Destination: Mexico
LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION
Itinerary: Wild
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Mexico’s most outstanding natural marvels start in Baja California with superb gray whale–watching (February to early April) at Laguna Ojo de Liebre and Laguna San Ignacio.
Observe dolphins and humpback whales (November to March) at Puerto Vallarta, and sea turtles at Playa Maruata or Troncones. The Pacific coast ecosystems also provide great bird-watching at places like San Blas. If you have time, divert inland between December and February to the Santuario Mariposa Monarca (Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary).
Head south to walk among the wondrous cloud forests and flora of Oaxaca’s Sierra Norte and to see turtles at Mazunte, crocodiles at nearby Playa Ventanilla and countless waterfowl at the Lagunas de Chacahua.
In Chiapas try to set aside time and funds for bird-watching in the cloud forests of Reserva de la Biosfera El Triunfo. Tropical rainforests and their wildlife, such as monkeys, toucans and scarlet macaws, are accessible at Laguna Miramar, Yaxchilán, Reforma Agraria and Reserva de la Biosfera Calakmul.
On the Caribbean coast, Reserva de la Biosfera Sian Ka’an harbors monkeys, crocodiles, tapirs, pumas and jaguars. You’ll marvel at Caribbean marine life while snorkeling or diving at Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and other dive spots on the Yucatán peninsula.
Along the Yucatán’s north coast, don’t miss the spectacular flamingo colonies of Río Lagartos and Celestún.
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