Budget-conscious animal lovers may not be able to afford the trans-Atlantic airfare and costly fees associated with African safari travel. But just south of the border in Mexico lies a world of undiscovered wildlife, where the favorable exchange rates and airfare deals can make that safari dream a reality.
Nature aficionados may be surprised at what Mexico has to offer.
“I really wasn’t expecting more than a beach holiday in Cancun,” said Marybeth Silverman, a teacher from Columbia. “But when a friend suggested a day trip to Holbox Island to go on a whale safari, my beach retreat turned into a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.”
Mexico’s lush landscapes, protected biospheres and nature reserves make it a perfect habitat for many species.
“The Yucatan Peninsula is home to an amazing variety of wildlife like jaguar, pumas, ocelots, howler monkeys, tapirs, manatees, turtles and crocodiles,” said Michelle Cuervo Ginther, e-Marketing manager at Protours Mexico in Playa del Carmen. “It’s also the habitat to more than 546 species of birds, of which 11 are endemic.”
Safaris are not limited to land excursions either. Mexico’s waters are rife with an impressive underwater world.
“One of our most popular excursions is the Whale Shark Safari, where participants can swim by the side of the biggest fish in the ocean in its natural environment,” said Ginther. “This amazing creature is not only impressive in size, but it manages to have a calm and placid demeanor.”
On Mexico’s western coast, Baja is home to the Pacific gray whale’s spring migration from Alaska, where hundreds return to traditional birthing and breeding grounds at the sheltered San Ignacio Lagoon. Participants can boat within an arm’s length of the whales, observing these mega-animals in action and spend the night in a rustic-luxe thatched roof cabana for five nights with accommodations and meals for $2,495 per person.
Ben Bressler, founder and director of Natural Habitat Adventures, said, “Our guides receive World Wildlife Fund conservation training, and we search out unique accommodations with local character.”
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