In Banderas Bay on the Pacific Coast of Mexico is where Puerto Vallarta can be found which is a top tourist destination. Each year, thousands of people visit Puerto Vallarta to soak up the sun on beautiful beaches and take in the charm of Old Town Puerto Vallarta. Banderas Bay and the Sierra Madre mountain range surrounds Puerto Vallarta and makes this area one of the most biodiverse places in all of Mexico. There are many different wildlife in Puerto Vallarta and marine life, flora, and more… Read more below about the Puerto Vallarta wildlife.
Wildlife in Puerto Vallarta
Firstly, the forests that surround Puerto Vallarta are inhabited with a variety of mammals. For instance, you can see white tailed deer, wild boars, coyotes, armadillos, rabbits, and skunks. These animals usually stay in the jungle, so coming into contact with them will be rare. However, some hikers and bikers have seen some of these animals. There are also several different types of cats that live in the area too such as margays, jaguars, pumas, jaguarundis, and ocelots. There are also many different iguanas’ species in the jungle, too. A variety of tours are available from various companies where you can explore the local jungles and potentially get to see some of the area’s wildlife in person.
Marine Life
Did you know that Banderas Bay is the largest bay in Mexico? Likewise, it is the seventh largest bay worldwide. There are many different marine lives that can be found in Banderas Bay’s warm waters. For example, you can find sea bass, tuna, red snapper, black and blue marlin, and sailfish. There are also many different varieties of sea turtles, too. Each year, sea turtles return to the Banderas Bay shores to lay their eggs in the same spot that they were born. You may see jellyfish in Puerto Vallarta, too. The jellyfish can most commonly be seen in the Banderas Bay waters during spring and summer. They are not dangerous, but they can sting you.
Bird Species
Next, there are also many different bird species in Puerto Vallarta. Actually, there are more than 350 different bird species that inhabit the area. In the mountains, you can see parrots, gray hawks, cockatoos, seagulls, hummingbirds, pelicans, macaws, American coot, kestrel and redstart, sandpiper, and bat falcons. Would you like to go bird watching? The best place to go bird watching is in El Tuito, which is only one hour south of Puerto Vallarta.
Whales & Sharks
Many visitors ask if there are sharks in the Banderas Bay, and the answer is yes, but they don’t pose any harm to people. The Puerto Vallarta beaches on the bay are very safe for swimming, and there are rarely any shark attacks that happen. At certain times during the year, there are also whales in Banderas Bay. In fact, more than 10,000 humpback whales travel to the Banderas Bay’s warm waters to birth their young during the months of November through May. At this time, humpback whales in Banderas Bay are found in the area playing, jumping, and putting on spectacular shows for lucky visitors. If you and your family want to go whale watching, then you should go in the morning which is the best time of day to see whales. If you get lucky, you may also see an orca whale in the Banderas Bay, too.
Did you enjoy reading all about wildlife in Puerto Vallarta? Not only is Puerto Vallarta home to stunning beaches, outstanding restaurants, and more, but it also is home to many different wildlife species. You can book a tour to see wildlife in the mountains if you would like to see more wildlife when you are visiting Puerto Vallarta.
