Playa Del Carmen, Mexico is located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula, which is known for a variety of exotic animals. When visiting this region of Mexico, you can expect to enjoy a variety of wildlife encounters. Birds, mammals and reptiles come in a myriad of sizes, shapes and colors, and you may expect to come across many of them at any given time, whether swimming in the local waters or touring on land.
The white ibis, Yucatan parrot and keel-billed toucan are just a few examples of the wide variety of birds to be found in the region where Playa Del Carmen is located. The great curassow and ocellated turkey are chicken-like birds that can grow to 3 feet tall. The great curassow is a flightless bird which can normally be found roaming the forest floor, while the ocellated turkey is more commonly found in open fields near the forest's edge. When visiting the Yucatan Peninsula, one might also have the occasional pleasure of spotting an American Flamingo.
High in the trees of local forests lives the Yucatan black howler monkey which you will know by its throaty howl and long, black fur. The Central American spider monkey is a smaller ape that is more commonly seen in the lower branches of the forest. The West Indian manatee may not be the first animal to come to mind when you think of mammals, but it is one of the more common water mammals in the seas along Playa Del Carmen. And, while the puma, jaguar, margay and ocelot may all be found in the Playa Del Carmen area, it is not likely that you will spot these elusive nocturnal animals.
Reptiles in the region include the American crocodile and its smaller cousin, the morelet's crocodile. In addition to being smaller, the morelet's crocodile may also be distinguished from the American crocodile by its broader snout. While walking the beaches, you may be lucky enough to come across either the green sea turtle or the hawksbill sea turtle, each of which lay their eggs in the sands of local beaches. However, be sure to give these reptiles a wide berth so as not to interfere with their nesting. Finally, the spiny tailed iguana can grow up to four feet and is one of the more typical animals commonly found in the Quintana Roo region.
