ABOUT US
We are guardians, mothers and fathers protecting the lands and waters that nurture and nourish us.
The Sagrada Biorregion Maya (Sacred Maya Bioregion) not only encompasses vast forest systems and a millenary cultural heritage, but also extends into the Caribbean Sea, home to the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-largest reef system in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Spanning over 1,000 kilometers from the coast of Quintana Roo in Mexico to Honduras, passing through Belize and Guatemala, this marine ecosystem supports extraordinary biodiversity, including over 500 species of fish, corals, sea turtles, and manatees. It also acts as a natural barrier against hurricanes and coastal erosion. Culturally, it is a sacred space for many coastal communities who have developed sustainable fishing practices, ancestral navigation, and ceremonial connections with the sea. Economically, the reef supports key industries such as artisanal fishing and tourism, generating an estimated $6 billion USD annually for the region. Its conservation is essential to ensure ecological resilience and the continuity of marine and coastal livelihoods in the blue heart of the Maya Bioregion.
Our families and communities mean the world to us.
We invite you to visit us and join us in our celebrations and ceremonies.
"My family has been farming cacao for over 12 generations and we keep over 70 varieties of cacao trees on our property and treat our plants with reverence and respect. Our cacao is grown organically as it is sacred to us and used for ceremonies with our families and communities."
- Abuelo Efren Hernandez, Guardian of the Cacao, Tabasco
Abuelo Ramon Guerrero
Guardian of Coasts and Seas
Whale Shark Conservation
Abuelo Ramón Guerrero is a guardian of the coasts and seas, with Otomí roots and a deep commitment to Mother Earth. A lifelong fisherman and defender of marine life, he has championed the preservation of the whale shark in the Mexican Caribbean, creating sustainable economic alternatives for his community. He has led pioneering initiatives in the responsible use of marine resources and in the creation of productive projects that connect conservation with local well-being.
He works alongside Mayan communities to defend clean water and strengthen cultural heritage, promoting the Yucatec Maya language and the knowledge of medicinal plants as a living legacy for future generations. His vision weaves together the protection of marine ecosystems with the revitalization of ancestral identity, inspiring new generations to care for and honor the Mayan territory.
Nana Mima Estrada
Elder, Healer, Spiritual Guide
Spiritually known as Ixq’uq’kumat’z, “the Feathered Serpent,” Nana Mima Estrada has 25 years of experience as an Ajq’ij (Maya spiritual guide and keeper of time), holding the title of ChuchCajaw—mother and father, counselor, and community authority. Her work is rooted in ancestral Maya wisdom, the sacred Cholq’ij Mayab’ calendar, and the fire ceremony, which she leads with deep respect and commitment.
She is a member of the Association of Maya Priests of Guatemala and other organizations, and currently serves on the Council for the Unification of Indigenous Peoples—the Eagle, the Condor, the Quetzal, and the Hummingbird—alongside Chief and Elder Phil Lane Jr. She is a pioneer and bearer of one of the five staffs for the work of the Maya bioregion.
Beyond her spiritual calling, she is a psychologist, naturopath, homeopath, chiropractor, and practitioner of radiesthesia, reiki, and other therapies, with experience dating back to the 1980s. Her approach integrates physical, mental, psychological, spiritual, and energetic medicine, offering a holistic vision of healing. Originally from Guatemaya, land of the quetzal and the country of eternal spring, she embodies a living bridge between ancestral tradition and contemporary integral well-being.
Abuela Adriana Alvarez
Founder, Entrepreneur, Executive Director
Adriana Álvarez Damián is a Mexican entrepreneur and founder of the 100% Natural restaurant chain. She is a pioneer in promoting healthy and conscious eating in Mexico. After the devastation caused by Hurricane Wilma in 2005, she created the 100% Natural Foundation and later La Ventana Palenque, a community project in Chiapas that integrates education, ceremony, regenerative farming, animal conservation, and local economic development. She works towards preserving the Maya Quetzal bird route and the howler monkeys who reside in the forest near Palenque. She has also served as volunteer Executive Director of Four Worlds International, advancing the unification of Indigenous peoples and regeneration rooted in ancestral wisdom.
Her experience has led her to weave initiatives that unite social entrepreneurship, spiritual leadership, and community action, always guided by the vision of healing the relationship between people and the Earth. With more than four decades of experience, Adriana combines the strength of entrepreneurship with social commitment and spirituality, offering a regenerative vision that bridges the local and the global.
Abuelo Antonio Oxte Leon
Founder, Spiritual Healer, Poet
Abuelo Antonio Oxte Leon is a Mayan elder, traditional healer, poet, and spiritual guide, born in Tzucacab, in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. From Rancho Yaaxdzonot and the non-profit Gardens of the Golden Hummingbird (Jardines del Colibri Dorado), he has cultivated a living space for healing, reforestation, and the opening of consciousness—where ancestral wisdom, spirituality, and traditional skills converge, offering profound enrichment to all who visit. His work interweaves ancestral memory, spirituality, and community action, always carrying the voice and heart of the Maya worldview.
On his beautiful 300 acre land with 2 cenotes at Jardines del Colibri Dorado which serves as a haven for birds and mammals, he has a regenerative farm, an animal sanctuary, and nurtures medicinal plants.
Abuelo Antonio’s wisdom and expertise is sought all over the world and is invited to speak at festivals from Tulum to Ireland, Hawaii , Spain and India.
Abuela Floridelma Chi Poot
Elder and Guardian
Abuela Floridelma Chi Poot is a Mayan elder and guardian of the Cruz Parlante (Talking Cross), a sacred symbol of deep spiritual significance for the Mayan people. For over two decades, she has dedicated her life to preserving and sharing the Maya worldview as a path to healing, balance, and community regeneration. As an Ajq’ij (keeper of the sacred calendar) and Maya pax dancer, she leads ceremonies and learning processes that transmit the sacred calendar, traditional medicine, an art as living expressions of memory and continuity. She is the founder of Raices Sanadoras, a project that integrates ceremonies, workshops, and educational processes to strengthen cultural identity and the connection with nature. She is a guardian in Felipe Carillo Puerto— the heart of the Maya zone in Quintana Roo, safeguarding the protected natural area of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Abuelo Gilberto Quintal Olivar
Elder, Guardian, Leader
Abuelo Gilberto Quintal Olivar is a guardian of the Maya forest, and a profound connoisseur of wildlife. Originally from Rancho San Eusebio in the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas, Quintana Roo, he is an expert on jaguars and the ecosystems that sustain them. He has collaborated with national institutions such as the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas, contributing his deep territorial knowledge and community-based expertise to biodiversity conservation. Today, he leads the community enterprise El Corchal, (The Cork) welcoming visitors to share the wisdom of the forest and through pre-Hispanic dance with children and youth, conveying the sacred nature of the forest and its living beings.
Abuelo Jose Maria "Pepe" Quintal Olivar
Elder, Agrarian Authority Leader
José María “Pepe” Quintal Olivar is a respected elder and agrarian authority, he is a historic leader in the conservation of the Maya Forest and a community reference in territorial defense.
His vision and work have contributed to the designation of protected areas and the strengthening of the Mayan lands’ internal regulations, recognizing traditional medicine and the use of sacred plants as part of cultural identity. A pioneer in syntropic regenerative agroforestry which mimics natural forest succession to create productive and sustainable food systems. He is a pioneer in combining the production of healthy food integrated with the creation of new habitats and microclimates, mirroring the processes of the forest.
His town of Solferino is surrounded by a lush jungle. The north of the town is composed of aquatic and sub-aquatic vegetation and wetlands including brackish lagoons and coastal marshes with plenty of red mangroves and seagrass.
Drawing from his experience as a farmer, artisan, fisherman, and guide, he inspires his community to care for the land and water, leaving a legacy of commitment and respect for nature.
Dr. Lilia González Moreno
Founder, Conservationist
Dr. Lilia González Moreno was born in Comitán, Chiapas and is the founder and president of Kanché A.C., a non-governmental organization with 20 years of experience in community-led conservation and regenerative development processes in the Maya Forest. She holds doctoral studies in Philosophy for Peace, Conflict, and Development from the UNESCO Chair of Philosophy for Peace. Lilia gained her expertise in intercultural dialogue through her decades working in conservation with indigenous communities. She lives in Cupaima, a field station located in the forest of Solferino, in northern Quintana Roo, which serves as a living hub for the exchange of knowledge, collaboration, and the advancement of community initiatives. She sees herself as a young elder and eternal apprentice to the masters of the land, sharing with them the commitment to weave networks, strengthen community autonomy, and protect the territory as a lifelong calling.
Liliana Garcia Ramirez
Environmental & International Lawyer
Since 2004, Liliana García Ramírez has worked on conservation and regenerative development projects in the Maya forest and other regions of Mexico. Since 2023, she has served as Executive Director of Kanché A.C. An attorney specializing in environmental and international law, with more than 20 years of experience across the public, private, and social sectors, she has led key legal reforms and public policy initiatives in Mexico, managed trust funds for social and environmental causes, and secured funding from national and international organizations. Her work is distinguished by her ability to translate regulatory frameworks into tangible benefits for communities and the territory.
In addition to her role at Kanche, her environmental law work led to cross-sector engagements with Amigos de Sian Ka'an, Banamex, and Mexican Center of Philanthropy where she has negotiated alliances with UN Habitat, GEF, CCAD, UNDP, Wildlife Habitat Council.
Cecilia Tumale Pagkalinawan
Entrepreneur, Artist, Conservationist
Cecilia Tumale Pagkalinawan is an entrepreneur and artist who is committed to using her skills to call attention to the fragility of our earth’s ecosystems. After 20+ years working for multi-national corporations and tech startups in executive and management roles in marketing and e-commerce, she pivoted her focus to solely work on projects that are good for the planet and humanity. In 2020 she moved to Tulum, Quintana Roo and lived off the grid on Mayan land surrounded by mangrove trees and cenotes. There she met Mapuche and Mayan elders who were uniting tribes to lobby for indigenous rights at COP26 in Glasgow which started her advocacy work for indigenous tribes and protection of indigenous lands. In Tulum she worked for Care with Me Foundation and promoted beach cleanups and innovative solutions that converted plastic waste to gas. She associate produced TEDxTulum’s “Congruencia” which focused on change makers whose talks rallied support for climate action and environmental protection. She founded Earthlings to focus on work that support and amplify the actions of those who are guardians of our planet earth. She creates art that conveys the fragility of our ecosystems and her work has been exhibited in New York and Burning Man. She considers herself a bridge builder connecting continents and cultures to collaborate for peace, unity, and love of Madre Tierra. A NAUI-certified scuba diver for 25 years, Cecilia has tracked the erosion of coral reefs and marine biodiversity from the Pacific Ocean in the Philippines to the Mediterranean Sea in Italy to the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. She works closely with Abuelo Ramon, Guardian of the Coasts and Seas of the Maya.
Abuelo Efren Hernandez Maldonado
Guardian of the Cacao, Healer, Spritual Guide
Born in Hacienda Grano de Oro, in Miahuatlán, Tabasco, Abelo Efrén Hernandez Maldonado inherited from his parents, ancestors, and priests the knowledge of the Sacred Planting of Cacao and the traditions of the Maya Yokot’an people. Recognized as a traditional healer and guardian of ancestral wisdom, he carries a lineage of eleven generations of Guardians of Sacred Cacao—over a century of spiritual and cultural continuity—for which he is named A’x Mein: spiritual guide, timekeeper, protector, and sage.
He is a member of the Indigenous Council Ik Nas Kin Ha and the Circle of Wisdom of the Mayan Elders. He practices and shares Maya spirituality and ancient agriculture in all its dimensions, tending cacao groves with sustainable and organic management in harmony with creation. Through the Maya School of Spirituality that he founded, he shares with national and international communities deep studies of ancestral medicine, organic cultivation, and the conscious preparation of cacao, both for ritual use and for daily life.
Ernestino Estrada Aguilar
Leader, Agroforestry Expert
Ernestino Estrada Aguilar is a community leader committed to the defense and care of Mother Earth. From his community of San Manuel near Palenque, he works with 250 families and promotes the strengthening of rural families through the implementation of sustainable agroforestry systems. His work focuses on uniting ancestral wisdom with modern technical advice to conserve the Mayan Rainforest. With a vision of solidarity, he has promoted the collective work and the exchange of knowledge among producers. His efforts have paved the way for fair markets that value cacao and other native crops grown in Chiapas, near Palenque that generate income and provide food security for Mayan families. With dedication, Ernestino inspires his community to care for the land while building a dignified and resilient future for future generations.
Benjamin G. Alvarez
Guardian, La Ventana, Palenque
Benjamin G. Álvarez, known as the Guardian of La Ventana, in Palenque, Chiapas embodies an unwavering dedication to the restoration of the land and its ancestral wisdom. His spirit is rooted in a profound respect for life and a commitment to community resilience. With quiet strength and great humility, he honors Mother Earth through the four-colored corn and sacred cacao. His journey sustains the cycle of “Buen Vivir” and nurtures the union between peoples and nature. He has been recognized by the Mayan community as the “White Jaguar,” a guardian who shares the memories and teachings of his elders. In La Ventana, he has planted roots, cared for the forest, and raised his family in the path of Mayan tradition. His example inspires us to see in him not only a guardian, but a true son of Mother Earth.
Silvio Margain Leon
Industrial Designer, Circular Economy
Silvio Margain Leon is an industrial designer specializing in circular economy and regenerative design based in Merida. He is the founder of OPQRS Studio and Casa Creativa, hubs that transform waste into functional products and foster collaborative projects with communities to strengthen their autonomy and resilience. His work integrates local knowledge and innovation through participatory processes that regenerate ecosystems and the social fabric, blending ancestral techniques with accessible technologies.
He has led circular economy workshops with artisans, created environmental awareness installations such as at Jou Jou Camp at Burning Man, and developed design projects linked to crime prevention in collaboration with USAID and the Government of Mexico. He conceives design as a tool to give back more than is taken and to create solutions that emerge from dialogue rather than imposition. His glocal vision bridges community-based knowledge with global innovation, honoring ancestral wisdom while projecting it into the future. Devoted to sustainability and conservation in the Yucatan peninsula, Silvio works with Mayan leaders in his region, including Abuelo Antonio Oxte, Aniceto Velazquez and Augustin Och.
Katerina Rios Rodriguez
Healer, Therapist, Community Leader
Katerina Rios Rodriguez is a healer, filmmaker and graphics designer born in Caracas, Venezuela, and currently based in Yucatán, Mexico. Heir to a lineage of women healers, midwives, and medicine keepers, she carries the prayers of her tradition and recognizes herself as an eternal learner of spirituality. As a cultural practitioner and therapist, she creates and facilitates spaces for dialogue, healing, and artistic expression. Her practice integrates tools from yoga, naturopathy, biomagnetism, bioenergetic and quantum therapies, as well as wisdom received from elders of diverse traditions and ancestral medicines.
She has guided processes of women’s healing and the harmonization of subtle bodies, leading cacao circles, peace circles, womb healing gatherings, and Dances of Universal Peace, among others. She is the creator of courses, workshops, and retreats aimed at opening and expanding consciousness. Founder of the eco-village La Azulita and of Fundación Paz y Vida, she walks with the hope of safeguarding the ancestral wisdom of indigenous peoples, recognizing it as a vital legacy for new forms of family and social organization, rooted in harmony and oriented toward the good living of our Earth. Kate works closely with Abuelo Efren and his cacao projects in Tabasco.
Katie Finn
Sustainable Development Leader
Katie Finn is an experienced leader in sustainable development who has managed multiple community-based natural resource management projects across Southern Africa. She is the founder of a U.S.-based nonprofit that has provided humanitarian aid to thousands of refugees, working on the frontlines of crisis response. She now resides in the Yucatan and is dedicated to supporting Mayan elder Abuelo Antonio in preserving his sacred land as a place of healing, learning, and nurturing for future generations.
