atrium is second in size only to the Vatican. Wowsers.  

Izamal’s town square is right at the base of the stairs. Here you’ll find small stalls selling souvenirs, great food to grab lunch on the go, or a snack, or my favorite, an ice cream. Along the side, you’ll find a line of horse and carriages. The horses wear fun hats, waiting to take you on a tour of the town. Great if you have mobility issues or don’t feel like walking. 

But for me, that’s the magic of Izamal, Mexico. Walking the streets. Smiling back as locals ride past on bicycles, waving like you’re a long-lost friend. Watching the beautiful street lamps flick on at dusk. To see the cheery sunflower of the buildings deepen into an earthier yellow ochre. Day or night, the charm of the architecture gets me every time. 

If you visit this gorgeous golden town, please tell me in the comments. I’d love to hear what you liked best about visiting Izamal.

Mexico Correspondent for International Living, Bel is an experienced writer, author, photographer and videographer with 500+ articles published both in print and across digital platforms. Living in the Mexican Caribbean for over 7 years now she’s in love with Mexico and has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon.

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The Mexican Council of Native People was established on 5 February 2021. But it’s not just in Quintana Roo; there are 32 governors all over Mexico representing the 39 Indigenous populations scattered throughout their states. 

These include all Mexican Indigenous cultures called pueblos originales, as well as the Afro-Mexican community throughout Mexico. All pueblos originales are welcome to join, alongside the 39 different Pueblos Originales already named in the Mexican National Council of People Originators, Indigenous Communities and Afroamericans founding document. More are being added all the time, sparking the interest of Indigenous tribes as far away as Canada. 

It includes all Indigenous people from every corner of Mexico. From the northern Yaquis and Tamahumaras, through to Central Mexico, Indigenous communities like the Mexicas and Nahuas down to the southern regions, including groups like the Maya and Tzotziles.

As the governor of Quintana Roo state, Carlos is striving to bring new opportunities to small communities by introducing projects and business models to help them support themselves. Sharing that “teaching them how to start businesses that honor our heritage and preserve our culture can enable them to become more financially self-sufficient.” 

Building on business models like the Mayan Bee Sanctuary in San Miguel de Cozumel (which is currently rated #1 on Tripadvisor), it is hoped that these communities can establish themselves and attract tourists to their towns.

Plus, it will honor their ancestry by being a place that educates people about the centuries-old relationship between the Maya and the Melipona–a small stingless bee native to the Yucatán. 

Some say this is the oldest beekeeping relationship on earth. Having found evidence of beekeeping in Maya archaeological digs, this relationship is important in Maya history and has been established since pre-Columbian times, centuries before Europeans started keeping hives.

“Businesses like this bring to light Indigenous traditions and important aspects of Mayan life, culture, and heritage,” Carlos says, which is why they are at the forefront of his initiatives. Both as a way for these communities to become financially stable and also to honor their ancestry. It also speaks to something near and dear to most Maya descendant’s hearts. Ensuring that their precious history is not lost like a lot of native languages have been lost. Losing with it, the oral histories of those communities.

That is why another important initiative that Carlos is passionate about is education. So much so that he is currently working alongside the Centro Cultura Evidencia Maya located in Rancho Anita down at the southern end of Quintana Roo at Chetumal.

By making reference materials from the Mayan language and prospectuses, Carlos is hoping to make Mayan language courses mandatory in schools. He explained that it was his hope that “by educating the children of today, we’re hoping to cease the loss of language, heritage and history.”  

But it’s not just for the children. Another important project they are working on is a language translation guide. Translating from Maya to Spanish will help bridge the communication gap between these communities. He is hoping to place them in every police station throughout Quintana Roo “so that when the Indigenous have a problem, they can use this to report it to the police and get the help they need.”

As if all of this wasn’t enough, there are more projects in the works. Speaking to a deeper connection with their heritage and the natural world by preserving the knowledge of holistic practices, herbal medicines, botany and healing treatments through traditional healers like shamans who have spent their lifetime working with nature. 

As you can see, there is a lot of good being done and yet to be done for the Indigenous and Afromexicans across all of Mexico. I’ll admit I was delighted to find out all about the initiatives in my state of Quintana Roo and be introduced to a whole new, beautiful part of Mexico that I just didn’t know about.

Mexico Correspondent for International Living, Bel is an experienced writer, author, photographer and videographer with 500+ articles published both in print and across digital platforms. Living in the Mexican Caribbean for over 7 years now she’s in love with Mexico and has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon.

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Mexico took me by surprise. A delightful surprise. Originally wanting to move to Valencia, Spain, my plan was to move from Antigua Guatemala, where I’d lived for two years, to Mexico where it was easier to become a resident (back then) and apply for Spanish visas.  

Then I fell in love.

With the warmth of the people and the amazing variations in cultures; Mexican, Mayan and other indigenous groups. I fell in love with the art, the textiles and fabrics, as well as the incredibly talented artisans bringing it all to life with amazingly vibrant color. Yes, the colors, most of all, the quintessentially joyful Mexican colors, are what I fell in love with. And let’s not forget the food.  

The amazing food, made fresh daily like a gift, made my tastebuds dance. I mean if you’ve never had a tlacoyo stuffed with beans and topped with perfectly sautéed huitlacoche drizzled with cream then I’d love to be there when you do. My taste buds rejoiced and I’ve never had a more perfect breakfast. No wonder it’s been a favorite since pre-Hispanic times. Like your Grandmother’s recipes, which always seem to taste amazing, these traditional recipes have been handed down for hundreds (if not thousands) of years, and you just don’t mess with perfection. 

All of these things blew me away and that’s why I decided to stay another year, then another. Now, it’s been seven and delightful surprises still pop up all the time. Just today, I was delighted at the optometrist.

My glasses needed repair, which will take two weeks. Without them, I am lost but was delighted that a pair of readers in my prescription was only twenty-five pesos. 

To clarify, I live on Cozumel, an island in the Riviera Maya region of the Mexican Caribbean, so repairs take longer because my glasses have to be sent to the mainland. While that’s less than ideal, I was delighted that replacements in my prescription were available so cheaply that I picked up two pairs just in case I misplaced one. 

That’s the thing about Mexico. Even if you are inconvenienced, there is always a quick (and normally cheap) fix to get you through. Yes, even though there has been a lot of discussion lately about the cost of living increase, it is still a lot cheaper than in the US. 

As Mexico Correspondent for International Living, I travel regularly. Every time I go to the US to speak at conferences or attend boot camps, I am always taken aback by the difference in the price of things. Out of curiosity, I asked my friend in the US, who recently bought a pair of cheap reading glasses from the pharmacy, how much they were. She replied, “Oh nothing, they were ten or fifteen dollars.”

Even at that ‘cheap’ price they are still ten times more expensive in the US. My cheap is a different cheap. My prescription twenty-five peso reading glasses (US $1.50) compared to fifteen dollars, I know which cheap I’d prefer for the same glasses. 

So, when I hear people complaining about inflation, I’m still thankful that I live in Mexico because today’s little excursion to the optometrist would have been ten times more expensive if I didn’t live here. 

Plus, the warmth of the Mexican people is evident in every daily interaction. Like a local, I caught the combi — a collectivo which is a local van transport — to the optometrist. As soon as the door slid open there were smiling faces and as I sat was met with a chorus of buenos diás. Now when was the last time you got on a bus and everyone smiled and said good morning? 

The same thing happened when I entered the optometrist’s shop. All the staff wore big smiles, and another chorus of buenos diás met my ears. Now, I don’t know about you, but that’s how I like to start my day — with smiling faces and people warmly saying good morning. 

This is why I stay. This is why I love it here. It hasn’t changed in seven years, though prices have gone up. More foreigners arrive each year after realizing how relaxing and wonderful it is, but the local people never change. 

There is a genuineness here and all through Mexico. Last month, I went on a work trip to San Miguel de Allende. From passing people in the street to the cleaner sweeping the steps of the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel early one morning to the driver who I called every time I needed a ride. Every single one of them was lovely, warm, full of smiles, and most importantly, were angels when listening to my bad Spanish. 

As you can see, I was only supposed to stay a year but even now seven years I fall a little more in love each day with no plans of leaving just yet. Spain can wait. Or perhaps become an extended vacation at some point because Mexico has embraced my heart and soul. 

Mexico Correspondent for International Living, Bel is an experienced writer, author, photographer and videographer with 500+ articles published both in print and across digital platforms. Living in the Mexican Caribbean for over 7 years now she’s in love with Mexico and has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon. 

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My friend is a wellness coach up in Vermont, who specializes in helping women with autoimmune issues. Interested in all things that can help her clients she asked me to do a little experiment with her by smiling after reading a study on how smiling is a mood enhancer. It not only lifts your mood but elevates a positive mindset and helps deal with anxiety and depression. Something a lot of her clientele deal with after being diagnosed with autoimmune issues. 

The task was simple. Go to the supermarket to pick up a couple of things and smile at every person you pass. She was in Vermont and I was in Cozumel, so we decided to see how smiling would affect our mood — but also to see how many people smiled back, something which also greatly improves happiness. After all, if you smile and no one smiles back that’s a bit of a bummer, right?

The result? The warmth of the Mexican people won. I received 24 smiles, 2 hand holds, a couple of hugs and a kiss. The kiss was from a sweet abuela (grandmother) who also gave me a blessing. You’ve got to love abuelas, they’re the best.  

The results from Vermont were very different. After smiling at every person, she passed the grand total of smiles returned was three. Most people wouldn’t even meet her gaze and afterwards while discussing the differences joked she should move to Mexico.

Does this surprise you? Honestly, I’m not surprised if it does because as the Mexico Correspondent for International Living, the number one question I get asked from people thinking of moving to Mexico is “Is Mexico Safe?”

For me, as a single woman who travels by herself and lives by herself, my answer is yes. Provided you use common sense of course. I mean, if you walk down a dark alley at two in the morning blind drunk then I wouldn’t vouch for your safety. But that is the same in every country in the world. 

My experience living in Mexico has been positive. The warmth of the people delights me daily so if you’ll bear with me, I’d like to dispel a myth about the safety in Mexico.

Remember the famous old newspaper saying “If it bleeds, it leads”? The same applies to television and that is why the US 24-hour news cycle is fond of sensationalism. A lot of times when people think of Mexico they think of cartel shootouts in the street like it’s still the Wild West. It’s not.

Plus, please also remember Mexico is huge. With 31 states (Mexico City is still not technically a state), it’s three times the size of Texas and a vast majority is a far cry from the Wild West. In all 31 states, you’ll find warm local communities full of friendly locals who are quick to smile and help in any way they can. That’s real smiles too, not just a quick passing obligatory smirk. I’m talking about eye contact, genuine big smiles with those little eye crinkles at the corner and usually with a buenos diás (good morning) or buenos tardes (good afternoon) attached to it. How happy Mexico can make you is tangible.

I’m also talking first-hand experiences of acts of kindness and warmth shown toward me daily. From a bus driver who shared his lunch with me at a roadside stop to a gorgeous old granny in the supermarket who gave me half of her parsley because I needed it for a recipe. I have thousands of stories just like this showing the warmth of the people. 

So, when I fly to the US to speak at conferences and someone in the audience inevitably asks me if Mexico is safe, I tell them the story of a man who chased me down the street once. The only time I have ever been chased in Mexico.

Do you know why? To give me back a 200 peso note dropped in the supermarket. He was behind me in the line and as soon as he’d purchased his groceries he came jostling up the road, jogging with arms fully laden with heavy bags to chase me down and return my money. Sweet? Yes incredibly. Do I mind being chased down the street? No, not at all. I wish more people would chase me down the street and give me money. 

For those of you wondering, yes, he was wearing a big smile as well. That is why I live here. It’s also why Mexico is one of the top countries worldwide that people move to. It’s also why Mexico already has millions of expats from all over the world living throughout the country. 

Safety and smiles. To me, that is Mexico — one of the happiest countries I have ever experienced. 

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