Thursday, May 9, 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 now a bio-reserve and was named 'Holkoben' by the Mayans who once inhabited the land. This served as a transit point for the Mayans where they could revitalize themselves on their journey to and from the salt pans and lagoons. A number of the remains of this remarkable ancient civilization still mark the landscape such as cenotes as well as Mayan huts which provide medicinal mud baths to tourists who are interested. The remaining portion of the biosphere reserve is made up of mangrove forests, scrub lands, fresh water springs and lagoons which are all great elements for an unforgettable adventure travel holiday.

You can choose to tour this place by day or by night. The daytime temperatures in this region are high which makes night time the best time or with higher chances to spot wildlife in its natural setting. Going on a guided tour and reaching the farthest corners of this habitat is a must for any true nature enthusiast. Throughout the hike you will be guided by a local guide. You will be seeing a lot of marvelous sights as well as learn the contribution of plants and animals to the ecosystem.

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.

It is a must to wear full sleeved shirts and full length pants. It is also a must to wear well fitting shoes and a hat. Keep bugs at bay by applying a mosquito repellent and sun block to protect your skin from sunburn. Adequate drinking water, a rain coat and enough cash for emergency and for the trip are the other essential things to bring. Moreover, bring with you a camera and binoculars during this adventure tour.

Because the main reason for going to this biosphere reserve is to see crocodiles in their habitat, researching these creatures before the excursion provides you with far better understanding. The majority of the adventure holiday tours within this area center on the Mexican variety, also referred to as Morelet crocodile, which is thought to be the offspring of a long as well as ancient family tree stretching over 125 years. Even though, they are in smaller size compared to their American counterparts, these are recognized based on some unique features such as dark bands on their length and also webbed hind feet.

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.

All of these creatures can be read or learned in your biology lesson in the classroom but venturing out of an actual tour will be best as real life experience is always a better teacher.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment