| |
 Biospheres
The
National Park Occidental Coast of Isla Mujeres,
Punta Cancún y Punta Nizuc. Punta Nizuc, located in the
heart of the Cancun Hotel Zone, sits atop some of the best
snorkeling in the Caribbean. The best way to visit is to
organize a boat tour at one of the many luxury hotels. However,
if you don't want to shell out for the scuba gear, just relax at
the beach. Many of the nicest resorts in the Hotel Zone are
located here. Visiting Punta Nizuc, you will have every amenity
known on the island, all at your fingertips.
Nizuc Point
Top Snorkeling and Diving Reef
21 Km. in the Hotel Zone Cancun, 77500 Quintana
Roo. Mexico
 Diving and snorkeling are
such major draws, they deserve
special mention. There are many
reefs between Isla Mujeres and the
mainland. Some are close enough to
the surface you can enjoy them
without diving, and so tours often
include snorkelers. Of note are the
reefs in the El Garrafón area, El
Farito which lies in shallow waters
and is ideal for free diving and Los
Manchones, so named for the coral
buttresses which reach heights of
between three and five meters.
Also of interest to divers are the
Cruz, a bronze cross which as an
alternative dive site relieves
pressure on nearby reefs and the
sunken statue of the Virgin. Both
are located in the bay and islanders
make an annual pilgrimage in honor
of the Virgin. There are dive shops
in the dock area and on the beaches.
Isla Mujeres was the place where
Ramon Bravo, an underwater filmmaker
, introduced Jjackes Costeau to the
sleeping sharks. Up to date there
are tours available to visit the "
Cuevones del tiburon dormido" The
sleeping shark caves.
 Puerto Morelos National Maritime
Park, is part of the Grand Mayan
Reef, the world's second largest
barrier reef, is only 800 metres
from shore . You can go swimming
comfortably and the area is ideal
for diving, snorkeling, windsurfing
and other water activities. Puerto
Morelos is a charming fishing
village located 40 minutes south of Cancún ( 15 minutes from Cancún
International Airport ) and 20
minutes north of Playa del Carmen. A
perfect place to enjoy life and
relax, a unique vacation spot in
the Mayan Riviera.
Puerto Morelos
Sport Fishing Tournament during the
last weekend in May. Now in its 11th
year, it is the granddaddy of
Caribbean sport fishing competition.
Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Amberjack and
Dorado are among some of the
prize-winning catches. Visitors are
encouraged to join in.
DISTANCE from Puerto Morelos:
Aiport 18 km
Cancun: 30 km
Playa del Carmen: 30 km.
Puerto Aventuras: 62 km.
Akumal: 69 km.
Tulum: 95 km.
 Island
of Mujeres
Ocean is a
part of the national park. Fishing
and hunting with harpoon is
prohibited. As you arrive to Isla
Mujeres there are fishing and
snorkeling booth where you can book
a trip. Traveling south along the
road from the village will take you
to Hacienda Mundaca, several beaches
and the dolphin enclosure. El
Garrafón Park and the lighthouse on
the southern tip of the island. The
rocky east coast of the island is
picturesque but not recommended for
swimming.
 Sian Kaan Ecosystems:
9 types
of aquatics vegetation and 3
habitats. Approximately a third
corresponds to marine zone with
coral reefs and marine platform.
Another third corresponds to
wetlands with coastal lagoons, inner
lagoons, mangrooves, flatlands,
natural wells and marshes. A third
corresponds to low and medium
forests caducifolias,
subcaducifolias and subperenifolias.
BIOPHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC . One is
in the coastal central portion of
the State of Quintana Roo, in the
Municipalities of Solidaridad and
Felipe Carrillo puerto. Its access
is possible by highway 307. The
limestone ground characteristic of
Sian Kaan is in the young strip but
of the Yucatan Peninsula; apparently
their lands emerged from the bottom
of the sea less than two million
years and seem to continue emerging.
The area is flat with less than 30
meters above the level of the sea.
It presents/displays sub-humid warm
climate with rain average of 1 050
millimeters throughout all the year.
 There is a barrier of 120
kilometers of coral reefs, a zone of
marine grass, mangrooves, coastal
lagoons, fresh water marshes,
savannahs inner, lagoons, bogs and
forests that are flooded. Near 150
000 hectares caducifolias and
subperenifolias protect forests. The
flora presents/displays a great
similarity with the vegetation of
the region of the Gulf of Mexico and
of the Antilles, it ascends to 1 048
species between marine seaweed,
dark-brown, superior ferns and
plants. The animals inventories
yield 103 species of mammals, 339
species of birds with 219 permanent
residents and 120 migratory ones or
passers-by, 90 species of native
bees, 47 species of dragonflies, 74
species of scarabs, 310 species of
mosquito and 318 species of diurnal
butterflies. Between the marine
invertebrates, they emphasize 84
species of corals, and the 276
species of crustaceans. Recently new
species have been described of which
inclusively they take the name of
Sian Kaan. It seems to be the area
of Mexico with greater incidence of
elements of Antillean connection. It
emphasizes like zone of nesting for
aquatic turtles, and birds and,
by his special life in flooded
underground galleries. It is
important migratory route of birds
and including of the butterfly
monarch with destiny still unknown.
Types of vegetation. Medium forest
subperennifolia, medium Forest
subcaducifolia low Forest
caducifolia floodable low Forest,
Mangroves, Savannah, Tasistal, Petin
coastal dune Vegetation. The flora
of coastal dunes of Sian Kaan this
composing by 58 species between
which they emphasize the palm chit,
siricote of beach, the grape of sea,
the chaca or mulato wood, the kidney
plant and the iris of sea,
among others the flora of Sian Kaan,
presents/displays a great similarity
with the vegetation of the region of
the Gulf of Mexico and with the
flora of the Antilles. It emphasizes
a great amount of endemic species,
is to say those species that single
exist in this region of the world,
like are some palms like chit and
kuka, the messed up hair one that
belongs to the family of the yuccas
and the tree of siricote among
others.
 In Sian Kaan we can indicate
the presence of matting, mangrooves
and little deep coastal lagoons;
fresh water marshes and savannahs;
inner lagoons, bogs and forests that
are flooded. Near 150.000 hectares
of the Reserve of the Biosphere Sian
Kaan they protect low and medium
forests, caducifolias and
subperenifolias, representative of
the State of Quintana Roo. The
dominant species in both types of
forests are chechem black,
chicozapote, the chaca, dzalam,
jabín and the messed up hair one
palms chit and nakax, among others.
Another type of forest that is
developed in Sian Kaan is the
floodable low forest, that appears
in depressions, where emphasizes the
dye wood, júcaro, pucti dwarfed and
other resistant small trees,
to the periodic floods. The flora
reported and described until now for
Sian Kaan ascends to 1.048 species
between marine seaweed, dark-brown,
superior ferns and plants. The
inventories on diverse groups of
fauna throw important information,
for example, have described 103
species of mammals, with threatened
species or in danger of extinction
like 5 species of felines (jaguar,
puma, tigrillo, ocelote and
yaguarundí), tapir, the jaguar, the
manatí, the monkey spider, saraguato,
among others.
 339 species of birds
with 219 like residents and 120 like
migratory ones have been reported
also or passers-by. Of the group of
birds 10 pheasant and threatened
others are endemic like the eight
and in danger of extinction like the Ciénega Jabirú,
the pink
flamingo,
and toucans, among others. Although
to the date inventories of serpents
fauna have not been made, the
presence of 3 species of marine
turtles and 2 of crocodiles are the
representative ones that can be
mentioned. Of the groups of
terrestrial invertebrates, they
emphasize the 90 species of native
bees, 47 species of dragonflies, 74
species of scarabs, 310 species of
mosquitoes and 318 species of
diurnal butterflies, whereas between
the marine invertebrates, emphasize
84 species of corals, and the 276
species of crustaceans.
|
|
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
Isla Mujeres
To explore the island take a taxi or rent a moped,
bike or golf cart from one of the rentals in the
village. Visitors wishing to take their own car over
to the island can do so from Punta Sam. Shark
aquarium alow you to pet a shark.
|
|
| |
 |
|
Punta
Nizuc
Channel can be visited by the Jungle snorkel tour in
your own speed boat.
|
|
| |
 |
|
Puerto morelos fishing.
The fishing trips in Puerto Morelos are always
rewarding Go to the beach early to meet the local
fishermen . they are very friendly and understand
basic english. |
|
| |
 |
|
The botanical garden
"Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marin" at Puerto Morelos, is
one of the largest botanical gardens in Mexico, this
attraction features wild orchids and a forest of
cacti populated with wild deer, spider monkeys,
parrots and other birds. Closed on Sundays.
|
|
| |
 |
|
The Sian kan
Biosphere.
Channels waterways allow for easy touring of the
reserve. there are mayan temples scattered around
the jungle.
|
|
| |
|
Spider Monkey Reserve. A long walk by the footpaths of the forest in search of monkeys spider; a stroll in canoe rowing by the immense crystalline water lake ; the opportunity to relax body and mind swimming under the
tranquility of the sky. This is Punta Laguna, an immersed Mayan community in the border between Yucatan and Quintana Roo, where they are protected, by own conviction, to the plants and the animals that for centuries have been conforming the natural landscape of the site. The forest of Punta Laguna consists of enormous and leafy tropical, dispersed trees between the rest of the vegetation. This idea is the conservation of the jungle, habitat of the spider monkey and numerous species of birds of varied forms, colors, customs and songs. But sacrificing, to a certain extent, earth that could be cultivated to conserve the diverse natural wealth that the forest offers, is not a easy decision. In order to obtain it, it must have an economic incentive that allowed to balance the loss of fertile earth for the weather agriculture. That incentive has been the tourism based on the nature, or
ecotourism, a recreation activity that wins more and more adepts. Day with day grows the interest of the
traveler to know more beautiful natural places. A visit to see a wild animal close by, or to contemplate in person the immensity of a tropical forest, can generate attractive dividends for the lenders of tourist services that are dedicated to serve to a customer with such characteristics. The new "eco-tourist" is characterized, among other aspects, to show clear interests in supporting the conservation of the natural places that visits. And between the characteristics that they define to the
ecotourism, according to the philosophy of so
attractive occupation, is the one to allow the
economic support of the rural human communities that,
generally, live in the environs of the natural areas
that exert fascination in the visitor. In Punta
Laguna, the guessed right vision of a group of members
of the community has allowed to practically conserve
intact territories of a forest to admire to
locals and foreigners, the most varied representative forms of life of one of the
more advanced ecosystems by the activities of the development of our civilization. The community of Punta Laguna is located in the old highway that run
from Xcan to Tulum, to about 20 kilometers to the west of the archaeological zone of Cobá. It is not certainly the only place where the nature presumes its attractiveness, since in the area other lakes of equal beauty exist. Nevertheless, it is
here where the local settlers have tried, through the years, an
ecotourism handling of the place, simultaneously they show part of his culture and its traditions
to the visitor, and offers locally elaborated artisan products, enriching therefore the experience for those who venture to know one of the most beautiful corners of the Yucatan Peninsula.
 When saying
ecotourism handling, we talk about the conservation of a natural site with recreational
purposes, that operate in such a way that it allows to obtain economic income as much to maintain to the group of people in charge to take care of the tourist, like investing in the same conservation of the natural site. In Punta Laguna the things have not been simple. The community that
embarked to this economically conservationist adventure not has made it single, because it had found many difficulties in the way. For several years, Punta
Laguna has been receiving the support of different dedicated organizations for the conservation of nature. Among them, a civil organization, Pronatura, of the Yucatan Peninsula, have invested efforts in supporting the development of an activity based in the
ecotourism. This does not mean that everything is resolved so that the tourism based on the observation of the nature, or
ecotourism, renders in Punta Laguna the benefits that theoretically are expected. To improve economic activity it is necessary to take care of still certain legal and operative aspects , even cultural, that delay the advance of the proposed goals, without this diminishes the enthusiasm of the involved ones. A route on foot by the footpaths of the forest allows us to admire from an enormous and centennial tree of "piich"
, whose roots extend on the limestone stone of the land
running away surprising distances. The anxious groups of highly social monkeys spider that live between the branches, without never lowering to mainland. There above, the monkeys spider find the fruits and the tender leaves that constitute their main food, while from down, a pair of young local naturalistic guides is also dedicated to study the behavior of primates. The work of investigation on the behavior of the monkey spider, lead by the
postgraduate student Gabriel Ramos Fernandez, of the University of
Pennsylvania, already contributes interesting data about these animals, that, along with the howling monkey,whose
picture is below, are only the two wild species of primates which live in the Yucatan Peninsula, and both are in the environs of Punta Laguna. Gabriel works with Eulogio Canul and Macedonio Canul, two of the guides of
Punta Laguna who have learned to study to the monkey spider, and collaborate with Gabriel in collecting field data. Among them they know already, by its names, "to all the monkeys spider that live in Punta Laguna". According to its own explanation, each monkey is different from other as much in physiology as in behavior, and their faces have own characteristics that distinguish them of the other members of their group. Eulogio and Macedonio speak Mayan and Spanish, and now they are learning also to speak English, to engage in a dialog with the foreign tourists who use this language, that
are not few. With his walkie talkies they communicate
from a place to another one of the forest, while they
write down his observations on the daily activities of
the groups of monkeys spider of Punta Laguna. Turns
out peculiar to listen to this voices in Mayan, a
language ancestral, that are transmitted by radio to
kilometers of distance, using the modern technology.
Now they known how many monkeys spider live in the
region, how many are born, who are the mothers, the
relations that they have to each other, how many male
adults and how many young, by where look for food and
what hours sleep, mentioning only some aspects of the
monkey spider that the study has found out, from patient observations of field. Also already a count of the species of trees took place that are food source for the monkey spider, and has a registry of the times at which they bloom and they give fruit. The study of displacements of the groups of spider monkeys by the forest of Punta Laguna, is tied to determine the extension of the area that the species needs to reproduce and to develop in the place. Throughout the forest that surrounds the lake , there are identified points of entry to the affluent that are preferred by the spider monkeys , and to those places Eulogio and Macedonio walk daily, and they have even baptized them with names like the Viewpoint, the Arbol of the Thunderclap, the Precipice, to mention some. The knowledge of the groups of monkeys spider that live in Punta Laguna will allow to favor the conservation of this species and its habitat, simultaneously providing the local guides with interesting information to share with the tourist. The visitor who also prefers natural places pleases to listen to histories on nature. And while the monkeys walk of branch in branch, from the border of the incomparable and calm lake, the visitors of Punta Laguna contemplate incredulous the conjunction of sky, water and forest, of clouds and small waves that raises the wind of the north, and also listen, to the distant sound of unmistakable howling of the saraguatos or howling monkeys, which live very remote on the community, in difficult access
places. There are two places that you can visit in the
reserve: 1, Hidalgo camping is a Mayan community of 28
families where you can make a route by a
footpath around a lagoon, the footpath has a length of
1,3 km and it they can be walked in one hour and 30
minutes. During the route can appreciate birds mainly,
is recommended to initiate early (8-9 a.m.). Also
possible to find vestiges Mayan of the pre-Hispanic
time. It is a communitarian project that promotes the
conservation of the nature therefore we suggested, if
it is possible of its part, to take as companion a
local guide. The costs: by person are $ 20,00 pesos by
the access to the footpath and if they decide to take
a guide will be an additional cost of of 50,00 pesos.
An observation as far as the guides, this people are
learning how to lead the tourists therefore
dynamics is a little different; nevertheless
this is optional. There is a information house where
the access fee is paid. Also there is sale of crafts
elaborated in the community. 2. In Punta Laguna there
is a route to observe, mainly spider monkeys in
natural state. To bathe in the lagoon or to lower in
rappel into a natural well. There are more
specialized guides for the rappel to brief the
tourists who have knowledge of English and of other
languages. The costs are the following ones: access to
reserve $ 40,00 pesos by person, the service of guide
is between $ 200,00 and 300,00 pesos by group (máximo
10 people ) and as far as the canoes, the rent is of
60,00 pesos the hour and has capacity for two people.
The zone itself is a reserve of 5 367 hectares and is
important by his wealth of flora and fauna, monkeys
howling spider and as well as of a great variety of
insects and mammals. On the other hand it is the
importance of the Mayan culture, since in all the
communities Mayan speech. The reference to arrive at
these places is: Hidalgo camping is on the road Coba-Nuevo
Xcan, at the 12 km and about the 18 km is Punta
Laguna. There are about 300 tree species in the area.
The most abundant in the mature jungle are
Manilkara Zapota and Brosium Alicastrum.,
Other common species are Bursera Simaruba, and
Metopium Brownei. About animal diversity , the
area is a potential habitat for 368 species of birds
,( Mackinnon 1986), from which 215 have been already
observed. Among the species of animals that have a
conservation status are the Mountain Lion or Puma (
Puma Concolor ),
 the
Jaguar ( Panthera Onca ) The little tiger or
tigrillo, ( leopardus Wiedii ), the black
howling monkey (Alouatta pigra )and the black
hands spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi )all
endanger of extition, the swamp crocodile (
Cocodrilus Moreleti )is under special protection.
Also the white collar wild pig, ( Tayassu
tajacu), the white tail deer ( Odocoileus
virginianus ), the mini deer or Tamazate ( Mazama
americana) , the tepezcuintle ( Dasyprocta puntata
) and the Occelated turkey ( Agriocharis ocelata
).Th most studied is the spider monkey along 9 year of
observations of 2 groups of monkeys around the main
lagoon. This studies indicate a population of 400 to
800 individuals and it is sustainable in the long term .
|
| |
