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Cruise West has been announcing 12 new trips to mexico’s Sea of Cortes Whales & Wildlife Itinerary for 2009-2010. This area is very popular with tourists for both the spectacular scenery, and the rich diversity of sea life it offers. Many people visit the region repeatedly to satisfy their curiosity of the extraordinary and love of life and nature.

The fees are between $600-200 for the sea trip, and more than $4000 for a land journey which includes the Copper Canyon optional tour that lasts four days. 

mexico is a bird watcher’s paradise and is the home to over 1000 of the world’s 8000 species.  These are incredible numbers, and not lost on bird watching travelers around the world.

Bird’s have long held a prestigious position in mexican mythology.  For instance, it was believed when a soldier died he became a hummingbird and went to live in paradise in the sun.  Birds were used to depict time and some were even considered to be bad omens.  On ancient Aztec and Mayan pieces of art, birds were always present and symbolic of many things in their day to day life and beliefs.

There are many vacation tours designed especially for bird watching.  For example, Puerto Vallarta is the home for over 300 of the 1000 species.  In this area, you will be able to see birds that live by the ocean, in the mountains, and in the valley.  Daily tours can be arranged at most of the larger hotels and resorts.  In La Huerta a tour is available to view a wide range of tropical birds from inside a canoe.  Tours in Villas Buena Vida and Rincon de Guayabitos are walking adventures where you can set your own pace.

This is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon, a day, or an entire vacation.  There are many books available to help you plan any type of session you want, and it is recommended that you always have a plan!  Enjoy and learn, there are so many exotic and native birds just awaiting you and your binoculars.

Many areas in mexico offer the dolphin experience.  It is an incredible adventure that the whole family can enjoy.  You will not only be able to swim with these marvelous creatures but you will also learn many amazing facts about them.

The dolphin is one of the most intelligent and beautiful creature in our waters.  They belong to the group of warm-blooded mammals know as the Cetasceans, which also includes the whales.  Dolphins are regarded as the “toothed whales”.

Bottlenose dolphins live in the temperate waters off of both coasts of Mexico.  They live in family groups commonly referred to as pods.  These pods are long term social structures that vary in size and generally form some sort of social hierarchy.  They communicate with sounds that resemble moans, trills, grunts, and squeaks.  A mother dolphin will whistle continuously to her calf for several days after its birth to imprint her original sound for identification.  All of these sounds are made by air movement in the trachea and nasal sacs.  Many have speculated that dolphins actually have their own language, but nothing conclusive has been discovered.

Dolphins can reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour but generally swim at speeds of 4 to 7 mile per hour.  They regularly dive to depths of 150 feet to catch their food but can only maintain the dive for about 10 minutes when they will need to surface for a breath of air.  They are acrobatic and playful, causing audiences to gasp in awe at some of their amazing spins, turns, and flips.

At the many dolphin parks such as Puerto Aventuras, Riviera Maya, and Playa del Carmen the whole family can experience the excitement of spending time in the water with these amazing animals.  Depending on what package you choose, you will be able to mingle, ride, and play with them.  They will definitely capture your heart with their handshakes, kisses, and playful actions.  Take the swim, an experience the whole family will share in memory for years to come.

One of the main rivers of the mexican state Puebla is the Rio Nexaca. Originating from the south of Huauchinango, and there being named Totolapa, it flows between through mountains and canyons eventually forming the waterfalls named Salto Chico y Salto Grande.

As it extends from Puebla to Veracruz, with  El Tejocotal, Los Reyes, Patla, and Tenango, Necaxa produces 172 million cubic liters of water generating electrical power for Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Estado de México and the Federal District. The Necaxa feeds the Tepexi River, which runs through a tunnel to the Río de Patla into the various municipalities of the Northern Mountain Range, such as Patla y Chicontla. It then enters the state of Veracruz, traversing the municipalities of Cuahuitlán, Coyutla, Espinal, Papantla, Gutiérrez Zamora and Tecolutla, and its volume increases as it unites with other forks. It finally forms the Río Tecolutla, which flows out to the Gulf of mexico in the municipality of the same name.

Pánuco River is a branch of the River Moctezuma in the Valley of mexico and it discharges its waters to the Gulf of Mexico.

At its source, it serves as a channel for water-drainage for Mexico City. As it progresses, it forms the border between the states of Hidalgo and Querétaro and thereafter flows in the direction of San Luis Potosí. In Veracruz it begins to be named Rio Panuco. It empties into the Gulf at Tampico and Ciudad Madero, on the border between the states of Tamaulipas and Veracruz.

Its length is approximately 500 km with the last 15 km being navigable for larger ships.

Isla de Sacrificios

CC photo by Sergio Lubezky courtesy of Flickr

In 1992, the mexican government declared the Isla de Sacrificios a Natural protected area becoming a part of the Systema Arrecifal Veracruzano, Veracruz Reef System (VRS). The area is located off of the port of Veracruz in the Gulf of mexico. The area is a hotly visited tourist destination for day trips and is the subject in many postcard photos and paintings.

CC photo by Reaper Stinky courtesy of Flickr

The island is located right off the coast of Veracruz and can be reached after a short boat ride. The island’s beautiful lighthouse is a famous landmark and focus for many artist creations.  Guests are sure to take an interest in the informative visitor’s center and the massive collection of flora and fauna to explore.

lighthouse

CC photo by Jubilo Haku courtesy of Flickr

The island boasts many various transplanted vegetation, in addition to, the original greenery native to the areas. The area surrounding the island is host to several exotic species of fish and aquatic wildlife. Isla is well known for scuba diving and snorkeling, in addition to beach combing for exploration.

View of the island

CC photo by AboGabo courtesy of Flickr

The island’s history holds great intrigue and mystery filled with sacrifices and rituals giving power to its name. It is believed that Hernan Cortez stopped at the island before continuing on to the area where Mexico City stands today. Several archeological finds have recovered artifacts, as well as, a temple where the actual sacrifices took place. Because of the many tourists and scientific visitors, the government has taken a more active roll in insuring its protection.

The island is easily assessable from the Veracruz shores either by boat or kayak. The island stands a mere kilometer from the Veracruz seawall and offers a perfect way to spend a day adventure to and from the island.

Axolotl

CC photo by Pablo Neco courtesy of Flickr

The axolotl is a species of salamander that is native to the mexican lakes of Chalco and Xochimilco in mexico City. Also known as the Mexican Walking Fish, this little aquatic creature is not a fish, but an amphibian. The Axolotl is becoming the topic of research and popular specimen since it’s natural habitat is in danger and because it holds the key to regeneration of body parts. Beginning with the Spanish conquistadors who began draining the natural lakes and continuing today with waste water choking out its natural living space, the Axolotl’s land is being lost.

Hello world

CC photo by Only Alice courtesy of Flickr

While the draining of the lakes took a toll on the Axolotl, the species survived. However, the complete draining of Lake Chalco in the 1970s and the release of Mexico City’s waste water into Lake Xochimilco, was the final battle for this tough salamander. It is important to note that Xochimilco is now merely series of canals, not a lake, and hardly a plentiful environment for the Axolotl to thrive.

Albino

CC photo by Patries71 courtesy of Flickr

The next hit came from African Tilapia and Asian carp being introduced into Xochimilco to boost fishing. These species devoured Axolotl eggs and lead to a drastic drop in Axolotls in their natural environment. What misleads many is how plentiful the animal is in home aquariums around the world. While the Axolotl remains on the endangered species list, its popularity as a pet and use in labs increases its chance for survival, if only in labs.

Beautiful coloring

CC photo by Interrobang courtesy of Flickr

While the future for the Axolotl is uncertain, one thing is true, this is one interesting amphibian. They are easily found in pet stores specializing in reptiles, fish and amphibians. They are fascinating to watch and come in several colors. From albino white to even black, all Axolotls have the distinctive feathery gills that makes them stand out as both prehistoric and almost regal. The Axolotl has earned a place among the many beautiful, intriguing and extremely endangered creatures of Mexico. It deserves respect and a chance to live in the natural surroundings evolution has picked out for it.