Contoy National Park travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

Located in the confluence of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, Isla Contoy is the most important nesting place for seabirds in all of the Mexican Caribbean. The little island, just 5 miles long, is a protected nature reserve and a well-known spot for an eco-adventure. Photo by: Judy Knesel

Just 200 visitors are allowed on its silky-sand shores every day, arriving in boats that run from Isla Mujeres or Cancun (approximately a two-hour trip). There you can sit on the beach and watch the brown pelicans and double-crested cormorants on the water, or head inland to the Puerto Viejo lagoon, an important nesting site. Climbing up the observation tower provides you with a great view of the whole island. Photo by: mario-949

It is no just the birds that love to nest there. Isla Contoy is an important nesting site for four types of sea turtle, with white-sand beaches giving them the chance to bury their eggs undistributed. The water around the island is crystal clear, so you can see from your boat what is going on under the sea: great manta rays swooping around and plenty of tropical fish against a backdrop of coral. Photo by: mario-949

Boat trips to the island typically stop at the lxlache reef so that visitors can go snorkeling. Giant stingray, primary-colored parrot fish, clown fish, barracuda, and angel fish are just some of the species you might see – not to mention the turtles. Every summer visitors have the chance to see the world’s largest living fish pass by Cancun – a safari. A trip to the island is certainly an adventurous addition to any journey to this part of the Mexican coast and is not be missed. Photo by: mario-949