REFUGE OF BIRDS, AN AUTHENTIC NATURAL JEWEL

Contoy is only 41 km north of Cancun, 30 km north of Isla Mujeres, and is only 8.5 kilometers long. Contoy, the tiny virgin island, was declared a National Wildlife Reserve in 1961, and it's now a special Biosphere Reserve. It's the oldest protected natural area in Quintana Roo. It's equipped with solar and wind energy systems, a museum, a research office with a laboratory, a visitor center on the pier, a souvenir shop, a resting area with chairs and palapas, and two interpretive trails.

The island offers incomparable beauty with its white sandy beaches and lush palm trees.

From its 20-meter-high observation tower, you can enjoy the island's landscape, which serves as a refuge for approximately 150 bird species, 250 fish species, 98 flora species, and is an important nesting site for three sea turtle species.

The island allows for ecotourism and regulated commercial fishing under supervision.

Access to Isla Contoy is by sea, departing from Cancun, Puerto Juarez, or Isla Mujeres. Only 200 visitors per day are allowed, and guided tours are led by resident biologists.

While on the island, you can savor delicious Tikin-Chik fish and take a bird-watching trip to Puerto Viejo.

On the way to the island, boats can stop at the Ixlache reef, a habitat for a rich marine fauna, where you can snorkel and enjoy the incredible underwater scenery. Visits to Isla Contoy are restricted, with only 200 visitors allowed per day.