Wildlife Watching in Cozumel

Information

On the island of Cozumel you can see a good number of species, some of them endemic. An excellent place to observe wildlife is the protected area of Punta Sur, as there is a totally natural environment. Another place is by the archaeological zone of San Gervasio, where a good variety of birds appear early in the morning.

Starting with mammals, in Punta Sur it is common to see the endemic pygmy raccoon (Procyon pygmaeus), which is an endangered species and is different from the northern raccoon (Procyon lotor) that inhabits the mainland.

Among the reptiles, the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) is easily spotted in the lagoons of Punta Sur. The common green iguana (Iguana iguana) and the common spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura similis) are also very common and can be seen both on the beaches of Punta Sur and the ruins of San Gervasio.

Regarding the birds, one of the objectives is to record the endemic birds, such as the abundant Cozumel emerald (Chlorostilbon forficatus).