Eco Tourism

Jungle, savanna and thorn forest, coastal wetlands, beaches, caves and sinkholes the ecotourism tours, the Yucatán is a natural wonderland with plenty of exciting experiences to offer eco tourists.

The Yucatán Peninsula is home to the largest wild cat in the Americas, the jaguar, a creature held sacred by the ancient Maya, spider and howler monkeys, peccary and deer, iguanas, crocodiles and sea turtles. The Gulf coast is an important nesting area for four species of sea turtle and the most important in the world for the hawksbill, hunted to the brink of extinction for its beautiful shell, once used to make tortoiseshell jewelry.

Yet birds are the Yucatán’s crowning glory, it boasts more species than the United States and Canada combined and many birds from colder northern climates winter here after making the long and dangerous journey across the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, the Yucatan Peninsula is considered one of the most important stops on bird migratory routes in the Americas.

Some of the winged treasures you may be lucky enough to spot in the Yucatán are parrots, toucans and ocellated turkeys in the forests and 16 species of herons and egrets, kingfishers, pelicans, frigate birds and flamingos in the coastal wetlands.

Here’s a guide to nature reserves in the state of Yucatán.

 

Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve

Visit this 60,348-hectare biosphere reserve to witness one of the wonders of the Yucatán Peninsula: thousands of flamingos in their natural habitat. Located on the Gulf coast, 50 km north of Tizimin and 270 km from Mérida, Ria Lagartos is one of the most important wetland ecosystems in the Americas.

The mangroves, marshes, salt flats and patches of forest in the reserve are home to a 30,000-strong breeding colony of flamingos, not to mention 334 other species of bird, including cormorants, ibis, roseate spoonbills and herons. Scientists estimate that 300,000 migratory shore birds also spend the winter months in the reserve and during the summer hawksbill and green turtles nest on its beaches.

Fishermen from the waterfront village of Río Lagartos, some of who are being trained as eco guides, run boat trips along the estuary to see the birds. Morelet’s crocodiles, which are called lagartos in Spanish, can occasionally be spotted during the voyage and give the reserve its name: Ría Lagartos.

 

Ría Celestun Biosphere Reserve

Located on the west coast of the Yucatán, 92 km from Mérida via Highway 281, The Celestún Biosphere Reserve protects 81,482 hectares of tropical forest, mangroves, marshes, cenotes, estuaries, islets and beaches, not to mention a prehistoric petrified forest and an area of Mayan saltpans. Celestún is bordered to the north by the El Palmar reserve and to the south by the Los Petenes Biosphere Reserve in Campeche.

The reserve is rich in wildlife: over 300 species of bird have been recorded, including the flamingo, the elusive boat-billed heron, pygmy kingfisher, sandwich tern and the osprey. Local fishermen offer boat trips along the estuary to see the flamingos, but you’ll see many more species during your voyage.

Some Celestún fishermen are being trained as eco-guides by CAPY, a Mérida based conservation group. If you are a keen birdwatcher, another option is to book an organized tour with a travel agency specializing in eco tourism.

 

Mayan Birds

Archaeological sites are protected areas in Mexico and the ancient cities scattered across the Yucatán are rich in bird life. So when you go in search of Mayan history, keep a look out for parrots, hummingbirds, Yucatan jays, turquoise browed motmots, roadrunners and more.

Yucatan Bird Festival
For three years running, Mérida has hosted the Yucatan Bird Festival, an event that draws attention to the Yucatán Peninsula’s importance as a birding area. The November festival features lectures and workshops, exhibitions, eco trips and a bird watching marathon.