Calakmul Biosphere Reserve

🇲🇽 Mexico

🐒 Spider Monkeys Over Maya Temples
🌍 #159 Global · 3.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #13 in North America #76 in Tropical Forest
Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico 828 spp. recorded

Calakmul protects the largest expanse of tropical forest in Mexico, on the Guatemalan border. Spider monkeys and black howlers are all but guaranteed around the ruins — both are recorded on roughly two thirds of visits — and the forest still holds jaguar, Baird's tapir and ocellated turkey.

18.112° N   89.779° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Central American Spider Monkey ★
EN

Central American Spider Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ateles geoffroyi

50–60% · Likely
Mexican Black Howler Monkey ★
EN

Mexican Black Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta pigra

50–60% · Likely
Baird's Tapir ★

Baird's Tapir

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Tapirella bairdii

30–40% · Possible
Jaguar ★
NT

Jaguar

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera onca

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Brown Jay

Brown Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psilorhinus morio

70–80% · Very likely
Keel-billed Toucan
NT

Keel-billed Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos sulfuratus

50–60% · Likely
Magnolia Warbler
LC

Magnolia Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga magnolia

50–60% · Likely
Social Flycatcher
LC

Social Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiozetetes similis

50–60% · Likely
Black-headed Trogon
LC

Black-headed Trogon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Trogon melanocephalus

50–60% · Likely
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
LC

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes aurifrons

50–60% · Likely
Olive-throated Parakeet
NT

Olive-throated Parakeet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aratinga nana

50–60% · Likely
Roadside Hawk
LC

Roadside Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rupornis magnirostris

40–50% · Likely
White-eyed Vireo
LC

White-eyed Vireo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vireo griseus

40–50% · Likely
Clay-colored Thrush
LC

Clay-colored Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus grayi

40–50% · Likely
Plain Chachalaca
LC

Plain Chachalaca

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ortalis vetula

40–50% · Likely
Black-and-white Warbler
LC

Black-and-white Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mniotilta varia

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Central American Spider Monkey ★
EN

Central American Spider Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ateles geoffroyi

50–60% · Likely
Mexican Black Howler Monkey ★
EN

Mexican Black Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta pigra

50–60% · Likely
Baird's Tapir ★

Baird's Tapir

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Tapirella bairdii

30–40% · Possible
Jaguar ★
NT

Jaguar

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera onca

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Gray Fox
LC Endemic

Gray Fox

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

30–40% · Possible
White-nosed Coati
LC Endemic

White-nosed Coati

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nasua narica

30–40% · Possible
Yucatán Squirrel
LC

Yucatán Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus yucatanensis

20–30% · Possible
Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

20–30% · Possible
White-tailed Deer
LC Endemic

White-tailed Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus virginianus

10–20% · With luck
Greater Sac-winged Bat
LC

Greater Sac-winged Bat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Saccopteryx bilineata

10–20% · With luck
Espirito Santo Free-tailed Bat
LC

Espirito Santo Free-tailed Bat

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Nyctinomops laticaudatus

10–20% · With luck
Deppe's Squirrel
LC

Deppe's Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus deppei

10–20% · With luck
Collared Peccary
Endemic

Collared Peccary

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Pecari tajacu

10–20% · With luck
Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

10–20% · With luck
Northern Tamandua
LC Endemic

Northern Tamandua

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamandua mexicana

10–20% · With luck
Tayra
LC

Tayra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eira barbara

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Brown Jay

Brown Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psilorhinus morio

70–80% · Very likely
Keel-billed Toucan
NT

Keel-billed Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos sulfuratus

50–60% · Likely
Magnolia Warbler
LC

Magnolia Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga magnolia

50–60% · Likely
Social Flycatcher
LC

Social Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiozetetes similis

50–60% · Likely
Black-headed Trogon
LC

Black-headed Trogon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Trogon melanocephalus

50–60% · Likely
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
LC

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes aurifrons

50–60% · Likely
Olive-throated Parakeet
NT

Olive-throated Parakeet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aratinga nana

50–60% · Likely
Roadside Hawk
LC

Roadside Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rupornis magnirostris

40–50% · Likely
White-eyed Vireo
LC

White-eyed Vireo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vireo griseus

40–50% · Likely
Clay-colored Thrush
LC

Clay-colored Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus grayi

40–50% · Likely
Plain Chachalaca
LC

Plain Chachalaca

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ortalis vetula

40–50% · Likely
Black-and-white Warbler
LC

Black-and-white Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mniotilta varia

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Brown Basilisk
LC

Brown Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus vittatus

30–40% · Possible
Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard
LC

Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus chrysostictus

30–40% · Possible
Belize Crocodile
LC

Belize Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus moreletii

30–40% · Possible
Ghost Anole
LC

Ghost Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis lemurinus

30–40% · Possible
Greater Scaly Anole
LC

Greater Scaly Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis tropidonotus

20–30% · Possible
Yucatán Banded Gecko
LC

Yucatán Banded Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Coleonyx elegans

20–30% · Possible
Speckled Racer
LC

Speckled Racer

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Drymobius margaritiferus

20–30% · Possible
Rodriguez's Anole
LC

Rodriguez's Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis rodriguezii

20–30% · Possible
Rainbow Ameiva
LC Endemic

Rainbow Ameiva

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Holcosus undulatus

20–30% · Possible
Black-striped Snake
LC

Black-striped Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Coniophanes imperialis

10–20% · With luck
Common House Gecko
LC Endemic

Common House Gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Hemidactylus frenatus

10–20% · With luck
Rainforest Cat-eyed Snake
LC

Rainforest Cat-eyed Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Leptodeira frenata

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Central American Gulf Coast Toad
LC

Central American Gulf Coast Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Incilius valliceps

30–40% · Possible
Mexican Smilisca
LC

Mexican Smilisca

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Smilisca baudinii

30–40% · Possible
Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

20–30% · Possible
Sheep Frog
LC

Sheep Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Hypopachus variolosus

20–30% · Possible
Yucatán Casque-headed Tree Frog
LC Endemic

Yucatán Casque-headed Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Triprion petasatus

10–20% · With luck
Browns' Frog
LC Endemic

Browns' Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Lithobates brownorum

10–20% · With luck
Mexican Burrowing Toad
LC

Mexican Burrowing Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Rhinophrynus dorsalis

10–20% · With luck
Yellow Treefrog
LC

Yellow Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Dendropsophus microcephalus

10–20% · With luck
Black Jungle-Frog
LC

Black Jungle-Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Leptodactylus melanonotus

10–20% · With luck
Mahogany Tree Frog
LC

Mahogany Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Tlalocohyla loquax

10–20% · With luck
Stauffer's Tree Frog
LC

Stauffer's Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Scinax staufferi

5–10% · With luck
Elegant Narrow-mouthed Toad
LC

Elegant Narrow-mouthed Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Gastrophryne elegans

5–10% · With luck

Animal Events

🐗

Tapirs at the Aguadas

MarAprMay

As the aguadas shrink, Baird's tapir and Morelet's crocodile concentrate on the water that is left.

Baird's Tapir

Baird's Tapir

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Tapirella bairdii

30–40% · Possible
Belize Crocodile
LC

Belize Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus moreletii

30–40% · Possible
🐦

Boreal Migrants Arrive

OctNovDecJanFebMarApr

North American warblers winter in the reserve and forage through the forest around the ruins, absent for the rest of the year.

Black-and-white Warbler
LC

Black-and-white Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mniotilta varia

40–50% · Likely
Magnolia Warbler
LC

Magnolia Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga magnolia

50–60% · Likely
🐸

Frog Chorus in the Rains

JunJulAugSep

Yucatán casque-headed and Mexican treefrogs and Gulf Coast toads call from the flooded low ground.

Mexican Smilisca
LC

Mexican Smilisca

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Smilisca baudinii

30–40% · Possible
Central American Gulf Coast Toad
LC

Central American Gulf Coast Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Incilius valliceps

30–40% · Possible
Yucatán Casque-headed Tree Frog
LC Endemic

Yucatán Casque-headed Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Triprion petasatus

10–20% · With luck

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
Central American Spider Monkey
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Mexican Black Howler Monkey
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
30–40
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
Baird's Tapir
10–20
10–20
20–30
40–50
40–50
10–20
20–30
30–40
20–30
40–50
30–40
20–30
Jaguar
<5
20–30
10–20
10–20
20–30
<5
10–20
20–30
20–30
10–20
10–20
10–20
Brown Jay
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
Keel-billed Toucan
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
40–50
40–50
50–60
30–40
40–50
Magnolia Warbler
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
20–30
5–10
5–10
20–30
20–30
70–80
60–70
70–80
Social Flycatcher
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
Black-headed Trogon
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
80–90
60–70
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
50–60
40–50
Olive-throated Parakeet
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
Roadside Hawk
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
30–40
40–50
30–40
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
White-eyed Vireo
70–80
60–70
60–70
10–20
5–10
5–10
5–10
20–30
20–30
50–60
60–70
60–70
Clay-colored Thrush
60–70
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
40–50
Plain Chachalaca
50–60
40–50
30–40
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
30–40
30–40
50–60
30–40
30–40
Black-and-white Warbler
60–70
50–60
50–60
30–40
10–20
5–10
5–10
20–30
30–40
50–60
40–50
60–70
Animal Events
🐸 Frog Chorus in the Rains
🐗 Tapirs at the Aguadas
🐦 Boreal Migrants Arrive

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🐒 Spider Monkeys Over Maya Temples

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
509
🐒 Mammals
169
🦎 Reptiles
116
🐸 Amphibians
34
828 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
18 Threatened 81 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
54%
📊
Coverage (279 species at ≥5% of 828 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
34%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (10 bird, 2 mammal)
46% Global avg
37%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
164
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
20
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
19

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve?

The most likely sightings are Brown Jay (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Central American Spider Monkey (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers), Keel-billed Toucan (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers), Mexican Black Howler Monkey (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers), Magnolia Warbler (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers) — among 828 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Calakmul Biosphere Reserve for wildlife?

January has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Central American Spider Monkey in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve?

Yes — about 58% of wildlife watchers report a Central American Spider Monkey sighting in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, based on 228 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Mexican Black Howler Monkey in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve?

Yes — about 57% of wildlife watchers report a Mexican Black Howler Monkey sighting in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, based on 216 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Baird's Tapir in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve?

Yes — about 31% of wildlife watchers report a Baird's Tapir sighting in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, based on 66 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Jaguar in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve?

Yes — about 18% of wildlife watchers report a Jaguar sighting in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, based on 10 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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