Mexico is an amazing destination for nature enthusiasts. Whether you get a kick from spotting rare animals or you love dramatic natural landscapes, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find something that takes your breath away. So, just what are the top natural attractions to see on your holiday? Let me tell you…
1) Marine life
Mexico is a truly magical place for scuba diving and snorkelling. The marine life here is, simply put, staggering. Its lagoons, coastal areas and rivers all teem with amazing creatures, while the country’s numerous dive centres are usually equally well-equipped to school beginners in the basics as simply provide kit for experienced divers.
So, where’s best to dive? Among the top spots is the Parque Marina Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel. Here, you can see all kinds of colourful coral, thanks to the fact that this reserve is part of the second largest coral reef in the world.
Dive in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, meanwhile, and you can check out some shipwrecks. Or, head to the island of Holbox, where you can dive with white sharks.
2) Copper Canyon
Of my three top natural attractions in Mexico, I think it’s this one – Copper Canyon – that strikes my fancy most. While it might not be as famous as the Grand Canyon in the US, this remote network of canyons is actually longer and deeper – oh, and it’s home to diverse array of natural wonders in its own right.
The canyons here span a hugely impressive total of 59,545 km. Its steep walls have a greenish copper tint (hence the name Copper Canyon!) and it’s dotted with mountain forests and waterfalls.
You can visit it by taking the Copper Canyon train, which runs between Chihauhau and Los Mochis – a line which was opened back in 1961 and takes 14 hours to travel along. Get to the canyons, which are known locally as Las Barrancas del Cobre, and you can spot a huge array of flora and fauna but, personally, I think the star attraction is the Basaseachi Waterfall.
The second largest waterfall in Mexico, Basaseachi Waterfall is 245 m high. If you’re travelling to Copper Canyon, you really can’t leave without having seen it.
3) Faro Calerain Ecological Reserve
As the largest eco reserve in Cozumel, the Faro Calerain Ecological Reserve is a really exciting place to visit. Spanning thousands of acres, it is home to all kinds of rare and wonderful creatures, from crocodiles and exotic birds to sea turtles and tropical fish.
When you visit here, an experienced guide will show around, taking you to the park’s plentiful lagoons, mangroves and reef systems. One of the highlights, provided you visit between May and September, is taking a guided catamaran tour to the Columbia mangrove lagoon. You see, the beaches here act as nesting grounds and sanctuaries for sea turtles. So, don’t miss out on doing this if you have the chance.
This list just scratches the surface of Mexico’s natural wonders. To give you some idea of what I mean, the country’s home to 47 national parks, 22 biosphere reserves and nine protected areas. So, there really is an almost endless amount to see.
By the way, you can see some examples of good places to stay athttp://www.hayesandjarvis.co.uk/destinations/Mexico. And, if you’re still are in the planning stages of your break, it’s well worth remembering that the climate varies a lot from one place to the next – two individual locations can be quite different weather-wise at the same time of the year, so be sure to check out what your chosen destination will be like before you travel.
Photo by Flickr User Zbirog