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  3. Mexico
  4. Calakmul
Calakmul, Mexico
Biosphere ReserveUNESCO World HeritageBiosphere Reserve

Calakmul

Maya Forest (Campeche)Designated in 19897,231 km²
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Mexico's largest rainforest reserve; it holds one of the largest Maya cities ever found

Area

7,231 km²

Designated in

1989

Region

Maya Forest (Campeche)

Declared in 1989, it is the largest tropical forest reserve in Mexico and part of the great Maya Forest, the second largest block of continuous rainforest in the Americas after Amazonia. Hidden inside it are the ruins of Calakmul, one of the most powerful city-states of the Classic Maya period and a historic rival of Tikal, with over 6,000 structures identified and one of the largest Maya pyramids known. Since 2014 the reserve and the archaeological zone have shared a mixed UNESCO World Heritage listing — natural and cultural at once — recognising both its biodiversity and the legacy of the Maya civilisation that managed this forest sustainably for more than a thousand years.

Location

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4 dive sites within 300 km are also shown.

Calakmul: 60 documented species

Mammals20Birds23Reptiles4Amphibians

Flora and ecosystems

Ecosystems found in Mexico, where Calakmul lies.

Tropical rainforestDesertMarine / coastal

Experiences in this park

Diving and snorkellingBirdwatching

Nearby dive sites

Where can I dive near here?

196 km away

196 km away

210 km away

Wildlife you can see now

What is worth looking out for this month in Mexico?

Now is a good time: Veracruz River of Raptors (20 August to 20 November (peak in the first two weeks of October))

Now is a good time: Great white shark aggregation at Guadalupe Island (July to November (some years into January))

Similar parks

Which other parks are like this one?

Same country: Mexico

Same country: Mexico

Same country: Mexico

Same country: Mexico

Keep exploring

Based on what we already know about this park.

Comments

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Climate

Tropical, Arid / desert, Temperate, Mediterranean, Mountain

Best season

November to April

Plan your visit

Best season
November to April
Area
7,231 km²
See location
2
Fish1
Insecta8
Arachnida2

Threatened:,,,

225 km away

Mexico · Maya Forest (Campeche)
See on the interactive map→

Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Ambergris Caye

Xcalak

Turkey VultureLeast Concern

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

Great White SharkVulnerable

Great White Shark

Carcharodon carcharias

El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de AltarUNESCO
Biosphere Reserve

El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar

Mexico

Critically endangered Sonoran pronghorn

November to April

See park
Sierra Gorda
Biosphere Reserve

Sierra Gorda

Mexico

Jaguar · black bear

November to April

See park
Guadalupe Island
Biosphere Reserve

Guadalupe Island

Mexico

Great white shark · elephant seal

November to April

See park
El VizcainoUNESCO
Biosphere Reserve

El Vizcaino

Mexico

Grey whale · elephant seal

November to April

See park
DivingHol Chan Marine Reserve196 km away
CountryMexico

AI-generated image: an illustration, not a photograph.

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See all 60 species found here

Blue Hole (Turneffe)

Rainforest
World Heritage
Biosphere Reserve