Isla Contoy National Park, Wildlife sanctuary and national park in Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Isla Contoy National Park is a nature reserve located between the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, protecting an island and its surrounding coastal waters. The area contains diverse habitats including sandy beaches, shallow waters, and coral formations that together create an ecosystem supporting marine birds, sea turtles, and other ocean life.
Archaeological remains show that humans inhabited the island over 2000 years ago, long before it became a protected area. The island was designated as a national park to preserve its natural habitats and wildlife from human disturbance.
The island serves as a vital nesting ground for marine birds that gather in large numbers, particularly the grey pelicans that can be regularly observed fishing in the surrounding waters. Birdwatchers and researchers visit to observe the many species that depend on the sea and coastal waters throughout their life cycles.
Visitors require advance permits and can only arrive by authorized boat from the mainland, with daily visitor limits in place. It is important to follow local rules and stay on marked paths to protect the fragile environment.
The island is an important nesting ground where four sea turtle species come ashore simultaneously to lay their eggs on protected beaches. This concentration makes it one of the few places where all four species can be observed together in one location.
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