In late May, Cheryl returned from a trip to Mexico where she, along with a group of others from Bromeliad Society international travelled through the states of Oaxaca and Chiapa in search of tilandsias, orchids and cycads growing in their natural environment.
Why did you choose this trip?
I had travelled to nearby Costa Rica many years ago and enjoyed that trip immensely. It piqued my interest in the region. Mexico has been on my bucket list for years. The Bromeliad Society International held a conference in San Diego in May 2018, and were running this pre-conference eco trip. It was the perfect opportunity to visit Mexico with like-minded people.
What kind of trip was this? How many people and how did you get around?
We travelled with Jeff Chemnik of Mexico Nature Tours in a small group of 11. Along with Jeff, we were accompanied by Tilandsia expert Pam Koides-Hyatt.
What were your top highlights of the trip?
Seeing tilandsias flowering in their natural habitat and taking in the culture of Mexico. Mexico is very colourful, from bright coloured hotels to the fabrics and of course there was great music. I tried all of the Mexican food – the fruit was amazing. Lots of avocados, mangoes, papaya, pineapple and watermelon which were all lovely and fresh. I did get a bit sick of eating tortillas by the end of trip though!
You can check out details of the itinerary on the BSI Pre-conference tour page.
Wildfire Garden Bromeliad Nursery 