Sunday, May 12, 2013

An Exciting Trip To The Wilderness Starts In Rio Lagartos

By Linda Patterson


There is a lot more in store for any traveler in Yucatan than just immeasurable stretches of white sandy beaches and crystal clear water packed with marine life. The scenic coastal village of Rio Lagartos is a home to a wide variety of animals particularly birds, is known as the 'Land of Flamingoes', and it means 'river of alligators' in Mayan language. Even if this region does not have any rivers yet it is a home to a number of species of alligators and crocodiles.

This area is already a biosphere reserve which was once inhabited by the Mayans, who named it 'Holkoben'. For the Mayans, it served as a passage where they could refresh themselves from their journey to and from the salt pans and lagoons. Many of the remains of this incredible ancient civilization still mark the landscape just like cenotes and also Mayan huts which offer medicinal mud baths to tourists who are interested. The remainder of the biosphere reserve is composed of mangrove forests, scrub lands, fresh water springs and lagoons are fantastic elements for an exciting adventure travel holiday.

One can choose to embark on excursions to this region by day or by night. It is during the night that the chances of spotting wildlife in natural setting are higher because of high daytime temperatures. Any true nature lover would not want to miss going on a guided tour to reach the farthest corners of this habitat. A local guide will guide you all the way and throughout the hike as you see a lot of remarkable sights. The guide will also explain the contribution of these animals and plants to the environment.

Tourists can opt to embark on adventure tours to this region through kayaks, bikes or foot. Regardless of the mode of transport chosen, taking into consideration the dos' plus don'ts would make sure that the trip into the wilderness will not be only an enriching experience but a wonderful one, as well.

In this tour, it is important to wear full length pants as well as full sleeved shirt. One must wear a well fitting shoes and hat for complete protection. Apply sun block on your skin to protect your skin from sunburn and apply a mosquito repellent in order to keep bugs away. A raincoat, sufficient drinking water and enough cash are the other important things to bring on this trip. Aside from that, do not forget to bring a camera and a pair of binoculars during this adventure trip.

Considering that the major reason for touring this biosphere reserve is to see crocodiles in their place, finding out about these creatures ahead of the trip will provide you with far better understanding. A lot of the adventure holiday tours in this location focus on the Mexican variety, also called Morelet crocodile. This crocodile specie is considered to be the offspring of a long and also ancient family tree stretching over 125 years. Though, they are a bit smaller in size as compared to their American counterparts, they are known by some unique features just like webbed hind feet and dark bands on their body and tail.

Morelet crocodiles have the ability to survive in diverse surroundings and can be spotted near freshwater bodies. One example is around some cenotes and a spring along the lesser known hiking path of Sendero Peten Tucha. Seclusion being their primary priority, among the reasons they've survived in this area for such a long time is its thick forest cover which acts to protect the young till they're at the right age to go out.

These creatures can be learned in your biology class however if you have the chance then why not embark on an actual tour. Real life experience will always be the best teacher.




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