A bird's paradise

Clear across the Yucatán Peninsula from Caribbean resorts like Cancún, you'll find the town of Celestún set along the shallow Gulf of Mexico. As with the opposite coast's tourist hotspots, you'll meet many colorful types here. Flocks of snowbirds, the occasional year-rounder. But we're not talking about hard-partying vacationers: During winter, these warm, mangrove-bounded waters host not only flamingos but also herons, pelicans, and many other migratory birds. In all, more than 300 bird species make the Ría Celestun Biosphere Reserve home at least part of the year.