Mangroves

Included in your admission

Admire and swim among the mangroves at the beginning of the Xel-Há river

Mangroves are essential to our ecosystem and Mexico has one of the largest areas of mangrove forests in the world. There are four types of mangroves in Quintana Roo, white, black, red and buttonwood. Mangroves provide home and shelter from extreme weather to a variety of crustaceans, mammals and birds.

The red mangrove is the only species that lives in salt water and serves as a natural filter for the water, as it is a supplier of oxygen and nutrients for coral reefs. It is a natural barrier against hurricanes and helps control the erosion of the sea on the coast.

Their capacity to adapt and their tolerance for harsh environments has given mangroves their whimsical appearances, beautiful to view from above, and bewitching to behold underwater.

An excellent perspective of the mangrove forest at Xel-Há can be found along the pedestrian path to the river, taking a shortcut that leads to a platform completely wrapped in this stunning vegetation.