El Cuyo and Rio Lagartos is famous for its large flamingo colony and enormous variety of other birds. In other words, this is a bird watchers paradise.El explorador no admite los marcos flotantes o no está configurado actualmente para mostrarlos.

MAYAN RIVIERA

Tourist Guide

CELESTUN

Located about 50 miles west of Merida (1/4) hr.) Is the “life in the slow lane” picturesque fishing village of Celestun. Their infrastructure includes several 2-star hotels on the beach, restaurants, shops, a harbor and the new ecologically friendly resort Eco Paraiso, that has bungalows, a pool and restaurants that are nestled into the environment.

The restaurants in Celestun are famous for their seafood an crab claws, the river for its flamingos and the beaches for strolling.

The river trips that are the main attraction in Celestún and go to see the flamingos and the fresh water spring are arranged at the bridge at the entrance to town. 4 to 8 people can go in each boat depending on the tide (the motor will drag in low tide with too much weight on board).

The guides on these trips are sometimes overzealous in their attempt to show a good time and are somewhat ignorant of the fragility of the ecosystem, so we ask that you, the tourist, do not ask them to get close, or if you see that they are, ask them not to. If care is not taken now, there will be no flamingos in just a few years.

Seafood is abundant in Celestun. All the restaurants along the beach have basically the same menu of crab claws

Paamul Caribbean Paradise, Riviera Maya Q. Roo México

EK BALAM AND RIO LAGARTOS

Rio Lagartos is famous for its large flamingo colony and enormous variety of other birds. In other words, this is a bird watchers paradise. This well worth in trip will take you off the beaten track and into the northeastern part of the state of Yucatan.

We recommend you try to make it at least a 2 day trip, as it is a hike (2 ½ hours) from Merida and you don´t want to be run ragged. You can do this trip (very easily) through a travel agency, by rental car (easily) or, more complicatedly but possible, by bus. You will pass Chichen Itzá, Valladolid, Ek Balam, Tizimin and Rio Lagartos.

On day one of the trip, you may even want to include Chichen Itzá. Take the “libre road” so you can see various Mayan villages. Stop in Valladolid at the Main Plaza to check out the embroidered goods. Top off your gas tank leaving Valladolid.

Then head north to Ek-Balam. This spectacular site is just being restored. The largest building is a pyramid larger than the Chichen Itza castle. The highlight of a trip to this picturesque port is a boat ride through the waterways Rio Lagartos.

Hotel accommodations are somewhat limited. In Rio Lagartos you will find the “Villas del Pescador”. In nearby San Felipe is the clean, 2 star hotel “San Felipe”. You may also want to head back to Tizimin.

Dolphin Discovery, Experience the action and feel the emotion of swimming with dolphins in the ocean

PROGRESO

The secret it out! For years this port town was just a sleepy fishing village. Then in the 50’s the Meridanos started building summer homes along the coast to get away from the scalding heat of tropical Mérida during July and August. They also used the houses for two weeks at Easter. The other 10 months of the year found the fishing villages along to coast extending from Progreso to be ghost towns.

In the late 60’s and early 70’s small number of Americans and Canadians “discoved” Progreso, Chicxulub and Chelem to be a winter paradise. They made a pact to keep the secret. They were enticed by the warm weather, cheap rents, friendly Yucatecan people, the laid back way of life and the safe atmosphere.

Today you will find Progreso to be a bustling town of some 25,000 people. We are on the “cruise ship map” with the weekly arrival of the “Enchanted Capri” out of New Orleans. Fancy restaurants are springing up along the seaside promenade “El Malecón”, facades are being painted quaint colors, and the people are trying hard to better their services.

In Progreso you will find a large grocery store, a large market, hotels (1, 2 and 3 star), restaurants, a hospital, police station, bus station, post and telegraph offices, handicrafts stores, taxis, money exchange, real estate info, hardware store, pharmacies, bakeries; etc...

Mérida Hotels

Cabañas "Los Flamingos" Beach Front Cabins in El Cuyo, Ria Lagartos, Biosphere Reserve.. El Cuyo is the last important nesting site for the pink flamingo of Mexico in the Yucatan, and one of the most important beaches in the world for the nesting of the hawksbill turtle. We offer you a unique experience with nature and a place to relax allowing you to leave the pressures of everyday life behind. El Cuyo is Located two and half hours from Cancun and tree hours from the Colonial City of Mérida, Capital of the Yucatan State. Things to do: Biking, kayaking, birding and fishing. El Cuyo is the perfect place for nature lovers! More!

The river trips that are the main attraction in Celestún and go to see the flamingos and the fresh water spring are arranged at the bridge at the entrance to town.

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