Biosphere Reserves in Mexico

Islas Marietas are a group of small uninhabited islands a few miles off the coast of Nayarit, Mexico, southwest of the peninsula known as Punta de Mita. The islands are characterized by their wealth of bird and fish fauna. The island archipelago is both a National Park and Biosphere Reserve.

The Lagunas de Montebello National Park and Biosphere Reserve are located in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas physiographic province of Mexico, near the border with Guatemala. The protected area comprises a myriad of multi-colored lakes in a pine forest, along with the Maya ruins of Chinkultic.

Nestled within the heart of south-central Mexico, the Los Volcanes Biosphere Reserve encapsulates the iconic Izta-Popo Zoquiapan National Park and the majestic Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes. The area's diverse ecosystems consist of pine-oak forests and high mountain prairies.

Nestled in the heart of the northern Mexican state of Durango, the Mapimí Biosphere Reserve is a testament to the region's unique desert ecosystems and incredible biodiversity. This protected area encompasses three distinct core zones in the central portion of the Chihuahuan Desert: the Sierra de la Campana, the Laguna de las Palomas (a saline lagoon) and the Dunas de la Soledad, a captivating desert habitat.

Within the verdant landscapes of Chiapas state in southeastern Mexico lies the Nahá-Metzabok Biosphere Reserve. This reserve spans the northeastern Chiapas Highlands and is a haven for biodiversity and cultural richness. Safeguarding montane rainforests, pine-oak woodlands, and pristine lakes within the renowned Lacandón Forest region, the Nahá-Metzabok Biosphere Reserve invites exploration.

Deep within the rugged forested mountains of central Mexico, a breathtaking natural spectacle unfolds each year – the mass migration of millions of monarch butterflies seeking refuge in their overwintering grounds. The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, serves as a sanctuary for these remarkable creatures, protecting their delicate habitats and ensuring the continuation of one of nature's most awe-inspiring phenomena.

The Pantanos de Centla Biosphere Reserve, an ecological gem in the heart of Tabasco, southern Mexico, beckons as one of the most crucial wetlands in what was once Mesoamerica. Stretching across the states of Tabasco and Campeche, the Pantanos de Centla reveals a dynamic interplay of diverse ecosystems, standing out for its verdant tropical moist forest ecoregion, characterized by seasonally flooded forests and wetlands.

The Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve is located in the northwest part of the Yucatán Península, in a coastal strip that includes the limits of the Campeche and Yucatán States. It encompasses coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico and includes important Ramsar-designated wetlands.

The Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve features a variety of mangroves, small estuaries, coastal lagoons, marshes, and savannahs. Located at the eastern end of the Yucatán Peninsula, it is home to a variety of species, a substantial number of which are rare, vulnerable, and endangered.

In the language of the Mayan peoples who once inhabited this region, Sian Ka'an means 'Origin of the Sky.' Located on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, this Biosphere Reserve contains tropical forests, mangroves and marshes, and a large marine section intersected by a barrier reef.