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Celestun Biosphere Reserve

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wanderluster
wanderluster
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5 out of 5
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Celestun Biosphere Reserve

  • July 4, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by wanderluster from Evansville, Indiana
Celestun Biosphere Reserve

This Biosphere Reserve is located on a long white beach on the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 1.5 hours west of Merida. Known for its large numbers of pink flamingoes which reach 20,000, the inlet also is home to 300 other species of birds.

Flat bottomed boats take visitors into the lagoon where cormorants, egrets, osprey and herons can be seen along the way. A distant pink horizon soon becomes a flock of flamingoes as the boat reaches the lagoon. Keeping a respectful distance, a zoom is required to photograph these birds seen feeding and in flight. The boat trip includes snaking through the mangrove looking for pygmy kingfishers among the tangled roots, and an optional stop at the sweet water springs of Baldiosera.

For photography, the flat-bottomed boats are extremely handy for tripods, but there are a few choice spots on land that allow photographers to get close to the birds without spooking them. Drive along the main road leaving town to find these pull off areas. Just get there before sunrise as parking is limited.

Night boat rides to see crocodiles, yellow-crowned night herons and the great-horned owl are available during calm weather.

The fishing village of Celestun is quite small, and restaurants being open are a gamble except during high tourism season from April to July. The expensive Hotel Eco Paraiso Xixim is located on a quiet beach on an old coconut plantation, but is quite a distance from town. A choice place to stay within the village is Manglares Hotel, located ten minutes from the plaza on a white sandy beach.

There are two flamingo preserves in the Yucatan, and we visited both. The other, located north of Ek Balam, is Rio Lagartos Nature Reserve. To us, the village was less desirable, the flamingoes harder to photograph, and the setting not as scenic.

From journal Mayan's Glorious Yucatan

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