• Manatee Lagoon, a species protected in Xcaret

The principal species of manatees found in Mexico is the Caribbean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) which you can admire at a crystal clear lagoon in Xcaret where manatees “Pompon” and “Nohoch” live.

Manatees in Mexico are mammals of the Sirenia order that live mainly in lagoons and mangroves, and are peaceful beings that swim very slowly up to 4 miles per hour in groups of 2 to 4 animals. The same as herbivorous mammals, manatees search for plants, algae and grass that grow under the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.

It is believed that when European sailors arrived to America they encountered manatees and confused them with the mystery and magic of legendary mermaids. A peculiar behavior of female manatees is the way they hold their young in their fins to nurse, just like a mother breast-feeding a baby.

Manatees in Mexico are found in the states of Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo. Today they are a species in danger of extinction due to illegal hunting, uncontrolled nautical traffic, fishing and the destruction of their habitat.

We invite you to join our efforts and support for manatee conservation in Riviera Maya, Mexico and the world. Come and meet “Pompon” and “Nohoch”, the manatees at Xcaret.