84. The natural reserve in Rio Lagartos

The natural reserve in Rio Lagartos - February 28th to March 2nd, 2018
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- This region is a natural peninsula located in the northern part of Yucatán. It is well-known for the biodiversity of its fauna and flora. When I heard about this amazing place, I had to explore it myself!
El Oja de Aqua
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- This water point is a good spot to relax. A multitude of red garra fish live here. These small fish eat the old skin on our feet! I’d prefer to get refreshments at the small bar/restaurant that is located nearby.
The crocodile 🐊
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- Rio Lagartos takes its name from "lezardos", meaning the crocodiles, because lots of them inhabit the rivers of this region. Rio Lagartos is also a coastal city surrounded by mangrove forests. The mangroves grow in areas that become flooded during high tide. The roots of the mangrove trees can be seen extending down into the ocean during low tide but are not easily seen when waters cover them during high tide.
- Near the Ojo de Aqua, it is possible to walk on a pathway through the mangrove forest using the Sendero Peten Mac. It is a wonderful opportunity to listen to the sounds of the biosphere and observe this crocodile and this turtle swimming in the water.
My cocoon that evening
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- Hidden at the end of a jetty, in front of a relatively quiet water arm, was the ideal place for my hammock!
The paradise of ornithologists
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- In the beautiful morning, I had a funny misadventure.
- At dawn, lots of fish came to the surface. That’s why all the birds are agitated, especially the seagulls. They are known for their legendary discretion!
- The show is here in this video. Please forgive the lack of clarity of this latest... I woke up five seconds before it.
- https://youtu.be/melKxC17pac
Rio Lagartos
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- On this peninsula, people can encounter these types of birds:
- - great herons (white color), white herons, blue herons, tiger herons
- - cormorants
- - great white pelicans, brown pelicans
- - common moorhen
- - different types of seagulls
- - roseate spoonbill
- - woodcock
- - anhinga
- - flamingos
- - terns
- - a kind of pigeon or barbary dove
- There are not only birds in Rio Lagartos. I also observed:
- - chaquistes - typical mosquitoes of the Caribbean area
- - crabs
- - raccoons
- - crocodiles
- - tortoises
- - iguanas
- - skin-eating fish
- - spotted fish
- - I heard there are also sharks and European hake
Las Coloradas
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- Those pink salted lagoons enlighten Rio Lagartos Reserve
The long beach of Las Coloradas
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- My goal is to enjoy the sunset in front of the flamingos, I take the direction of El Cuyo, a fishing village at the end of the reserve. I walk along the beach about eight kilometers and pick up beautiful seashells (those make perfect souvenirs).
The salty lakes
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- Thanks to the application MAPS.ME, I go straight to the marshes. The flamingos are at the end of the path! And finally I have the chance to see only six of them... They are very far away, so difficult to observe.
Horseshoe crab
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- This kind of crab is found mainly in the shallow waters (5 to 10 meters). Its corpse looks like the Pokemon Kabuto.
- By chance, a little earlier in Celestún, I recorded my first meeting with the beast! Enjoy the show!
- https://youtu.be/DoQhfoWH-5g
- Other photos are also available in the gallery.
Sunset
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- I arrive at dusk, I still have about twenty minutes to hang my hammock. However in the area, there is not much vegetation. My only solution was two young trees belonging to a bush. The latter will protect me from the wind during the night. A bank and very unstable device but will make the case for a traveler like me.
- Instead of photographing flamingos, I enjoy a pretty gradient of colors until the nightfall.
And if you want to see more flamingos?
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- It is also possible to observe flamingos in Celestún, near Merida. A dozen thousands of flamingos live in the peninsula of Yucatán.
- I add some images of Celestún in the photo gallery if you want to see the reserve. Here are some videos of the flamingos observed:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-CUk3xAtkr6VocewOUUBYS86Ibj_T5-O
The exact location where to observe them at the twilight
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- From the center of Celestún, take the road to the north for five kilometers (by bike, it's better), until you find on the left (beach side) the sign "Tab 3538" and on the right, the red sign "Vende". I updated OpenStreetMaps so that all the details are now on MAPS.ME.
The sign "Tab 3538"
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- On the beach side
The sign "SE VENDE"
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- On the salt lakes side

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