Wildlife Watching Locations

Photo by Claudio Contreras Coob, Amigos de Isla Contoy

The Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico has several excellent locations for watching wildlife. There are many national parks and protected areas. There are also many locations which are not "official" parks but they do provide good opportunities for viewing wildlife.

Birding is great almost anywhere. Reptiles can be seen in several locations. The Black Iguana is very common in many locations, especially around the ruins. For mammals you have to visit the parks and reserves. Marine life can be easily seen along the coast. The coral reefs are some of the best in the world.

Official Parks and Reserves

• Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve
  This reserve is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System and provides wonderful opportunities for viewing marine life.
• Calakmul Biosphere Reserve
  One of the largest reserves, with good tropical forest habitat and a healthy Jaguar population.
• Celestun - Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve
  Celestun is famous for its flamingos but it has lots of birds and other wildlife.
• Isla Contoy
  The islands special appeal is nesting seabirds like the Frigatebirds and marine life.
• Pantanos de Centla Biosphere Reserve
  It consists of a vast flooded plain at the delta of Usumacinta and Grijalva Rivers, on the border of Campeche and Tabasco.
• Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve
  Another important coastal reserve with good birdlife, especially flamingos.
• Sian Ka'an
  Sian Kaan is one of the largest undisturbed wilderness areas in the Yucatan. It still contains a large variety of the wildlife species found in the peninsula.
• Xcalak National Marine Park
  Marine life around the reef.

Other Locations with Good Wildlife

Uxmal

• Akumal
  Akumal is a great place to see marine life. Green Turtles can be easily seen feeding on the sea grass in the bay just off the beach.
• Chichen Itza
  This is a good place to combine birding and sightseeing. There are plenty of birds, great Mayan ruins and good accomodation.
• Coba
  The Punta Laguna Nature Reserve, famous for its Spider Monkeys, is located a few kilometers north of the town of Coba. You can see good birdlife and Morelet's crocodile at the lake at Coba.
• Cozumel Island
  Cozumel has several endemic species of wildlife. It also has great marine life.
• El Zapotal
  This is a Private Reserve located near the Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, in the municipality of Tizimin. It is owned by Pronatura Peninsula de Yucatán.
• Felipe Carillo Puerto
  This town is located on the eastern side of the peninsula, south of Tulum and to the west of Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. The Vigía Chico road is good for birding.
• Kaxil Kiuic: Helen Moyers Biocultural Reserve
  This private entity is a unique living laboratory located in the Bolonchen District of the Puuc region.
• Uxmal
  A great wildlife spectacle is to see the Cave Swallows come out and fly around the inside of the Nunnery Quadrangle. There can be hundreds of swallows in the air and you can get quite close looks as they swoop in near the ruins. There is general good birding in the forest area around the ruins.

Links

• Information on online maps and maps you can buy -  ...more 

Spanish translation