| Iguana
Mama: A Sensational Bicycle Journey That Will Sweep You Off
Your Feet!
February -March, 1995
Puerto Plata News
Patricia Suriel was convinced long before
she came to live in Cabarete that ecotourism is responsible
travel which conserves the environment and sustains the well-being
of the local inhabitants.
She was also aware that both the term and
the notion of ecological travel have been widely abused and
that ecotourism works best in developing countries because
as money begins to flow into the communities, it boosts the
local economy and as the people see tangible benefits, they
more willingly cooperate in preserving the environment.
So when Patricia decided after vacationing
on the North Coast a couple of years ago that this was the
best place in the world for her, she returned to her Breckinridge,
Colorado home, sold her share of the Kinderhut Children's
Ski School, and made tracks to the Dominican Republic's sunny
shores.
A few months later, enter Iguana Mama Mountain
Bike and Adventure Tours, offering visitors to see and explore
the unspoiled beauty of the country as they pedal along rivers,
over mountains, and down narrow paths.
Iguana Mama mapped tours for different types
of customers, downhill cycling for the sturdy professionals,
coast cruisers for beginners and everything in between.
The 8-day Cibao Valley trekking and mountain
bike tour that takes you to the highest elevation in the Caribbean,
Pico Duarte, the Dominican Alps, and to the Cibao Valley,
a five day tour, and the one day, downhill El Choco and Dry
River Ride, and memorable experiences.
Patricia and her staff have set high ecotourism
standards in the hope that other responsible operators will
follow. The firm is involved in the education of local children
and is sponsoring a 10-year old girl, Marybell Perez, in the
International School of Sosua.
Iguana Mama tourists are encouraged to bring
Spanish books which are given to the local school to start
a library. The cost of the books is deducted from the tourist's
excursion cost. In addition, they are sponsoring a small private
school in the mountains that is financed by donations. They
are helping the Armando Bermudez National Park authorities
set up eco-guidelines and regularly donate warm clothes and
shoes to the people at the base camp town of Boca de Rio,
near Pico Duarte.
Iguana Mama's motto "Start a love affair
with the earth, take nothing but pictures; leave nothing but
footprints" is sure to leave an indelible imprint on
all those who go out to discover the wonders of the outdoors.
© Puerto Plata News
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