It is impossible to visit the Mexican Caribbean and not to fall in love with the majestic flora and fauna. The diversity is immense and often is possible to appreciate wild animals in their natural habitat if we are lucky enough. The bad side of the story is that not everyone respect the freedom and welfare of these incredible creatures. The illegal traffic of animals that are native of this region and also other parts of the world, is more common than we think. Therefore the organizations in charge of their protection have to work twice as hard to ensure they are not damaged or threatened in any way. Akumal Monkey Sanctuary is the home of many animals that have been rescued in the area, and that were injured or neglected. An amazing place to visit, a great way to learn about local fauna and a beautiful project to support wild life.
Giving Shelter To Local And International Fauna
The goal will always be to help animals become self-sufficient in the jungle, to rehabilitate them and set them free. With the animal reintroduction to their original habitats they can have more space to treat injured animals or receive more animals who are in need of care and shelter. Some resorts in Riviera Maya donate vegetables and fruits to feed the animals and the sanctuary (thanks to donations) is able to have specialist to treat and rehabilitate the animals. Monkeys are not the only ones sheltered, at the Akumal Monkey Sanctuary you can find macaws, zebras, giraffes, ostriches and other confiscated animals that were brought here by the PROFEPA who is the organization in charge of animal protection in Mexico. The majority of these animals were hurt, injured, mistreated or are simply disabled, and cannot be released into the wild. For the rest of the animals there is a process to heal them and put them back into their natural habitats as soon as they are recovered.
Different Ways To Help The Sanctuary
If you are unable to donate you can visit the sanctuary and interact with the animals. This way you are supporting directly their recovery, food and proper care. The visit includes the story of each animal so you can understand their journey. Interaction with the monkeys, donkeys and goats is possible and it takes around an hour to see all the animals. If you prefer something more adventurous at the other side of the sanctuary there is a designated area in the jungle with a wonderful cenote and ATV jungle ride. You can also request the mix of both activities which is perfect if you have kids and/or teenagers in your group. The last option would be to spread the word, if you cannot visit the sanctuary you can recommend family and friends to do it. This is also a great way to support the sanctuary and their wonderful cause.
Get Involved And Arrange Your Visit
Akumal Monkey Sanctuary is open all year long; Monday to Saturday from 9:00am to 4:00pm and Sunday from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Walk-ins are welcome but to guarantee you will have a guide and availability at the moment of your arrival it is best to make a reservation in advance. Transportation from your vacation home is not included in the rate for the visit to the sanctuary but we can definitely help you with that if you send us an email. The guided visits are offered every hour and the last one is at 4:00pm. For the ATV jungle ride the minimum age for a copilot is 6 years old and to drive an ATV is 16 years old. Kids under 5 years old are free of charge when visiting the sanctuary. The guides are ready to welcome families who speak Italian, French, German, English and Spanish. The Akumal Monkey Sanctuary is easy to locate but it´s not within walking distance from the freeway, so we highly recommend you to contact us and make arrangements in advance to visit this amazing place.
Visit The Akumal Monkey Sanctuary
Contact us for information and details to book your visit to the Akumal Monkey Sanctuary Ahead of time.