You will want to make sure you visit Isla Contoy the next time you are in Cancun. Isla Contoy is just about 30 kilometers from Isla Mujeres near Cancun. It happens to be a very small island that is situated in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, and is ideal for a fun and exciting day trip from Cancun. The island is only 8.5 km in length and in 1998 in February, it was designated as a National Park. You will definitely want to visit Isla Contoy, a hidden oasis that is full of natural beauty and wildlife.
Visit Isla Contoy – How to Get to Isla Contoy
To get to Isla Contoy, you can get there within an hour or two. Depending on where you are staying, you can take a ferry from Cancun or Isla Mujeres to reach the island. Before you take the ferry, you will want to make sure you plan ahead for your day trip because there are only 200 visitors allowed on the island each day, and there aren’t a lot of tour operators that have permission to take you to the island. Boat owners can take themselves to the island, but you have to apply for permission at the Park Offices in Cancun or Isla Mujeres ahead of time. On the way to the island, you can go swimming or snorkeling where you will be in awe at the colorful marine life at the lxlache Reef.
Visit Isla Contoy – Wildlife and Beauty
In and around the Mexican Caribbean, Isla Contoy is the most important nesting area for seabirds. The island is ran by the Isla Mujeres organization that is called the Amigos de Isla Contoy, A.C., and the National Commission for Natural Protected Areas CONANP, and they work together with the Secretary of Environment, Natural Resources and Fishing who is also known as SEMARNAT. Currently, there are over 150 different species of birds at Isla Contoy. Some of the bird species live at the island year-round, while some of the bird species only come to the island during their annual migrations. The frigate, the brown pelican, and the double crested cormorant are the top 3 most common species of birds that you will see on the island. One of the resident biologists can go with you on your tour so you can learn all the facts about the bird species and the local wildlife on Isla Contoy.
98 Plant Life Species and 3 Sea Turtle Species
Isla Contoy is a nesting place for 3 sea turtle species along with all of the bird species. Every summer, there are 3 sea turtle species that arrive on the island to nest. The 3 sea turtle species are the green, hawksbill, and loggerhead turtles. There are also 98 plant life species on the island, too. The luscious mangrove colonies are a very important plant species that provide shelter and shade for the fish, birds, crustaceans, and reptiles that live on the island. Regularly, the government sponsored biologists monitor the ecosystem and living creatures on the island, and they also regulate and manage all of the commercial fishing that is done there, too.
Visitor Center and Underwater Museum
Nobody lives on the island except for the workers. There is a wonderful visitor center that has a pier, museum, shop for souvenirs, bathrooms, and great resting areas where you can sit and rest on the benches and palapas. They also provide barbecue grills and a 22-meter high watchtower where you can see amazing views of the island. Hikers will really enjoy the 2 walking paths that allow you to get up close and personal with the fauna and flora. There is a new archeological underwater museum that has just opened, which is perfect to get out of the sun for a while and look around the museum. There isn’t much shade on the island so you will want to make sure you bring sunglasses, binoculars, repellent, hats, sunscreen, and cameras, but everything that you bring to the island must be eco-friendly so the environment will still be protected.
When you are on a vacation to Cancun, you will want to make sure you visit Isla Contoy, a hidden oasis. Everything is magical and majestic at Isla Contoy.