Biodiversity Refuges in Chiapas: Watching Over Life
Chiapas is a state with some of the richest and most surprising ecosystems in Mexico.
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※ Its nature reserves are shared by rainforests, cloud forests and coastal wetlands, and besides sheltering unique wildlife, they also play a vital role in climate stability, water supply and the region’s cultural identity. Since these biodiversity refuges protect singular ecosystems and exceptional biodiversity, they are excellent for ecotourism and conservation.
Montes Azules, A Paradise for Conscious Ecotourism 
※ Deep within the Lacandona Rainforest is one of the last and largest nature refuges in Mexico: the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve. An extensive green paradise, it has been declared part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves and is home to natural wealth that is as impressive as it is vital to the ecological balance of the planet.
※ It is the habitat of endangered species such as the jaguar, scarlet macaw, harpy eagle and tapir, and boasts more than 300 types of birds and over 2,500 species of flora.
※ This corner of Chiapas is also marvelous for ecotourism. Since it is a protected area, massive tourism is not allowed. Visits must be organized through local cooperatives or ecotourism centers run by Lacandona communities. They offer hikes, river tours, fauna sighting and cultural experiences. Worth mentioning is the fact that there is not a sole entry spot, since the reserve encompasses over 741,000 acres and many of its sites may only be visited with authorization and local guides.
El Triunfo, Up in the Clouds
※ In the fog-enveloped mountains of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas is one of Mexico’s best-kept secrets: El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve. Another natural paradise, it is home to species that are unique in the world and is a living example of how conservation, science and ecotourism can go hand in hand.
※ An ecosystem that snares the clouds and turns them into pure water, it encourages more than 800 species of plants to flourish amidst centuries-old, moss-covered trees and a choreography of hummingbirds, quetzales, butterflies and endemic frogs. The mythical jaguar lives here, along with the elusive margay, the horned guan and the tapir. It is also one of the places with the greatest diversity of salamanders and tree-like ferns on the entire continent. It has been included in the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Program since 1993 and is recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Conservation Area. The trails are great for folks looking for immersive trekking experiences, with a range of degrees of difficulty, and an Eden for nature photographers.
※ Generally, visitors enter in the municipality of Ángel Albino Corzo, going from there to El Triunfo Biological Station. Contact local cooperatives that organize guided tours and handle entry. The ideal time of year is from February to May, when visibility through the mist and fog is clearer.
La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve, Life-Giving Wetlands
※ Where fresh water meets the ocean, you will find La Encrucijada, a mosaic of coastal wetlands on the Chiapanecan coast. Here, mangroves grow up to 16.5 ft high, the tallest in all Mesoamerica, while the only community of sapote groves in the country also grows here.
※ This reserve is home to 665 species of vertebrates, many of them protected. You can walk the trails, camp out, go bird watching and observe the marine turtle nesting process. The reserve spans six municipalities: Mazatán, Huixtla, Villa Comaltitlán, Acapetahua, Mapastepec and Pijijiapan. It opens every day of the year, and visiting involves accepting the responsibility of keeping it trash free and showing deep respect for the wildlife.
※ You can enter through the municipality of Acapetahua, where boats leave and tours head out to the various points of interest. We recommend previously contacting the San Carlos, El Ballenato or Costa Verde community ecotourism centers, as they offer guided tours, rustic lodging and traditional food.
Selva El Ocote Biosphere Reserve, Amidst Caverns and Water
※ Selva El Ocote Biosphere Reserve is another of the green lungs that make Chiapas a privileged state. It is essential for water replenishment in the north of the state and is one of the largest wooded mountain systems in Mesoamerica.
※ Selva El Ocote is a green realm that never loses its foliage. Growing deep within it are precious woods, tall palm trees, tangled snake-like lianas and epiphytes that blossom up high, never touching the ground. This ecosystem is a sanctuary of life: nearly 600 species of vertebrates have been recorded, and the estimated number of invertebrate species could surpass 20,000, with butterflies and scarabs taking center stage.
※ Selva El Ocote Biosphere Reserve offers kayaking, rappelling, camping and hiking along canyons and rivers. What’s more, sustainable management models have been implemented, such as shade grown coffee, that balance conservation and production.
Guardians of Hallowed Land
These reserves are more than landscapes, they are sources of life, refuges for one-of-a-kind species and territories where our connection with the land stays alive. Exploring them means delving into the most genuine part of Chiapas that vividly reminds us that: nature does not need us, but we need it.
