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Flora
and Fauna
The
abundance of plant life supports an amazing variety of animal
species. Many mammals live in the jungle including spider and
howler monkeys, coatimundis or tejons (a furry brown mammal with a
long nose and a striped tail), foxes, opossums, raccoons, tapirs,
anteaters, porcupines, armadillos, deer, jaguars and tepescuincle
(a strange nocturnal animal with the body of a small pig, a face
like a rabbit, and the teeth of a beaver). Most of these animals
are found deep in the jungle. There are occasional sightings of
foxes, tejons, opossums, raccoons, and tepescuincle on the road to
the lagoon. The best time to see wildlife activity is after dusk
or at sunrise.
Many
species of native birds depend on both ocean and jungle life for
food, making Akumal an amazing place for bird watching. Some of
the birds commonly seen in the jungle are the grackle, Yucatan
flycatcher, Yucatan whippoorwill, orange oriole, the beautiful
quetzal, parakeets and rare sightings of toucans. The ocean views
from Vista del Mar offer great opportunities to watch seabirds
including pelicans, frigate birds, plovers, gulls, sooty terns,
and egrets. Tarantulas, lizards, snakes, and crocodiles also call
the jungle home. Fortunately these creatures tend to stay away
from the beach and populated areas. However, you will see plenty
of rock iguanas sunning themselves around Akumal. At night you
might hear a chorus of geckos. These are harmless, transparent
lizards that are usually found in pairs. Besides bats, geckos are
one of the biggest consumers of mosquitoes and other small
insects.
Sea
Life
The
Caribbean supports a wide variety of sea life including lobster,
octopus, stingrays, colorful reef fish and sea turtles. Keep your
eyes on the ocean in front of Vista del Mar, as sightings of
parrot fish, turtles, and rays are a daily occurrence. Perhaps the
area’s most famous inhabitants, turtles, give Akumal its name.
In Mayan, Akumal means "the place of the turtle." You
are likely to encounter green sea turtles if you snorkel in the
turtle grass, their favorite hang-out. Every year between May and
October, loggerheads and green sea turtles emerge from the ocean
to lay their eggs on the beaches of Half Moon Bay and surrounding
areas. These turtles lay approximately 70,000 eggs every year.
This is an area of primary importance for the turtles, and the
people of Akumal take great pride in making sure the turtles’
nesting sites and beaches are preserved. The best time to view
these turtles laying eggs or nests hatching are at night during
the full moon. The shy hawksbill turtle also calls this region
home, favoring areas near the reef. Turtles are beautiful serene
animals that should be enjoyed from a distance and never touched.
Deep
Sea Fishing
Every year the deep waters of the Yucatan Channel bring the
migration of Sailfish, Marlin, Wahoo, and Mahi Mahi to the waters
of Akumal.
Fly
Fishing
Akumal Dive Adventures can arrange fly fishing excursions to Boca
Paila, one hour drive south of Akumal. Boca Paila is a part of the
Sian Kan Biosphere Reserve. Here you can catch tarpon and permit.
Snorkeling
The
snorkeling right out in front of Akumal is excellent.
Different species of coral and tropical fish are abundant. For a
local coral and fish identification guide or snorkeling tips for
the area make a stop in the dive centers shop, the assistant help
you.
Where
is a good place to snorkel?
Somme of the best snorkeling in Akumal is right in front of
Vista del Mar. Don't miss the underwater world of Yal-ku Lagoon,
just a five minute walk down the road from Vista del Mar. The
brackish water is sanctuary to all sorts of colorful fish and
coral life. You can rent snorkeling gear at dive centers
shop, they also run snorkeling tours out of their
shop, so check with them for the next schedule of outings.
While
snorkeling please don't touch any of the coral. The oils from your
hand will damage or even kill the coral. Some of the formations in
the area have been growing for thousands of years and need to be
given plenty of room. Please view these fragile formations from a
few feet away and be aware of the currents so you are not
accidentally pushed into a coral head. Try not to stand on any
rocky bottom and please do not take any shells or coral from the
surrounding bay.
Fishing
Sport
fishing is popular in the area. The best months are April through
July. Mahi Mahi, king fish, wahoo, tuna, sailfish, and marlin are
all in season. All sports fish are catch and release. About an
hour south of Akumal in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve are the
Boca Paila Flats. This is an excellent place to flyfish for bone
fish, tarpon, and permit fish. For more information on sports fishing, fly
fishing, charters, rates, and reservations please visit the playareservations.com
Web site.
Ecology
Akumal
is an ecologically conscious community. There is a recycling
program in which much of the community participates. While staying
at Vista del Mar please recycle your glass and plastic. For more
information you can contact the CEA Center (Centro Ecologico de
Akumal) located on Akumal Beach.
Many
of the owners of the houses and condominiums have constructed
wetlands. The simplest way to describe this is that they are
contained drainage fields. They act as a filtering system for the
gray water that comes from the three stage septic tank. Contained
in gravel filled enclosures, these wetlands are planted with
native flora. The roots of these plants utilize the nutrients from
the effluent, in turn cleaning the water. These wetlands are an
effective way of treating the water so as to not pollute the local
water supply. A sample wetland is located directly next to the
Vista del Mar Hotel on your way to Akumal Dive Adventures.
The best time to see
turtles are
May through November is the turtle nesting and hatching
season. The best time to view these placid creatures is at night
around the full moon. If you discover a turtle laying her eggs or
a turtle nest in the process of hatching, please inform the
reception at Vista del Mar of where and when you saw the turtle or
nest. The staff will, in turn, contact the local turtle people so
the nest can be marked and recorded
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