IN MARCH 2010, a group of adventurers, geographers, biologists and archeologists will garner all their experience and knowledge and join forces for an unprecedented expedition. Traveling in mostly unexplored waters and channels, they will go through the biological routes of manatees, seeking to recreate the routes that Mayas and Caribbean pirates used to reach Bacalar Lagoon. This has never been done on kayaks before, and it means traveling over 200 km (124 miles) in 6 days; the route will go from Chetumal Bay, in Quintana Roo, connecting Chetumal Bay (in the Caribbean) with the system of lagoons fed by freshwater cenotes—such as the Bacalar, Guerrero and Chile Verde lagoons—all the way to the Belize border with Mexico, and back to Chetumal through the other side. This is all part of an effort to raise awareness and preserve the flora and fauna of the region.

To have a first-time expedition with inflatable expedition kayaks in the Chetumal zone, connecting Chetumal Bay with the north of Bacalar lagoon, and the south of Bacalar lagoon with the Hondo river; and ending back in Chetumal Bay, rowing 30 km (18.6 miles) on average for 6 days—a total of 200 km [124 miles].

Azul Maya Expedition will be a unique, first-time adventure in Mexico, navigating through different ecosystems and zones never before crossed by any kind of vessel, rowing through lagoons, seas and rivers—such as the enigmatic seven-color Bacalar lagoon, the Chile Verde and Guerrero lagoons, the Hondo River on the border between Mexico and Belize, and the Caribbean Sea in the majestic state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. A production team will join the expedition and make a TV documentary about this region and talk about the importance of its conservation.