As the world becomes more and more overcrowded and cities of concrete have evolved to become our natural habitat, the eco-tourism industry has exploded. Eco tourism is a form of tourism focused around natural activities such as scuba diving, rock climbing, and horseback riding. Mexico has been at the forefront of the eco-tourism industry for years and has successfully developed several eco-tourism based vacation destinations, the latest of which is the Costa Maya.

If you haven't heard of the Costa Maya, it's a name that will no doubt become as well known as Cancun or Cozumel in the near future. Like Cancun and Cozumel, the Costa Maya region is located along the Caribbean Sea in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. But unlike Cancun, the nightclubs, bars, and skyscraping hotels aren't part of the development plan for the Costa Maya. Instead, the majority of the 57 mile long Costa Maya will be gently developed to retain its Caribbean coastal beauty.

Majahual, located toward the southern tip of the Costa Maya, is where most of the structural tourism development is taking place. Once a small, sleepy fishing village, Majahual is now a major focus of the Mexican government's efforts to promote eco-tourism in the area. Like the Mexican government's former tourism expansion projects in Cancun and Playa del Carmen, the once sleepy village is quickly growing into a nature-inspired resort town.

The name "Costa Maya" literally means, the Mayan Coast. Remnants of this enchanting ancient Mayan culture can be found all over the Yucatan peninsula. There are 5 different Mayan ruin sites located in or near the Costa Maya that will make you feel as if you've taken a step back in time. Other natural adventures include a visit to the numerous freshwater cave pools called ceynotes, beachside horseback riding, and fishing excursions.

Running parallel to the Costa Maya coastline is the Meso American Reef, the largest coral reef in the Northern Hemisphere. The warm Caribbean weather and crystal clear waters make snorkeling and scuba diving along the reef an absolutely breathtaking experience. After immersing yourself in the slow motion world of the colorful Caribbean fish, sea turtles, and anemones, you may leave the Costa Maya with a new hobby - or decide never to leave at all.

Perhaps the most exciting opportunity in the Costa Maya is the real estate investment potential. The Costa Maya is one of the last remaining stretches of unexploited coastal land anywhere in the Caribbean. Part of the Mexican government's investment in the area included brining power and water to this stretch of beachfront, now zoned for residential living. As the eco-tourism industry in the Costa Maya has grown, so too have the real estate values. At this point in the area's development, beachfront lots are still selling for as little as $50,000 US dollars and are expected to sell for values in excess of $1 million in 10 to 15 years.

If you're starting to feel run down by deadlines, schedules, and traffic jams, an eco-tourism adventure in the Costa Maya may be just the thing to revive your spirits. Perhaps you'll find even more than a week-long adventure and stake a permanent claim to your own little slice of Caribbean paradise.