Protected Areas in Mexico

The archaeological site of Palenque, in the Mexican state of Chiapas, is one of the most outstanding Classic period sites of the Maya area. Palenque is an incomparable achievement of Mayan art and illustrates one of the most significant achievements of mankind in the American continent.

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.

Pico de Orizaba is an inactive stratovolcano on the southern edge of the Mexican Plateau. It is home to the largest glacier in Mexico, Gran Glaciar Norte. Pico de Orizaba National Park protects the volcano and the surrounding area.

San Lorenzo Marine Archipelago National Park, located on San Lorenzo Island, is part of an archipelago in the Gulf of California off the eastern coast of Baja California. The area is protected due to its importance as a habitat for several endangered species.

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.

The Sierra de Álamos - Río Cuchujaqui Biosphere Reserve, in the Mexican State of Sonora, hosts extraordinary biological wealth and an abundance of critical species. Vegetation ranges from tropical deciduous forests to Sierra Madre evergreen forests.

The Sierra de Huautla is a mountain range in south-central Mexico. The Sierra de Huautla Biosphere Reserve is located in the Balsas River basin. Its rough topology contains a broad representation of ecosystems constituting a rich reservoir of species endemic to Mexico.

The Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve is situated at the transition of the Nearctic and Neotropical biogeographic realms and encompasses parts of the Sierra Madre del Sur. Biologically diverse, it is considered one of the most important protected areas in the western part of Mexico.

Nestled within the rugged Peninsular Ranges of northwestern Mexico, the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park stands as a remarkable natural oasis, an actual "sky island" where unique and endemic species thrive amidst the arid landscapes of the Baja California Peninsula. This national park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering diverse natural wonders, from snow-capped peaks to verdant pine forests and granite rock formations.

The Sierra del Carmen is the northernmost section of the eastern Sierra Madre range in Mexico, a sky island with ridges and peaks that rise from the base of the Chihuahuan Desert. The Maderas del Carmen Biosphere Reserve protects part of the Sierra del Carmen.