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Description
The Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve covers approximately 150,000 acres and encompasses the estuary of the Rio Lagartos, the lagoon and its surrounding areas. The nice little fishing village of Rio Lagartos is located in the heart of the reserve and on the edge of the large lagoon. The elongated peninsula on the other side is also a protected area, which mainly consists of mangroves. With its diverse ecosystems and abundance of bird species the lagoon is one of the best places in Yucatan for watching birds. More than 400 bird species have been recorded. Besides the large quantities and huge groups of birds, the lagoon is also good for rare species and endemic birds.
The most eye-catching bird is the American Flamingo that can sometimes be seen in big groups. But also birds like Black Skimmer, Brown Pelican, American White Pelican, Osprey, Anhinga, Roseate Spoonbill, White Ibis, Wood Stork, Magnificent Frigatebird, Common Black Hawk, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, and many species of herons, waders, cormorants, gulls and terns are easy to see and often from very close.
With an experienced guide (see recommendation below) it is also possible to find harder to spot birds like Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Mexican Sheartail, Russet-naped Wood-Rail, Rufous-necked Wood-Rail and Boat-billed Heron. And many, many more. See the birdlist below. During a boat trip you can also spot two species of crocodiles and sometimes dolphins.
Details
Access
Rio Lagartos is located on the northernmost tip of the Yucatan Peninsula. From Cancun or Merida it is a 3 hours drive. From Valladolid 1 1/2 hours on mostly very good roads. Buses are plentiful and inexpensive from both Cancun, Merida, Valladolid and Tizimin.
The village of Rio Lagartos is a nice place to stay for two or three nights, because in the surroundings of the village the land birding is also very good. The village has lots of choice in accommodation, restaurants and boat tour providers. Boat trips are 2, 3 or 4 hours long. Because the lagoon is huge we advise a 4 hour morning trip. Note that not all boattrips are focussed on birdwatching and most of the visitors just want to see Flamingos and crocodiles. Therefore we recommend booking a 4 hour birdwatching tour with Diego Nunez, one of Yucatan's most renowned bird guides. His company is called Rio Lagartos Adventures. Besides being an expert guide, Diego actively contributes to the protection of birds and their habitats in the Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve. A 4 hour birdwatching trip costs 4200 mxn pesos, or about $250 (prices 2024) for a boat. One boat can take 1 to maximum 6 passengers. See for detailed info on this tour the very bottom of this page.