Agua Azul waterfalls are a magnificent natural spectacle, as several waterfalls, coming from the river Tujila, splash downwards over different natural terraces, giving you the impression of being only one huge waterfall.

The river carries a lot of earth washed away from the river banks during the rainy season from May to September so the water could be rather brown in these seasons. From October to April the water is really blue.

Agua Azul waterfalls turn into a slower-flowing river, once the currents reach the lowest part of the downfall. Swimming is allowed, but you should take precautions not to get too far, as there might be some undercurrents.

On both sides of the waterfall, you will discover the deep green dense tropical vegetation growing on these somewhat higher grounds called tropical vegetation of altitude, which completes a view of outstanding natural beauty.

You also can walk up a path leading upwards along the waterfall, where you get the most amazing view of the surroundings.

The grounds of the area belong to Mayan community-land owners, who built the roads and walking lanes to and around the waterfall. And they are zealous to preserve all fauna and flora of the surroundings.

If you get hungry you will find a few simple, but clean restaurants with delicious Mayan cuisine, stands with bottled water and sodas, and some stands with Mayan handicrafts on the grounds.

On weekends you will probably find some more visitors on the site as under the week. Yet, as the area is very large, you will find enough space to relax and enjoy your stay.

Agua Azul waterfalls are located between the town of Palenque and the town of Ocosingo, a little further ahead of the Misol Ha waterfall on Federal Highway 199. You could take a shuttle tour to the Misol Ha and the Blue Waterfalls.

Check local tour agencies in San Cristobal de las Casas, Palenque town, and Ocosingo.

The island is extremely dry, with no sources of freshwater other than washes following rainfall. It has an area of 931 sq km and a chain of mountains runs along its 69 km length, reaching a maximum of 1,300 m above sea level. It runs northwest to southeast.

The west coast is roughly straight in that direction, but the east coast runs inward near the middle before heading outward until it reaches the island’s widest point. The coast then runs south for a while before finally returning to its southeasterly direction.

Much of the island is inaccessible due to mountains at or near the shore, especially on the west coast. There are a few flat areas on the coast at the outlets of washes that were created by sediment.

These alluvial fans are mostly on the east coast, but a large one is found on the west coast where the island narrows in the middle. Much of the island’s geology is made up of volcanic and alluvial sand deposits.

Despite its extreme dryness, the island is relatively diverse in plant and animal life. There are many types of birds and reptiles, especially lizards. The Angel Island speckled rattlesnake and Angel Island mouse occur only on the island.

The only mammals are bats, rodents, and introduced feral cats. Plants include cacti, grasses, shrubs, succulents, and boojums.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

This rock formation is known as Land’s End because it is where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez. These rocks played an important role in the epoch when the route of the Manila galleons passed through this coast.

Many pirates historically frequented this region. These rocks provided good hiding spots for pirate ships, and lookouts stationed there could signal the arrival of potential targets, allowing the pirates to prepare for attacks.

Boats depart from Medano Beach every morning for a 30-minute trip to Land’s End.

The trip passes good diving spots and a famous sea lion colony, and your guide will introduce you to the history and legends associated with each of the rock formations you encounter along the way.

In October, when sea levels drop, visitors can walk through the arch onto the beach.

The climate in the Bacalar region is classified as tropical, which means warm temperatures throughout the year. The best time to visit the Bacalar Lagoon region is during the dry season, from November to April.

During this time, you can expect warm and sunny weather with minimal rainfall. The average temperatures range from 25°C to 30°C, making it ideal for outdoor activities and enjoying the lagoon’s beauty.

This period offers pleasant weather, clear skies, and ideal conditions for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and exploring the lagoon’s cenotes. The water is exceptionally clear, showcasing its stunning shades of blue.

The rainy season spans from May to October when the weather is still warm.

This period experiences more frequent rain showers and the potential for tropical storms. While the lush greenery flourishes during this time, the lagoon’s water may be less crystal-clear due to sediment runoff.

From Cancun

• Renta car to get to Bacalar.
• Hire shuttle services or tour to Bacalar.
• You can take a bus to Bacalar.

From Tulum or Bacalar

• From Tulum – take a bus or arrange for transportation (2-3 hour drive) to Bacalar.
• From Chetumal – take a bus or a short taxi ride to reach the Bacalar Lagoon.

Getting around in Bacalar

• Once in Bacalar, you can easily navigate the town on foot or by renting a bicycle.
• Taxis and local transportation are also available for getting around the area.

Remember to plan your transportation in advance, especially during the high tourist season.

Balamka’anche’ in Yucatec Maya. The name translates to “the cave of the sacred jaguar throne”. According to another version, the name of the cave is related to the Mayan leaders, not the animal jaguar.

Other name variations are Balancanche, Balaamcanche, Balaancanche, Balankanche, and Balancanchyn.

Balancanché was known to the Mayans as early as the pre-classical period, 3,000 years ago. The cave was a source of water and because of this, was the object of worship to the god of rain, Chaac.

For the first time, Balancanché was visited by Edward Thompson and Alfred Tozzer in 1905. A.S. Pearse and a team of biologists explored the cave in 1932 and 1936. E. Wyllys Andrews IV also explored the cave in the 1930s.

Edwin Shook and R.E. Smith explored the cave in 1954 and dug several trenches to recover potsherds and other artifacts. Shook determined that the cave had been inhabited over a long period, at least from the Preclassic to the post-conquest era.

On 15 September 1959, José Humberto Gómez, a local guide, discovered a false wall in the cave. Behind it was a Maya sanctuary consisting of the “Altar of the Jaguar” and the “Altar of Pristine Waters”.

José Humberto Gómez found an extended network of caves with significant quantities of undisturbed archaeological remains, including pottery and stone-carved censers, stone implements, and jewelry.

The cave ended at a small lake.

The sanctuary has been studied and described by Ramon Pavon Abreu. It turned out that the sanctuary was built in honor of the god Tlaloc, and walled in about 842 AD during the Classic Maya collapse.

INAH converted the cave into an underground museum, and the all objects after being cataloged were returned to their original places so visitors could see them in situ, almost the same way they were left there.

• From Valladolid by bus, “colectivo” or local agency tour.
• Getting there in a taxi from Valladolid will take around 0:45 min.

The Reserve and the contiguous forested areas of the Maya Biosphere Reserve (Reserva de la Biosfera Maya) in the Guatemalan department of El Petén form one of the largest and least disturbed tracts of rainforest in the Americas north of Colombia.

The forest is classified as dry forest to the west and tall and medium-height sub-perennial rainforest to the east. Among the trees, there are ceibas, Honduras mahogany, strangler figs, chaká, and chicle or chicozapote.

The biosphere is home to 86 species of mammals, 18 of which can be found in the Official Registry of Mexican Ecology, a resource that outlines flora and fauna that are in danger of extinction, rare, threatened, or are under protection.

The area is home to 5 of the 6 large cats that are native to Mexico. This includes its small but healthy population of jaguars as well as jaguarundis, ocelots, pumas, and margays.

The fauna also includes Central American agoutis, Geoffroy’s spider monkeys, Guatemalan black howlers, Baird’s tapir, white-nosed coatis, ocellated turkeys, crested guans, toucans, and green parrots.

The reserve has been given a critically threatened designation, which means that prompt measures must be taken to continue to protect and conserve its biodiversity. These threats include Population growth, subsistence hunting and poaching, tourist infrastructure, and the emergence of highways and roads.

The human population within the reserve has been rapidly increasing since the 1980s due to increased migration as well as high birth rates. This has put increasing strain on natural resources due to the locals’ agricultural and ranching subsistence.

Although 80% of the hunting in the reserve is done for personal consumption among the local people, this subsistence hunting has had an increasingly drastic impact on the wildlife populations.

These animals are also being poached by military units that are on active duty within the area.

There has been an increasing amount of tourist activity since the reserve was given the UNESCO designation, which has created several problems. Although water is scarce in the region, the consumable water near villages or towns is reserved for tourists, creating a water shortage among the locals.

There is growing awareness of a possible water crisis due to the inability to meet the needs of the locals and the tourism industry.

Due to problems with the design of the reserve, two main roads have been built that cross through two of the core, important areas of the reserve. There have been proposals for a tourism destination called Maya World which would involve a highway connecting different areas of the biosphere reserve.

Although the plans for the highway have been put aside for the time being, hotel construction continues in those areas.

The area was declared a biosphere reserve by Carlos Salinas de Gortari in 1989. The cited reasons for the designation were the protection of biological diversity, as well as the protection of the numerous ancient Mayan ruins that are within the limits of the reserve.

Since then there has been a disparity between the views and philosophies of the local people who live on the land and those government officials and urban environmentalists who wish to protect its resources.

The people who live on the land are migrants representing 23 of the 32 states of Mexico that were drawn to the land in the 1960s when the Mexican government put land distribution projects in place.

Their cultures may differ, but they share the common identity of “campesinos” and subsistence farmers who live off the land.

As subsistence farmers, they all share the common belief that the environment is a place to work, which contrasts with the agendas of environmentalists and government officials who believe that an “ideal environment is one devoid of human presence”.

These outside parties have the “do not touch” mentality. Thus the Campesinos have created a united front in pushing for access to important resources that enable them to farm and provide for themselves.

In 1991 the Mexican president gave the Campesinos “care for the reserve” which provided funding to aid in the protection of the remaining forests while encouraging self-sufficiency in the local farming sector.

This has been in line with the philosophy that biodiversity is “diversity in use”.

These issues of the debate have led to a resistance movement from the local farmers.

Due to their beliefs surrounding the uses of the environment and work, many believe that those on the other side of the debate (government officials and urban environmentalists) wish to use the land for their own profitable means.

Many farmers recognize the difference between symbolic and actual land ownership and feel as though the government is undermining their subsistence practices.

Whereas the Campesinos practice subsistence farming and therefore do not receive a salary, there is a high vulnerability that they face from others implementing regulations.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

This cave was discovered in 1966, by a team of ornithologists from Texas.

Ornithologists discovered in this grave a more than eloquent example of the importance that such graves have for the bird populations of the region, by providing shelter from predators in their steep walls.

The first Mexican expedition was carried out in 1974 by the Mexica speleologist Lorenzo García Gallardo who was the first to descend. In 1978, Isabel Vivian was the first Mexican woman to descend this cave.

Despite the initial purely scientific interest, the pit soon began to attract speleologists looking for an interesting experience, and later tourists, due to the spectacular descent and views.

However, it is possible that the place was a victim of its popularity since subsequent ornithological studies have confirmed a gradual decrease in the bird population inside the grotto, perhaps due to this influx of new visitors.

Currently, the basement and other similar graves are considered biosphere reserves by the Mexican government, a status that grants them relative legal protection, while privileging the measured exploitation of the site.

Discovered in 1966 by a team of ornithologists, the cave gained popularity among cavers and tourists for its stunning descent and views. Initially a site of scientific interest, its appeal led to a decrease in bird populations.

The Mexican government designated the cave, as a biosphere reserve. Despite concerns about the impact of visitors on bird populations, the site continues to be legally protected, balancing conservation with measured exploration.

The cave is a popular vertical caving destination. Cavers anchor their ropes on the low side, where bolts have been installed in the rock and the area is clear of obstructions. Rappelling to the floor can take up to an hour.

Climbing back out may take from 40 minutes to more than 2 hours.

The Cave of Swallows is considered the world’s largest single-drop cave with 512 meters of depth. The cave is admired by spelunkers of various nationalities as one of the most beautiful vertical caves globally.

The descent into this subterranean world begins at dawn, accompanied by the mesmerizing flight of thousands of swifts and parrots. The film “Point Break” (2015) briefly references this cave and its vast dimensions.

It takes almost 10 seconds for a person without a parachute to freely fall from his mouth to the floor. The pit is popular among extreme sports enthusiasts for base jumping, who later can get out in about 10 minutes using a winch.

Rich finds of silver were discovered in the Naica mountains in the middle of the dry, inhospitable Chihuahua Desert in the 18th century. Later it was discovered that the mine had other valuable metals – zinc and lead.

Now Naica mines are the largest in Mexico and since the 1950s are managed by the company Industrias Peñoles. Ore of metals almost vertically goes down and thus the mines also are becoming deeper and deeper.

Currently, the deepest shafts are more than 850 meters deep.

Geological history

Naica Mines have formed in an ancient fault line above the magma chamber. Magma causes the high temperature in the cave but it also has formed the minerals of Naica Mine including the giant crystals.

The heated groundwater here dissolved surrounding rocks and became saturated with sulfide ions. This overheated solution went upwards until it met with the cool groundwater from the surface – this groundwater was saturated with oxygen.

As the oxygen and sulfide ions met and magma-heated water cooled down, gypsum crystals started to grow. Slowly, over the period of approximately 500,000 years formed crystals of incredible size.

Their creation was a lucky coincidence of many factors and one factor is – stable, uniform conditions with the same flow of water, the same pressure and temperature (around 54 °C) over these 500,000 years.

Already in 1910 miners hit an unusual cavern in Naica Mines – this cave was filled with enormous, up to 1 meter long, transparent selenite crystals. This cavern got a name – Cave of Swords (“Cueva de las Espadas”).

Eloy and Javier Delgado discovered the Cave of Crystals in April 2000 while excavating a new tunnel. Both miners nearly died while walking through the discovered wonder. This discovery became a worldwide sensation.

However, its discovery was pure luck – this new tunnel is located quite far from the main body of ore.

Cave of the Crystals is located 290 meters below the land surface.

The cave is shaped like a horseshoe, approximately 10 by 27 m large.

The most peculiar feature is the giant crystals of selenite (gypsum). The largest of these crystals is 12 m long, has a diameter of 4 m and its estimated weight is 55 tons. It is one of the largest known crystals in the world.

The floor of the cave is almost completely covered with these giant crystals but even more amazing are the selenite giants which protrude from the walls and ceiling and often reach the opposite side of the cavern.

These giant, translucent crystals have kept their morphological perfectness.

The cave is protected with a special door in order to minimize the impact of temperature fluctuations on the crystals. Other parts of Naica Mines are ventilated to bring down the temperature to a bearable 35 °C.

The temperature in the cave might reach 58 °C but for the most part of the time, it is 45 – 50 °C. Even more dangerous is the combination of the temperature and the high levels of humidity reaching 99%.

The human body will not survive in such conditions. There are no guarantees about the safe “working” of the heart and brain, hot water condenses in the lungs and interferes with free breathing, burning the eyes.

If a person loses consciousness in a cave, it is very difficult for others to rescue him. Others are exposed to the same dangerous conditions. Even 10 minutes in the cave will cause irreparable harm to health.

For this purpose, special protective equipment has been developed, and medics closely monitor the health of the cave researchers. The time spent inside these caves is strictly taken into account and very limited.

In Naica Mines have discovered 5 caverns with amazing crystals:

• Cave of the Swords (Cueva de las Espadas”)
• Cave of the Crystals (“Cueva de los Cristales”)
• Queen’s Eye Cavern (“Cueva del Ojo de la Reina”)
• Candles Cave (“Cueva de las Velas”)
• Ice Palace (Palacio de Hielo”)

The Cave of Swords was the first cave discovered. Experts suggest that the crystals in this cave are smaller because this cave is closer to the land surface and the heated water cools faster than in the Cave of Crystals.

The Cave of the Crystals was discovered in April 2000. In 2000, the Delgado brothers also discovered the Queen’s Eye cave at a depth of 300 meters. This is a cavity 8 m wide, lined with giant translucent selenite crystals.

In the same year, Candles Cave with absolutely unique crystals. In 2009, the Ice Palace was discovered at a depth of 150 m. It is not flooded, with smaller crystals, but impressive in shape – incredibly thin needles.

Maybe one day new caves will appear. There is also a possibility that the entrances to further caves are hidden behind the crystals in the Cave of Crystals, but exploring them will require significant damage to the cave.

The natural groundwater level in this place is at a depth of 110 meters. Thus, to maintain activities at the depth of 850 m mining company has to pump the water away. Each minute they are pumped away 55,000 liters.

This water irrigates the desert around Naica town. Thanks to this, agricultural land has developed here over the past decades. One day mining operations will end and groundwater pumps will be switched out.

And that day, the Cave of the Crystals will be filled with hot water again.

Since there is no water in the cave, the crystals quickly deteriorate. Their transparency decreases, cracks form and the crystals become brittle. Researchers find more and more pieces of broken crystals on the cave floor.

When water will be back in the cave, the formation of crystals will start again.

Chapultepec Park is the second largest city park in Latin America, after the Santiago Metropolitan Park in Chile, measuring in total just over 686 hectares (1700 acres).

It is classed as one of the world’s largest and most visited urban parks, along with Bois de Boulogne in Paris, the Imperial Gardens in Tokyo, and Central Park in New York City.

The name “Chapultepec” means “at the grasshopper hill” in Nahuatl and refers to a large rock formation that is the center of the park’s first section.

Originally, this area was a forest outside of Tenochtitlan, once considered sacred in pre-Columbian times, but today it is entirely within the city (mostly in the borough of Miguel Hidalgo), surrounded by some of its primary business and commercial districts.

The park is divided into three sections, the first and oldest surrounded by fence and shut at night, and the other two left open.

It contains nine museums, amusement parks, winding paths, commemorative sculptures, lakes and fountains.

Paseo de la Reforma passes most of the park and cuts through a portion on the north side.

One of the park’s main functions is to be an ecological space for Greater Mexico City. It is considered the first and most important of Mexico City’s “lungs”, with trees that replenished oxygen to the Valley of Mexico.

It is a large unpaved area that allows for aquifer recharge, ameliorates the “heat-island” effect, and attracts rain. It is a refuge for migratory birds from Canada, the U.S. and other regions of Mexico, including the red-tailed hawk, the Harris’s hawk, wild ducks, geese, and others.

Anywhere from 38 to 60 species of birds can be found here, including some native non-migratory species such as the Yucatán canary and a type of heron called the “water dog”.

There are also more than a dozen species of reptiles and amphibians, and a number of species of various types that are in danger of extinction, including the axolotl, Goodeidae, alandrias, the carpenter bird, and the white-tailed hummingbird.

The park is home to a large number of Montezuma cypress, locally called “ahuehuete” trees, with some hundreds of years old. Many of them were planted by the Aztecs.

There are also 165 other species, mostly in the third section. It is estimated by city authorities that MXN$100 million are needed annually to maintain the ecology of the park.

For Mexico City residents, the park is valued as a cultural and historic area as well as green space. The area has vestiges showing human presence as far back as the Toltecs with a number ruins from the pre-Columbian through to the colonial period.

Archeological studies have unearthed and identified tombs associated with Teotihuacan, a Toltec altar on the summit of Chapultepec Hill, remains of a colonial era aqueduct, paths associated with Nezahualcoyotl, and an area where Aztec priests ingested peyote as part of religious rites.

One notable site is the Baths of Moctezuma, which was a systems of tanks, reservoirs, canals and waterfalls constructed by the Aztecs.

The Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia has the park, as well as the Castle of Chapultepec on the hill, listed as Mexican heritage sites. They submitted the area for consideration as a World Heritage Site in 2001.

The park received an estimated 15 million visitors each year, and daily visits exceed 250,000. Sunday is the most popular day to visit because the museums are free, and visitors may spend the entire day in one or more sections viewing the attractions, picnicking, or grilling.

Despite its local popularity, however, foreign visitors usually only see the small fraction of the park near the museums.

The park is easy to get to via public transportation. Metro Lines 1 and 7 have stations at park entrances to the east and south respectively. Several bus lines along Paseo de la Reforma.

The oldest and most visited portion of the park is called the “first section”. It is the most developed area, and it has a wrought iron fence and gates that extend around its perimeter.

It contains most of the best known of the park’s attractions, such as the Lago Menor (Small Lake), the Nezahuacoyotl Fountain, the Fuente de las Ranas, the Quixote Fountain, the Templanza Fountain, the Altar a la Patria, the Niños Héroes Obelisk, the Monumento a las Águilas Caídas (Monument to Fallen Eagles), The Ahuehuete, and the Baths of Moctezuma.

The best known museums in the park are in this section, including Museo Nacional de Historia-Chapultepec Castle, the Casa del Lago, the National Auditorium, the Centro Cultural del Bosque, the National Museum of Anthropology, the Rufino Tamayo Museum, and the Museo de Arte Moderno (Modern Art Museum).

It also contains the Chapultepec Zoo, the Jardín de la Tercera Edad, and the Audiorama.

These are connected by various paved paths, many of which have names such as the Avenue of the Poets, which is lined with bronze busts of famous literary figures. The pathway also has trees that are hundreds of years old.

This section of the park also contains the geological formation that gave the park/forest its name: Chapultepec Hill. It is a formation of volcanic rock and andesite, which is common in the Valley of Mexico and contains small caves and sand deposits.

“Chapultepec” in Nahuatl means “grasshopper hill” but it is not clear whether the “Chapul” (grasshopper) part refers to the shape of the hill, or the abundance of grasshoppers in the surrounding woods.

This hill was considered special during the pre-Hispanic period from the Toltecs in the 12th century to the Aztecs up to the time of the Conquest by the Spanish. Remains of a Toltec altar have been found at the top of the hill, a number of burials and its use was reserved only for Aztec emperors and other elite.

After the Conquest, a small chapel dedicated to the Archangel Michael was built on the hill by Claudio de Arciniega in the middle of the 16th century.

In the 18th century, the Spanish built the Chapultepec Castle, which initially was a summer retreat for viceroys.

After the Independence, the Castle remained for the elite, becoming the official resident of the Mexico’s heads of state, including the Emperor Maximilian, who had the Paseo de la Reforma built to connect this area with the historic center of the city. During this time, the Castle and the gardens around it were enlarged and embellished a number of times, giving the Castle a floorspace of 10,000 square m. The most outstanding of the patios and garden is the Alcázar.

In 1940, the president’s residence was moved to the nearby Los Pinos complex and the castle was converted into the National Museum of History, under the auspices of the federal government, along with the rest of the hill.

The museum contains twelve rooms which are open to the public, many of which as they were when the Emperor Maximilian lived there.

It also contains a collection of furniture from the colonial period to the 19th century, utensils, suits, coins, manuscripts, sculptures in clay ivory and silver, and many other art works.

A number of items belonged to figures such as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, José María Morelos y Pavón, Agustín de Iturbide, Benito Juárez, Emiliano Zapata, and others. In addition, there are murals by José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros and Juan O’Gorman.

At the foot of the hill, there is a large monument to the Niños Héroes (also called the Altar a la Patria), who reportedly threw themselves to their death at the Castle rather than surrenderring to invading U.S. troops in 1847.

This monument consist of six marble columns surrounding a mausoleum with the remains of the six cadets, and a figure of a woman who represents Mexico.

The Chapultepec Zoo

The Chapultepec Zoo is the most visited attraction of the park, especially on Sundays. It is estimated that half of all park visitors come to the zoo.

The zoo was established by Alfonso L. Herrera, a biologist, and opened in 1924. Herrera’s intention was to reestablish the zoo tradition of the old Aztec emperors and improve upon it. He began with species native to Mexico and then added others from the rest of the world. He modeled the zoo after the Bioparco di Roma in Rome, Italy.

Between 1950 and 1960, the zoo expanded and added new species. In 1975, the zoo obtained two pandas from China. Since then, at least eight panda cubs have been born at the zoo, making it the first institution outside of China to breed the species.

From 1992 to 1994, the zoo was completely remodeled, categorizing exhibits by habitat rather than type of species. Some of the most important Mexican species at the facility include a rabbit native to only a few volcanoes in Mexico, zacatuche (or teporingo), the Mexican wolf, ocelot, jaguar and ajolote.

Today, it has 16,000 animals of 270 species, separated into four sections according to habitat: tropical forest, temperate forest, desert and grassland. About one third of the animals are native to Mexico.

National Museum of Anthropology

Most of the museums in the first section are located along Paseo de la Reforma.

Of all of the museums in the park, the most famous is the National Museum of Anthropology, considered one of the most famous archeological museums in the world. The museum has a number of antecedents beginning from the colonial period, but the current institution was created in the 1960s with the building and grounds designed by architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez.

This museum has an area of 44,000m2 and 25 exhibit halls with sections devoted to each of the major pre-Hispanic civilizations in Mexico, including the Aztec, Maya, Toltec and Olmec. The permanent collection is quite large, and many visitors spend several hours seeing it. There are also temporary exhibits displayed year-round.

Rufino Tamayo Museum

The Rufino Tamayo Museum is in the first section on Paseo de la Reforma. The permanent collection mostly focuses on the namesake, but there are also works by other Mexican and foreign artists that Tamayo donated. During his lifetime, Tamayo collected one of the most important collections of 20th-century art, which included art works from Andy Warhol, Picasso, Miró, Fernando Botero, Magritte, and about 100 others.

Museum of Modern Art

The Museo de Arte Moderno (Museum of Modern Art) is located on Paseo de la Reforma and Calle Gandhi, and it hosts various temporary exhibits. The museum’s complex was constructed using modern architecture techniques, which consisted of two circular buildings surrounding a sculpture garden. It contains one of the leading collections of modern art of the 20th century of Mexico. Artists include Dr. Atl, Frida Kahlo, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Remedios Varo.

Casa de Cultura Quinta Colorada

The Casa de Cultura Quinta Colorada was originally a former accommodation for the forest rangers of the area in the early 20th century. The house was made using European style architecture techniques. It hosts various cultural activities for visitors and has a small planetarium.

Museum of History (Museo del Caracol)

At the foot of the Chapultepec Hill is an extension of the Museum of History called the Museo del Caracol (Snail Museum). This museum narrates the history of Mexico in the winding form of a snail, the shape of the building from which its name comes.

Luis Barragán House and Studio

The Luis Barragán House and Studio is the former home of architect Luis Barragán. The house was kept nearly intact since 1948, including the workshop. It also exhibits artworks from the 19th and 20th century.

Lago Menor (Smaller Lake)

One of the most popular features in the first section is an artificial lake called the Lago Menor (Smaller Lake). It is one of two lakes in the park; the larger one, Lago Major, is in the second section. Lagor Menor, however, attracts more visitors than the other.

Visitors can rent paddleboats and small rowboats at the lake. The Lago Menor was created at the late 19th century, when the entire first section (then the entire park) was redesigned.

Casa del Lago

At the same time Lago Menor was created, the Casa del Lago was constructed. It is shallow with an average depth of a little over one meter. The Casa del Lago, also called the Restauranto del Lago, is now a restaurant that serves continental food and some Mexican dishes.

Fountain of Chapultepec

In addition to the lake, there are a number of large fountains. The Quixote Fountain is surrounded by four benches covered in tile with images of Don Quixote. To the side of this plaza, there are two columns. On the right there is a figure of Quixote with the face of Salvador Dalí and on the other side, there is a depiction of Sancho Panza with the face of Diego Rivera. Both statues were made of bronze by José María Fernández Urbina.

The Fuente de las Ranas (Fountain of the Frogs) was created in the 1920s, by Miguel Alessio Robles in Seville, Spain.

The Nezahualcoyotl Fountain was inaugurated in 1956. It measures 1,250m2 and surrounds a statue of the Aztec ruler nine meters tall in black stone.

Trees

Throughout the first section there are different kinds of trees; the most common one is the Montezuma cypress, locally called “ahuehuetes”. A number of these are hundreds of years old, although there are far fewer due to a past disease epidemic. One dead specimen is called the Ahuehuete of Moctezuma, commonly referred to as El Sargento (The Sargeant) or as the Centinela (Sentinel). The last two names were given by cadets of the Heroic Military Academy during the 19th century. The 500-year-old tree remains as a monument to the area’s history, measuring fifteen meters high, forty in circumference. Another tree of the species, still living, is El Tlatoani, which is more than 700 years old and is the oldest tree in the park. In addition to these trees, there are sequoias, cedars, palms, poplars, pines, ginkgos, and more.

Los Pinos

Los Pinos has been the official residence of the presidents of Mexico since 1941. Though the presidential residence is inside the park, there is no public access to it. The residence is made up of white stucco structures; this architecture can be seen from Molino del Rey, a former millhouse and site of a battle of the Mexican–American War in 1847. Los Pinos is on one edge of the park.

The National Auditorium

The National Auditorium is one of Mexico City’s principal arenas. It primarily hosts musical ensembles and dance troupes. Singers from Mexico and abroad perform there yearlong.

Cultural events

The park hosts a number of cultural events during the year. One of them is the performance of Swan Lake, which is conducted on a stage in Lago Menor. This performance has been given since 1978 in warmer months. Night tours by train that go around the park are popular around Christmas time, when many of the attractions are lit for the season. The Ballet Folklórico de México also holds performances on occasion at the Chapultepec Castle.

The second section of the park was created in 1964 by expanding over former farmlands. This section is separated by Anillo Periférico road and measures 160.02 hectares. It is not as developed as the first section, but it is also dedicated to recreational activities. Lago Mayor overlaps with the second section; this part of the lake contains the Monumental Fountain, the largest one in Latin America. It is surrounded by several restaurants and cafés. Nearby are the Compositores, Xochipilli and Las Serpientes fountains.

The area contains jogging trails, places for yoga and karate, and other exercise facilities on the tree areas. Around 1,000 people each day go to this section to exercise. The jogging trails were doubled from 2 km to 4 km in the late 2000s.

One part of this section is dominated by the Feria de Chapultepec amusement park, located near the Lago Mayor, just off the Anillo Periférico. The park has a capacity of 15,000 people and is visited by about two million each year. It includes several roller coasters, including the Montaña Infinitum.

This section contains museums such as Papalote Museo del Niño, the Technology Museum of the Federal Electricity Commission, and the Museo de Historia Natural. El Papalote Museo del Niño is an interactive children’s museum which invites children to touch and manipulate the exhibits. The Technology Museum consists of four very large halls which exhibit modern advances in technology. In its surrounding gardens, there are old locomotives, railcars and tracks. It also contains an auditorium for events and a planetarium. The Museo de Historia Natural focuses mostly on the origins of life with its permanent exhibits. It also hosts temporary exhibits and academic conferences.

The Cárcamo de Dolores hydraulic structure, found in this section, was built between 1942 and 1952 to capture water sent to the Valley of Mexico from the Lerma River basin in the Toluca Valley. The major parts open to the public consist of a pavilion, covered with an orange half cupola and a fountain with an image of Tlaloc. Originally, the water was stored underground and pumped to the surface when needed. The main building has serpent heads on the four corners and there is a mural painted by Diego Rivera called “El agua: origen de la vida”.

In 2010, the second section of the park underwent rehabilitation, funded in part by a private charity group called Probosque de Chapultepec. Most of the work was done on the jogging track, the Tlaloc Fountain, the Cárcamo de Dolores building, the mural “El agua: origen de la vida”, and the construction of an agora. These works together form the Museo Jardín del Agua (Water Garden Museum). In addition, a large number of dead trees were removed and about 800 new ones planted.

The third section of the park is located on the west side of the second and was inaugurated in 1974. It has a surface area of 242.9 hectares. It is the least developed and least visited; it is filled with trees and wildlife.

Although some recreational activities such as archery and horseback riding are practiced there, the importance of this area is primarily as an ecological preserve for various species of flora and fauna, such as snakes and lizards.

In 1992, it was decreed as a Protected Natural Area.

In 2010, there were reports of feral dogs attacking visitors in the third section.
Approximately 150 feral dogs were living in the small canyon areas of this section that year.

According to archeological studies, there has been human presence in the area since at least the pre-Classic period. The first identified culture archeologists have evidence for is the Toltecs. The Toltecs named the area “grasshopper hill”, which would later become “Chapultepec”. Remains of a Toltec altar have been found on the hill’s summit. In the Classic Period, the area was occupied by people of the Teotihuacan culture. When the Mexicas, or Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico, it was inhabited by a people called the Tepanecas of Azcapotzalco.

When the Aztecs took over the Valley of Mexico, they considered the hill as both a sacred and strategic site. They began to use the area as a repository for the ashes of their rulers, and the area’s springs became an important source of fresh water for the capital of Tenochtitlan. Eventually, the area became a retreat strictly limited to the ruling and religious elite. In the 1420s, ruler Nezahualcoyotl was the first to build a palace in the area. Moctezuma II built reservoirs to raise exotic fish and to store water. He also had trees and plants from various parts of the Aztec Empire planted here. In 1465, Moctezuma I ordered his portrait carved into a rock at the foot of the hill and constructed the Tlaxpana aqueduct, which measured three km.

During the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, one of the last battles between the Spanish and ruler Cuauhtémoc occurred at Chapultepec Hill in 1521. Shortly thereafter, the Franciscans built a small hermitage over the indigenous altar on Chapultepec Hill. Hernán Cortés appropriated Chapultepec and granted the northern portion to Captain Juan Jaramillo, who would become the husband of La Malinche. However, in 1530, Charles V decreed the area as the property of the Mexico City and open to it to the public. The Spanish continued to use the Aztec aqueduct, but in 1771, another one was deemed necessary for the growing population of Mexico City. The Chapultepec aqueduct led water from the springs of the forest to an area in what was the south of the city, called Salto del Agua. It flowed over 904 arches and 3,908 meters. In 1785, the Franciscan hermitage was demolished to make way for the Chapultepec Castle, converting the hill and the forest around it into a summer retreat for colonial viceroys. The area was walled off from the general public and was the scene of elegant parties.

After Mexico achieved independence in 1821, the Castle became the official residence of the head of state. A number of these, especially Emperor Maximilian I and his wife, embellished and expanded the castle as well as the forest area around it. The Hill was also the site of the Battle of Chapultepec in 1847, between Mexican and U.S. troops led by General Winfield Scott. A band of cadets were at the Castle when it was attacked and near the end of the battle, six of them decided to jump to their deaths from the castle on the hill to the rocks below. These six are referred to as the “Niños Héroes” and are honored by a monument near where their bodies fell. The castle remain the official residence of Mexican presidents until 1940, when this function as moved to the Los Pinos residence and the Castle was converted into a museum.

Since then, the park has been expanded twice, adding the second section in 1964 and the third section ten years later. Since then, the focus has been on the maintenance of the area. By 1998, the paths of the park, especially in the first section, were saturated with over 3,000 peddlers with few regulations or norms.

In 2005, the first section of the park was closed for renovations, effectively evicting all vendors from the area. When it reopened months later, permits for selling were strictly limited and police began to crack down on vendors in the park. However, some vendors continue to operate illegally and exchange information on the police’s steps with radio communication equipment. At the entrances to the park, where the vendor restrictions are not in place, some vendors sometimes block the entrances and cover signs so that visitors are forced to pass through their stands.

Maintenance issues have closed parts of the park from time to time. In 1985, the park was closed to exterminate rats and other pests. In 2005, the park was filled with trees in poor condition, had scum in the lakes, and had trash piles in several locations, including fountains. From that year until 2010, the park was closed section by section for restoration and rehabilitation projects. The first section was closed for eight months in 2005, for work that included dredging lakes, pruning and removing trees, picking up tons of debris, and expelling hundreds of vendors. Shortly thereafter, projects on the second and third sections of the park began, mostly to control or eliminate rats, feral dogs and cats, pigeons and other introduced species. In 2005, migratory birds began to make a comeback at the park with the eradication and relocation of introduced species such as geese and ducks, which were aggressive to other species. The park hosts more than 100 species of this kind of bird, with some reproducing here for the first time in decades. Other native mammals returned in 2005, including the tlacuache and the cacomistle.

In 2010, projects included renovating jogging tracks, and planting more than 800 trees, including acacia café, pino azul, pino peñonero, holm oak, pino moctezuma, pino prieto and grevilia, as well as the removal of dead or severely infected trees. These rehabilitation efforts of the 2000s were funded by a combination of government and private funds from groups like Probosque.

Metro Chapultepec or Auditorio
There are also a lot of “colectivos” along Paseo de la Reforma.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

Copper Canyon’s climate varies significantly depending on the elevation. In the higher altitudes, temperatures can be quite cold, especially during the winter months. Snowfall is not uncommon in these areas.

The alpine climate of the mountainous regions of Copper Canyon has moderate temperatures from October to November and March to April. The bottom of the canyons are humid and warm and remain that way throughout the year.

As you descend into the lower parts of the canyon, the climate becomes more temperate and even subtropical in some areas. Summers tend to be warmer, with temperatures in the lower canyons often reaching hot levels.

During the warmest months, April through June, drought is a problem with little rainfall until July when the rainy season begins.

The best time to visit Copper Canyon

The best time to visit Copper Canyon depends on your preferences and the type of activities you plan to engage in.

For those who want to explore the Copper Canyon’s beauty without extreme temperatures, the ideal time is during the spring and fall (March to May and September to November).

The weather is mild, and the landscape is lush and vibrant during these months.

If you’re interested in witnessing the unique culture of the Tarahumara, consider visiting during their major cultural events and festivals, such as Semana Santa or the Ultramarathon races, which are held in late February or early March.

The New Spanish arrived in the Copper Canyon area in the 17th century and encountered the indigenous locals throughout Chihuahua. For the New Spanish, America was a new land to explore for gold and silver and also to spread Christianity.

The New Spanish named the people they encountered “Tarahumara”, derived from the word Rarámuri, which is what the indigenous people call their men. Some scholars theorize that this word may mean ‘The running people’.

During the 17th century, silver was discovered by the Hispanics in the land of the Tarahumara tribe.

Some were enslaved for mining efforts. There were small uprisings by the Tarahumara but to little avail. They eventually were forced off the more desirable lands and up into the canyon cliffs.

The Sierra Tarahumara Occidental region contains numerous species of pine and oak trees. Mexican Douglas-fir trees cover the high plateaus in altitudes over 2,400 m, but due to deforestation in the area, many species of wildlife are endangered.

Cougars live in the remotest of regions and are rarely seen.

After the summer rainy season, these upper regions blossom with wildflowers until October.

From 1,200–to 2,400 m, oak trees grow in huge forests as well as the more shade-tolerant types of trees. In the fall the forests become brilliant with color from Andean alder and poplar trees.

Brushwood and scrubby trees grow on the canyon slopes, which can accommodate the dry season. Huge fig and palm trees thrive at the bottom where water is plentiful and the climate is tropical.

Due to increases in human population, there are many threats to the ecosystems of the Sierra Tarahumara Occidental region.

The government funding to build a “tourist-friendly” atmosphere poses threats to the environment and indigenous cultures. Roads have been built in the former isolated mountainous zones.

Agriculture and grazing as well as the cutting of hardwoods and other trees for firewood has accelerated a soil erosion problem.

Mesquite (Prosopis spp.) and desert ironwood trees are cut and exported primarily to the U.S. for charcoal. Amapa trees yield highly prized lumber for building and furniture making. Other trees are also cut and sold for their high-priced lumber.

Over-harvesting of the forests in the area has caused the extinction of the imperial woodpecker and Mexican wolf.

Approximately, two percent of the original old-growth forest remains.

However, a massive forest-harvesting project in the region has been abandoned, for now, by the World Bank. The Mexican forestry department deemed these species of trees “legally protected,” but enforcement is difficult.

The government has taken measures to halt or slow down the cultivation of opium poppies and cannabis by spraying crops with herbicides, which threaten the populations of many different species.

A large saturnid moth (Rothschildia Cincta) is one of the species that are threatened by the spraying. Their cocoons are used by the native population for ceremonial purposes.

Open-pit mining for copper, gold, and other metals not only produces air pollution from smelters but has been linked to the serious decline of the Tarahumara frog (Rana tarahumarae).

Every river system has been dammed causing fresh water shortages in nearby desert communities.

An enormous dam is being constructed on the Rio Fuerte, which poses major environmental problems and may lead to massive losses of tropical forests and habitats.

Conservation is underway but remains informal and slow. Mexico has environmental laws but suffers from a lack of financial resources. Enforcement has been lax or non-existent.

Agencies are actively trying to increase the protection of natural preserves.

Copper Canyon’s traditional inhabitants are the Tarahumara or Rarámuri.

With no official census, the population of the Rarámuri people probably ranges between 35,000 and 70,000.

Many Rarámuri reside in the cooler, mountainous regions during the hot summer months and migrate deeper into the canyons in the cooler winter months, where the climate is more temperate.

Their survival strategies have been to occupy areas that are too remote for city people, way off the beaten path, to remain isolated and independent, so as to avoid losing their culture.

Their diet is largely domestic agrarian but does consist of meat from domesticated cows, chickens and goats, wild game, and freshwater fish. Corn (maize) is the most important staple of the Rarámuri’s diet.

The Rarámuri people are known for their endurance running. Living in the canyons, they travel great vertical distances, which they often do by running nonstop for hours.

A popular Rarámuri community race called Rarajipari is played by kicking a wooden ball along the paths of the steep canyons.

Tourism is a growing industry for Copper Canyon, but the acceptance of it is debated in the local communities.

Some communities accept government funding for building roads, restaurants, and lodging to make the area attractive for tourists.

Many other groups of Rarámuri maintain their independence by living in areas that are as far away from city life as possible. Their way of life is protected by the mountainous landscape.

There are many other ways to explore Copper Canyon such as hiking, biking, driving, or horseback riding.

The most popular way is by train, as the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico or ChePe, runs along the main canyon called Canyon Urique, between Chihuahua and Los Mochis, on the Gulf of California.

The Chihuahua al Pacifico began in the late 19th century.

The revolution, lack of funding, and the overall difficulty of building a railroad over such terrain hindered its completion until 1961.

The railroad comprises 405 miles of rails with 39 bridges and 86 tunnels. The total trip takes approximately 15 hours and passes through towns, as well as the towering cliffs of the canyons.

Along the railway, many Tarahumarans lay out their food, crafts, and other wares for sale.

Mexico established the Parque Nacional Barranca del Cobre (Copper Canyon National Park) to showcase this remote area. The park is located in the municipalities of Batopilas, Bocoyna, Guachochi, and Urique.

The Basaseachic Falls National Park around the Basaseachic Falls is located within the canyon area.

Among the villages located in or on the Copper Canyon are:

Bahuichivo, ChePe train stop for Cerocahui, Urique, Piedras Verdes, Tubares.

Basaseachi, located near the pour off of 246 m Cascada Basaseachi in the Barranca Candameña. The towns and ranchos of San Lorenzo, Cahuisori, and Huahumar encircle the rim of the canyon, also home to Mexico’s highest waterfall Piedra Volada.

It is on the main Federal Highway 16 between Chihuahua, Chihuahua, and Hermosillo, Sonora. The Rio Candameña is a tributary of the Rio Mayo which flows into the Gulf of California.

Batopilas, elevation 600 m, is a town on the Batopilas River at the bottom of a canyon; first established by the Spanish around 1632 to mine silver. It is located 30 km southeast of Urique.

Bocoyna, 30 km east of Creel, and on the eastern escarpment of the continental divide.

The nearby Rio Conchos flows into the Rio Bravo (Rio Grande) on the Mexico-Texas border. Carichí, Sisoguichi, and Panalachi are important Tarahumara settlements on the Rio Conchos drainage system.

Cerocahui, 14 km S. of the train stop at Bahuichivo.

Creel, atop the canyon and, at 2,340 meters altitude, marking one of the highest points on the ChePe railroad route (San Juanito is higher at 2,400 meters; a central point for commerce and tourism.

Divisadero is a key train stop and vista point with amazing views down into the Urique Canyon of the Barranca del Cobre. The ChePe train allows a 15-20 minute stop for visitors to enjoy the view.

Divisadero and nearby Areponapuchi (located 4 km south) are major canyon-rim trailheads for hiking into the Rio Urique canyon.

This high mesa is home to three tourist-class hotels strategically located on the canyon rim, and several low-budget guesthouses offering basic accommodations with meals included.

Témoris is a dual town located 400 m apart in elevation. The ChePe train traverses the valley 3 times including a mile-long tunnel to gain elevation. Located on the Rio Septentrion, lower Temoris is at 1000 m.

Urique, 560 m. Located at the bottom of the canyon rim below Bahuichivo, on the Urique River. It is 30 km NW of Batopilas, now connected by a rough road.

The island is located in the Caribbean Sea along the eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula about 82 km south of Cancún and 19 km from the mainland.

The island is about 48 km long and 16 km wide. With a total area of 477.961 sq km, it is Mexico’s largest Caribbean island, the largest permanently inhabited island, and Mexico’s third-largest island, following Tiburón Island and Isla Ángel de la Guarda.

The majority of the island’s population lives in the town of San Miguel, which is on the island’s western shore.

The municipality, which includes two small areas on the mainland enclaved within the Municipality of Solidaridad with a land area of 10.423 sq km, has a total land area of 647.33 sq km.

The island is covered with mangrove forest which has many endemic animal species. Cozumel is a flat island based on limestone, resulting in a karst topography. The highest natural point on the island is less than 15 m above sea level.

The cenotes are deep water-filled sinkholes formed by water percolating through the soft limestone soil for thousands of years. Cozumel’s cenotes are restricted to qualified cave divers with appropriate credentials.

Cozumel has several endemic species and subspecies of bird including:

• the Cozumel emerald
• the Cozumel great curassow, which is vulnerable
• the Cozumel thrasher, which is near, if not already, extinct
• the Cozumel vireo
• the Cozumel wren

Endemic dwarf mammals are found on the island:

• the Cozumel fox, which is near, if not already, extinct
• the Cozumel Island coati, which is endangered
• the Cozumel Island raccoon, which is critically endangered

Three rodents are larger than their mainland counterpart: Oryzomys couesi, Peromyscus leucopus, and critically endangered Reithrodontomys Spectabilis, the latter of which is also endemic to the island.

Endemic marine life:

• the splendid toadfish

Other native wildlife includes:

• the American crocodile
• the black spiny-tailed iguana
• the blue land crab (Cardisoma Guanhumi)

Cozumel has a tropical savanna climate that closely borders on a tropical monsoon climate.

The dry season is short, from February to April, with an average of about 45 mm of rain per month. The wet season is from September to October being the wettest months when precipitation averages over 240 millimeters.

Thunderstorms can occasionally occur during the wet season. Temperatures tend to remain stable with little variation from month to month though the temperatures are cooler from December to February with the coolest month averaging 22.9 °C.

Owing to its proximity to the sea, the island is fairly humid, with an average humidity of 83%. The wettest recorded month was October 1980 with 792 millimeters of precipitation and the wettest recorded day was June 19, 1975 with 281 millimeters.

The Maya are believed to have first settled Cozumel by the early part of the 1st millennium AD, and older Preclassic Olmec artifacts have been found on the island as well.

The island was sacred to Ix Chel, the Maya Moon Goddess, and the temples here were a place of pilgrimage, especially by women desiring fertility. There are several ruins on the island, most from the post-Classic period.

The largest Maya ruins on the island were near the downtown area and have now been destroyed. Today, the largest remaining ruins are at San Gervasio, located approximately at the center of the island.

The first Spanish expedition to visit Cozumel was led by Juan de Grijalva in 1518. In the following year, Hernán Cortés stopped by the island on his way to Veracruz.

The Grijalva and Cortés expeditions were both received peacefully by the Maya of Cozumel, unlike the expeditions’ experiences on other parts of the mainland.

Even after Cortés destroyed some of the Maya idols on Cozumel and replaced them with an image of the Virgin Mary, the native inhabitants of the island continued to help the Spanish re-supply their ships with food and water so they could continue their voyages. Gerónimo de Aguilar was rescued at this time.

As many as 10,000 Maya lived on the island then, but in 1520, infected crew members of the Pánfilo Narváez expedition brought the smallpox contagion to the island and by 1570 only 186 men and 172 women were left alive on Cozumel.

In the ensuing years, Cozumel was often the target of attacks by pirates, and in 1650 many of the islanders were forcibly relocated to the mainland town of Xcan Boloná to avoid the buccaneers’ predation.

Later, in 1688, most of the rest of the island’s population, as well as many of the settlements along the Quintana Roo coast, were evacuated inland to towns such as Chemax.

In 1848, refugees escaping the tumult of the Caste War of Yucatán settled on the island, and in 1849 the town of San Miguel de Cozumel was officially recognized by the Mexican government.

In 1861, American President Abraham Lincoln ordered his Secretary of State, William Henry Seward, to meet with the Mexican chargé d’affaires Matias Romero to explore the possibility of purchasing the island of Cozumel to relocate freed American slaves offshore.

The idea was summarily dismissed by Mexican President Benito Juarez, but in 1862 Lincoln did manage to establish a short-lived colony of ex-slaves on Île à Vache off the coast of Haiti.

Although the original airport was a World War II relic and was able to handle jet aircraft and international flights, a much larger airport was built in the late 1970s.

Scuba diving is still one of Cozumel’s primary attractions, mainly due to the healthy coral reef marine communities. These coral reefs are protected from the open ocean by the island’s natural geography.

In 1996, the government of Mexico also established the Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park, forbidding anyone from touching or removing any marine life within the park boundaries.

Despite the importance of healthy reefs to Cozumel’s tourist trade, a deepwater pier was built in the 1990s for cruise ships to dock, causing damage to the reefs, and it is now a regular stop on cruises in the Caribbean.

The island was struck directly by two Category 4 hurricanes during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. In July, Hurricane Emily passed just south of Cozumel, exposing the island to the storm’s intense inner core.

Despite Emily being a powerful storm, it was the larger, stronger, slower-moving Hurricane Wilma that caused the most destruction when it hit the island in October. Wilma’s eye passed directly over Cozumel.

There was some damage to the underwater marine habitat. This included the coral reefs, which suffered particularly at the shallower dive sites, and the fish that inhabit the reefs.

Tourism, diving, and charter fishing comprise the majority of the island’s economy. There are more than 300 restaurants on the island and many hotels, some of which run dive operations, and have swimming pools, private docks, and multiple dining facilities.

Other water activities include para-sailing, kitesurfing, and a tourist submarine.

There are also two dolphinariums. At the cruise ship docks, there are several square blocks of stores selling Cuban cigars, jewelry, T-shirts, tequila, and a large variety of inexpensive souvenirs.

San Miguel is home to many restaurants with a huge variety of different cuisines, along with several discothèques, bars, cinemas, and outdoor stages.

The main plaza is surrounded by shops; in the middle of the plaza is a fixed stage where Cozumeleños and tourists celebrate every Sunday evening with music and dancing.

All food and manufactured supplies are shipped to the island. Water is provided by three different desalination facilities located on the island.

Santa Cruz Festivities and El Cedral Fair

The Festival of Santa Cruz and El Cedral Fair is a historical tradition held in the town of El Cedral, in the south of Cozumel Island at the end of April. This annual event is said to have been started over 150 years ago by Casimiro Cárdenas.

Cárdenas was one of a group that fled to the island from the village of Saban, on the mainland, after an attack during the Caste War of Yucatánin 1848. The attackers killed other villagers, but Cárdenas survived whilst clutching a small wooden cross.

Legend has it that Cárdenas vowed to start an annual festival wherever he settled, to honor the religious power of this crucifix.

Today, the original Holy Cross (Santa Cruz) Festival forms part of the wider Festival of El Cedral, which includes fairs, traditional feasts, rodeos, bullfights, music, and competitions.

The celebrations last about 5 days in all and are held every year at the end of April or the beginning of May.

Cozumel Carnival

The Cozumel Carnival or Carnaval de Cozumel is one of the most important carnival festivities in México. It has been celebrated as a tradition beginning from the late nineteenth century and fills Cozumel’s streets with parades.

It begins the week before Mardi Gras in February. Cozumel’s Carnaval is a tradition that has been passed down through many generations and celebrates a mixture of cultures that escaped the warm embrace of Cozumel.

Dating back to the mid-1800s, Cozumel Carnaval was started by young people dressed in vibrantly colorful costumes known as “Estudiantinas” or “Comparsas”, who expressed themselves in the streets of Cozumel through the art forms of dance, song, and fantasy.

The ferry from Playa del Carmen (0:30-0:40 min) runs each hour from around 7:00 to 23:00.

The geyser type is a calcitic chemical deposit.

• Height: 13 m
• Crater Diameter: 8 m
• Base Exterior Diameter: 23 m
• Weight: approx. 400 tons

Mode of formation: emanating geothermal waters with occasional high-pressured bursts

A description of Cuexcomate from the year 1585 says:

“at one league from this city, close to the bridge that they call Cholula, there is in a large grassland… in circular shape, a rock of 6 or 7 estados high, at the top of which there is a great mouth as if it were made to hold a waterwheel.

The which is very deep, and at the bottom of which there is foul smelling water, a very important thing to note: there they say that in the heathen days they threw in (indios) natives to be sacrificed to their idols”

Cuexcomate was formed, in an area that was to become the town of La Libertad, by hydrothermal circulation prior to the 1064 eruption of Popocatépetl. La Libertad was incorporated into the city of Puebla in 1943.

On November 27, 1970, a plaque was placed to commemorate the founding of La Libertad around the sides of the Cuexcomate geyser.

In ancient times, indigenous threw the bodies of suicide victims into the crater because they did not deserve to be mourned or buried. The people living around the geyser were said to be ‘children of the devil’ or ‘under the rule of the devil’.

From Mexico City or Querétaro, you can take a bus to Ixmiquilpan.

Upon arriving in Ixmiquilpan, you can hire a taxi or take a colectivo (shared van) to reach Tolantongo. The journey to Tolantongo Caves from Ixmiquilpan takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours by road.

The route is well-traveled by both locals and tourists.

Once you arrive in Tolantongo, you’ll need to purchase an entrance ticket to access the canyon and caves. The ticket typically includes access to the thermal pools and other facilities.

• Check the latest travel advisories and local regulations, as conditions and requirements may change.
• Arrive during daylight hours, as the road to Tolantongo can be challenging to navigate at night.
• Bring essentials such as swimwear, sunscreen, insect repellent, and cash for entrance fees.

Ik Kil is near the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, on the highway to Valladolid.

Easily accessible from Chichen Itza and nearby towns.

From Chichen Itza

By taxi from Chichen Itza to Ik Kil cenote (0:03/0:05 min).

From Merida

By bus to Chichen Itza o Pisté (1:45 min), just 3 times a day (by the morning).
There are also “colectivos” from Merida to Chichen Itza or Pisté.
And then by taxi to the cenote (0:03/0:05 min).

From Valladolid

By bus to Chichen Itza o Pisté (0:45 min), each 4 hours.
There are also a lot of “colectivo” from Valladolid to Chichen Itza or Pisté.
And then by taxi to the cenote (0:03/0:05 min).

By taxi from Valladolid to Ik Kil cenote (0:35 min).

In pre-Columbian times the island was sacred to the Maya goddess of childbirth and medicine, Ixchel. When the Spanish arrived in the 16th century they named it “Women’s Island” because of the many images of goddesses.

The first information available about Isla Mujeres is from the period between 564 and 1516 when it was part of the Maya province called Ekab. There were 4 Maya provinces in what is today the State of Quintana Roo.

The Maya also exploited the salt that the island produced in the “salinas” (small interior lagoons). The salt was used not only for the conservation of food and medicine but also as a generally accepted currency for the commerce of goods along the whole Maya region.

Since the 1970s, along with close-by Cancún, there has been substantial tourist development in Isla Mujeres.

Turtle Farm (Tortugranja)

Government-sponsored hatchery for endangered sea turtles. See young turtles in tanks.

Hacienda Mundaca

Located on the road to Garrafon, 3.5 km before Playa Lancheros and Playa Paraíso. It is a 19th-century hacienda built by the pirate Fermin Mundaca. The hacienda includes walls, arches, exotic plants, gardens, bird breeding places, cattle, and an orchard.

A 19th-century slave trader and reputed pirate, Fermín Antonio Mundaca de Marechaja fell in love with a local woman known as La Trigueña (The Brunette). To win her, Mundaca built a two-story mansion complete with gardens and graceful archways.

But while Fermin Mundaca was building the house, La Trigueña married another islander. Brokenhearted, Fermin Mundaca died, and the hacienda fell into disrepair.

Some documents indicate that Mundaca died during a visit to Mérida and was buried there. Others say he died on the island, and indeed there’s a grave in the town cemetery that supposedly contains his remains.

Despite the skull and crossbones on his headstone, there’s no evidence that Mundaca was ever a pirate. Instead, it is said he accumulated his wealth by transporting slaves from Africa to Cuba, where they were forced to work in mines and sugar cane fields.

Today the complex has some walls and foundations, a large central pond, some rusting cannons, and a partially rebuilt house. At the southern end stands a gateway with an impressive stone arch.

The shady grounds make for pleasant strolling, but watch out for the droppings of spiny-tailed iguanas.

North Beach (Playa Norte)

Isla Mujeres has several fine stretches of beach that run along the northern end of the island. It has shallow waters and stunning white sand. The beach is full of fun restaurants and bars as well as several hotels.

This is where the majority of travelers will spend their beach time so it can get crowded during peak season.

The northern end of the island is Playa Norte which has a wide swatch of sand that is lined with palm trees and also a few beachfront restaurants and bars. The soft white sand and level beach area make for an ideal beach volleyball court.

As of November 2016, Playa Norte has been badly eroded with much of the beach missing.

The main volleyball-playing area on Playa Norte in front of Buho’s swing bar is now gone, a victim of changing tides and a diminishing beach which locals attribute to the moving of sand from the surrounding ocean floor to build back Wilma-damaged Cancun’s beaches.

Alas, the big, beautiful pre-Wilma Playa Norte is no longer, though there is hope that it will eventually come back.

Playa Sol

At the northwestern tip of the island and is the neighboring beach to Playa Norte.

Playa Sol is the best location to watch the sunset and is usually a little less crowded than the neighboring beach. Although it is less crowded, the water is not as shallow and clear as Playa Norte.

One other advantage is that drinks are less expensive along Playa Sol.

Ruins of Ixchel Temple

A small Maya goddess Ixchel temple was once located on the southern tip of the island.

A small ruin that was once a lighthouse and temple to Ixchel, goddess of fertility. However, in 1988, Hurricane Gilbert caused extensive damage, leaving most of the foundation but only a very small portion of the temple.

Now there’s a modern art sculpture park in the area as well.

Free after 5 o’clock.

Whale Shark Tours

From mid-May through September hundreds of whale sharks gather in the waters near Isla Mujeres, with peak season in July and August.

Trips can be booked anywhere on the island, but official operators who have agreed to uphold certain standards and implement safety measures to protect the sharks operate mostly out of dive shops and charge a set price.

Tours will generally include breakfast, snorkeling gear, 8-10 people per boat, a 45-60 minute trip out to the whale shark area, and then 3-4 trips in the water with the sharks for 2-15 minutes each time, depending on the number of sharks (more sharks, more time in the water).

The return trip includes lunch, ceviche, and a snorkel at a local reef. All passengers must wear life jackets in the water unless they have their wet suit, a useful tip since it is much easier to swim with the sharks in a wet suit than it is in a bulky life jacket.

Garrafon Park

The southern side of the island lacks a sandy beach.

This side of the island offers snorkeling where fish abound and the crystal-clear water makes for an enjoyable swim. The reef that lies within the protective buoys has been severely damaged by storms and years of careless treatment by snorkelers.

A revamp of the park has created a healthier environment for the coral, and it thrives more with each passing year.

Tour boats from Cancun bring hordes of day-trippers who mostly stay within the park. A useful tip for those staying on the island is that you can snorkel in the waters adjacent to Garrafon Park, and the sea life is still very impressive.

Dolphin Discovery

Located on the northwest side of the island on the Peninsula of Sac Bajo is Dolphin Discovery. It is a small amusement park well known for allowing visitors to interact and swim with dolphins in an enclosed area.

The park has a list of activities ranging from dolphins to other marine mammals. If traveling from Cancun, visitors can take a bus or taxi to Playa Langosta which is located at Boulevard Kukulcan Km. 5.

It is between the Casa Maya Hotel and Vacation Club International. There, Dolphin Discovery representatives can check visitors in and direct them to a ferry which takes 40 minutes to get to the docking area of Dolphin Discovery.

Scuba diving and snorkeling

Scuba diving and snorkeling. around Isla Mujeres is unforgettable.

The Manchones Reef begins just off of Isla’s shore and the Cuevones and Banderas Reefs are close by. The waters are calm and clear – perfect for the beginner as well as the advanced diver.

With 50 accessible sites, Isla Mujeres is a great option and a little unknown with all the hype that Cozumel gets. Those staying in Playa Norte may enjoy snorkeling in the lagoon next to the Avalon Hotel which has a respectable number of fish in an easily-accessible location.

Fishing

One does not need to shell out large sums of money to go sport fishing on Isla. Just talk to the local hotel/guesthouse employee and they can set you up with a local fisherman who will take you out fishing.

Whatever fish you catch, you can take to a local restaurant and they will prepare the fish however you like.

Local transportation on the island of Isla Mujeres consists primarily of taxis golf carts and moped scooters. As of 2005, there were 121 taxis, 500 golf carts, and 1500 moped scooters.

There is also a bus service that runs from the downtown to the different neighborhoods.

For multiple excursions to the south end of the island, the best option is to rent a scooter or golf cart. The roads are all paved and the main road makes a loop the whole way around the island.

Be aware that when driving on the Caribbean side of the island, there are occasional strong gusts of wind that can really take you by surprise on a scooter, as can the many topes, or speed bumps.

The island is also served by Isla Mujeres National Airport.

Ferry boats run from the island and Puerto Juárez or Gran Puerto on the mainland.
Ferry boats run from Cancun to Isla Mujeres and vice-versa during the day.

Ferry from/to Puerto Juarez (30 min) each 30 min.
Ferry via Playa de Tortugas (40 min) every 2 hours.

There are numerous places to eat fresh seafood cooked with local and traditional recipes, and other restaurants offer Mexican, Yucatecan, Italian, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Hebrew, French, Thai, Cuban, and Maya cuisine.

Hotel prices vary from cheap to very expensive at the resorts on the southwest end such as Hotel Villa Rolandi, and Playa Norte.[citation needed] In the north is El Centro (downtown), whose central axis, Hidalgo Street, is the main dining and entertainment area.

Also located on the north end is a famous beach called Playa Norte, which has recovered quickly since Hurricane Wilma hit the area in 2005. Besides these attractions, swimming with dolphins can also be experienced on the Island.

The island of Isla Mujeres is located close to one of many coral reefs such as the one located in Garrafon Park, which is an area popular for its snorkeling and scuba diving.

The Cancún Underwater Museum, created by English sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, is located off the western coast of Isla Mujeres.

Isla Mujeres is also home to a population of sea turtles. Because of the recent endangerment of sea turtles in the area, a facility was set up on the southern end of the island for their rehabilitation and breeding. This facility is open to the public.

The island’s relative proximity to Cuba has made it one of the favorite stepping stones of Cubans trying to reach the USA in recent years.

The Marietas Islands were originally formed many thousands of years ago by volcanic activity, and are completely uninhabited.

The islands are about an hour-long boat ride west-northwest from the coast of Puerto Vallarta and are visited daily by hundreds of tourists, yet no one can legally set foot on the islands.

In the early 1900s, the Mexican government began conducting military testing on the islands because no one lived there. Many bombings and large explosions took place on the islands causing caves and rock formations to be created.

After a massive international outcry, started by scientist Jacques Cousteau in the late 1960s, the government eventually decided to label the islands a national park and therefore protected against any fishing, hunting, or human activity.

Situated in a sort of open sun-drenched crater, this beach is affectionately nicknamed the “hidden beach” or “beach of love” (Playa del Amor), it is accessible only when the tide is low.

The Islands are home to 44 different species of plants and wildlife. This has led to the inclusion of National Park in RAMSAR sites its designation as a UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve.

Many species of seabirds use the location as feeding and breeding grounds, these include blue-footed boobies as well as the red-billed tropicbirds.

It also has many different varieties of coral, which, in turn, is home to a large variety of reef fish species. The island ecosystem is also home to dolphins, Manta Rays, and a number of tropical fish. Eels and many species of sea turtles are also found in the reefs and the many caves that dot the site.

During the winter months, humpback whales arrive at the islands and can be observed all through winter.

Protection by the government has created an environment conducive to the development of the marine ecosystem and is a popular location for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Not even during whale watching tours, people often report seeing sea turtles, manta rays, octopus, wild dolphins, humpback whales, and thousands of species of tropical fish around the islands. The islands are also home to a few thousand birds, with species such as the blue-footed booby.

Currently, the Mexican government allows only a few companies to go to the islands and allows the landing of passengers onto one secluded beach with the necessary permit from SEMARNAT.

From Punta de Mita, small boats do tours through the islands to see the wildlife of this region. From December to March gray and humpback whales can be observed that come from Alaska to give birth off the coast of Nayarit.

It has been estimated in studies carried out at the University of Guadalajara that the so-called “hidden beach” or the “love beach” can accommodate up to 116 visitors a day without degrading.

The carrying capacity of the entire park is 625 visitors a day. (These studies used the antiquated system of Tourism carrying capacity to estimate visitors). However, the actual number of visitors is typically three of four times this limit with more than 2500 visitors landing on it each day during 2016.

During the Easter holidays, more than 250 boats landed on the island per day, some of them carrying as many as 400 tourists. This has been due to recent interest in the Island.

The number of tourists in 2012 was only 27,500, but this skyrocketed to 127,372 in 2015.

In May 2016, the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas, the national environmental authority in Mexico announced that the Islands and their beaches shall be closed to the general public from May 9.

There have been several reasons presented for this closure, although all of them stem from the increased number of tourists visiting the site. One of the main reasons for the closure is that the coral in the area is being destroyed.

The cause of coral destruction is thought to be a combination of global warming, the presence of boat oil in the water due to excessive tour trips, and physical destruction due to the dropping of anchors up to 250 times a day.

The structure of the Islands and the famous beach is composed of two types of volcanic rocks. The interior is made up of “explosive rocks” which erode quickly and the exterior “shell” is made up of a more resilient form of rock which can withstand erosion to a greater degree.

This does not mean that the island is not susceptible to erosion. According to various studies carried out in 2014 it has been estimated that the Island only has a few thousand more years before it will erode away. However, the rate of erosion is being accelerated by human impact and according to officials, “Excessive tourism could lead to a more rapid destruction of this sanctuary.”

Another problem is the increase in solid waste pollution and hydrocarbon pollution. These pose a threat not only to the coral but to larger animals as well. even the humpback whales have felt the negative impact of hydrocarbon pollution.

The Mexican authorities have outlined several plans to undo the damage done to the beaches and the islands. These will focus not only on repairing the damage already caused by human hands but will also focus on mitigating any further human interference in the ecosystem.

The first part of the plan is to “replant” the coral in order to compensate for the coral that has been destroyed. This is done by attaching new coral to the already existing coral and letting it grow for 3 to 4 months. Another major effort focuses on limiting the damaging human impact on the sanctuary when the islands reopen for the general public and tourists.

According to the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) after the Islands have been reopened for tourism tourist overload may be mitigated by placing a special floating dock in the bay area which will limit the ships that arrive. another measure under consideration is to place buoys around the fragile ecosystem in order to control the number of visitors that are arriving.

A gaping hole in the surface of the lush green island opens onto a secret beach, with ample shade, sun, and crystal-clear water.

Playa del Amor, more commonly known as the Hidden Beach, is a feature of one of the Marieta Islands – a group of small uninhabited islands a few miles off the coast of Mexico. They are very popular tourist destinations because of the abundant marine life populations due to the islands being protected from fishing and hunting by the Mexican government. The depth around the islands is between 70 and 110 feet.

Situated in a sort of open sun-drenched crater, this beach is affectionately nicknamed the “hidden beach” or “beach of love” (Playa del Amor), it is accessible only when the tide is low.
The famous beach looks like something out of a fantasy novel: a wide, sandy cavern with the blue waters of the Pacific rushing in. The islands are an archipelago, a chain of land formations formed by underwater volcano eruptions. They themselves are natural wonders, but it was something other than volcanic activity that brought the burrowed beach to light.

The Marietas Islands were originally formed many thousands of years ago by volcanic activity, and are completely uninhabited. The islands are about an hour-long boat ride west-northwest from the coast of Puerto Vallarta and are visited daily by hundreds of tourists, yet no one can legally set foot on the islands.

It is rumored that the hole that created the Hidden Beach was a result of deliberate bombings. The Marieta Islands have always been completely uninhabited, making them ideal sites for military testing by the Mexican government. Beginning in the early 1900s, weapons and artillery were tested on the Marieta Islands, a safe distance from Mexican citizens but not so safe for Marieta’s topography. Test bombs are the known cause for many caves and rock formations on the island, possibly including the Hidden Beach. Many bombings and large explosions took place on the islands causing amazing caves and rock formations to be created.

In the 1960s, scientist Jacques Cousteau led a protest against harmful human activity on the islands. In 2005, the islands were finally named a national park, Parque Nacional Islas Marietas, making swimming, kayaking, sunbathing, and other forms of recreation the only activity. Extensive military testing damaged flora and fauna on the island for decades, but many years of peace have replenished the islands’ pristine waters and marine life.

The Hidden Beach is invisible from the outside and is only accessible through a long water tunnel that links the beach to the Pacific Ocean. There are approximately six feet of space above the water level, so visitors can arrive at the beach by swimming or kayaking. The islands remain uninhabited but are frequently visited by tourists who come to enjoy the diverse marine wildlife and the unique tropical Eden of Playa del Amor.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

SNational Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

The city of Guadalajara, Jalisco, has relied on Lake Chapala as a principal source of water since the 1950s. Shortly after, a few consecutive years of poor rainfall dramatically decreased the water level of the Lake. The level rebounded until 1979, when Lake Chapala’s water level began rapidly decreasing due to increases in urban water consumption.

Erosion due to deforestation along the Lake as well as the Lerma River has led to increased sedimentation of the Lake, also contributing to loss of lake depth. The shrinking depth has also raised the Lake’s average temperature, resulting in increased evaporation.

Simultaneously, the waters of Lake Chapala are polluted by municipal, industrial and agricultural wastes, coming primarily from the Lerma River. The increased presence of nutrients from the pollution combined with the warmer water has been a boon to an invasive species of water hyacinth.

The increase in water pollution has had devastating effects on the ecology of the lake. Fish stock has decreased dramatically and some endemic species (e.g. a fish colloquially known as ‘white fish’) are on the verge of extinction. Contaminated fish stock has also posed a serious threat to the health and livelihoods of people who depend on the fish for food and their livelihoods.

The drop in the lake’s water level has uncovered political issues that had been hidden for many years. Its fast decay has raised concern in the surrounding areas and in the scientific community. It was the Global Nature Fund’s “Threatened Lake of the Year” in 2004.

By 2007 and 2008, the level of Lake Chapala increased drastically, though the levels have yet to surpass the level in 1979, when the levels began a precipitous decline. Although it is still subject to agricultural, domestic, and industrial sources of contamination, the actual levels of hazardous materials has not been officially assessed with regularity.

Although water level and quality improved due to water treatment plants along the Lerma river, in 2017 the water quality of Lake Chapala water was assessed as a risk to public health.

The lake is also a critical habitat for several species of migratory birds, such as the American white pelican, and home to thousands of indigenous plants and animals.

The Audubonistas de Laguna de Chapala holds an annual Audubon Society sponsored Christmas Bird Count. In 2006, some 117 species were identified and, in 2007, the count was 125. By January, 2011, some 173 species were recorded.

There are numerous towns and cities along the coast of Lake Chapala, including Chapala, Jalisco, Ajijic, San Antonio Tlayacapan, Jocotepec, San Juan Cosala, Mezcala de la Asunción, Tizapan El Alto, La Palma, Michoacán and Ocotlán.

In recent years, because of the benign prevailing climate and attractive scenery, a substantial colony of retirees, including many from the United States and Canada, has established itself on the lake’s shore, particularly in the town of Ajijic, Jalisco, located just west of the city of Chapala.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

• Jaracuaro
• Uranden
• Janitzio
• Pacanda
• Yunuen
• Tecuena

• Pátzcuaro
• Erongarícuaro
• Quiroga
• Tzintzuntzan
• Tocuaro
• Opongio
• Puacuaro
• Arocutin
• Ihuatzio
• Santa Fe La Laguna
• Cucuchuchu
• Uricho
• Napizaro
• Erongarícuaro

The Yucatán Peninsula experiences a tropical climate, with warm temperatures prevailing throughout the year. The region can be prone to rainfall, especially during the wet season from June to October.

The average temperature here ranges from 21°C to 32°C.

Best time to visit Las Coloradas

The ideal time to visit Las Coloradas is during the dry season, which runs from November to April when flamingos were also more active during this period, offering fantastic opportunities for observation and photography.

During this season (from November to April), you can expect clear skies and lower chances of rain, providing optimal conditions for exploring the vibrant pink lakes and the surrounding natural beauty.

• Consider joining a guided tour to learn more about the ecosystem.
• As a protected area, it’s crucial to respect the natural surroundings.
• Avoid disturbing wildlife and follow responsible tourism practices.
• Remember, drones are often restricted in the biosphere reserve.
• Bring light clothing, sunscreen, and a hat because of the intense sun.

Although there are no records of settlers before the establishment of the town of La Ciudad, it is known of the presence of indigenous groups that toured the Sierra Madre Occidental before the construction of sawmills for the use of the forest.

During the visionary administration of President Adolfo López Mateos, the monumental construction of the Durango – Pacifico railroad plan commenced, closely resembling the current iconic Chihuahua – Pacifico railroad project.

Around 1960, the town of La Ciudad emerged as a temporary settlement for railway builders and workers due to the establishment of numerous sawmills in the vicinity.

Several tunnels that pierce through the mountains of the Sierra Madre Occidental were built for this purpose.

The project never concluded because another similar project, the Durango – Mazatlan highway became a more reliable and less expensive project that would communicate the coast with the state capital.

But the tunnels remain and have become one of Mexiquillo’s top attractions.

Towards the end of the government of President López Mateos, the railway plan was canceled and it was decided to continue the road that would finish being built towards the end of the period.

The town of La Ciudad remained on the route of the new road, while the embankments and tunnels remained through the railroad track.

Over time, there were more and more visitors willing to walk to admire the waterfalls from the embankments and tunnels that the project left unfinished, and thus the idea of ​​converting the site into a natural park and at the same time into a tourist development.

Proudly known as “The Spine of the Devil”, the Sierra Madre mountain range presents visitors with the stunning panorama known as Mexiquillo Canyon. Over 8,000 feet deep, this canyon’s amazing beauty draws travelers from all over the world.

The beautiful Mexiquillo waterfall, where the river crosses one of the long-defunct railroad tunnels, and stunning panoramic vistas of Mexiquillo’s canyons, where the entire scene is covered by a green carpet of foliage.

Among the most significant attractions of the place are:

Rock formations: There are numerous rock formations exceed 7 and even 8 meters high In the plains of the park. These formations are constituted by extrusive igneous rock, and to a lesser extent, rhyolite.

There are also some formations of basalt and plutonic rock. This area of ​​the park is known by the locals as “Garden of Stones” alluding to the unique arrangement of the rocks through clearings in the forest.

Waterfalls: There are numerous waterfalls in the park. Some of them are not close to the common route of visitors. The best known is the Mexiquillo waterfall which is 20 m high. The 3 main rivers that cross the park have different waterfalls that exceed 50 m.

Tunnels: Part of the main route of the place is the route of a road commonly called an “embankment”. This road was enabled through the forest to carry the railroad tracks, and, in the steep parts, tunnels were built to save the difficult terrain of a draw.

In Mexiquillo there are nine main tunnels, all with an amplitude of 5 meters and a height of 6 meters to facilitate the passage of the unbuilt railway, the lengths range from 100 m to 1.68 km.

They are built as barrel vaults. It is highly recommended to use flashlights in its path since visibility is lost inside. The last tunnel was blocked in 2009 by a landslide in the rainy season.

Forest: The forest of the place is very dense, with a lot of variation in vegetation due to microclimates caused by topography and altitude.

In the vastness of the forest, you will find several waterfalls of all sizes. The most stunning of all is known as Cascada de Mexiquillo, a 65-foot fall that you can rappel over.

La Ciudad River is the main body of water crossing through the natural park. You may want to just sit and admire it but, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can’t miss the experience of rowing down on board a kayak.

Bring food. There aren’t any stores –remember, this is a mostly virgin area.

You will only find one restaurant on the whole site, which serves “quesadillas” and “gorditas”, but you’re better off preparing some food beforehand or bringing everything that you need to cook some.

Prepare for the weather. Sunscreen, raincoats, jackets, and coats are some of the items that you must pack before your trip to Mexiquillo.

Mexiquillo is close to the town of La Ciudad, from the capital city of Victoria de Durango, it is approximately 135 km west.

The entrance to Mexiquillo Natural Park is located at the 145th km of federal highway number 40 (also known as the Durango-Mazatlan highway), inside La Ciudad Ejido in the municipality of Pueblo Nuevo.

From the main town of La Ciudad, you can catch a bus and a tour guide that will show you around the place.

In this town the movie Caveman was filmed in 1981, starring Ringo Starr. Films were also filmed there like Cuchillo with Andrés García, Dragon Ball Evolution, Gavilan de la Sierra, and Pueblo de Madera with Mario Almada.

Often the place is illuminated with the magical presence of the waiter, barbecue, and cook (Mexican food) known by the locals and hosts of the main parties of the place as “el guiyo”.

Coming from Torreón Coahuila and known for the charisma and good treatment offered to his clients “el guiyo” considers Mexiquillo as his second home.

The reserve was designated in 1980 by President José López Portillo.

In the late 1980s, reserve management was delegated to the Secretariat of Urban Development and Ecology. It was at this time assigned the category of “special biosphere reserve.”

In 1986, the area and boundaries of the zones were defined. In 2000, it received its name (Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca).

UNESCO declared the biosphere a World Heritage site in 2008 as a Natural Asset. Currently, the area is known for tourism, logging, mining, and farming. It has remained mostly rural, noted for the communities of Otomi and Mazahua.

Millions of butterflies travel south into Mexico, from Texas, and then follow the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains to the preserve. The butterflies congregate, clustering onto pine and oyamel trees.

To many, the trees appear orange and branches sag from the weight.

Come spring, these butterflies migrate across America, sometimes ending up in Eastern Canada. Over the time it takes them to make this journey, four generations of monarch butterflies are born and die.

The monarch butterfly’s migration patterns are altered by climate change. During migration, monarchs fly north once they are exposed to cooler temperatures. Dense congregations are thought to conserve heat.

If warmed by the sun, the butterflies take flight. the beating of their wings has been compared to the sound of light rain. The reserve is susceptible to lethal, freezing temperatures.

The reserve extends from the mountainous forests of eastern Michoacán to western Mexico State 100 km northwest of Mexico City.

The reserve in Michoacán contains the highest elevations in the state, including peaks that reach 2,700 masl (meters above sea level).

The climate is classified as being temperate and somewhat moist with a rainy season in the summer. The average maximum temperature is 22 °C (71 °F). Sub-climates exist in this area: cool and semi-moist, semi-cold and semi-moist, and cold and semi-moist.

The reserve is characterized by outcroppings of basalt forming fissures, faults, and cliffs in a northeast-southwest orientation. Rock formations have replaced older ones such as volcanic cones and old lava beds.

The soil is highly permeable, resulting in little surface water. There are some small ponds and arroyos. The forests of pine and oyamel fir trees provide microclimates that provide shelter when temperatures fall to freezing and/or there are winter rains.

This area is predominantly covered in forests. The composition of the forest varies with altitude:

• holm oak up to 2900 masl
• holm oak and pine between 1500 and 3000 masl
• oyamel fir between 2400 and 3600 masl

Below 2400 masl, there are small areas with junipers, cedars, and meadows.

Areas have been modified by agriculture and human settlements.

The wildlife in the area ranges from the sub-tropical to the sub-arctic including a number of species that are endemic only to this area.

These include white-tailed deer, coyotes, long-tailed weasels, grey foxes, rabbits, crows, turkey buzzards, horned owls, as well as various types of hummingbirds, reptiles, and amphibians.

There are fourteen major butterfly colonies located in these rugged forested mountains, which account for more than half of the colonies of the monarch butterfly’s eastern U.S./Canada population.

It is estimated that up to a billion individuals spend winter here in any given year. These colonies are dense, with between six and sixty million butterflies per hectare.

The reserve areas are found in the municipalities of Ocampo, Angangueo, Zitácuaro, and Contepec in Michoacán and Donato Guerra, Villa de Allende, and Temascalcingo in the State of Mexico. They are divided into five principal zones or nuclei.

Eight of the fourteen colonies are in the protected area. The colonies properly cover only 4.7 hectares, but the protected biosphere area covers 56,259 hectares.

Five colonies are open to visitors:

• Sierra Chincua in Michoacan
• El Rosario in Michoacan
• La Mesa in the State of Mexico
• Piedra Herrada in the State of Mexico
• El Capulin in the State of Mexico

There are other colonies near San José Villa de Allende and Ixtapan del Oro, but they are not actively promoted for tourism because of the risk of harm to these butterfly colonies.

El Rosario is the largest sanctuary in Michoacán, where the butterflies cover about 1,500 trees.

While the Biosphere still has problems with infrastructure, most notably with trash (especially around parking and merchant areas), a number of improvements have been recently made, most notably in the sanctuary of El Rosario.

These include well-defined footpaths with security patrols and stone/or concrete steps in steep places to help against erosion. Horsepaths were also eliminated for erosion reasons. Only two areas have significant installations.

In the Sierra Chincua, there is a research facility dedicated to the monarch butterfly and a nursery for reforestation efforts. At Cerro El Companario there are facilities for tourism.

Conservation efforts were first intended to protect the butterflies.

Research, conservation, and other efforts are now focused on preserving the habitat. The interests of residents, land owners, farmers, farmer cooperatives, and local communities have been taken into account regarding conservation but conflicting interests remain.

Even though the Mexican government designated the area as a biosphere reserve most of the area of the preserve is owned by 38 ejidos, seven indigenous communities, and 16 private holdings.

The survival of the species depends on a large number of habitats in Canada, the United States, and Mexico during its annual migration cycle. The three countries adopted a plan in 2008 for the conservation of the butterfly’s habitat through its migration routes.

Within the Biosphere in Mexico, the greatest threats to the butterfly habitat are deforestation, illegal logging, unorganized tourism, forest fires, and lack of cooperation among various authorities.

Most of these dangers come from the surrounding human settlements, which put pressure on the natural areas to provide agricultural space and forestry products such as fuel and wood for manufacturing furniture and other crafts.

The main human communities in the area are Contepec, Temascalcingo, Angangueo, Ocampo, San Felipe del Progreso, Zitácuaro, Villa de Allende, and Donato Guerra.

The closest urban center is Zitácuaro, whose growth has promoted the growth of the other, more rural settlements.

In spite of this, most of the area is still occupied by dispersed rural farming communities of Otomi and Mazahua peoples, especially in Mexico Stateside. Many of the protected hectares do not belong to the government directly, rather they are lands divided among 59 ejidos, thirteen indigenous communities, and 21 individual holdings.

Because of this and the fact that the reserve is divided by a state line, conservation efforts are complicated. Many communities in this region are very poor, with high illiteracy rates and childhood malnutrition, with scarce access to basic services.

In the past, mining provided much of the area’s jobs but mines have since been depleted, and most live on subsistence agriculture.

These communities also have a tradition of exploiting forest areas, mostly to obtain wood for furniture making and other crafts. High unemployment, especially for youth, also provokes migration out into other parts of Mexico and to the United States or Canada.

Most of the butterfly colony areas still host economic activities such as subsistence farming and livestock raising.

In some areas, such as Sierra Chincua, Cerro Pelon, and El Rosario, there are still problems with illegal logging to supply local fuel needs as well as raw materials for handicrafts.

El Rosario is named after the local ejido which belongs to about 10,000 “campesinos” or rural farmers. Many of these people make a living through farming and the sale of handicrafts and food to tourists.

Information about the butterflies is insufficient as it is not known the full extent of their wintering areas or the ecology of the area. Because of this, it is not known how large the reserve really needs to be for the preservation of the butterfly.

Conservation is mostly done through restrictions on the lands but the management of the reserve has not had direct participation by the communities affected by it.

Some public and private entities have worked with communities to develop incentives to conserve forests and take advantage of the tourism that the butterflies bring. However, success in this has been spotty.

Some communities are pushing back against the restrictions and demanding to be allowed to use more land for agriculture.

Since conservation efforts began, there has been progress. While infrastructure is still lacking, advances have been made in areas such as trash control and control of access to the protected areas.

One effort by the World Wildlife Fund has been the coordination of international biologists and ecologists to improve the design of the reserve.

A permanent monitoring system has been established to ensure the forests remain healthy and control clandestine logging and forest fires. On Mexico Stateside, the largest sanctuary is located between San José Villa de Allende and Ixtapan del Oro.

It is not actively promoted for tourism to keep damage to the area to a minimum.

During winter 2008-2009, there are plans to tag as many of the wintering butterflies as possible using very light self-stick tracers so as to not impede their flight. The purpose of this is to determine the butterfly’s exact migration route as they fly back north to the U.S. and Canada in the spring.

Butterfly counts coming in from the United States and Canada in recent years were relatively stable in the 2000s, with a dozen confirmed colonies as of the 2007-2008 winter. In general, the number of colonies varies between eight and twelve.

Five of the eight colonies are located in Michoacán but only two are open to the public: Sierra Chincua in Angangueo and El Rosario in Ocampo. Both receive visitors starting from November until March. They offer guided tours.

In the State of Mexico, La Mesa, and El Capulin are open to the public.

These reserves are visited by thousands of Mexican and international tourists, principally from the United States, Canada, Spain, France, Germany, and Japan. The best-known and most visited butterfly colony is El Rosario.

In February, Angangueo celebrates the Festival de la Mariposa Monarca. This festival began in 1992 to promote awareness of the butterfly habitat, take advantage of the ecotourism it offers and promote the culture and arts of the area.

The festival includes events related to food, music, dance, and exhibitions of arts, crafts, and more. Many of the surrounding communities participate including Aporo, Contepec, Hidalgo, Irimbo, Jungapeo, Maravatío, Ocampo, Senguio, Tuxpan, Tlalpujahua, and Zitácuaro.

In 2010, the festival included the participation of the Symphonic Orchestra of Michoacan, The Enrico Caruso Ensemble, and the showing of an exhibition called “Papaloapan” about the monarchs by visual artist Luis Moro, as well as dance and photography workshops.

These events took place at venues in Angangueo and other nearby communities. A new photographic exhibition has been assembled to highlight the connection between the migration and the people of Michoacán.

In January 2016 Google search devoted its Google Doodle to the 41st anniversary of the discovery of the Mountain of the Butterflies.

…

From Mexico City, it’s a two-hour drive east to the municipality of Nanacamilpa.
There are a few local businesses that offer the firefly viewing experience.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

Popocatépetl comes from the Nahuatl words popōca “it smokes” and tepētl “mountain”, meaning “smoking mountain”.

The volcano is also referred to by Mexicans as El Popo. The alternate nickname Don Goyo comes from the mountain’s association in the lore of the region with San Gregorio. Goyo is the short form of Gregorio.

The crater’s walls vary from 600 to 840 m in height.

The generally symmetrical volcano is modified by the sharp-peaked remnant of an earlier volcano.

At least 3 previous major cones were destroyed by gravitational failure during the Pleistocene, producing massive debris-avalanche deposits covering broad areas south of the volcano.

The modern volcano was constructed to the south of the late Pleistocene to Holocene El Fraile cone.

Three major Plinian eruptions (the last occurring around 800 AD) have occurred at Popocatépetl since the mid-Holocene, accompanied by pyroclastic flows and volumetric lahars that engulfed the basins beneath the volcano.

The volcano is about 730,000 years old. The elevation at the peak is 5,450 m. The volcano is cone-shaped with a diameter of 25 km at its base. The crater is elliptical with an orientation northeast-southwest.

Popocatépetl is currently an active volcano after being dormant for about half of the last century. In 1991 the volcano’s activity increased and since 1993 smoke can be seen constantly emanating from the crater.

Popocatépetl has been one of the most active volcanoes in Mexico. Since 1354, 18 eruptions have been recorded. In 1927 a major eruption occurred, thus beginning a period of rest.

Then, on December 21, 1994, after several years of inactivity, the volcano registered an explosion that produced gas and ash that were transported by the prevailing winds more than 25 km away.

Currently, its activity is moderate, but constant, with the emission of fumaroles, composed of gases and water vapor, and sudden and unexpected minor expulsions of ash and volcanic material.

The last violent eruption of the volcano was recorded in December 2000, which, following the predictions of scientists, led to the evacuation of thousands of people in the areas near the volcano.

On December 25, 2005, a new explosion occurred in the volcano’s crater, causing a column of smoke and ash three kilometers high and the expulsion of lava.

On June 3, 2011, Popocatépetl once again emitted large fumaroles without causing damage. On November 20, 2011, a large explosion took place that shook the earth and was heard in the towns near the slopes, but without major alteration.

The volcano registered a fumarole of water vapor and ash on the morning of January 16, 2012, without this representing risks to the population surrounding the colossus.

On April 16, 2012, was raised the volcanic alert traffic light from yellow phase 2 to yellow phase 3 due to the great activity that has been occurring, without it thus far representing a serious danger to society.

At 3:23 on April 30, 2013, the Popocatépetl volcano threw incandescent fragments 800 meters from the crater on the northeast slope, reported the National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED).

On May 12, 2013, after the strong roar that was felt in the town of Atlixco, the volcanic alert light was changed from yellow phase 2 to phase 3. On June 2, 2013, CENAPRED returned the alert level to yellow phase 2.

On June 17 and 18, the volcano recorded several larger explosive events, recording fumaroles that reached 4 km above the level of the crater and expulsions of incandescent rock that reached the slopes on the South-West side of the colossus.

The alert remained yellow in phase 2.

The volcano became active on July 7, 2013, releasing ash clearly visible in nearby towns. The ash also reached Mexico City, expelling pyroclastic flows and incandescence. The volcanic traffic light turned yellow in phase 3.

The volcano registered an explosion on January 22, 2019, releasing incandescent material and ash. This explosion could be felt in areas surrounding the volcano (areas of the state of Puebla and the State of Mexico).

Once upon a time, in pre-Hispanis times, there were two young people named Itzaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl. Itzaccíhuatl was a beautiful princess from the Tlaxcala, and Popocatépetl was a brave Aztec warrior.

Both lived at a time when Tlaxcala was at war with its cruel enemies, the Aztecs.

Popocatépetl deeply loved Itzaccíhuatl and wanted to marry her. Popocatépetl asked to marry Itzaccíhuatl. The leader agreed but had one condition: Popocatépetl had to return safely from the war to marry her.

So, Popocatépetl went off to battle, leaving Itzaccíhuatl behind, eagerly awaiting his return. However, a jealous rival of Popocatépetl spread false rumors and told Itzaccíhuatl that her beloved had died in the fight.

Heartbroken and deceived, Itzaccíhuatl couldn’t bear the sorrow and passed away.

Soon, Popocatépetl returned from the battle. But upon his arrival, he received the devastating news of the death of his beloved. Overcome with grief, he wandered for days and nights, searching for a way to honor their love.

He decided to build a great tomb beneath the sun, piling up ten hills to create a massive mountain. After completing this monumental task, he took the lifeless body of his princess and placed her on the mountaintop.

He kissed her for the last time and, holding a smoky torch, knelt by her side to watch over her forever.

Since then, they have remained together, facing each other. As time passed, snow covered their bodies, turning them into two enormous volcanoes that stood unchanged until the end of time.

***

There’s another legend connected to this volcano, and it’s about a friendly nickname given to the mountain by the people living nearby. They call this volcano “Don Goyo,” which is short for Gregorio.

It’s said that from time to time, an elderly man appears in various villages in the area and introduces himself as Don Gregorio or Gregorio Chino. The locals believe that this old man is the embodiment of the volcano.

Locals believe that Don Goyo, the old man, comes to make sure that the people living in the area act with honesty and show respect to the volcano. They believe that if they do so, good luck will come their way.

The Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve has a tropical climate with warm temperatures all year round. The weather in this region of the Gulf of Mexico can be divided into two main seasons: the wet season and the dry season.

Wet Season (June to October)

During this period, Ría Celestún experiences occasional heavy rainfall.

The landscape becomes lush and green, and the lagoon’s water levels rise. While the wet season may not be ideal for some outdoor activities, it’s a great time for birdwatching as many migratory species visit during this time.

Dry Season (November to May)

This is the best time to visit Ría Celestún for most travelers.

The weather is sunny and dry, making it perfect for boat tours, kayaking, and exploring the lagoon’s natural beauty. The dry season also offers the best chances of spotting the iconic pink flamingos and other wildlife.

The best time to visit Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve

The best time to visit Ría Celestún is during the dry season, from November to May.

The months of December to March are particularly popular, as the weather is cooler and the birdwatching opportunities are at their peak. It’s advisable to plan your trip during this period to fully experience the charm of Ría Celestún.

Ría Celestún Reserve offers a range of exciting activities for nature lovers.

The reserve is a mix of rocky formations, small islets, and white-sand beaches. This area also offers excellent opportunities. Several cenotes are scattered throughout the reserve, providing idyllic spots for swimming.

One of the best ways to experience the reserve is by taking a guided boat tour. Knowledgeable local guides will lead you through the mangrove channels and lagoons, where you can observe the diverse wildlife up close.

Keep your camera ready to capture the iconic pink flamingos, herons, pelicans, and other bird species that call the reserve home. These tours often include stops at areas with crystal-clear springs and cenotes.

Witness the awe-inspiring sight of pink birds soaring gracefully above the estuary throughout the year. If you visit the place between November and March, you will see these pink flamingos gather in abundance.

Ría Celestún is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 300 bird species documented in the area. Along with flamingos, you can spot frigatebirds, cormorants, spoonbills, and ospreys, among others.

Ría Celestún is the fourth-largest wintering ground for ducks in the Gulf Coast region. The reserve is also home to over 365 other bird species. The diverse ecosystem also hosts a thriving sea turtle population.

Bring binoculars and a field guide to make the most of your birdwatching experience.

Paddle through the serene waters of the reserve in a kayak or canoe. This allows you to explore the mangroves at your own pace and get closer to the wildlife. It’s a peaceful and eco-friendly way to experience the natural beauty of Ría Celestún.

Swimming and relaxation. Some boat tours include stops at freshwater springs and cenotes within the reserve. These are excellent places for a refreshing swim or to simply relax in a tranquil natural setting.

Along the coast of Ría Celestún, you’ll find pristine white-sand beaches that are perfect for beachcombing and shell collecting. Take a leisurely stroll along the shore and enjoy the tranquility of the Gulf of Mexico.

Ría Celestún is a photographer’s dream. With its landscapes,  birdlife, and scenic waterways, you’ll have countless opportunities to capture breathtaking shots. Respect the wildlife and their habitats while photographing.

Guided tours offer nature walks on designated trails within the reserve. These walks provide insights into the local flora and fauna, and guides can educate you about the importance of preserving this unique ecosystem.

You might have the chance to encounter endangered species like the elusive ocelot, the majestic jaguar, and the playful spider monkey.

Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the breathtaking sunsets over the lagoon. As the sun sets over Ría Celestún, the sky transforms into a canvas of vibrant colors, creating a magical and romantic atmosphere.

Visit the Celestún Biosphere Interpretation Center to learn more about the reserve’s ecology, conservation efforts, and the importance of protecting this delicate ecosystem.

Getting to Ría Celestún from Campeche City

From Campeche City, take Highway 180 heading west towards Celestún. The distance is approximately 170 km, and the drive takes about 2.5 to 3 hours. Follow the signs to Celestún once you get close to the town.

While there isn’t a direct bus route from Campeche City to Celestún, you can take a bus from Campeche City to Mérida. Multiple bus companies operate this route, and the journey takes about 3 to 4 hours.

Getting to Ría Celestún from Mérida

Ría Celestún is approximately 90 km west of Mérida, and the drive takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Take Highway 281 towards Celestún, and once you arrive in the town, you’ll find signs leading to the reserve.

You can also take a bus from Mérida to Celestún. Several bus companies operate this route. Buses depart from the Noreste Bus Terminal in Mérida. The journey takes a bit longer than by car, typically around 2.5 to 3 hours.

The entrance to the Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve

Once you arrive in the small town of Celestún, you’ll find that the place is relatively small and easy to navigate. The Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve’s entrance is located near the town center.

Ría Celestún Reserve offers activities like boat tours for birdwatching, or you can hire a local guide or rent a boat at the entrance to the town. Look for boats available for tours under the bridge leading into Celestún.

• Check the current transportation options in advance if you plan to take a bus.
• Make sure to carry essentials like sunscreen and insect repellent.
• Bring a hat, and comfortable clothing suitable for the local climate.
• Follow the guidance of your guides and adhere to any conservation rules.

Mosquitoes tend to gather in large numbers on the beach, especially during the winter months. If you plan to take a walk on the beach, it’s advisable to use appropriate mosquito repellent to make your walk comfortable.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

Follow the instructions of the ANP staff and specialized guides:

• Use telescopes or binoculars to avoid approaching wild animals.
• Take pictures and never take home “memories” like plants, animals, corals or any other species of the place.
• Do not collect or damage flora and fauna.
• Do not introduce animals or plants outside the region.
• Do not make noise in nesting areas of birds or other species.
• Do not wear brightly colored clothing.
• Do not feed wild animals
• Do not throw objects or liquids in rivers, lagoons or bodies of water.
• Try to take away the garbage generated during the visit, or deposit it somewhere destined for it.
• Use only biodegradable indoor tanning lotion.
• For no reason acquire plants or animals in danger of extinction.
• Use the marked trails.

The sinkhole is part of a larger park called El Ocote Biosphere Reserve, located in the western part of the Mexican state of Chiapas, about 90 minutes from the state capital of Tuxtla Gutierrez.

It belongs to the municipality of Ocozocoautla de Espinoza, about 19 km over rough roads from the town center.

This part of Chiapas is dominated by the Zoque people, who call the area Coita, a Zoque word that means “place of rabbits”.

The nearest community to the sinkhole is Piedra Parada, which has about 500 residents.

The climate of the area is mostly warm and humid, with a rainy season from June to October, receiving an average of 1,500mm of precipitation per year. It is in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, at an altitude of about 820 meters above seal level. This area gets cold enough in the winter to need a light jacket.

Most of the vegetation of the area has been wiped out or severely degraded by agriculture, forestry and other human activity.

The Sima de las Cotorras belongs to a Karst topography system, based on the folding, fracturing and erosion of limestone. This particular system is defined its drainage system, with the La Venta River on the surface and the main underground river being El Paraíso. Despite its proximity to the Pacific, drainage is towards the Gulf of Mexico. Most of this ecological system is covered by the El Ocote Biosphere Reserve.

There are two main forces that shape the landcape. Tectonic forces from the movement of the North American plate over the Farallon and Cocos plates creates anticline folds, with a northeasterly orientation. The folding creates cracks in the relatively soft rock and water running above and below erode in and around these fractures. The two processes have created a number of formations including canyons, arches, caves, waterfalls, small pools of water and sinkholes. These same processes make the soil acidic and strewn with loose rock.

Major formations include the La Venta River Canyon, the Arch of Time (Arco del Tiempo) and El Aguacero Falls. The Sima de las Cotorras is only one of 38 sinkholes in the region and one of eight within 10km2. It is not even the largest of these, being only half the size of the Las Luchas sinkhole.

These sinkholes are vertical depressions formed by the cracking, erosion and collapse of limestone over thousands of years. The Sima de las Cotorras is 140 metres (460 ft) meters deep, and 160 metres (520 ft) in diameter, with a straight drop of 97 metres (318 ft) meters. The opening is elliptical, with the north and southwest rims elevated in relation to the rest. The low point of the rim is in the east. The process reveals the layers of rock, and about 70 metres (230 ft) meters down, stalactites and stalagmites can be seen among the layers from the surface. There are also caves within the sinkhole walls, which have also been produced by erosion. This type of sinkhole is similar to those found in the Yucatán, but general do not contain pooled water at the bottom.

Instead the interior of the sinkhole is home to a tropical forest, whose plant and animal life is distinct from that of the surrounding ecosystem.

El Ocote is home to a number of endangered species, especially birds such as the Aratinga holochlora, the Amazilia viridifons and the Oporornis tolmiei, as well as other receiving special protection such as the Eucometis penicillata, Lanio aurantius, Psarocolius montezuma and Colinus virginianus. Numbers and types of birds present depends on the time of year, due to migratory patterns.

The wider reserve serves as a buffer area for the microclimate of the Sima de las Cotorras. Outside the sinkhole and up to its rim, the climate is drier, mostly grassland/shrub from cattle grazing, and areas called lomería, rocky areas with limited growth, mostly shrubs, due to dense limestone. In some of the higher elevation there are still some forests. Around the sinkhole itself, there are many copal trees, Protium copal (Burseraceae), which gave the sinkhole its original name of Sima del Copal.

The interior of the sinkhole holds and preserves more moisture. From its bottom grows a tropical deciduous rainforest microsystem with broadleafed species such as cedar, mahogany, Fabaceas espinosa and Burseraceas baja, Manilkara zapota, scrubs of the Guaiacum family and more, with trees reaching as high as 30 meters tall. The plant species here are not found outside the sinkhole.

Common reserve fauna includes owls, foxes and coyotes, rabbits, opossums, badgers, squirrels, armadillos, Penelopina nigra, chachalaca and of course, parakeets. The park has over 80 bird species in 30 families. Eleven of these are migratory and three are endemic to the area. Seven bird species are classified as endangered by the Mexican government. Most of the bird species 35 of them, are found in the low deciduous rainforest of the sinkholes. These include species which are highly sensitive to human intrusion such as the Colinus virginianus, Caprimulgus vociferous, Amazilia candida and Ortalis vetula. A number of bird species have been found in the Sima de las Cotorras area but not in the larger El Ocote park, including Bubo virginianus, Amazilia viridifrons, Vireo philadelphicus, Sialia sialis, Passerina versicolor and Cacicus melanicterus.

The Sima’s most famous resident is the Aratinga holochola, the Mexican parrot, which is endangered. Chiapas is home to over 68% of Mexico’s parrots (Psittacidae). And many of Mexico’s parrot species are endangered, mostly due to shrinking habitat, along with the illegal pet trade and other exploitation of the animals.There are an estimated 3,000 parrots associated with the sinkhole and can be found there most of the year, with the exception November to January, when the weather is too cool for them. The forest of the sinkhole is also their nesting site. From the evening until the early morning, the parrots are congregated in the sinkhole forest, where the noise they make can be quite loud. The parrots’ noise will cease if a predator such as a falcon is seen nearby. The parrots leave the sinkhole to look for food, which include from mango trees in people’s backyards as far away as Tuxtla Gutierrez. They leave the sinkhole in groups, flying in circles on wind currents in order to leave and enter. Inside the sinkhole, the parrots are the most numerous kind of bird. Outside, it is dominated by small birds of the Tyrannidae family.

Evidence of human habitation in the area goes back at least 7,500 years, with evidence of hunter/gatherers. However, there were no major pre Hispanic settlements in this area.[6] The area of the park was first explored and academically documented in the mid 20th century, noting local caves and archeological finds such as pottery. But documentation still remains sparse especially in comparison to other such sites in Mexico.

The significant archeological find in and around the Sima de las Cotorras are cave paintings, arrowheads, and much later pottery shards, possibly Zoque. The most important of these are the cave paintings, which number about 75. On a rock outcropping on the north wall, there is a human figure with lance, and with a sun and moon above. One of the side caves has on its roof the outlines of hands made by blowing red ochre onto the wall. Other images include circles, spirals and animals. The appearance of cave painting in such a geological formation and especially so high up the sinkhole walls makes them a rarity, and the site is under consideration by UNESCO for protective status.

The El Ocote Biosphere Reserve was established in 1972, extendingover 8 hectares, protecting over a hundred species of birds, and dozens of mammals, reptiles and insects, some endangered. With the exception of the Sima de la Cotorras, the park has not been developed for tourism, and its formations are almost completely unknkown outside of their region. The other sinkholes in the area get no tourism activity at all. The tourism activity based on the flight of the parrots has made the sinkhole relatively famous and it is now better known as the “sinkhole of the parrots” rather than its official name.

Tourism activity here began with the establishment of the Sima de Cotorras Ecotourism Center in 1985 and the building of a road from the town of Ocozocoautla to the site. The center was established to provide alternative work for the local Zoque people. Today it is run by the Tzamanguimó cooperative, which consists of a number of familyes all from the nearby community of Piedra Parada.

The project is also registered with the federal government as an ecotourism site, with the aim of being sustainable, providing income for local residents with minimal impact. The group welcomes researchers as well as visitors onto the site. The main challenge has been how to take advantage of the site without damaging it. The ground is unstable and highly porous. Many underground cavities are still unknown, making building risky. The largest structure on the premises is the restaurant. Built near the rim, its site was chosen because of the stability of the rock, not because it was the most aesthetically pleasing place to put the structure. Waste disposal is a main issue because of the threat of groundwater contamination, prompting several composting activities. Bringing water, electricity and more are also challenges.

By far the main attraction of the site are the parrots that fly in and out of sinkhole each day, generally leaving in the early morning and returning at night. It is also possible to rappel to the bottom of the sinkhole, as well as explore local caves and hike both in and around the sinkhole.

Where possible constructions are based on local materials to allow them to blend into the local environment. Paving and path construction is based on local rock. Pre Hispanic architecture formed the basis of the buildings on the site, including the rock foundation seen on the restaurant building. The Center has eight cabins for up to five persons each, a camping area and tours with local guides.

It has eight cabins which can house five people each. It current has a restaurant, several cabins to house multiple people, a camping área, a path around the rim of the sinkhole, rapelling and tours to see the cave paintings and the rainforest that covers the sinkhole’s floor.

The Center has provided an alternative source of work other than agriculture and for some, a means for income when before they had none. Despite this, the project has not been claimed as a great success. According to theses done at the Universidad Intercultural de Chiapas, the tourism possibilities here have not been fully exploited. As of 2016, only about 10 to 15 people per day visit the site. Most visitors come by their own cars or through local ecoaventure tourism agencies. Most tourists are between 41-60 years of age, followed by the 31-40 age bracket and those in the 18-30 year bracket. About half come from the state capital of Tuxtla Gutierrez, with about 13% from Mexico City, 12.5 from other parts of Mexico. Only about 2 percent are foreigners.

The main problems for the site are the lack of promotion and poor access. The roads leading to the site are very poor, especially the last ten km, and signage is poor or non-existent. The park is difficult to access for those with disabilities. Most visitors learn of the site through word-of-mouth, with some from television and much fewer from other media. The lack of services means that those who do come do not stay for long. Two thirds come only to see the parrots, some will stay and eat at the restaurant, but very few stay the night.

The project over the years has received intermittent support from various government institutuions such as PEMEX, the Secretary of Tourism, SEMARNAT and the Comision Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas, in areas such as finance, customer service and construction. But these interventions have not always been helpful, with functionaries using technical jargon and dismissing local knowledge of the area. Changes in political parties has led to varying attitudes towards the project and its ecological focus, with errors being made such as cutting down trees to make way for cement electrical poles and the construction on non-composting toilets.

At its height, the Center generated about 80 to 100 jobs directly, but since the tourist demand has declined. The project is specifically geared to keep young people in the area, but they have not shown sufficient interest in its continuation. Most members of the cooperative are between 50 and 80 years of age. Only about 30% of the local population recognizes the area’s intangible value, but 80% favor efforts to make the area better known.[6] Even with sufficient interest and promotion, the area is not suited for large-scale tourism. One reason is the need to keep ecological concerns first and the other is that alternative and eco-tourism are not major attractions for most Mexicans.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

The Sumidero Canyon was formed by cracks in the earth’s crust along with erosion by the Grijalva River. The process of its formation began about 35 million years ago, making the Sumidero contemporary with the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River.

The Grijalva is the main water system in the area, beginning in the Cuchumatanes in neighboring Guatemala. The river then flows through Chiapas, including the 13-km length of the canyon, from south to north, then on to Tabasco before it empties into the Usumacinta River.

This river basin is one of the two most important in Chiapas, and one of the most important in Mexico with a total river length of approximately 766 km, draining an area of 7,940 sq km, with an average flow of about forty million cubic meters.

In addition to the Grijalva, there are other flows of water in the area in and around the canyon, many of which are seasonal. These consist of streams, some of which form waterfalls on the canyon’s sides, and underground movements that have created caves and karst formations. The last important water formation in the area is the manmade reservoir of the Chicoasén Dam.

The canyon proper is deep and narrow, characterized by vertical walls. As the gap changes direction as much as 90 degrees in places, it separates the Meseta de las Animas mesa in the west from the Meseta de Ixtapa mesa in the east.

The width of the canyon varies from 1 to 2 km.

Most of the canyon’s walls are between 200 and 700 m high, reaching 1,000 m at their highest point. These walls expose a long process of disturbance in the Earth’s crust with layers of limestone from the Upper Mesozoic, which contain fossils of marine creatures.

During the Mesocretac Period, there was an elevation of the ocean floor which formed much of the mountains of the area.

Despite its biological, ecological, and cultural diversity, there have been few studies performed in the parking area. For this reason, there is a lack of information about species, habitats, and water flow. There is also relatively little information about how human activities affect the park.

As the park is located in the Central Valley of Chiapas and borders the Northern Mountains region, altitudes vary from approximately 600 meters above sea level in the municipality of Chiapa de Corzo to 1,200 meters above sea level at the El Roblar lookout point.

This geography produces a channel for airflow from northwest to southeast as well as three main climates based on the Köeppen system as modified for Mexico. These are hot and dry (where airflow is blocked), semi-hot and humid, and hot and humid.

The average rainfall for the park is about 1,000 mm during the rainy season from May to October and 200 mm during the dry season from November to April. The average annual temperature is 26 °C. The rugged terrain also forms a number of microclimates.

Most of the park’s vegetation, especially around the canyon, is dense tropical rainforest.

Most species found in the park are members of the Fabaceae family with 59 species and the Asteraceae family with 25 species, which reflects the abundance of these families statewide.

Other important families include the Orchidaceae and Euphorbiaceae, each with 22 species, the Convolvulaceae family with 17 species, and the Cactaceae with 11 species. 122 species are considered valuable as ornamental plants with 46 having medicinal uses and 31 species valuable for logging. These mostly come from rainforest areas.

The rainforest vegetation is mostly deciduous, shedding leaves in the dry season. However, there are perennial rainforests, forests of pine and oak, grasslands (mostly induced), and areas with secondary vegetation.

The three main vegetation classifications are low-height rainforest, medium-height rainforest (as per the size of the trees), pine-oak forest, and meadows.

Medium-height deciduous rainforest is mostly located on either side of the canyon, in the north and east of the part towards San Fernando and in the Cañada Muñiz at altitudes of between 150 and 1250 masl. It is mostly found in areas with basalt or granite rock and where there are lime deposits, covering an area of 11,382 hectares (28,130 acres) in total.

While many plants here lose leaves in the dry season, there are some that retain them year-round. Maximum height of trees varies between 25 and 30 meters.

The density of the tree cover in these areas is enough to lower temperatures on the ground in the summer rainy season due to the maximum foliage which occurs at this time.

The tree cover is composed of the following species: breadnut, guanacaste, totoposte, jocotillo, cedar , cuaulote blanco, hormiguillo, chicozapote, tempisque and various types of amate fig trees.

Under the tree cover, there is significant plant diversity, including palms and areas. Epiphytes (air plants) are abundant as well, along with orchids, Bromeliaceae, and cacti. Cactus are primarily found on the vertical walls of the canyon and belong to the Acanthocereus family.

In the 1970s, tree areas in a good state of conservation amounted to 3,818 hectares or 17.72% of the total land area.

From 1988 to 1993, this amount was reduced to 1,107 hectares or 5.35%. From 1990 to 2000, it is estimated that eight percent of the remaining forests and 38% of the rainforests were damaged.

Many of the areas in good condition are broken up by disturbed areas. Most of the damage is due to illegal logging and the clearing of land for pasture or agriculture.

Medium-height perennial rainforest (also known as evergreen cloud forest) exists only in small dispersed patches, mostly on the sides of the canyon in contact with the Grijalva River.

Many of these patches are less than one hectare in size, as they are located on small areas of flat land at altitudes between 1000 and 2,500 masl. The soils are rich in undecomposed plant matter which holds moisture.

The low-height deciduous rainforest is mostly found around the La Ceiba and La Coyota lookout points in the south and southeast sections of the park, with some in the east towards the La Chacona Cañada.

These occupy a territory of 4,404 hectares in the park. Tree heights extend from four to ten meters with some as high as 15 meters.

Non-tree species are not as common and mostly consist of succulent species such as Agave, Opuntia, Stenocereus, and Cephalocereus. Other important species include Alvaradoa amorphous, Bursera simaruba, Ceiba acuminate, Bursera bipinnate, Bursera excels, Cochlospermum vitifolium, Haematoxylon brasiletto, Piscidia piscipula, Swietenia humilis, Acacia collinsii, and Pseudobombax ellipticum.

Pine-oak forests exist in the northwest of the park in the highest altitudes, covering about 87 hectares. They are part of the same type of forest found in the Soyaló region it is adjacent to.

They are found at an altitude of 1,200 masl and above in areas that receive precipitation of about 1500 mm annually.

The most common species is the oak Quercus conspersa, often found mixed with the two kinds of rainforest found in the park. Air plants are common here as well as bromeliads, orchids and plants from the Maxillaria, Lycaste, Cattleya and Laelia groups.

Grassland is not naturally occurring but rather exists due to human activities such as farming and livestock raising. It is seen on the north and south sides of the canyon and is usually associated with secondary vegetation such as Tecoma stans, Gliricidia sepium, Plumeria rubra, and Acacia collinsii, occupying an area of 6,539 hectares in the park.

Throughout the history of the area, especially since it was definitively explored in the 1960s, the area’s wildlife diversity has been severely negatively impacted by human encroachment in the form of settlements, agriculture, and hunting.

However, since the federal park was established in the 1980s, wildlife diversity has increased.

In 1986, the federal Secretaría de Agricultura y Recursos Hidráulicos (SARH) reported a total of ninety species of vertebrates divided into four species of fish, one amphibian, 14 reptiles, 26 birds, and 40 mammals.

A 2005 study indicates 308 species with four species of fish, 15 amphibians, 195 birds, and 53 mammals. Between these two, there have been a number of other studies which also show the growth of the number of wildlife species in the park.

Information about fish species is scarce but at least four protected species have been detected.

According to a CONANP study in 2007, there are 12 species of reptile here under protection, including the river crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), and one threatened species, the Yucatán banded gecko (Coleonyx elegans).

Birds are the most common type of animal in the park, with about 195 species documented. Six of these species are threatened and 17 are subject to special protection. One threatened bird species in the park is the great curassow (Crax rubra).

Relatively abundant species include Actitus macularia, Dendrocygna autumnalis, Egretta caerulea, Egretta thula, Tachybaptus dominicus and Coragyps atratus, all of which are associated with bodies of water.

There have been 53 species of mammals detected recently in the park, of which two are considered threatened, two are in danger, and two subjects to special protection.

Endangered and threatened species include the spider monkey, jaguarundi, ocelot, lowland paca, white-tailed deer, anteater, and buzzard (Sarcoramphus papa). The most abundant species include the bat Artibeus Jamaicensis and the rat Peromyscus Mexicanus.

The history of the area is connected to the Chiapa people, who occupied the Central Valley area before the arrival of the Spanish.

The origin of these people is not known, but theories have them migrating north from Nicaragua or even Paraguay.

Their main settlement was in Chiapa de Corzo near the canyon, with a fortified area in the higher areas of the canyon for protection from invasions.

The Chiapa fiercely resisted Spanish conquest and were not subdued until the arrival of Diego de Mazariegos in 1528.

Their last refuge was in the fortified area, now known as the archeological site of the Ruins of Berlin. Here the last of the Chiapa held out from 1528 to 1535 after the Spanish took over the main city.

Legend states that when this last fortification fell, the remaining Chiapa committed collective suicide by jumping into the canyon. Since then, the canyon has served as a boundary marker between the Zoque and Tzotzil peoples.

Until the 20th century, the canyon area was relatively unexplored.

In 1895, three Frenchmen attempted to explore the canyon but were drowned in the river.

An American came in 1932 but also perished.

This gave rise to legends about witchcraft in the area as well as the ferocity of the area’s crocodiles.

In 1960, an expedition of soldiers from the Mexican army nicknamed the “red handkerchiefs” succeeded in crossing through the canyon by boat over twenty km. This opened up the canyon to local exploration and exploitation, including rudimentary tourism and the hunting of crocodiles and other native fauna.

There has been little archaeological work done in the area. The main site is called the Ruins of Berlin, named after German explorer Heinrich Berlin, who visited the area in 1946 and named the area “Sumidero”.

This site is located seven km from the Belisario Domínguez Bridge in Tuxtla on the edge of the river. It covers an area of 467 by 60 meters, bounded by small mounds surrounding patios.

The original description of the site was undertaken in 1923 and 1932 by Becerra, who called it Chiapa Viejo, and stated it was the capital of the Chiapa people. However, Remesal in 1966 determined it was a secondary site.

The last major survey was done in 1976 by Alejandro Martínez, discovering that there are 24 individual sites of which nine are mounds and fifteen are caves. One of these contains cave paintings which indicate that the area has been occupied since at least the very early Pre Classic period.

The interior of the canyon has thirty rapids, five waterfalls, three beaches, two freshwater springs, and a cofferdam three meters wide.

The canyon contains endangered and threatened species such as the Central American river turtle and the American crocodile, which can be seen on the riverbanks.

The walls of the canyon contain numerous small caves, rock formations, and other notable features.

The best-known of the area’s caves is the Cueva de Colores (“Cave of Colors”). This cave gets its name from the filtration of magnesium, potassium, and other minerals which form colors on the walls, especially shades of pink. It contains an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe inside usually surrounded by fresh flowers and burning candles left by visitors.

The Cueva de Silencio (“Cave of Silence”) is so named because of a lack of echo or any other kind of resonance in its interior.

In another small cave, there is a stalactite called the Caballito de Mar or “Seahorse” after its shape.

Of the various seasonal waterfalls, the best known is the Árbol de Navidad (“Christmas Tree”). The “branches” of the Árbol are made by deposits from the waterfall which have been covered in moss. During the rainy season, when the waterfall is active, the water and the light change the colors of the “branches” and make the formation stand out.

The park was a candidate in 2009 as one of the Seven New Natural Wonders of the World.

Establishment of the park

The Sumidero Canyon National Park has its origins in a Chiapas state decree issued in 1972, which made the area around the canyon an ecological reserve to preserve its geology, history, and wildlife and to allow for scientific study. For similar reasons, the park was taken over and enlarged to 21,789 hectares by the federal government in 1980. Most private landholders in the area were compensated for their lands, but not all resident persons or businesses were evicted. Since that time, the park has been under the administration of various agencies such as SAHOP, SEDUE, and SEMARNAP, with the current managers being the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas and the Secretaría de Educación Pública. In 2004, the park came under the protection of the Ramsar Convention due to the importance of its ecology and water systems. It was also named a Región Prioritaria Terrestre and an Área de Importancia para la Conservación de las Aves by the Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad (CONABIO) in 2000. In 2005 and 2006, this agency enlarged the park again with the expropriation of lands in the municipalities of San Fernando and Tuxtla Gutiérrez, adding a total of 1,660 hectares (4,100 acres). It remains, however, smaller than most other national parks in Mexico.

The center of the park is the Sumidero Canyon and the Grijalva River that runs from south to north through it. The park’s borders on this river are marked by the Belisario Domínguez Bridge, over which the Pan-American Highway runs, in the south and the Chicoasén Dam, 35 kilometres (22 mi) to the north. The rest of the park’s borders extend into the municipalities of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapa de Corzo, Osumacinta and San Fernando. This territory is mostly located in the Central Valley region of the state. The park is open 365 days a year. The park is divided into four sections by direction: the northwest includes medium-height, somewhat deciduous rainforest as well as some lowland rainforest and grassland, found in the municipalities of Osumacinta and San Fernando; the western section has similar vegetation, and is located entirely in San Fernando; the eastern section has forests of pine as well as medium-height semi-deciduous rainforest and grasslands, and is found in Chiapa de Corzo; and the southeast has most of the sides of the canyon itself and a navigable section of the Grijalva River, but only remnants of medium-height rainforest and pachycaulous vegetation. The main land access into the park is from Tuxtla Gutiérrez north through Osumacinta then past the Chicoasén Dam. Another access point is from Chiapa de Corzo by boat from the Cahuaré Docks. As the main attraction of the park is the canyon, several lookout points have been constructed on various parts of the rim. La Ceiba is closest to the city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, only 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) away. The Los Chiapas point is near where the canyon’s walls rise highest from the river below, where according to legend, a number of Chiapa people preferred to commit suicide by jumping rather than submit to Spanish domination. This lookout also has a restaurant.

Conservation issues

The most important conservation issue in the park is the contamination of the Grijalva River, which passes through the Sumidero Canyon proper. However, other threats to the park include human encroachment and other human activities. An estimated 1500 to 2000 hectares, or about six percent of the park total, have been encroached upon, mostly by illegal human settlements next to the city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez since the park was established. It is estimated that about 15,000 people live within the park’s borders. Most of these illegal constructions belong to the very poor who have migrated to the city from elsewhere. The demand for living space has created an industry of illegal subdivisions which are then sold without the proper title to victims. Three of the main neighborhoods to develop in this way are the Patria Nueva Alta, Arroyo Blanco, La Esperanza and Las Granjas. The encroachment is a result of the fast population growth of Tuxtla Gutiérrez and Chiapa de Corzo. The growth of these areas has led to land ownership disputes, loss of wild habitat and deforestation. In 2002, the federal and state government signed an accord to remove illegal human settlements and work to prevent further encroachment. Operations to evict illegal settlers have been carried out such as a 2005 operation which evicted about one hundred people and others that have prevented new settlements from getting established. However, the encroachment of human settlements into the park from the city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez has been so damaging that a 2007 report states that there is no other alternative than to deregulate this section of the park and work to prevent further incursion. However, the situation has not been helped by the fact that there are disputes over the boundaries of the park as decreed in 1980. Since 2009, there have been further efforts by park management to stop the advancement of these illegal settlements as well. Despite this, a number of areas in the park are well-conserved, mostly due to the very rugged terrain.

In addition to the illegal settlements, there are legal settlements and operations which affect the park. There are eight ejidos which border the parks and whose activities directly affect it: San Antonio Zaragoza, Venustiano Carranza, Francisco Sarabia, Gabriel Esquinca, Benito Juárez, Osumacinta, El Palmar, 16 de Septiembre and Nuevo Bochil. Established before the park, there are still five ejidos and three human settlements established within, Libertad Campesina (population 495), Nueva Esperanza (139), La Unión (329), El Paraíso (134), Tierra Colorada (199), La Candelaria / Triunfo Agrarista (631). As of 2005, the total population within the park’s borders was 1927. Because of human activity, this park is one of the most susceptible to wildfires, and the most damaged by such in Mexico from 2009 to 2011. Many of these were started by human activity in or near the park such as one fire set on a nearby farm in May 2011.

In addition to this, there are lime and other extraction operations within the park’s borders. They exist legally because they had been there well before the park was established. However, these operations have destroyed about 2,600 hectares. These operations produce noise, smoke, dust and small tremblers from explosions used to extract the minerals. Much of the environment damage come from runoff from mining waste which winds up in the Grijalva River. However the dust and smoke have produced a distinct white coating on surrounding flora.

Via the Grijalva River, the wastewater of about 552,000 people in seventeen municipalities finds its way through the canyon according to park director Edda González del Castilla, with most coming from Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapa de Corzo, Berriozábal and Chicoasén . Much of the sewage comes into the Grijalva via the Sabinal River, which carries most of the waste water of the city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez. In addition, trash and raw sewage makes its way into the river from the various tributary streams. Agricultural waste comes from the farms that line the river and its tributaries.

The most obvious pollution is garbage, especially plastic containers, which mostly comes from area homes and businesses tossed onto the ground or in streams, especially from Chiapa de Corzo and Tuxtla Gutiérrez due to the lack of environmental awareness according to Conanp. The quantity of this trash reaches its height during the rainy season, when runoff and swollen streams can carry more of it into the Grijalva. While bottles and other plastic are what the casual visitor generally notices, other indicators include the overgrowth of water lilies (due to high levels of fecal matter) and dead animals. However, this accounts for only about five percent of the total tonnage of waste that comes into the river each year. Somewhere between 80 and 90% of the waste solids found in the river is branches, wood, rocks, sediment and other debris from legal and illegal logging, which cause deforestation . These mostly come into the river during the rainy season, especially from the Villa Flores and Villa Corzo municipalities. Only a small part of the solid waste is visible on the surface of the water, most is hidden underneath.

As the solids flow along the Grijalva, they are constricted by the narrow channel of the canyon and then by the presence of the Chicoasén Dam. This is particularly true at a point called “El Tapón” (The Plug), where two currents of water meet just before the reservoir back up of water from the Dam.

It is estimated that about 5000 tons of trash accumulate each year, and the river is considered to be one of the five most polluted in Mexico. 3700 tons of solids were extracted from the canyon area in 2010 alone. Many fish have died off or have developed abnormally due to contamination by fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals. This threatens the native American crocodiles as the agrochemicals kill off and poison the fish they need to eat. In May 2011, the Fédération Internationale de Natation decided cancel its annual swim marathon in the canyon as they claimed that pollution levels in the river posed a risk to swimmers’ health. The Comisión Nacional del Agua and the government of Chiapas disputed this, presenting their own test results stating that levels were below such levels.

There are year-round and seasonal efforts to clean the river within the canyon and the area just upstream from it. Much of the daily effort is undertaken by workers with the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP) and the Secretariat of Tourism in Chiapas, which extract twelve tons of garbage from the Grijalva river each day. Most of the season cleanup coincides with the rainy season, especially in September and October, when rains are heaviest. This seasonal effort has included local police, civil protections agencies, social organization, the army and individual volunteers. Efforts can involve up to 600 people at a time using 32 boats from four of the tourist cooperatives. During the annual campaign to clean the canyon in 2005 more than 60,000 tons of trash was removed. Generally, about forty tons of garbage is collected each day during these campaigns.

While the cleanup efforts have improved the situation in the canyon, the garbage reaccumulates especially during the rainy season. Part of the price that tourists pay for boat rides into the canyon pays for cleanup efforts, but the boat operators state that the canyon remains filled with trash. Conanp also states that cleanup efforts are insufficient. Mexico’s federal environmental agency, the Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (Semarnat) states that it cannot get involved in the situation as it is the municipalities that have the responsibility for disposing of trash appropriately. However, many of these local governments do not have landfills or the separation of recyclables.

The scenery of the canyon has become a major tourist attraction for the state, with developments for eco tourism and extreme sports. The navigable part of the Grijalva River is mostly used to ferry visitors into the canyon area. The park has six lookout points accessible by land called La Ceiba, La Coyota, El Roblar, Tepehuaje, Los Chiapas and Manos. In the rainy season, tourism is enhanced by the activity of waterfalls such as the Árbol de Navidad, Cueva del Hombre, Cueva del Silencio, Cueva de Colón, Cueva de Colores and Cueva del Suspiro. A lesser known attraction is the archeological site called the Ruins of Berlin. The most important economic activity in the canyon is ecotourism. Most of the visitors are Mexicans. Weekends are busiest with local and regional visitors to bike, swim, hike, camp and picnic.

The canyon is the second most visited site in Chiapas, after Palenque. The park is visited annually by 300,000 people, about 80% of whom are from Mexico and the rest from abroad. During vacation times, the park may be visited by anywhere from 1,000 to 7,000 people per day, who either enter by car to go to the lookout points or by boat from Chiapa de Corzo. Entrance and boating fees can generate about 70,000 pesos per day for clean-up efforts. The number of visitors to the park hit a peak in 2003 with about 196,500.

Commercial activity in the park is limited to those which serve tourists, sales of food and Mexican handcrafts and folk art. Tour operators are organized into cooperatives, with food and craft vendors working independently. These merchants must receive an annual permit in order to operate within the park’s borders. The most important of these businesses are the boats which ferry people through the canyon along the Grijalva River. Most of these boat tours operate out of Chiapa de Corzo and run along the river to the Chicoasén Dam for a distance of about 30 kilometres (19 mi). Chiapa de Corzo has two main docks for this activity. The largest and oldest is called Cahuare, with paved areas and a restaurant; the second smaller one also has restaurants and a swimming area as well. These two docks host six tour cooperatives, with about 120 boats that can hold between ten and forty passengers each. As they take visitors from Chiapa de Corzo or Tuxtla Gutiérrez through the canyon and to the dam, they provide environmental, historical and cultural information. These are the most organized tourist activities in the park.

A spate of accidents involving these boats occurred from late 2009 to early 2010, claiming the lives of six tourists and hurt sixty two others. The accidents occurred on decrepit boats, many of which were operating without permission with underage or unlicensed crew members. There were no ambulance boats and no first aid services on shore. Two of the cooperatives, Ángel Albino Corzo and Nandiume were suspended and fined for the accidents, taking about sixty boats out of operation. These boating accidents caused significant problems for the tourism industry.

For those who choose to see the canyon from the lookout points above, there are restaurants and other food service places as well as camping and picnicking facilities.

The other two attractions of the park are general ecotourism and extreme sports. The park has hiking paths and sports fishing is allowed sporadically by permit. There are some locations that rent kayaks and other boats. The Amikúu Ecological Park is located within the canyon area, which is accessible by boat from Chiapa de Corzo. The park is divided into three parts; Discover the Canyon, Colors of Chiapas, and Area of Adventure. The first is located in the dock area, with a demonstration of the history of the canyon and a video of its geological formation. There is also a souvenir shop here. The interior of the park contains a 300 meter long zip line. Colors of Chiapas is a small museum which exhibits the traditional dress and native musical instruments of the state’s indigenous peoples. The Area of Adventure takes visitors on a tour of the rainforest area, which includes a suspension bridge. It also has a herpetarium, an aviary and enclosure for jaguars and one for crocodiles. The park was opened in 2009 at an initial cost of 120 million pesos.

Extreme sports include mountain biking, rappelling, spelunking and more. Rappelling allows for access to many of the canyon’s small caves which are not accessible any other way. The dam area has recreational fishing with an annual tournament. One major annual event is the Copa Mundo Fino swimming marathon. An Australian base jumper plunged to his death in 2006 after jumping off an 800-meter cliff in the canyon. The accident occurred during a sanctioned event sponsored by an energy drink maker with jumpers from Australia, the U.S., Europe and Mexico.

At the northern end of the Sumidero Canyon is the Chicoasén Dam, formally called the Manuel M. Torres Dam, which is one of the number of dams that have been built along the Grijalva River for water storage and the generation of hydroelectric power. This dam and its reservoir is considered to be part of the Sumidero Canyon system. The Sumidero Canyon National Park is defined on the north end of the river by this dam and the Belisario Domínguez Bridge on the south. The dam was constructed between 1974 and 1980. The reservoir covers an average of 2,193 hectares, and the complex employs about 600 workers.

The Chicoasén Dam produces electricity and manages the flow of the Grijalva river along with the Hondo River and the Muñiz, El Jardín and El Cacao streams, which converge to form the Usumacinta River. This reservoir is one of the most important in the country. The hydroelectric station is also one of the most important in the country with thirty generators with the potential to generate 3,928.48 megawatts, with an average of 5,749.99 gigawatts per hour. This is just over thirty percent of all hydroelectric energy produced in Mexico.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

SNational Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

It was made a nature reserve in 1963 by President Adolfo López Mateos. Tiburón is Spanish for a shark. Although the Seri name was first recorded by Alphonse Pinart in 1879, its etymology is unknown.

This designation is aimed at preserving the island’s unique and fragile ecosystem. The reserve is managed by Mexican authorities to ensure the conservation of its biodiversity and to protect the habitat of various plant and animal species.

Tiburon Island has been inhabited by various indigenous groups for centuries. The Seri people, an indigenous ethnic group, have a historical connection to the island. They have relied on the island’s resources and the surrounding sea for their livelihoods.

Tiburón Island is part of the traditional homeland of some bands (or clans) of the Seri people, probably for many centuries. The island has played a role in the Seri people’s traditional practices, including fishing, gathering, and crafting.

Over time, Tiburon Island has gained attention not only for its ecological importance but also for its cultural value. The island serves as a reminder of the rich history and relationship between humans and the environment.

Efforts to balance conservation and sustainable development on the island continue to be important in order to preserve its natural beauty and cultural heritage for future generations.

During the 1960s and early 1970s, a small hunting and fishing camp on the northern end of the island was operated by Jesus Olivas, a resident of Hermosillo. He constructed several buildings, a dock, and an airstrip near the historic Seri encampment at Tecomate.

The camp was popular with American visitors to the area.

The remains of the structures and airstrip are still in place. The airstrip was rendered unusable by the Mexican military around 1995 in an attempt to keep it from being used by smugglers who were active in the area at the time.

In 1975, the Mexican government, under a decree issued by President Echeverría, granted the Seri people formal recognition and bestowed communal property rights upon them in relation to Tiburón Island.

The island is uninhabited (except for Mexican military encampments on the eastern and southern shores of the island) and is administered as an ecological preserve by the Seri tribal government in conjunction with the federal government.

Bighorn sheep were introduced to the island in the 1980s; hunting is managed by the tribal government in coordination with Mexican federal authorities. It is also home to a subspecies of Coyote that is found nowhere but on the island.

In 2012, a television episode of Survivorman Ten Days (Les Stroud) was filmed on Tiburón Island.

The Tiburón Island tragedy occurred in 1905 involving a group of men, including Jack Hoffman, who embarked on an ill-fated expedition to Tiburón Island. The expedition was marked by a series of unfortunate events, dehydration, and lack of supplies.

The group set out on their journey from places like Bisbee and Nogales.

They headed to Tiburón Island in search of adventure, opportunities, and perhaps treasure. As they traveled through the desert terrain of Sonora, they faced extreme challenges due to the scarcity of water, high temperatures, and harsh conditions.

Several members of the group became severely dehydrated, and despite their efforts to find water and survive, they struggled to sustain themselves. The group eventually became separated, and some members were lost during the journey.

The tragedy reached its peak when Jack Hoffman’s companion, Grindell, left to find help but never returned. Dave Ingraham, another member of the group, became too weak to continue and was left behind by Hoffman.

Hoffman managed to make his way to safety in Guaymas, several months after the expedition began.

The Tiburón Island tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges and dangers posed by harsh desert environments, especially when individuals are ill-prepared and lack essential resources for survival.

The island can be reached from Punta Chueca, which is the nearest community inhabited by members of the Seri tribe, and from Bahía de Kino, a non-Seri community 34 kilometers to the south.

The distance from Punta Chueca to Punta Tormenta, the nearest point on the island, is 3 kilometers.

The channel between the mainland and the island is called Canal del Infiernillo (“Hell’s Channel”), because of the strong tidal currents and shoal water that occur there which can make navigation challenging.

Two permits are required for day hiking and overnight stays on the island: one from the Seri Governor’s office in Punta Chueca and another from the ISLAS office in Bahía de Kino.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

Parícutin is located in the Mexican municipality of Nuevo Parangaricutiro.

It lies on the northern flank of the Cerros de Tancítaro, which itself lies on top of an old shield volcano and extends 3,170 m above sea level and 424 m above the Valley of Quitzocho-Cuiyusuru, wedged against old volcanic mountain chains.

It is surrounded by small volcanic cones with the intervening valleys occupied by small fields and orchards or small settlements, from groups of a few houses to those the size of towns.

The volcano lies on and is a product of, the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, which runs 900 km west-to-east across central Mexico. It includes the Sierra Nevada mountain range (a set of extinct volcanoes) as well as thousands of cinder cones and volcanic events.

Volcanic activity here has created the Central Mexican Plateau and rock deposits up to 1.8 km deep. It has also created fertile soils by the widespread deposition of ash and thereby some of Mexico’s most productive farmland.

The volcanic activity here is a result of the subduction of the Rivera and Cocos plates along the Middle America Trench.

More specifically, the volcano is the youngest of the approximately 1,400 volcanic vents of the Michoacán-Guanajuato volcanic field, a 40,000 square km basalt plateau filled with scoria cones like Parícutin, along with small shield volcanoes, maars, tuff rings, and lava domes.

Scoria cones are the most common type of volcano in Mexico, appearing suddenly and building a cone-shaped mountain with steep slopes before going extinct. Parícutin’s immediate predecessor was El Jorullo, also in Michoacán, which erupted in 1759.

Currently, the volcano’s crater is about 200 meters across and it is possible to climb the volcano and walk around the entire perimeter. Parícutin is still hot, and seeping rainwater reacts with this heat so that the cone still emits steam in various streams.

The forces that created the volcano are still active.

In 1997 there was a vigorous swarm of 230 earthquakes in the Parícutin area due to tectonic movement, with five above 3.9 on the moment magnitude scale. There were also some reports of rumbling in 1995 and of black steam and rumbling in 1998.

In the summer of 2006, there was another major volcanic earthquake swarm, with over 300 located near the volcano, indicating magma movement, but with no eruption at Parícutin or anywhere else.

Parícutin erupted from 1943 to 1952, unusually long for this type of volcano, and with several eruptive phases.

For weeks prior, residents of the area reported hearing noises similar to thunder but without clouds in the sky. This sound is consistent with deep earthquakes from the movement of magma.

A later study indicated that the eruption was preceded by 21 earthquakes over 3.2 in intensity starting five weeks before the eruption. One week prior to the eruption, newspapers reported 25–30 per day. The day before the eruption, the number is estimated at 300.

The eruption began on February 20, 1943, at about 16:00 local time. The center of the activity was a cornfield near the town of Parícutin, owned by Dionisio Pulido.

During that day, he and his family had been working their land, clearing it to prepare for spring planting. Suddenly the ground nearby where they were working swelled upward and formed a fissure between 2 and 2.5 meters across.

They reported that they heard hissing sounds, and smoke which smelled like rotten eggs, indicating the presence of hydrogen sulfide. Within hours, the fissure would develop into a small crater.

Dionisio Pulido reported:

At 16:00, I left my wife to set fire to a pile of branches when I noticed that a crack, which was situated on one of the knolls of my farm, had opened .. and I saw that it was a kind of fissure that had a depth of only half a meter. I set about to ignite the branches again when I felt a thunder, the trees trembled, and I turned to speak to Paula; and it was then I saw how, in the hole, the ground swelled and raised itself 2 or 2.5 meters high, and a kind of smoke or fine dust – grey, like ashes – began to rise in a portion of the crack that I had not previously seen.. Immediately more smoke began to rise with a hiss or whistle, loud and continuous; and there was a smell of sulfur.

He tried to find his family and oxen but they had disappeared so he rode his horse to town where he found his family and friends, happy to see him alive. The volcano grew fast and furiously after this. Witness Celedonio Gutierrez, who witnessed the eruption on the first night reported:

.. when night began to fall, we heard noises like the surge of the sea, and red flames of fire rose into the darkened sky, some rising 800 meters or more into the air, that burst like golden marigolds, and rain like artificial fire fell to the ground.

On that first day, the volcano had begun strombolian pyroclastic activity and within 24 hours, there was a scorian cone fifty meters high, created by the ejection of lapilli fragments up to the size of a walnut and larger, semi-molten volcanic bombs.

By the end of the week, reports had the cone between 100 and 150 meters high. Soon after the start, the valley was covered in smoke and ash. The nine-year activity of the volcano is divided into four stages with names that come from the Purépecha language.

The first phase (Quitzocho) extended from February 22 to October 18, 1943, with activity concentrated in the cracks that formed in the Cuiyusuro Valley, forming the initial cone. During this time, the ejected material was mostly lapilli and bombs.

In March, the eruption became more powerful, with eruptive columns that extended for several kilometers.

In four months, the cone reached 200 meters, and in eight months 365 meters. During this period, there was some lava flow.
On June 12, lava began to advance toward the village of Parícutin, forcing evacuations the next day.

The second phase went from October 18, 1943, to January 8, 1944, and is called Sapichi, meaning “child”, referring to the formation of a lateral vent and other openings on the north side of the cone.

Ash and bombs continued to be ejected but the new vent sent lava towards the town of San Juan Parangaricutiro, forcing its permanent evacuation. By August, the town was completely covered in lava and ash, with only the upper portions of the main church still visible.

The evacuations of Parícutin and San Juan were able to be accomplished without loss of life due to the slow movement of the lava.

These two phases lasted just over a year and account for more than 90% of the total material ejected from the cone, as well as almost four-fifths (330 meters) of the final height of 424 meters from the valley floor. It also sent ash as far as Mexico City.

The third (Taqué-Ahuan) lasted from January 8, 1944 to January 12, 1945 and focuses on the formation of a series of cracks on the south side of the cone as well as an increase in activity in the center.

Lava flows from this time mostly extend to the west and northwest. During this period there was also the formation of a mesa now called Los Hornitos to the south.

Over the next seven years, the volcano became less active, with the ejection of ash, stone, and lava coming sporadically, with periods of silence in between.

Professional geologists pulled out of the area in 1948. The last burst of activity was recorded by him between January and February 1952. Several eruptions occurred in succession and a three-kilometer smoke column was produced.

The importance of the Parícutin eruption was that it was the first time that volcanologists were able to fully document the entire life cycle of a volcano.

The event brought geologists from all over the world, but the principal researchers were William F. Foshag of the Smithsonian Institution and Dr. Jenaro Gonzalez Reyna from the Mexican government, who came about a month after the eruption started and stayed for several years.

These two wrote detailed descriptions, drew sketches and maps, and took samples and thousands of photographs during this time. Many of these are still used today by researchers. Foshag continued to study the volcano until he died in 1956.

Between 1943 and 1948, almost fifty scientific articles were published in major journals about the volcano, with even more since. The worldwide effort to study Parícutin increased understanding of volcanism in general but particularly of scoria cone formation.

Despite the ongoing Second World War, the eruption drew attention from around the world, with reporters from newspapers and magazines including Life coming to cover the story.

Airline pilots pointed the volcano out to passengers and one Hollywood film, Captain from Castile, was shot in the area, using the erupting volcano as a backdrop and employing locals as extras.

The eruption also inspired a generation of Mexican artists to depict or allude to it in their works, including Dr Atl, Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Alfredo Zalce, and Pablo O’Higgins.

The eruptions ended in 1952, leaving a final scoria cone with a height of 424 meters from the valley floor. The eruption destroyed or heavily damaged a 233 km2 area, and almost all of the vegetation within several kilometers of the crater was destroyed.

The volcano spread lava over 26 km2, with 52 km2 covered in volcanic sand.

The town of Parícutin, which once had a population of 733, is now completely gone, and all that remains of the town of San Juan Parangaricutiro, with a former population of 1,895, are parts of its main church which stands out among the hardened lava flow.

Though no one died directly from the eruption, three people were killed when they were struck by lightning generated by pyroclastic eruptions. The damage from the eruption primarily affected five towns in two municipalities, San Juan Parangaricutiro and Los Reyes.

In addition to the two towns that were obliterated, Zacan, Angahuan, and Zirosto were also heavily affected. The main effect on the people of the area was the disruption of their lives and livelihood, especially during the first two years.

The area most affected by the eruption had a population of 5,910, and hundreds of these were permanently evacuated. Before leaving his home for the last time, Dionisio Pulido placed a sign on the cornfield: “This volcano is owned and operated by Dionisio Pulido.”

The populations of the two destroyed towns were initially moved to camps on either side of the city of Uruapan. The population of the other three towns mostly stayed in place but made adaptations to survive during the eruption.

The people of Angahuan and Zacan mostly stayed where they were. The population of Zirosto divided into three: those who stayed in the original location, now known as Zirosto Viejo, those who moved a few miles away to a ranch which is now is officially called Zirosto Nuevo but locally called Barranca Seca, and a third group founded a completely new settlement called Miguel Silva near Ario de Rosales.

The town of San Juan Parangaricutiro was the seat of the municipality of the same name, and its destruction prompted the political reorganization and a new seat at Parangaricutiro (today generally called San Juan Nuevo), where much of the population of the old seat had been relocated, with some going to Angahuan.

The economy of the area was then and is now mostly agricultural, with population mostly Purépecha, rural and poor.

However, the eruption did cause a number of changes both social and economic to the affected areas, both to adapt to the changed landscape but also because the fame of the eruption has brought greater contact from the rest of Mexico and beyond.

The volcano has become a tourist attraction, with the main access in Angahuan, from which the volcano is visible. The town offers guides and horses, to visit the ruins of the San Juan Parangaricutiro Church as well as to climb the volcano itself.

The volcano is part of the Pico de Tancítaro National Park and is mostly accessible on horseback, with only the last few hundred, very steep, meters to be climbed on foot.

The trek requires a guide even if horses are not used, as the path is not well-marked and passes through forest, agave fields, and avocado groves. Many simply visit the ruins of the church, which are easier to access and still a pilgrimage site, the old altar regularly adorned with fresh candles and flowers.

Nearby is a group of stands selling local food and souvenirs.

The story of the formation of Parícutin is the subject of the children’s book Hill of Fire by author Thomas P. Lewis published in 1983. The book was featured in an episode of Reading Rainbow in 1985.

The Ecological Park is built in the same area as the archaeological site and has the same name, Xcaret.

The land was originally purchased by a group of Mexican entrepreneurs, led by architect Miguel Quintana Pali. 5 hectares of the land was purchased in 1984.

When he began to clear the land, he started uncovering cenotes, sinkholes formed by collapsed cave ceilings weakened by 3 million years of erosion from underground rivers running through them and flowing into the sea. He saw the potential for tourism and formulated the idea of an Ecological Park open to the public, and soon joined forces with Oscar, Marcos and Carlos Constandse, achieving this goal in December 1990.

At the same time, contact was established with the National Institute of Anthropology and History with the objective of rebuilding the remnants of the Mayan pyramids and buildings that were found in the area. The park’s administration subsidized all the operation and the INAH put in charge a team of specialists.

The nature-based attractions of the park include a river that goes through the Mayan village, a subterranean concrete sluice in which people can swim and snorkel with a life vest.

Near the inlet there are recreational activities at the beach, snorkeling, Sea Trek and Snuba in the nearby reefs, or swimming with dolphins.

The park also has a coral reef aquarium turtle nesting site. Next to the inlet there’s an area for manatees.

The park also has a bird pavilion, butterfly pavilion, bat cave, orchids and bromeliad greenhouse, an island of jaguars, and a deer shelter, among others.

The cultural attractions include an open church, replica of a Mayan village with real artisans at work, a Mexican cemetery, a museum, an equestrian show, Mesoamerican ball game, an open theater with performances of pre-Hispanic dances, Papantla flying men and the Gran Tlachco (theater with a six thousand people capacity) where the Mesoamerican ball game is represented, as well as the meeting of two worlds, the Mayan and the Spanish, and the presentation of several Mexican folklore dances.

Other demonstrations of Mexican traditions include Day of the Dead celebration and the “Travesía Sagrada Maya” (Mayan Sacred Crossing), an annual rite when Mayans would cross the sea from Xcaret and Playa del Carmen to Cozumel to pay homage to the lunar goddess Ix Chel. The modern version is a re-creation of this rite done in late May to early June.

The park also has a Temascal and Spa, has 11 restaurants, dressing rooms, souvenirs and handicrafts stores, as well as an adjacent all-inclusive resort hotel.

• Underground River
• Lagoons
• Natural Inlet
• Paradise River
• White Sand Beaches
• Maya River
• Cove and Ponds
• Coral Reef Aquarium
• Sea Turtles
• Manatee Lagoon
• Bee Farm
• Butterfly Pavilion
• Deer Island
• Ecological Tour
• Puma and Jaguar Island
• Monkey Island
• Mushroom Farm
• Bromelias and Orchids Greenhouse
• Jungle Trail
• Regional Wildlife Enclosure
• Crocodiles
• Tapir House
• Archaeological Sites Scale Models
• Fiesta Charra
• Papantla Flyers
• Archaeological Sites
• Museum of Culture and Anthropology
• Mayan Village
• St. Francisco of Assisi Chapel
• Mexican Corner
• Rotating Scenic Tower
• Snorkeling (Equipment available)
• Xcaret at Night! Spectacular
• Mayan Ball Game

Available at extra cost Tours & Activities

• Swim With Dolphins
• Adrenalina Jet Boat
• Reef Snorkeling Tour
• Sea Trek
• Snuba
• Swim with Sharks
• Xcaret Night Dinner
• Massage & Spa Services

Aviable equipment

• Life Vests
• Lock Bags for Personal Belongings
• Palapa Umbrellas
• Hammocks
• Lounge Chairs
• Inner tubes for Floating
• Showers
• Dressing Rooms
• Snorkeling Equipment
• Lockers and Towels
• Wheelchairs
• Baby Strollers
• Restaurants and Bars
• Photo and Souvenir Shops

Open all days from 8:00 to 22:30

Entrance fee

From $75 to$135 (depends on program)

Playa del Carmen by taxi or bus.

There is also aviable Tour Xcaret, the best luxury transportation service from your hotel. The easiest and safest way to get to Xcaret Park!

Xel-Há means “where the water is born”. The park is named after the site of Xelha, an archaeological site of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, part of which is located within the lands leased to the park.

According to legend, Mayan gods joined together their wisdom, illusions, and love for beauty to create a place that would bring together the best of nature, and that place was called Xel-Há.

Once created, the gods were so pleased with this heavenly place that they decided to permit the entry of all mortals.

To take care of it and the elements that surround it, the gods appointed 3 guardians:

• Huh, the Iguana (guardian of the land)
• Chuc Kay, the Pelican (guardian of the air)
• Kay Op, the Parrotfish (guardian of the water)

Legend says that these guardians still protect and care for the park and everyone who comes to visit.

This Natural Wonder is an unparalleled place of beauty.

Swim and snorkel among tropical fish that have made the inlet of Xel-Há their home. Discover the jungle trails of this paradise by foot, bicycle, or mini train. Admire different species of flora and fauna in their natural habitat.

Enjoy an unforgettable experience in an all-inclusive park. Indulge your taste buds with traditional Mexican dishes in any of the four restaurants or enjoy popular flavored drinks or a refreshing cocktail here at Xel-Há.

The park is centered around the natural inlet and lagoon, which is promoted as one of the main attractions of the park that forms with the flow of the river through rocks mixing salty waters with fresh underground water currents.

The inlet of Xel-Há is a natural aquarium where hundreds of species inhabit.

In the park, there are tropical fish and abundant flora, as well as a turtle reserve, where research is constantly carried out to learn more about marine life and contribute to the ecological maintenance of the area.

A shark fence extends across the lagoon’s entrance, and the public is permitted to swim and snorkel in the lagoon.

Underwater the limestone has been eroded into a myriad of small caves and grottos. The park’s unique geography, with underground rivers flowing into the Caribbean Sea, provides a fascinating underwater ecosystem to discover.

The history of Xel-Ha is closely intertwined with the Mayan civilization, which revered the region’s natural water sources as portals to the underworld. These cenotes were used for both religious ceremonies and as vital water sources.

Due to its privileged location, during pre-Hispanic times Xel-Há served as an inner port, trading center, place of pilgrimage, and shelter for sailors, as well as being a food reserve during bad weather.

The theme park was founded in 1984 and is under the management and marketing of the Mexican-owned Experiencias Xcaret Group. Over the years, Xel-Ha evolved into a modern-day eco-park that celebrates and preserves the area’s ecological richness.

From 2010 to 2015, Experiencias Xcaret was recognized as one of the best Mexican companies.

In early 2014, Xel-ha became the first tourist park in the world to obtain an EarthCheck Gold certification. The park invests in sustainability programs, buys local products, and trains its staff on environmental care and preservation.

Xel-Ha Park offers an array of activities and attractions that cater to nature and adventure seekers. A variety of aquatic-based activities are offered by the theme park, including snorkeling, scuba diving, and swimming with dolphins.

Visitors can also take part in guided tours, and learn about the area’s natural history. Xel-Ha Park’s sandy coves and hammock-laden areas are perfect for relaxation. Xel-Ha Park also offers zip-lining, cliff jumping, and kayaking.

• Lazy River
• Excellent Snorkeling
• Courage Cliff
• Mayan Cave
• Mo’s Flight
• Children’s Playground
• Ixchel’s Rift
• Floating Bridge
• Bay of Caprices
• Natural Inlet
• Mangrove Chaac
• Cenotes
• Rope Swing
• Grotto El Dorado
• Ice Cream
• Mayan Wall
• Nature Trail
• Apiary
• Hammock Island
• Tree Nursery
• Train Ride
• The Beach
• Mayan Cave
• Rope Bridge
• Conscience Path

Available at extra cost:

• Swim With Dolphins
• Sea Trek
• Snuba
• Stingray Encounter
• Zip Bike
• Full Spa Services

Available equipment:

• Snorkeling Equipment
• Towels
• Bicycles
• Lounge Chairs
• Hammocks
• Kayaks
• Inner tubes
• Life Vests
• Lockers
• Bathrooms
• Showers
• Dressing Rooms
• 6 Restaurants & Bars
• ATM Machines
• Baby Strollers
• Wheelchairs
• Public Telephones
• Park Guides

• You can purchase the Xel-Há Tour which includes first-class transportation service.
• If you want to arrive in your own car or a rented one, parking is free.
• Or if you prefer you can arrive by taxi or bus from Cancun and Playa del Carmen.

Return:

• For your return, you can rent a taxi service at special booths in the Park.
• You can buy a bus ticket directly on board when the bus arrives in the parking lot.

Bus schedule:

Playa del Carmen: 5:40 p.m. and 6:05 p.m.
Cancún: 5:45 p.m. and 6:10 p.m.

The times may vary according to the season.

Open from 08:30 to 18:00 all year long.

Entrance fee

• From $80 to $150 (depends on program)
• The park also has some pais additional attractions.

Children:

• Children under 4 years old have free admission (an ID is required).
• Children 5 – 11 years old get half of the adult ticket price.

Children over 1,50 m but under 12 years old must present identification to verify their age.

Cancelation:

• Reservations canceled more than 2 days in advance before the booking date are subject to a 10% administrative fee.
• Reservations are canceled from 2-0 days or in case of a show, reservations are non-refundable.

It is not possible to make the change of date the same day of your visit.

Follow the short winding path to the lagoon entrance. Once in the water, you are immediately greeted by hundreds of colorful fish. Wonders can be observed at a depth of no more than 2 m, and there are few or no waves.

Submerged rock formations create a fascinating underwater terrain and the ideal habitat for the exotic marine creatures that you can see perfectly while snorkeling, whether you simply float on the surface or dive underwater.

Several species of tropical fish spend some time in the lagoon before they reach the proper size and maturity, after which, they move out into the immensity of the ocean and start their survival of the fittest.

Damselfish and sergeant majors are small but pugnacious so don’t be surprised if they charge, they do that if they feel threatened. They are normally no longer than seven inches in length so there is nothing to worry about.

Bird watchers will be delighted with the area, which is abundant with various tropical species. Herons are especially prevalent but other water and shore birds are routinely sighted, such as cranes, pelicans, seagulls, and egrets.

In and around the lagoon are several contemporary sculptures by Francisco Zúñiga. They’re not only hidden in the forest and gardens as you walk towards the lagoon, there are also some right out in the middle of the water.

• Open from 9:00 to 17:00 (all days).
• There is a small fee to enter the inlet.
• It is not permitted to use sunblock or to bring any food or drinks.
• Rental equipment is not available, so you’ll have to bring your own.
• If you opt to join a tour group, equipment will be provided for you.

You can go on a tour arranged by a tour desk at your hotel.

Yal-ku inlet is best reached via Akumal, a major development 105 km south of Cancun along the Cancun-Tulum Highway. If you get a good map and rent a car, however, you can go to Yal-Ku Lagoon by yourself.

• From Playa del Carmen by bus and then taxi.
• From Cancun by bus and then taxi.