Last Updated
For all the nature and travel lovers out there, there is exciting news this week – a brand new nature reserve will be coming to the Riviera Maya!
The announcement comes from the Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources after their recent efforts of environmental conservation work during the Maya Train construction.
This area will be around 1200 acres and is a brand-new protected natural area.
What Will It Be Called, And Where Is It?
Its name has been revealed as ‘El Mangle‘ and will be located in Quintana Roo, just south of Cancun, in and around the Puerto Morelos area.
The nature reserve will feature a large area of wetlands and lush fauna, which will make the perfect habitat to host a variety of wild animals, including crocodiles, spider monkeys, and striped shiny iguanas.
This area of land was actually generously donated by the sons of the hotelier Julio Berdegué, who is the owner of the El Cid hotel chain.
It’s known that they approached the federal government of the area to offer it up as a conservation space to pay homage to the wishes of the deceased businessman who is originally from Spain.
Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans For 2023 Starting At $10 Per Week
Easily Earn Points For Free Travel
With the news that the Maya Train project is making fast progress, despite criticisms from many environmentalists, who are worried about the infrastructure and impact of tourism in many of the ecosystems of the area – it seems the government is doing its utmost to preserve as much land as possible.
So this is amazing news for the region, as the government was already preserving many nature reserves and archeological sites on the Maya Train route, thus adding El Mangle to the list of protected areas for the state.
As well as this, they are also expanding the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, which is located on the Yucatan and Quintana Roo border, west of the city of Chetumal.
Calakmul is already an enormous national park featuring flora, wildlife, and many Mayan archeological remains, and in total, it’s over 1.7 million acres of land – they are adding over 1.5 million acres onto it to make it the largest tropical zone reserve in the Americas, after the Amazon.
The head of Semarnat also indicated that this progress will also mean a better connection between the Laguna de Términos and the ANP Calakmul – all in all, it’s fantastic news for the preservation of the Mexican environment.
What Other Nature Reserves In The Area Are There?
Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is one of the largest reserves in Quintana Roo, located about 72km south of Tulum, you will find exotic birds, marine life, mangrove trees, and wetlands – it’s a tranquil place of serenity and beauty, an untouched haven where wildlife is at one with nature.
The whole area is under really strict ecological guidelines, so humans are actually prohibited from many things so that we have as little or no impact on the area and, therefore, the environment.
Rio Lagartos
This is a nature reserve in the state of Yucatan, about equidistant between Cancun and Merida.
Home to an abundance of beautiful pink flamingos, it’s surprising it’s not called Rio Flamingos. There are that many! Here you will find wetlands, mangroves, beaches, and even a beautiful pink lake nearby, which is caused by the salt levels in the water; definitely worth checking out!
Punta Laguna Nature Reserve
Punta Laguna Nature Reserve is a smaller nature reserve, more suited for a day trip, equidistant from Tulum or Playa Del Carmen, inland, just north of the archeological site of Coba.
You could find yourself bird-watching on the beautiful lake or even spotting some spider monkeys, or maybe a jaguar if you’re lucky – this one is a real off-road jungle kind of adventure, and you could maybe stop off for a dip in one of the beautiful cenotes on the way.
Plan Your Next Cancun Vacation:
Traveler Alert: Don’t Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip!
Choose From Thousands of Cancun and Riviera Maya Hotels, Resorts and Hostels with Free Cancellation On Most Properties
↓ Join the community ↓
The Cancun Sun Community FB group has all the latest travel news, conversations and tourism Q&A’s for the Mexican Caribbean
Subscribe to our Latest Posts
Enter your email address to subscribe to The Cancun Sun’s latest breaking news affecting travelers, straight to your inbox.