We wrote this article as a guest post for fly.green.com. We are very happy about our new collaboration!
Did you know that Mexico is one of the most biodiverse countries on earth? Due to the different climate zones, altitudes, and landscapes from desert to jungle to volcanoes and thousands of kilometers of coast, there is an unlikely variety of flora and fauna in Mexico. It is imperative to protect this biodiversity because in Mexico, pollution and other factors, such as irresponsible tourism, create problems for the environment and nature. It is, therefore, especially important to travel sustainably and observe the animals and plants without intervening or even disturbing them. We are committed to this because we want the beauty of Mexico’s flora and fauna to be accessible to our descendants and just as impressive as it is to us.
Mexico’s wildlife
Mexico is home to between 60 and 70 percent of the world’s known species, and the country ranks fourth among the nations with the greatest biodiversity. Monkeys, sloths, pumas, jaguars, and toucans live in the Mexican jungle. In the southern coastal regions, you can find colonies of flamingos, cormorants, pelicans, and parrots. The desert areas are overflowing with many animals such as wolves, coyotes, black bears, lynxes, tapirs, and much more. The colorful underwater world is home to a multitude of corals and fish in addition to sea turtles, dolphins, whales, and rays. The list could go on indefinitely.
Monarch butterfly of Mexico
Every year the glowing orange monarch butterflies flutter in millions from Canada to Mexico to spend winter here in the Mexican national parks from December to March. The butterflies cover up to 3,600 kilometers on their flight from North America to Mexico. Several hundred million animals overwinter in Mexico’s national parks. To experience the butterflies up close, you can hike on foot or horseback through a beautiful pine forest to the top of the mountain, where the butterflies play in the sun and turn the high treetops into a bright orange.
The best time to observe monarch butterflies in Mexico is between December and March.
Dolphins and whales in Mexico
Did you know that there are more than 37 species of dolphins in Mexico? Dolphins are such enchanting creatures, naturally curious, intelligent, and ubiquitous in Mexico’s coastal regions, whether on the Pacific, Atlantic, or Caribbean. Dolphins can be seen year-round, while whales migrate from North America to Mexico during the winter months. Therefore, the best time for whale watching is between December and March, exclusively in Baja California and on the Pacific coast of Mexico to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. With a lot of luck, you will occasionally see some whales in Acapulco. When it comes to whale and dolphin watching, it is particularly important to look for a provider like On Secret Trails that only offers eco-tours with biologists, conservationists, or certified nature guides. The natural habitat of whales and dolphins should be protected and respected. We strongly advise against organized swimming trips with non-wild dolphins, for example. On some whale and dolphin watching tours, the curious dolphins frolic around the boat on their own so that you can be very close to them naturally.
Turtles on Mexico’s coastal areas
Just as the dolphins, turtles are almost omnipresent in Mexico and can be found in every coastal region of Mexico. But the turtles need to be protected. They are victims of the littering of the oceans. They have an extremely low chance of survival as babies, on the one hand, due to natural enemies such as birds on their way from the nest to the sea. On the other hand, they also suffer from environmental pollution and stick to some objects like plastic residues.
Baby turtle
But you can also help here, even on vacation! There are a large number of nature conservation associations on the beaches of Mexico, which, for example, generously cordon off breeding grounds, help the baby turtles on their arduous journey from the nest to the ocean and educate tourists and the local population about the need for protection of these animals. We at On Secret Trails offer tours with these conservationists, on which you can help yourself and do your part to ensure that the baby turtles can safely find their way into the sea and live a long life of up to 100 years in the vast ocean. The fee paid will be donated in full to the local nature conservation association, which will carry out the respective tour with you. The moment the little turtle babies slide into the sea when the sun is setting is indescribably beautiful and has given some people goosebumps.
