Changes in store for Ek Balam?

jeffandbecky · 03-14-2004

We hired a guide who took us from PDC to Ek Balam on our last trip (Feb 2004) and it looks like the locals are expecting a big increase in traffic to Ek Balam and the lagoons further north. Apparently they have just opened a new road off the highway so that you can bypass Valladolid. The guide said that it had just opened in the last couple of months. In addition the road from Valladolid north has had substantial upgrades. Finally, there is a new visitor's center under construction. The plan is for the state of Yucatan to try and capture 25% of the tourist dollars from Quintana Roo (good luck). Aside from the ruins themselves, which are spectacular, the site was shady, quiet, and are my personal favorate. I am afraid that fleets of tour buses are following these improvements (if you build it they will come). With the increased foot traffic, access to specific sturctures will become more restricted, as we have seen at other sites like Chitzen Itza and Tulum. The good news is that the new center is not open at this time and they will need a new access road from the highway so you still have some time to really enjoy Ek Balam to the fullest.

Sincerely
Jeff and Becky

PS You should also note that Yucatan built a new international airport for Chitzen Itza in 2000-1 (?) which is essentially unused. Lets hope that they are wrong again.

03-14-2004	#1 (permalink)
jeffandbecky life=playa Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Driftwood Posts: 734	Changes in store for Ek Balam? We hired a guide who took us from PDC to Ek Balam on our last trip (Feb 2004) and it looks like the locals are expecting a big increase in traffic to Ek Balam and the lagoons further north. Apparently they have just opened a new road off the highway so that you can bypass Valladolid. The guide said that it had just opened in the last couple of months. In addition the road from Valladolid north has had substantial upgrades. Finally, there is a new visitor's center under construction. The plan is for the state of Yucatan to try and capture 25% of the tourist dollars from Quintana Roo (good luck). Aside from the ruins themselves, which are spectacular, the site was shady, quiet, and are my personal favorate. I am afraid that fleets of tour buses are following these improvements (if you build it they will come). With the increased foot traffic, access to specific sturctures will become more restricted, as we have seen at other sites like Chitzen Itza and Tulum. The good news is that the new center is not open at this time and they will need a new access road from the highway so you still have some time to really enjoy Ek Balam to the fullest. Sincerely Jeff and Becky PS You should also note that Yucatan built a new international airport for Chitzen Itza in 2000-1 (?) which is essentially unused. Lets hope that they are wrong again.

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