The Ría Lagartos Natural Park is a paradise that has been framed by mangroves and enhanced by the majesty of large flocks of flamingos that fly frequently giving a beautiful and original show.
Its habitat contains coastal dunes, mangroves, tulares, reedbeds, grasslands, low deciduous forests, and petenes. In the center, where there are concentrations of salt water, fresh water jets sprout from the cenotes and form brown and blue spots.
The natural attractions of this reserve are undeniable, which is why it is one of the main reasons to visit and fall in love with Yucatan. So, when it comes to biodiversity, this place is a true treasure worldwide.
So that you get to know this natural paradise better, we will tell you about its location, the flora and fauna that you can find in it, and all the incredible activities that you can do during your visit.
The Ría Lagartos Natural Park is located on the northern coast of Yucatán, just 270 kilometers from Mérida —the Yucatecan capital— and 50 km from Tizimín. Its proximity to the state of Quintana Roo facilitates access to this reserve from other important tourist spots such as Cancun and Playa del Carmen.
Ría Lagartos is an area with a total area of 60,347.82 ha —according to data from the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas CONANP—, where the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea converge and includes the municipalities of San Felipe, Río Lagartos and Tizimín.
This wetland is of the utmost importance at an international level thanks to its wealth of rare plant and animal species. It has a unique ecosystem in the world and is surrounded by wide biodiversity, among which reptiles, birds, and fish stand out.
It is called "Ría" because it is an extremity of the sea that enters the coast forming a coastal lagoon.
This area is part of a highly shallow lagoon system that occupies approximately 57,000 hectares. It has several bocas such as Chipepte, San Felipe and Río Lagartos.
It is worth mentioning that due to the depth of its waters, it is also considered a swamp.
In 1979 it was declared a Mexican Natural Protected Area and Fauna Refuge Zone, it is also the first Mexican wetland inscribed on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance in 1986.
In 2002 its beaches were declared a Sanctuary by the Federal Government, as it is one of the main arrival and nesting areas for the hawksbill turtle and the only one in Yucatan for the white turtle.
Since 2004 it is a Biosphere Reserve under category VI of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), for which it is considered a protected area of managed resources.
Ecotourism is the main activity in the region, which is why a large number of local and foreign tourists congregate in this area. That is why there is a high transport offer to take all interested people to the reserve.
The population has different means of transportation such as taxis, buses, and a wide variety of tours. This park adjoins municipalities such as Río Lagartos, Tizimín and San Felipe, as well as points of great tourist importance such as El Cuyo and Las Coloradas.
If you have your own vehicle, you can easily drive from the cities of Merida and Cancun, the roads are safe and in good condition. Also, you can make use of navigators and GPS efficiently to help you.
When driving within the state of Yucatan, you can enjoy a wide variety of landscapes and places that will be ideal for stretching your legs for a while. The north of Tizimín is very beautiful and —without a doubt— is part of the attraction of this entire tourist route.
You can also visit the main archaeological sites such as Chichen Itza and Ek Balam if you take the route through the Magical Town of Valladolid, which is well worth visiting.
On the other hand, there are buses and taxis at a low cost. These are available at the Cancun Airport, for individuals or groups who want to travel directly to Río Lagartos. It's the same option if you want to depart from Mérida.
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In fact, in our article on how to get to Las Coloradas, we describe in greater detail the routes to follow and what you can see along the way.
The Ría Lagartos reserve is a biosphere that has an extensive number of activities that you can enjoy alone or with friends and family.
As we mentioned in previous paragraphs, the Ría Lagartos Natural Park is a protected area, so it does not have services such as banks or ATMs, so you must consider this and don't forget to bring cash before embarking on the adventure.
In this area of so much wild wealth of flora and fauna, nature shares its beauty and magnificence with us. There are so many things to see and so many things to do that it will seem that time might seem insufficient.
This reserve is a place that attracts a lot of tourism thanks to the fact that it offers a wide range of activities such as kayaking, observation of fauna and flora, boat rides, sport fishing, and hiking.
There are several points of interest that you can visit in the area, and each one offers a wide variety of things to do. We list the most important:
The Las Coloradas area is located on the north coast of Yucatan. This area is part of the Ría Lagartos Nature Reserve, and it has lagoons with shades that change according to the season. The most characteristic color of these waters —and from which it receives its name— is pink.
Many wonder why Las Coloradas water is pink, and this is due to the concentration of microorganisms called halobacteria that, together with high amounts of salt, achieve this spectacular effect.
This natural landscape is enriched by the birds that arrive here reaching high concentrations. It also has a great cultural and historical wealth, since pre-Hispanic times, it has been a very important salt mine in Mexico.
It currently belongs to Grupo Roche, which is in charge of caring for and protecting this part of the nature reserve and bringing the number one salt in Mexico, Sal Sol, to the table of millions of people.
So, what can you do in Las Coloradas besides admiring its beautiful pink landscapes?
The high demand of people who visit this tourist park allows various tours to be offered, in which expert guides take you on magical tours by bicycle, walking, or in an all-terrain vehicle, while you learn more about the Yucatan salt industry and show you the best places to take the most impressive photos.
Also, in nearby areas —in the municipality of Tizimín— there are haciendas and convents built from the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as vestiges of the Mayan civilization.
The Mayan bath is an ancient ritual that provides great benefits such as skin rejuvenation and beautification.
This is one of the activities with the highest demand in Río Lagartos, as it is a natural beauty treatment that consists of spreading mud or white clay that is extracted from the sand on the beach all over the body.
It is considered very good for the skin because it contains large amounts of sulfur, salts, algae, and minerals that exfoliate and beautify the skin.
In one of the boat tours offered in Río Lagartos, you will undoubtedly be able to try the Mayan bath at the last stop.
Taking advantage of the way back to the starting point, the mud is allowed to act on the skin for 20 to 30 minutes, to then rinse off and see the immediate results of the treatment.
This impressive sanctuary is located on the Tizimín Río Lagartos highway, just 6 km before reaching the port, so it can be a perfect first stop before starting your ride in Río Lagartos.
For more than 10 years, the tenants decided to rescue this threatened species and build the first crocodile farm in the state, since there were those who dedicated themselves to hunting this species for its meat or its skin, leading it almost to extermination.
The Environmental Management Unit (UMA) helps preserve this species of crocodiles in danger of extinction. This is thanks to the visits and support provided by alternative tourism to the region.
This site raises awareness of the importance of caring for endangered species thanks to its high educational and interactive tour, where you can touch and feed crocodiles of various sizes for about an hour on a guided tour.
On your way to visit the Ría Lagartos Reserve, you can't miss this wonderful species and surprise yourself with its powerful and intimidating jaws.
There is no doubt that part of the attraction of the geographical location of Ría Lagartos is its gastronomy.
During your adventure, you will probably get hungry, and what better than to delight yourself with the delicacies that the region has to offer at affordable prices.
Yucatecan food is famous for its exquisite flavor and high seasoning in its dishes. The restaurants in the Ría Lagartos area offer you a wide variety of options.
In Las Coloradas you can also find some smaller restaurants, don’t forget to carry cash because in this area there are no card payment services or ATMs.
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In a place where salt and fresh water meet, it is to be expected that a wide variety of fauna and flora coexist and that this ecosystem exceeds expectations.
The vegetation that predominates inside the reserve consists of seagrasses, and of course, a great variety of mangroves such as red, black, and white mangroves.
In the beach area, you can find typical dune species such as sea grapes, immortelles, wild cotton, and a great variety of palms such as tasiste, coconut, guano, among others.
Mentioning the fauna, the most popular species in the area is the pink flamingo, since the sighting of these birds is a real spectacle for those who have the opportunity to witness it.
Their elegant figures and movements give the appearance of dancing on the water, they do this in flocks, and the ría is adorned with this ceremony.
On tours inside the mangrove, you can see other important species such as spider monkeys, jaguars, ocelots, ocelots, lions, jaguarundis, anteaters, swamp crocodiles, and —of course— sea turtles.
The number of birds and endemic species that inhabit this area is extensive, so having the opportunity to see some of them is already a winning and makes the tour worthwhile.
Depending on the time you visit this protected area, you can enjoy one or another of the natural phenomena that take place in Ría Lagartos, such as:
From living a pink day in Las Coloradas to losing yourself in the calm and tranquility of the Mayan jungle, the Ría Lagartos Natural Park is the ideal place to get out of the routine and connect with nature.
This wonderful ecotourism route allows coexistence with the various species of the area in a totally responsible way. Be part of the actions that guarantee the care of protected species, while having fun and capturing unforgettable moments.
Las Coloradas and the Ría Lagartos Nature Reserve await you for an unforgettable adventure.
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