Extreme sports options for people with disabilities in Yucatan

To rappel, explore caverns, dive or snorkel in cenotes are extreme activities that thrill many during their summer vacations, and although they seem difficult, these activities are open for anyone to practice, regardless of age and physical conditions, even for those people who live with a disability.

Thinking in this last sector, the speleologist and diver Raúl Espejo Andrade carries out an inclusive adventure tourism program, through which, he pretends that all those lovers of nature and with the desire to practice any of those activities can do it under strict security measures.

With more than 50 years of age, and a lifetime of experience dedicated to extreme sports, in direct contact with nature, this adventurer seeks to give people with disabilities the chance of practicing extreme sports.

Raúl Espejo Andrade is from Morelos, Mexico, where he practiced mountaineering and was part of a rescue team, later he traveled to Yucatán where he now lives and promotes cave diving.

“We dare to say that in all of Yucatan we are the only ones who manage tours for people with disabilities, which we call “inclusive tourism”. I’m sure we’re going to fulfill some dreams for many people, who could not carry out these activities for themselves.” Espejo Andrade said.

He stressed that his job is always to be aware of what can be done for the people to enjoy extreme sports, to do it with passion and professionalism, without forgetting to take care of the environment at all times.

Since he was 14 years old he started climbing mountains in Morelos, later he became a speleologist, a cavern and mountain rescuer, so when he decided to change his residence to the Yucatan Peninsula, more than 15 years ago, he began to implement that knowledge, taking tourists to caves, organizing kayak trips or cenote night diving tours.

Bachelor in Marketing and International Business and former lifeguard at Disneyworld, (when he was 22 years old), Espejo Andrade says he is lucky because she had parents who taught him to have a deep respect for nature,  taking him hiking in the mountains, kayaking and rappeling, since he was a little kid.

He learned to love this world of adventure, and now he wants to share these experiences with disabled people.

“I like to help people to enjoy the contact with nature, to swim in a cenote, several meters below the surface. I want  everyone to know that they can do it, that’s why I want to promote inclusive ecotourism.,” Espejo Andrade concluded.

TYT Newsroom with information from SIPSE