Situated on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations. Located in Banderas Bay which is Mexico’s largest bay, Puerto Vallarta enjoys a warm climate year long. There are miles of beautiful beaches, tons of activities, great restaurants, bars, shopping, art galleries, and more. If you want to get outside and enjoy the area’s natural beauty, check out the El Salado Estuary. El Salado is a protected urban estuary situated on 417 acres that offers biologist-guided boat tours of the area’s reptile & bird habitats. Consisting mainly of mangroves and marshes, El Salado is located in the heart of Puerto Vallarta near the marina. If you want help planning a trip to PV, contact Amazing Mexico at (866) 883-0573. The reputable travel agency has special vacation packages on sale right now. Meanwhile, read below to learn more about El Salado Estuary in Puerto Vallarta.

 

Visit El Salado Estuary in PV

To start with, El Salado Estuary is centrally located near the Puerto Vallarta marina. The “El Salado” Estuary is considered an Urban Estuary, and more than 24 years ago on July 27th, 2000, it was declared as an ecological conservation zone to help protect the local flora and fauna. The estuary is linked to Banderas Bay and the Pacific Ocean through a 2-kilometer long, 20-meter wide, and 3-meter deep channel. In the El Salado Estuary, there is a large variety of migratory birds, mammals, and reptiles that inhabit the area. In fact, more than 99 species of birds, 46 species of plants, 10 species of mammals, and 29 species of amphibians/reptiles are found in the area. Some of the most common creatures that inhabit the area include iguanas, garrobos, river crocodiles, raccoons, opossums, crabs, and more. During your next trip to Puerto Vallarta, plan to spend a few hours appreciating the natural beauty of El Estero.

 

Mangroves and Marshes

Next, if you want to check out El Salado during your next vacation to Puerto Vallarta, you will be pleased to know that guided tours are available. Visitors will be taken on a tour by boat with an instructional guide that will talk about the estuary’s history, makeup, and inhabitants. As you cruise through the tropical channels surrounded by lush vegetation, keep your eyes open for wildlife. The estuary is composed of 135 hectares that have 3 types of mangrove and marsh vegetation. Tropical semi-deciduous forest, a thorn forest, and secondary vegetation are part of the area’s ecosystem. Also, El Salado estuary helps to regulate temperature and maintain the climatic balance in the area. In addition, the estuary’s ecosystem is ideal for the reproduction and development of various species. Likewise, nutrients in El Salado serve as a food base for many species that inhabit Banderas Bay. Last but not least, El Salado is an important hydrological regulator that helps to protect the city from floods, too.

 

El Salado Flora and Fauna

El Salado is the perfect home for many specimens of flora and fauna that are protected by conservation laws and regulations. As stated above, there are more than 99 different species of birds that make their home at the estuary amongst the lush vegetation and water channels. In addition, there are more than 29 species of amphibians and reptiles and 10 types of mammals that live in the estuary as well. Likewise, invertebrates and many types of fish also live amongst the mangroves, too. In terms of reptiles found in the area, the iguana (iguana iguana), the Mexican spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura pectinata), and the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) are some of the most common reptiles that live in the estuary. In addition, the raccoon (Procyon lotor) and the possum (Didelphis virginiana) are mammals that have been sighted in the mangroves. Also, there are abundant populations of the Fiddler crab (Uca crenulata) and the mouthless crab (Cardisoma crassum) that have been seen in the marsh and the mangroves, too.

 

Make Your Reservation to Tour El Salado

If you want to make a reservation to visit El Salado, you can book a tour from Monday through Friday. In general, the tours last a few hours and usually leave at 9 am, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. It makes sense to reserve your place ahead of time because space is limited. To reserve your spot, you can call 322-201-7361 or email reservas@esterosalado.org. Both local residents and vacationers will enjoy spending a few hours at El Salado getting to learn and see more of the local flora and fauna during a relaxing boat tour of the estuary’s canals. Puerto Vallarta has so much to offer in terms of natural beauty with lush greenery of the Sierra Madre mountains, beautiful beaches, and freshwater rivers, too. Why not skip the beach for a few hours and take a tour of one of Puerto Vallarta’s best-kept secrets, El Salado Estuary.

 

Are you ready to book a vacation to Puerto Vallarta? If you are, contact Amazing Mexico at (866) 883-0573 today. They have all-inclusive vacation packages on sale right now to stay at the top resorts in Puerto Vallarta. During your stay, make sure to visit the El Salado Estuary to appreciate the area’s natural beauty. In addition to Puerto Vallarta, Amazing Mexico at (866) 883-0573 also has low-cost vacation packages available to stay at other top destinations in Mexico such as Cancun, Islands of Loreto, Riviera Nayarit, and Cabo San Lucas. Their friendly travel specialists are bilingual and are waiting to take your call right now. If you want to pamper your loved ones with luxurious beachfront suites and world-class amenities, Amazing Mexico can help you make that happen. Don’t forget to make sure to visit the El Salado Estuary while you are in PV, too!