Isla Contoy

Isla Contoy is a small island located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, approximately 30 kilometers north of Isla Mujeres. The island is 8.5 km in length and has an area of 317 hectares. It is considered the most important nesting place of sea birds in the Mexican Caribbean, with over 150 species of birds, including frigatebirds, brown pelicans, and double-crested cormorants. The island is also a nesting place for sea turtles, including loggerhead, green, hawksbill, and leatherback turtles. Isla Contoy is a protected area, declared a National Park in 1998, and is jointly run by the Isla Mujeres-based non-governmental organization, Amigos de Isla Contoy A.C., and the National Commission for Natural Protected Areas. The island offers supervised eco-tourism and regulated commercial fishing, and visitors can enjoy guided tours, bird watching, and snorkeling. The island has a visitor center, a museum, a souvenir store, and a watchtower, and visitors can also take a boat trip to the nearby Ixlache Reef, which is home to a variety of marine species