Discover Akumal’s Hidden Paradise in New Photo Book

Tulum, Mexico — The Tulum Country Club hosted the official presentation of the nature photography book "Akumal: Paraíso Secreto en Tulum," a work created by Quintana Roo photographers Cecilia Gutiérrez Navarro and Mizael Palomeque. The publication is a visual homage to the unique beauty of the biodiversity inhabiting the area and is part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Grupo Piñero.

Inspired by Mayan culture—which believes in the power of nature and in stories as a means to preserve traditions and cultural wealth—Cecilia and Mizael recognize that while data and figures are important, they are not enough to generate real change. Therefore, they founded Balché Fotografía with the vision of telling the stories of the ecosystems of the Mexican Caribbean, from the jungle to the sea, to raise awareness, inspire, and promote their protection.

Photography becomes a powerful ally here: capable of transmitting emotions, awakening consciousness, and changing narratives. Through captivating images, the book invites readers to fall in love with the natural treasures of Akumal and Tulum. Each photograph reflects the magic and fragility of this ecological jewel and inspires the community and visitors to join in protection and conservation efforts.

During the book presentation, Mizael Palomeque emphasized how photography brings people closer to nature, creating an emotional bond that drives them to care for and value the environment: "Photography allows us to show the beauty of what we have, and that is fundamental for people to understand the importance of protecting it."

For her part, Cecilia Gutiérrez Navarro stressed the daily responsibility that everyone shares: "Every day we have the opportunity to act responsibly and decide what kind of footprints we want to leave. Our future depends on nature; let's take care of it."

Álvaro Moya, general director of Tulum Country Club, underlined the purpose of the project: "With this book, we reinforce our mission of showing that tourist and residential development can coexist in balance with nature. And what better way to do it than by allocating the proceeds from sales to the Eco-Bahía Foundation, to continue promoting the conservation of flora and fauna and strengthen the environmental programs that give life to our region."

In turn, Luis Verdín, manager of the Eco-Bahía Foundation, thanked the support: "For more than 20 years, the Eco-Bahía Foundation has worked on the conservation of biodiversity and environmental education in the Riviera Maya. We are deeply grateful for this book; the funds raised will strengthen our conservation and environmental education programs. You only protect what you know and love."

The evening also featured a photographic exhibition with images by the authors, which will be for sale to raise funds and support the conservation projects of the Eco-Bahía Foundation and Ba’alche Proyecto Azul. The gallery will remain on display at Tulum Country Club for one month.