Wildlife Watching in Calakmul

Information

Calakmul is an excellent place for wildlife watching, as it is one of the best preserved natural areas in Mexico.

It is one of the few places in the country where the jaguar (Panthera onca) can be found. And it is common to come across other mammals such as the collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) and the white-nosed coati (Nasua narica).

The archaeological zone and its 61 kilometres of access route are ideal for spotting fauna, as any tourist can get there without any inconvenience. On this route it is possible to see:
- It is normal to encounter several times the ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata), a large wild turkey.
- At the 27th kilometre of this road there is a trail of about 50 metres to see the Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus Moreletii).
- In the Central Plaza of the archaeological zone it is very common to see Yucatán black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) in the trees. At the top of the trees, they are often accompanied by a large bird, the crested guan (Penelope purpurascens).
- Both around the ruins and on the road, there are some showy birds that are common to see, such as the keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) and the Yucatán jay (Cyanocorax yucatanicus).

I am mentioning just a few common species for reference, as there are many, many more.