Mexico: Celestún, Biosphere & Beach
Celestún
Celestún is a quiet coastal town about 90 minutes west of Mérida, on the Gulf of Mexico and famous for its protected lagoon where thousands of flamingos gather in shallow, mineral-rich waters.
The mangroves around Celestún form a rich, protected wetland where saltwater from the Gulf mixes with freshwater springs, creating an ideal habitat for wildlife. Their tangled roots shelter fish, crabs, and birds, help prevent erosion, and support the lagoon’s delicate balance that attracts flamingos and dozens of other species year-round.
Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve
The Río Celestún Biosphere Reserve is famous for its large colonies of American flamingos that gather in the shallow, mineral-rich waters to feed. Their striking pink color and graceful movements make them one of the reserve’s most iconic and unforgettable sights.
Flamingos gather here because its shallow, salty waters are rich in algae and small crustaceans that make up their primary food source. The protected mangroves and low human disturbance also provide a safe environment for feeding and nesting.
Flamingos, flamingos, flamingos
Mangroves and biosphere
The Río Celestún mangroves form a lush, protected ecosystem where freshwater springs mix with salty coastal waters, creating ideal conditions for diverse wildlife. These dense mangrove forests shelter fish, crustaceans, reptiles, and dozens of bird species, including herons, pelicans, and flamingos. The reserve’s rich biodiversity and calm waterways make it one of the Yucatán Peninsula’s most important natural habitats.
There are red and white mangrove trees. The red trees are the ones with the visible roots that go down into the water. These red roots turn the water a deep red color.
Beach Resort
While on the tour, we stopped at beach resort and had lunch (fresh filet of fish), and spent about an hour enjoying the beach and the beautiful turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Making friends
One of the reasons that I book tours with groups, when I travel is so that I can spend time with people. Since I travel alone, it makes a big difference, especially for an extrovert like me (Yeah, I know that surprises you…).
On this trip, I met a woman named Audrey from Manchester, England who was traveling her daughter and the daughter’s friend. We immediately hit it off and were able to spend time together sightseeing and meeting for meals. One of the things we enjoyed was Biciruta Merida.
Every Sunday in some areas of the city, Merida hosts a “Car-Free Sunday” called Biciruta Mérida. La Bici Ruta literally translates to “The Bike Route”. Audrey invited me to join them for this ride. It was hot, longer than expected and figuring out how to steer a bike that has two wheels was a bit challenging, but as Audrey would say, “Not too bad for a couple of Pensioners.”
I plan to stay in touch with Audrey, and when I’m in her area of the world, will definitely plan a visit!
Just for fun…
When I leave Merida and fly into QRO on January 30th (closest airport to San Miguel de Allende, my flight doesn’t get in until 10pm. It’s another hour or so taxi ride into San Miguel de Allende, so I’ve booked a room close to the airport for that night and will start out fresh (and in the daylight) the next day.
The motel appears to be very nice. It has high ratings, and is only a 10 minute drive from the airport. The photos show a comfy, completely updated room and bath.
All good. Right?
The name of the motel? 4Play Motel
I’m really hoping that means something else other than where my mind immediately went. But, my experience in Mexico, so far, has me on my guard!
