Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve is a protected natural area on the Pacific coast of Jalisco, Mexico. The reserve spans 13,142 hectares of mountainous terrain with dry tropical forests. It provides habitat to a wide range of plant and animals species including a number that are endemic to the area. It is a good spot for birdwatching with more than 200 species making permanent homes here, plus a number of migratory species that can be spotted seasonally.
Understand
[edit]History
[edit]The first scientific research station in the reserve was established in the 1970s by the Universidad Nacional Autonomous de Mexico (UNAM). The reserves core was established by the federal government as a Biosphere Reserve in 1994. It was expanded to its present size in 2006 when it joined the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
Landscape
[edit]The reserve comprises various types of ecosystems including coastal wetlands and dry tropical forests, particularly as elevations increase.
Flora and fauna
[edit]The area is particularly noteworthy for its birds, but a number of reptiles and mammals also make their homes in the reserve.
Mammals include cats such as jaguars, ocelots, jaguarundi, and pumas (mountain lions) as well as coyote, coati, deer, opossum, skunks, armadillos, and peccary.
Reptiles include sea turtles and crocodiles in the coastal wetlands areas as well as geckos, boa constrictors, toads, frogs, and venomous snakes like the coral snake.
Birds include majestic hawks, soaring overhead along with circling vultures, and colorful woodland birds like macaws and woodpeckers. Neotropical bird species migrate through the area during winter when a large variety of species can be spotted in the reserve.
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Climate
[edit]Get in
[edit]The nearest large commercial airport is Puerto Vallarta (PVR IATA). From Puerto Vallarta, it is easy to rent a car and drive to the reserve.
By car
[edit]From Puerto Vallarta, drive south on the Pacific Coast Highway (MEX-200) for about 160 km. The entrance to the biosphere reserve is about midway between the towns of Chamela and Costa Careyes. The trip will take about 3 hours.
Fees and permits
[edit]Get around
[edit]See
[edit]Do
[edit]Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Casa Cuixmala, Cuitzmala (about 15 km south of Costa Careyes), ☏ +52 315 351 6050. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Exclusive luxury resort built as a private retreat by James Goldsmith, a flamboyant British tycoon. It now operates as a luxury hotel with 43 rooms in the main casa as well as 10 villas and several dozen casitas. Resort amenities include outdoor swimming pools, restaurants, access to secluded beaches, spa services, and horseback tours of the adjacent biosphere reserve. M$10000+.