With ecosystems ranging from jungle, savanna and coastal wetlands to coral reefs, beaches, caves and sinkholes, the Yucatán Peninsula is a natural wonderland with plenty of exciting experiences to offer eco tourists.
It is home to the largest population of jaguars in Mexico and the largest cat in the Americas was once held sacred by the ancient Maya. Tapirs are still found in the dense forests of southern Quintana Roo and Campeche and other jungle dwellers range from puma, ocelot, margay and jaguarundi to spider and howler monkeys, peccary, coatimundi, kinkajou and deer. The mangrove forests and lagoons along the coast are a refuge for manatees, crocodiles and iguanas.
Stretching for over 600 miles from Contoy Island south to Belize, the Mesoamerican Reef is the world’s second longest reef system. This underwater wonderland is extraordinarily rich in marine life, 70 different species of coral and 500 species of fish have been identified.
The Mexican Caribbean is an important nesting area for four species of sea turtle and the Gulf coast is 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.
The waters to the east of Contoy and Isla Mujeres and around Cabo Catoche and the island of Holbox are rich in nutrients borne by oceanic currents and the upwelling of colder water from the depths. Plankton and other microscopic organisms at the bottom of the food chain flourish, attracting a wealth of other species, including some ocean wanderers. The largest living fish, the whale sharks, gather here to feed during the summer in the world’s biggest gathering of these gentle giants. Manta rays, sea turtles and dolphins can often be spotted and sailfish hunt schools of sardines in the spring.
Yet birds are the Yucatán’s crowning glory, it boasts more species than the United States and Canada combined. Around 537-540 species of birds have been recorded here, 13 to 15 of which are endemic to the region and 226 are winter migrants.
More than 150 million birds migrate south from the United States and Canada to escape the bitter cold. They include wood storks and waders, ducks, hawks and the tiny ruby-throated hummingbird that makes a 30-hour journey across the Gulf of Mexico! 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 different parts of the Yucatan Peninsula are parrots, toucans, turquoise-browed motmots and ocellated turkeys in the forests and 16 species of herons, kingfishers and flamingos in the coastal wetlands.
Thomas More Travel offers a variety of tours to area reserves such as Sian Ka’an, Contoy, Rio Lagartos, bird watching and other eco adventures.
