Wildlife

Every year, millions of monarch butterflies fly from Canada to the mountains in the Mexican state of Michoacán de Ocampo to overwinter. The butterflies gather in huge numbers in the trees and fly about during the day. Anke visited this natural phenomenon and shares her experiences on our blog.

Would you like to spot grey whales? Then pay a visit to the so-called whale lagoons on the Baja California peninsula. These are large inland lakes connected to the sea. The sheltered nature of these waters makes them an ideal breeding ground for grey whales and therefore the best place to see the animals up close. A good example of this is the Ojo de Liebre.

As the largest fish in the world, whale sharks can reach lengths of 5 to 12 metres and weigh an average of around 15 tonnes. A dive with these incredible creatures is a truly unique and wonderful ‘bucket list’ experience. Mexico’s warm, clear and nutrient-rich waters create the perfect meeting place for humans and fish. You can swim with whale sharks in Yucatán between June and September, and in Baja California between November and April.

For more wildlife, you can stay in Baja California. As well as the chance to spot dolphins, sea turtles can also be found here. Sea turtles are also found along the Yucatan coast and near Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific coast.

Along the west coast of the Yucatán Peninsula lies the unique Celestún Biosphere Reserve. Flamingos come to this area to spend the winter. This national park covers 147,500 hectares and, as well as flamingos, you can also see cormorants, ducks, herons and many other animals.
© Copyright Jurriaan Teulings

The vast Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is the largest protected habitat in the Mexican Caribbean and home to some of the most extraordinary creatures on the planet. The lush jungles, coral reefs, seas and waterways teem with life, including pumas, whales and 366 species of birds. The reserve’s wetlands are also home to American crocodiles. Explore this reserve on foot, by bike or in a kayak.