Nature reserve 67 km north of Espita
A fishing village on a long coastal lagoon where boat tours go out to see flamingos, crocodiles and herons.
Río Lagartos is a small fishing village on Yucatán's north coast, about an hour north of Espita by way of Tizimín. It sits on a narrow estuary, the Ría Lagartos, that runs for many kilometers behind a strip of sand dunes and mangroves. The whole area is a UNESCO biosphere reserve and one of the most important wetlands in Mexico for birds.
The reserve is best known for American flamingos: the lagoons around Río Lagartos are their main nesting area in Mexico, and you can see them feeding in the shallows, pink against the water, for much of the year. Boat tours run by local cooperatives leave from the waterfront and wind through the mangroves, where you are likely to spot crocodiles, herons, pelicans and many other birds. Some tours stop at a clay pit for a "Maya bath" of mud.
About 20 kilometers east is Las Coloradas, where the salt works have turned a series of shallow lagoons a bright pink. Most people combine the two in one long day, with lunch of fresh fish in the village.
What to see and do
Take a boat tour through the mangroves with a local cooperative to see flamingos, crocodiles and herons.
Go early in the morning, when the birds are most active and the light is soft.
Try the clay "Maya bath" that some tours include.
Drive on to the pink lagoons of Las Coloradas, about 20 minutes east.
Eat fresh fish or ceviche at one of the waterfront restaurants.
Getting there
From Espita, drive east to Tizimín (about 20 minutes) and then north on Highway 295 to Río Lagartos, roughly an hour in total. Buses also run from Tizimín to the coast. Boat tours are arranged on the waterfront; prices depend on the route and the number of people, so agree on them before you set out. Bring sun protection and binoculars if you have them.
67 km north of Espita
Directions from Espita on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Places to stay in Río Lagartos
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Tours & activities
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Weather warm
Río Lagartos shares the climate of Espita, 67 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec.
Make Espita your base
Río Lagartos is an easy trip from Espita, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Espita
-
Tizimín
· Town · 21 km away
The cattle town of eastern Yucatán, famous for the Three Kings pilgrimage and fair every January. -
Ek' Balam
· Archaeological site · 22 km away
A walled Maya city with a huge acropolis and remarkably preserved stucco, under an hour south of Espita. -
Cenote Kikil
· Cenote · 25 km away
A deep, open cenote in landscaped grounds just outside Tizimín, with a restaurant; life jackets are required to swim. -
San Felipe
· Town · 62 km away
A tidy fishing port west of Río Lagartos with brightly painted wooden houses and boats out to quiet beaches. -
Las Coloradas
· Nature reserve · 74 km away
Shallow salt-works lagoons that turn bright pink, east of Río Lagartos; visits are guided and swimming is not allowed.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.