Luis Lobato

Review of Centro Ecológico Akumal (Méxic...

In our experience as volunteers we had problems re...

In our experience as volunteers we had problems receiving water. The first day we had no water until more than 24 hours after our arrival. Until the third week it was always sold out or directly there was not. We talked many times with those responsible and we did not reach an understanding.

On the other hand, once we accept a fee (265USD pp in this case for turtle volunteering) we expect full transparency. Upon arrival, we were offered another program as volunteers (at no cost). The program in which help was requested was the restoration of the Coral. They put us in touch with the person in charge and right there, while explaining to us, we were informed of the price (36USD per person and per dive). After this, we had a conversation with the administrator the next day in which we let them know that the way to proceed did not seem right and bothered us. During this conversation at no time we were absolutely clarified nothing of what was happening and we were even taught a video of how incredible and unique this dive was. It gave us the feeling of being in a dive shop and not in a non-profit Ecological Center. The transparency shone by its absence.

From that conversation the communication was non-existent. Later we found out, by accident, the price they paid and the support they received from the dive shop and we couldn't believe it.

During our stay the communication with the organizers, technicians and volunteers was confusing and often non-existent. We had the feeling of having paid and from there we only felt we were following the flow of a program in which turtles are not the priority. The information that was provided to us did not happen from a brief talk the first day and from there the only ones who supported us were the biologists. The technicians did their best work, within the obvious difficulties of the project.

Another really strange situation is the place where the CEA is located, La Plaza. As volunteers we accept from the beginning to take care of our maintenance. The first day we could see that kilos and kilos of food were being thrown away daily from the hotel. We reached an agreement, in which we ate the leftovers that were being thrown away. The discomfort of watching for the rest of the team while eating was anything but inclusive. We don't feel part of the team at any time. Another thing that caught our attention is that it is not recycled, even though the CEA has a program to encourage recycling.

On the other hand, it was feeding the wildlife (coatis, birds, etc.) with leftover tortillas in the square. The problem on the beaches with the predation of nests by raccoons and opossums and the repeated signs that prohibit feeding wild animals is remarkable. It should be unacceptable for an ecological center to happen. The excuse given to us is that "The Plaza does everything, it's not us."

Finally, we left with a very bad taste, on the one hand we felt that the turtles could have many more means and attention in this place, and on the other hand, that our contribution was not entirely necessary.

We hope that with this feedback any volunteer who considers helping an animal as majestic and threatened as the turtle will think twice before doing so in this place. We left with the absolute certainty that it is only an image wash for certain companies of the place and at no time the turtle is a priority.

We are still waiting for a response from the CEA to an email that we send with our suggestions since during the month we spent there nobody asked us absolutely nothing and this says a lot of interest in improving.