Isla Contoy National Park, Wildlife sanctuary and national park in Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Isla Contoy National Park covers the whole of Contoy Island, 8.75 km long and 200 to 700 m wide, plus 4,900 ha of surrounding sea, 5,128 ha in total. The eastern coast is rocky with sandy beaches near the northern tip and dunes up to 12 m high near the southern tip; the western coast is cut by the mouths of three lagoons. The island has no freshwater but five saltwater lagoons covering 9.2 ha.
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 name Contoy may derive from the Maya words Kom (low) and To'oy (shelter), referring to the shallow waters that gave refuge to sailors, or from Pontó, Maya for pelican. The island is a sanctuary for seabirds and marine fauna, including endangered sea turtle species.
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 name Contoy may derive from the Maya words Kom (low or sunken) and To'oy (shelter), referring to the shallow waters around the island that gave refuge to sailors; another reading links it to Pontó, Maya for pelican. The nearby reef south of the island is called Ixlaché.
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