Tulum, Mexico. October 31, 2005 ~ EcoTulum Resorts & Spa, a collection of three rustic boutique hotels Cabanas Copal, Azulik, Zahra, and holistic Maya Spa, began accepting walk-in guests as of Wednesday, October 26 in the wake of Hurricane Wilma. The hotel group's official re-opening for guests with reservations is set for October 31.

EcoTulum Resorts & Spa suffered minor damage during the hurricane and staff have spent the days following the storm making repairs. Four EcoTulum managers stayed on site at Hotel Zahra throughout the entire Wilma experience.

Because many arriving guests in Tulum are concerned about conditions in the surrounding area, EcoTulum Resorts & Spa feels that it is important to publish the following information, which was provided by the official office of tourism in Cancun. As the result of an unprecedented federal and local response to Hurricane Wilma, the Cancun Convention & Visitor Bureau reports that recovery efforts are advancing steadily, and that normal resort operation is resuming in the coming days and weeks.

The CVB reports the following advances as of 12 noon October 28, 2005:

Of the estimated 35,000 tourists that were in Cancun and the surrounding resorts when Wilma struck on October 21-22, only approximately 2,600 still remain in the area. Some of these tourists have elected to stay in the area and continue their vacations. EcoTulum Resorts has received a number of guests who weathered out the storm in Playa and Cancun, then ventured south to Tulum to continue their travels.

The Cancun International Airport resumed operations on Tuesday, October 25. It was operating until October 30 under a recovery/evacuation status, with preferential operations for inbound supplies and passenger departures. On October 31, normal operations will resume, with carriers such as Mexicana Airlines, US Air 3000 (Apple Vacations), and others that will be reestablishing normal flight service. EACH AIRLINE WILL DECIDE WHEN TO START FLYING TO CANCUN AND THE FREQUENCY.

The majority of Cancun's 140 hotels and resorts in the hotel zone are recovering from varying degrees of wind and water damage.

As for beaches conditions, a detailed inventory is being prepared. At present, the area between the Riu Cancun toward the downtown/mainland (facing the Bahía de Mujeres) has actually had its beaches expanded (Presidente Inter-Continental, Oasis Viva, Ambiance Villas, Villas Tacul, Barcelo las Perlas, Blue Bay, Riu Caribe, etc). EcoTulum Resorts also experienced an expansion of its beaches. Guests can now walk down a wide, sandy beach from Copal to Zahra.

Mexican President Vicente Fox has announced federal recovery funds totally US$20 million for beach recovery and US$10 million for hotel zone infrastructure restorations. In order to assist small businesses (shops, restaurants, others) with recovery, NAFINSA (Mexico's government loan corporation) is providing loans totaling US$340 million. In an effort to streamline hotel recovery, the Inter-American Development Bank has announced US$500 million in reconstruction and recovery loans. This move will greatly facilitate needed repairs and upgrades.

The Cancun Center convention facility will resume normal operations by November 8, 2005. Twenty tourist quality restaurants are open and many others will open within the next week.

In Cancun City, clean-up efforts are underway to remove debris, open streets, reestablish telephone and electric service, and allow the city's inhabitants to continue clean-up and recovery efforts. Dozens of business are open, including banks, stores, and hospitals, with additional openings each day. Police and security services have restored order and are assisting with citizen and visitor relief efforts.

EcoTulum Resorts & Spa is located in the small pueblo of Tulum along the Riviera Maya, a popular tourist destination in Mexico's Caribbean on the eastern coast of the Yucatan peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo, just and 120 miles south of the Cancun international airport. EcoTulum is open and operating after the passing of Hurricane Wilma.

Editors are invited to visit www.maya-spa.com for complete spa services, rates & packages, photos, and general information about Tulum, and www.zahra.com.mx for information regarding accommodations at Zahra, www.azulik.com for Azulik, or www.cabanascopal.com for Cabañas Copal. Publications interested in contest giveaway promotions to Zahra, Azulik, or Copal may inquire directly through Holly Elizabeth Worton.

More details may be found at www.ecotulum.com.
Reservations: reservations@ecotulum.com, +1.877.532.6737, +1.604.628.7077