Imagine a tropical island… a beautiful island in the Caribbean Sea. It is small and uninhabited. I mean – uninhabited by humans. But actually, it is densely populated. By thousands of birds nesting in the abundant green vegetation. In the company of rare sea turtles and millions of colorful fish in the sea around the island. Does that sound good to you? Then you should get to know Isla Contoy in Mexico.

Isla Contoy is uninhabited, there is no fresh water on the island. Contoy is mainly overgrown with mangroves and is the main nesting place for birds throughout the Mexican Caribbean. It is home to more than 150 species of birds, including brown pelicans, more than 5000 frigate birds with wingspans of up to 3 meters and over 3000 cormorants. The island also houses a flamingo colony and is a breeding ground for sea turtles. The waters around Contoy are home to many exotic fish species.

The crystal-clear water around Isla Contoy allows a wonderful view of the underwater world. A variety of colorful creatures lives In the reef. And in the Imaxpoit Bay next to the jetty for the tourist boats, Manta rays are gliding fearlessly through the water between the swimmers.

Between April and October, four very rare and endangered turtle species (Caretta Caretta, Chelonia Mydas, Eretmochelys Imbricata and Dermochelys) visit the island for egg laying.

You can also find the rare whale sharks near Contoy. During the mating season in the months of May to October they visit the waters in the northeast of the island. Whale sharks are gentle creatures. They feed on plankton. Nevertheless, they are the largest fish in the world with a length of about 13 m. But there are also larger specimens.

Isla Contoy is a national park and as such strictly protected. Only supervised ecotourism with a maximum of 200 visitors per day is permitted. Day trips are offered from the port of Puerto Juarez near Cancun or from Isla Mujeres. Depending on the weather and boat type, the crossing takes 1-2 hours.

Due to the small number of available places, it is advisable to book a trip to Contoy not only on site, but in good time before departure. If you want to visit the island with your own boat, you should get a permit in advance at the National Park Office on Isla Mujeres or in Cancun.

Isla Contoy has some facilities: a small visitor center with a jetty, a museum, a souvenir shop, a resting area with benches and palapas (simple huts), a Barbecue Grill, a 20-metre-high observation tower and two short walks where visitors can get to know the local fauna and flora in a part of the island. An underwater archaeological museum is planned.

Upon arrival on the island, visitors can take a guided tour with one of the local scientists and then try a delicious fish BBQ called Tikin Chic, a specialty of the region, for lunch.

It is also possible to take a small boat for a bird-watching tour to the nesting sites of the birds in the lagoon Puerto Viejo (about 10 USD donation). The revenue from the visitors serves the further financing of the scientific work and preservation of the untouched nature on Isla Contoy.

The Isla Contoy is always worth a visit. It’s kind of one of the last pretty pristine places in the world. If you love nature, a trip to the island will probably be an unforgettable experience. Enjoy the awe of wondering!