The stewardship success story of Mexico’s hidden garden
Guest Contribution By Jonathan B. Tourtellot, Destination Stewardship Center. This post is part of the “The World’s Inspiring Places” blog series which showcases stories of destination stewardship success. Click here to learn more about the series and watch other videos.
Few road cuts have a romantic name, but this one does: Puerta del Cielo—the “Doorway to Heaven.” It’s where Mexico route 120 winds upward from the dry flats north of Querétaro city, past the towering monolith of Peña de Bernal, and finally slices through the top of a forested ridge into the region called Sierra Gorda.Destination stewardship means taking care of the places we love, and Sierra Gorda leads the way in doing just that, creating a memorable destination for the types of travelers who want a friendly and genuine Mexican experience. On a week-long visit here, you can sample flavorful food and drink, explore lush and healthy natural areas, try adventures from zip lines and spelunking to hiking and rock climbing, check out beautifully maintained historic missions and village streets, and visit locally run businesses and workshops, all amid steep, eye-grabbing mountain scenery, much of it still clad in voluntarily preserved forest.
Introducing The World’s Inspiring Places Video Series
One of the ways we can inspire change and drive transformative action is by exchanging ideas and learning from others. Great things are happening all around us, but we’re not talking about them enough. As part of our efforts, we’re dedicated to sharing stories of the different ways that people, businesses, and destination leaders are protecting nature and safeguarding human well-being in tourism destinations around the globe.
