1. El Mirador- Rio Azul National Park and Dos Lagunas Biotope is divided into three conservation units called El Mirador National Park, the Rio Azul- Ixcan Rio National Park and the Naachtun-Dos Lagunas Protected Biotope. Each of the park's areas has its own specific regulations, each pertaining to a different government body or academic institution, such as the Institute of Anthropology and History, the National Council of Protected Areas and the University of San Carlos de Guatemala (Center Conservation Studies) respectively.
2. Due to the lack of official harmonization of regulations we propose the following provisional rules for the park called El Mirador, where the administering government agency is the Institute of Anthropology and History IDAEH. All regulations to be observed are the same as those within all archaeological sites and the IDAEH regulations have pre eminence over any other regulations in this part of the park (El Mirador), particularly those relating to the prohibition of removing any archaeological objects or materials from the park or damaging the nation's cultural heritage found within the park in any way.
The IDAEH (Institute of Anthropology & History) park guards are the authority at the park. Ecotorism & Adventure visitors at the park support the IDAEH park guards with their visits & contribute with in spice donations, medicines, trash cans & more. On the picture Serafin (to the right) holds a spider monkey baby that fell from a tree and was rescued by the project's workers. El Mirador, Jul. 2010 |
3. At the park it is not allowed to ingest any toxic or illegal substances or to exhibit any improper conduct at any time during your stay. It is forbidden to make any noise or to impact the ecosystem in any way that might affect the resident flora and fauna (such as leaving camp fires unattended; these need to be properly extinguished) or other park visitors. It is strictly forbidden to hunt and carry firearms within the park.
4. All tour groups and visitors at the park must be accompanied at all times by a registered guide or an IDAEH park guard who can show you the way. You must observe the cardinal rule of leaving the park as well or better than you have been found it at the time of your visit, taking all the trash generated during your stay back to an urban area with you.
5. If as a visitor you use mules for your transportation into the park or to carry your luggage and equipment you must be very careful not to negatively impact the fragile ecosystem, access roads or water reservoirs and pay close attention to the conservation of the park's resources (in particular the ramon trees, used by your muleteers to feed the mules, and of water sources) and monitor your impacts as directed by the park guards regarding the use of water and the disposal of solid and human waste and your trash. |
6. It is not allowed to enter the park in motor vehicles that create unwanted impacts, therefore 4x4s, motorcycles or fuel powered vehicles oil are strictly forbidden, except the 4x4 motorbikes permitted in some areas for the park guard's exclusive use. The use of these machines is then only allowed for the mobilization of park guards working for any of the government or academic institutions that manage the park.
7. The use of helicopters is permitted exclusively for the transportation of passengers and for carrying the archaeological project's cargo and personnel to designated camps. The helipads in use for this purpose are the only places authorized for landing. It is not allowed to fly over pristine areas, identified as such within the Park's Public Use Plan, such as the Nakbe helipad and over the causeways connecting the ancient cities within the park.
Your suggestions to complete a set of provisional regulations to be validated by the park's users, the park's authorities and the government administrative bodies are all welcome. You may send an e mail to mayaworld@mayaworld.org with your suggestions.
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