Destinations 
Isla Contoy
Isla Contoy National Park lies 30 kilometers north of Isla Mujeres where the Caribbean Sea meets the Gulf of Mexico, at the beginning of the second largest coral reef in the world, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.
Protected since 1961 and declared a National Park in 1998, Contoy is a federally managed island under CONANP (The National Commission for Natural Protected Areas) a department of SEMARNAT (Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources).
Contoy is 8.75 kilometers long, with a mostly wetland surface of 552 acres and 122,992 acres of ocean reserve. It is the most important refuge for marine birds in the Mexican Caribbean. Its lagoons, mangroves and low jungles are home to 152 recognized bird species. In winter the island fills with cormorants, frigates, herons, boobies and brown pelicans, totaling more than 10,000 birds.
In summer, three species of sea turtles arrive on Contoy’s beaches to nest: the hawksbill, green and loggerhead.
The 98 plant species identified on Contoy Island include thriving mangrove colonies: red, black, white and buttonwood. They cover 70 % of the island and shelter many birds, reptiles, crustaceans and fish.
The ocean around Contoy is rich in nutrients and plankton that feeds more than 234 recorded species of fish, including immense whale sharks and manta rays that swim in the vicinity of its coast.
Ixlache reef in Contoy is home to beautiful coral and commercially valuable species such as the spiny lobster and pink conch.
Only 200 visitors per day are allowed into the park. The island can be visited only on authorized tour boats from Cancun, Puerto Juarez or Isla Mujeres. Departures are at 9 a.m. and estimated return time is between 4 and 5 p.m. The trip to Contoy takes from 1 to 2 hours depending on the type of boat, point of departure and weather conditions.
Park facilities include a dock and mooring buoys, a visitors center with a museum display describing the history of Contoy, a five story observation tower, two observation paths along which you can appreciate the island’s vegetation and wildlife, palm thatched huts, and a field station equipped with wind and solar generators.
On reaching the island, visitors can enjoy a guided tour led by one of the resident biologists. After savoring a delicious meal highlighted by the local specialty, BBQ Fish Tik-in-chik, visitors can take a bird watching trip on a small boat to the nesting-lagoon site of Puerto Viejo ($10US donation). Part of the proceeds from excursion fares, additional activities and souvenir store, will be used to support the continued scientific work that will ensure the conservation and sustainability of the island for the benefit of future generations.
Visitors to the island should bring sunglasses, caps, biodegradable sunscreen, mosquito repellent, photographic equipment and binoculars.
After a delicious lunch of Fish Tikin Xik (a specialty of Yucatan cuisine), visitors can take the tour to Puerto Viejo lagoon, nesting site of the largest colony of Brown Pelicans on Mexico’s east coast . The tour is optional and the income it generates serves to support smaller conservation projects in the park.
Ecotourism, scientific research, and two types of commercial fishing are allowed within the Park, all regulated and supervised by the park rangers.
A visit to Isla Contoy National Park is an experience that should be included in every nature-lover’s agenda.
Please visit the Amigos de Isla Contoy web site at www.islacontoy.org for more information about the plants and wildlife of Isla Contoy and obtain a list of authorized tour boats.
The Amigos de Isla Contoy mission statement: “To promote the conservation of Isla Contoy, nature areas and regional projects of the Yucatan peninsula through the sustainable development of local communities.”
This brochure was sponsored by the Lighthouse Foundation.
Photographs: Claudio Contreras Coob, Juan Carlos Herrera, Omar Ortiz Moreno.
Pictures of Isla Contoy
Post a Comment