|
Sand Dunes - Amazing Structures Providing Shelter & Food |
|
Cozumel is known for its miles and miles of pristine beaches and coastal areas. And all along the island's shoreline there are sand dunes piled up behind these beautiful beaches. As visitors walk along the water's edge and dig their toes into the soft sand, few realize that the health and beauty of the beaches are heavily dependent on the sand dunes just behind them. As more and more research is done on coastal eco-systems, scientists are now beginning to make us fully aware of the critically important role that sand dunes play in our global, coastal eco-systems.
Sand dunes provide a wide range of habitats for a variety of unusual, interesting and adaptive plants that can cope with unstable habitats. Sand dunes form in relatively exposed locations. All over a dune, very specialized plants adapt to the accumulation of sand around them surviving the continual burial of their shoots by sending up very rapid vertical growth. With the help of these plant shoots, small mounds of vegetation and/or tide-washed debris can form and tend to enlarge as the wind-speed drops behind the mound, allowing blowing sand to fall out of the air stream and accumulate which constantly increases the size of a dune. The plants are physiologically adapted to withstand the problems of high salt contents in the air and soil. Sand dunes support a wide variety of colorful flowering plants, including a number of species of orchid.
On the inland side of dunes conditions are less severe, and typical grasslands develop containing a wide range of plant life. When enough humus has accumulated within the grassland sand, this more stabilized soil improves water retention and promotes further plant diversity development. Consequently, sand dune systems are excellent places for biodiversity, partly because they are not very productive for agriculture, and partly because these unstable and stable soil habitats are present in proximity to each other. Many dune areas are protected as nature reserves, and some are parts of larger conservation areas incorporating other coastal co-existing habitats like salt marshes, mud flats, grasslands, scrub and woodland.
All coastal dune ecosystems also support a population of animal species in addition to plant life. Since most animal life requires basic survival elements such as shelter, food and water, it stands to reason that species density in any one area would be dependent on their availability. Small birds, reptiles, crustaceans, and other coastal species commonly call the coastal dunes their home. As the dune system moves from the fore dunes toward the back dunes, with their increased vegetation, the ecosystem becomes more complex, supporting a larger amount of species. Sand dune systems are also very rich in invertebrates including butterflies, moths and burrowing bees and wasps.
The beach is a margin of sand in a dynamic ebb and flow controlled by tides, winds, currents and waves. The critical factor is the presence of a sufficiently large beach plain whose surface dries out between high tides. Off shore shallow sand banks release the initial energy from ocean swells as they break and send secondary waves with low residual energy gently up and down the beach. The dissipative beaches are wide, gently sloping, slow draining and quite firm underfoot because the fine sand particles fit close together. These beaches support a relatively high variety of burrowing organisms. Because of their shallow gradients, these beaches also act as traps for another group of organisms called diatoms. Diatoms survive between sand grains and provide the chief food for bi-valves and other filter feeders.
Recreation is a major land use on sand dune areas. Many dune systems are used extensively by tourists, mostly on foot but also for parking cars and in some cases for driving four-wheel-drive vehicles or motorcycles. Moderate pressure by pedestrians may cause little damage, however, excessive pedestrian use and vehicular use in particular, have caused unacceptable erosion on many dune sites.
Many dune systems also support one or more golf courses. Here much of the original vegetation may be retained in the rough, but the communities of the fairways, and particularly the greens and tees, are often severely modified by mowing, fertilizing and re-seeding. Sand dunes have also been affected in the past by housing developments, industrial development, and waste collection areas on or adjacent to them as well as sand extraction.
What can you do to help protect and conserve Cozumel's sand dunes? |
If you live part time or full time or vacation on the island:
Sign up & participate in ongoing beach cleanup efforts in Cozumel.
Keep your visits to the beaches "green" by not discarding trash. Leave the beach pristine. If you want to go beyond being an environmentally conscious visitor, there are a number of ways you can become proactive in the protection of our sand dunes. Pick up trash as you walk along the shore, and recycle or dispose of it properly. Encourage better behavior by other users; point out regulations and the reasons for them. Report any serious violation you see to the proper authorities.
If you must cross the dune, pick your way between the plants and avoid already-eroded trails and steep approaches. If there is more than one person, select spots where the dune is shallow and spread out; return to the beach by a different route.
Do not build fires on the beach. While dried driftwood makes great campfires, this and other natural debris washed up by the lake help trap sand, and are the only source of nutrients available for plant growth on the dunes. Also, beach campfires leave unsightly scars and pose a fire threat to surrounding vegetation in this dry habitat.
Do not ride all-terrain vehicles on the beach.
Do not disturb water birds, migrating shorebirds, and nesting shorebirds. They are extremely intolerant of visitors and are easily denied nesting habitat by the very presence of recreational beach/dune users.
If you are a golfer, encourage golf course management policies and practices that are sympathetic to the flora and fauna of sand dune systems.
Support legislation for sound management of the world's coastal areas with your government.
Maintaining sandunes is essentional for Cozumel's future.
Thank you for doing your part to protect and conserve Cozumel's sandunes.
|
Some Great Ways to Get Close to Nature!
|
|
|
Cozumel Butterfly Sanctuary Tour & PalMar Snorkel Beach Club |
Visit Cozumel's only Butterfly Sanctuary! Merged in 2018 with the Cozumel Butterflies & Botanical Gardens, see multitudes of colors, learn about butterfly habits and the miracle of metamorphosis. Take photos and then stay to enjoy snorkeling and the other ammenities of the PalMar Snorkel Beach Club. Great family fun & excellent value!
Starting at US $8.00!
|
|
Cozumel - Punta Sur Ecopark, Lighthouse & Snorkeling |
Cozumel's largest natural eco-park featuring a lighthouse to climb, Mayan ruins to see, coves to snorkel, a nautical museum, sea turtle nesting areas, a crocodile sanctuary, an enormous mangrove lagoon where spoonbill flamingos nest and white egrets go hunting daily along with a multitude of other animal species that call the park home. Experience Cozumel's wildlife up close and personal during this unique tour excursion activity!
US $125 Adults / US $115 Kids
|
|
PalMar Snorkel Beach Club & Patas y Alas Butterfly Sanctuary |
Bring your group and spend the day at our PalMar small, private beach facility and enjoy a day of snorkeling at Cozumel's premier beach entry snorkel spot! No crowds here and gates close daily with a maximum of 50 people on site! Plus Patas & Atlas Butterfly Sanctuary which, in 2018, merged with Cozumel Butterflies & Botanical Gardens is now included when open (seasonal)!
US $19 Adults / US $8 Kids - Includes FREE Drinks!
|
|
|
(01/29/2019) - We are staying in Playa del Carmen for 6 weeks. We really wanted to do some snorkeling and although the options in Playa are numerous, they were not always economical. After doing a lot of research, I found the website, Cozumelinsider.com (a great information source by the way) and found out about PalMar. We were really happy we found it. A smaller beach club, nothing pretentious, but great service, snorkeling and food. A great day. The day we were there, there were a few Mexican families enjoying the spot. It was nice to be among locals and not just tourists. For the price, this really is a special gem. The $14 US per person includes 2 beer/beverage, towels, beach chairs, beach service, swimming pool, showers, lockers and several other things that we didn’t use. The snorkeling was great. It was interesting seeing all of the charter boats bringing people to the exact same spot we were and I am sure they spent more than $14 US to snorkel in the same place as we were. It really is with mixed emotions that I write this review as I don’t want people to find out about it as they limit the daily amount of people that can book here due to space and enjoyment, if it gets too popular, there won’t be space for us next time. We still have 3.5 more weeks in the Mayan area and we will definitely be visiting PalMar again. Thanks for the great day. We will see you soon. Cheers. L. MacLeod & G. Neufield ~ Kelowna, British Columbia, CAN
|
Sherri and Mauricio thanks for a great day at Palmar Beach Club. We loved the SMALL size of your Beach Club and you made us feel special. The Snorkeling was wonderful. The Snacks were perfect. We loved your swimming pool and the ability to change our clothes after swimming in the clean bathrooms. We will return! Andy & Patti ~ USA
|
We visited the beach club as part of the perks of staying at the IslaMar Villas as it is owned by the same person. I have to say what a wonderful experience. If you want to get away from the tourist beach clubs this is your place. The day we visited we had the beach area to ourselves ~ perfect snorkeling right of the beach. If the ocean isn't for you there is a large pool to use a few steps away along with change rooms and a bar. Staff were great ~ bringing our food and drinks we ordered over to us on the beach! Out visit got cut short due to weather but would definitely return again on our next trip to Cozumel. G. & J. - November 2015 ~ Elmira, Ontario Canada
|
My family and I were recently were on the Norwegian Dawn and had a stop in Cozumel. We had not been to Cozumel in 12 years so it was nice to get back. 12 years ago we went to PalMar and loved it then and we could not wait to see it now. I have to say this place is so peaceful, beautiful and friendly that I could not ask for more. A big plus is how safe you feel here. We had no concerns leaving our bags as we went off to snorkel in the ocean. The food and drinks are delivered by the friendly staff who are there to help you with anything you need. I was really impressed how when we were ready to go over and snorkel they came to help us get into the water. My family does not like to do the mainline tourist type excursions when we go to islands. That is what I like about PalMar. You are not harassed by locals, forced buy something you don't want and get to enjoy the peace. Also make sure to go to Cozumelinsider.com and go to the coupon section. They have a coupon for free Pico de Galo and it is fresh and tasty. Lastly we got to meet Sheri the owner who is from Texas. Sheri is so nice and just wants to do what she can to make sure you have a good time. Freeze Family - January 2017 ~ Saint Paul, MN USA
|
Our family of four had several hours at Cozumel as part of our Carnival cruise. We wanted a place to snorkel and enjoy the oceanfront, but without the crowds. After our planned morning excursion, we caught a taxi to Palmar and only a few minutes drive from the cruise port. We expected some people to be there, given the cruise traffic, but it was only us and an older couple. My kids immediately took advantage of the pool, and we got a locker and were given snorkel gear and drink tickets (to turn in for beverages). The staff was courteous, friendly and helpful. It is a residence, but the house is on the back of the property, and the "clubhouse", pool, changing area and lockers are closer to the road. The cordoned off beach area is across the road and where we spent the majority of our time, sitting under the palm trees, enjoying the view mixed with some decent snorkeling (the location provides direct access to Chankanaab National Park, and snorkel boats were dropping off customers in the same areas you can swim out to from shore). We ordered ceviche (delicious!), and they brought it out to us, oceanfront. We all felt this was a great place to hang out away from the crowds of tourists, and it was a good value. Don't come expecting an Americanized sports bar playing loud English, and dozens of young people drinking as much as they can. You're not going to get that here. If you're looking for a quiet and peaceful oasis, this is a nice, convenient place to consider. Tim M. - July 2017 ~ Raleigh, NC USA
|
|
|
|
|