The Chacahua Lagoons National Park

The Chacahua Lagoons National Park is a beautiful natural reserve that is the home of a great variety of flora and fauna. It is part of the lagoon complex called “La Pastoria-Chacahua-Las Salinas” and has an area of 14,187 hectares. The area these three lagoons comprise is 24 percent of the park. The park, which was declared a national park by a presidential decree on June 30 th in 1937, has 10,662 hectares of firm land and 3,225 hectares of coast lagoons.

Its fauna inventory consists of 136 species of birds, 23 reptiles, 4 amphibians and 20 mammals. These 26 species are endemic of Mesoamerica, 9 are endemic of Mexico and one is endemic of Oaxaca . The 12 species of the existent terrestrial vertebrates are cataloged as rare, threatened or endangered species, 3 of them are in imminent danger. Two species of sea turtles spawn on the beaches of the park: Golfina (Lepidochelys olivacea) and Laúd (Dermochelys corlacea). There is also a crocodile farm. The species of crocodile (Crocodylus moreletti) is considered an endangered species.

These lagoons are surrounded by mangrove swamps over an area of 2,710 hectares, which is 19.13 percent of the total area of the park. The coast lagoons, estuaries, and particularly, the mangrove swamps, are the most productive ecosystems of the biosphere. The high fertility of the coast lagoons and estuaries keep a rich and complex food chain, supporting important fisheries of the coast region.

It is possible to admire the different types of vegetation in the park: mangrove swamps, low caducifolia jungle, low wet jungle, low subperennifolia jungle, low thorny jungle, medium subperennofilia, vegetation of coast dunes, halofita vegetation, medium inundate jungle, savannah, vegetation of passage, palm groves and tule reeds.

The Chacahua Lagoons, as a protected natural reserve, has turned into an important center of investigation and tourist attraction. The visitor will also have an opportunity to the visit and explore two attractive and beautiful beaches: Cerro Hermoso and Chacahua.

Bird Watching Excursion

The trip to the Chacahua Lagoons starts from Puerto Escondido or Huatulo. At the Chacahua Lagoons, the visitor will be able to take a boat trip, going through the waters of the small islands covered by the mangrove swamps. This is the habitat for water birds such as the pink spoonbill, the stork, the needle nose duck and different herons.

During the trip, there is a stop on the two beaches where the lagoons and the sea meet; besides, the visitor can take a look at the crocodile farm, walk around the fishermen's village and taste the wide variety of seafood at various restaurants.

The visitor can also have the opportunity of admiring species of migratory birds like the white pelican, the blue widgeon, and the boludo duck. Different species of water birds also reproduce in this area, like the pink spoonbill, the stork, the needle nose duck and several herons.

 

Location

The Chacahua Lagoons National Park is located about 60 kilometers (36 miles) to the west of Puerto Escondido.

How to get there:

By car

From Puerto Escondido, drive west along the Federal Highway 200 and take the turnoff to the community of Zapotalito. The community of Chacahua is located in the western part of the national park.

From Mexico City , follow the Mexico-Puebla-Orizaba Highway to the Cuacnopalan-Oaxaca Superhighway turnoff. Drive along this highway to the toll booth of Coixtlahuaca and from there, drive in the direction of Santiago Tejupam. At the arrival at the Federal Highway 190, turn left to connect to the Federal Highway 125 (in the community of Yacudaa). Drive through Teposcolula, Tlaxiaco and Putla de Guerrero, and continue along the Federal Highway 200 towards to Pinotepa Nacional-Puerto Escondido. From Puerto Escondido drive west along Federal Highway 200 and take the turnoff to El Zapotalito, which is the entrance and access to the park.

From the State of Chiapas and Central America, it is possible to arrive via the Federal Highway 190 that comes from Tuxtla Gutierrez or via the Federal Highway 200 toll road that goes from Tapachula to Arriaga, continue along the free road going by Chahuites and connecting to the Federal Highway 190 in Tapanatepec. From there, continue to Salina Cruz, and before arriving at the center of this town, take the turnoff in the direction of the Federal Highway 200 Salina Cruz-Pintepa Nacional-Puerto Escondido. From Puerto Escondido drive west along Federal Highway 200 and take the turnoff to El Zapotalito, which is the entrance and access to the park.