Lagunas de Chacahua

Overview

Description

An hour to the west of Puerto Escondido near the mouth of the Verde or Atoyac River, the Lagunas de Chacahua consists of three bodies of water called Chacahua, Pastoría, and Salinas. The area has high plant and animal diversity, especially birds, including the American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhyncus), and another 150 species of land and water birds that make their nests on some of the islets in Salinas lagoon have been documented.

The Lagunas de Chacahua has become an important site for both research and tourism because in addition to the high biodiversity, it has two attractive beaches: Cerro Hermoso and Chacahua. The first, just 1.8 miles (3 kilometers) from the town of Chacahua, is extensive and you can see the spectacle of the "bocana" there, where water from the sea mixes with the water from the lagoon. Chacahua beach is west of the park by the town of the same name and with a bit of luck you may see turtles nesting.

This is great area for getting to know the exuberant jungle, the marsh area, and above all, tropical birds during the mating and nesting season.

Making a Difference

Number of employees: 12

Percentage of local employees: 100%

The Aventura y Ecoturismo Lagunas de Chacahua S.C. company actively participates in two major areas:

• Conservation of Lagunas de Chachagua National Park:
  • We now formally operate three programs to assist with ecosystem stewardship: patrolling, monitoring of plants and animals, and volunteering.
  • For years we have actively participated in many conservation programs for the National Commission for Protected Natural Areas.
• Supporting local communities: the company is certified under the Mexican Regulation 133, and it led the creation of the Community Conservation and Ecotourism Network for Lagunas de Chacahua National Park. The goal is to have all the organizations that offer tourism services in the national park become certified in order to ensure high quality services for visitors.

Rates

$26 – $50

Significant discounts (from 5 to 20%) may be offered to senior and school groups.

Getting There

Nearest international airport: Huatulco (HUX)

Nearest local/national airport: Puerto Escondido (PMX)

Travel time to nearest airport: 40 minutes

We are 220 miles (352 kilometers) from the city of Oaxaca.

The area can be visited any time of the year, but we recommend that you visit us during the low tourism season since natural sites can be more enjoyable when they are less crowded.

If you travel by public transport:

• First, go to Puerto Escondido and take one of the suburban buses going to Pinotepa; there are three companies that offer this service. One hour from Puerto Escondido is the junction to Zapotalito (a sign there indicates the entrance to the National Park). From there, take a ten minute taxi ride to Zapotalito.

If you travel by car:

• From Oaxaca, take Federal Highway 131 Oaxaca-Sola de Vega-Puerto Escondido. After passing San Bartolo Coyotepec, take the road to the right for Puerto Escondido and continue on Federal Highway 200 toward Pinotepa Nacional until you reach the turnoff for the community of El Zapotalito at the eastern end of the park.
• At the community of Cerro del Vidrio, it is best to take the turnoff by the Virgen de Juquila sanctuary for Santa Catarina Juquila. From there it is 27 mi (43 km) on a newly paved road to Río Grande; as the road in is in excellent condition, travel time has been reduced to two hours. Upon reaching Río Grande, take the road to Acapulco and in five minutes you will come to the junction for Zapotalito.

The access road to Zapotalito and the stretch to Zapotalito were paved recently and you can travel this part in ten minutes.

In Zapotalillo, you can hire a boat to see the entire lagoon system that comprises the park.

Additional Information

Date This Information Was Provided

August 2013.

Photos courtesy of Lagunas de Chacahua, Mexico, for SustainableTrip.org.