Monterrico Natural Reserve, as this area is called, has a total surface of 2,800 hectares and is located in the department of Santa Rosa. This area is limited by the Oliveros River, the Chiquimulilla Canal, and the La Palmilla Laguneta, at a distance of 17 kilometers south from Taxisco and 125 kilometers from Guatemala city.
This territory was constituted as a reserve zone for the special protection of fauna, flora and natural ecosystem on December 16, 1977. In Guatemala, protected areas are places dedicated to the conservation of flora and fauna, including spaces for the protection of the natural environment, historical, archaeological and recreational sites.
The flora of this protected area is considered a wet forest, which is one of the most diverse ecosystems due to the number of plant species it harbors. The type of vegetation typical of this reserve is mainly made up of aquatic and floating plants.
Monterrico Natural Reserve has a system of channels and coastal lagoons that make up the Chiquimulilla channel. This is an ecosystem known as estuarine, since it has its own characteristics defined by the dynamics of the tides, with the mixture of salt water and fresh water. Within the Natural Reserve of Monterrico are located 5 villages called El Pumpo, La Avellana, La Curvina, Agua Dulce and Monterrico.
In this area, there are more than 110 resident and migratory bird species. In addition, this protected area has an important zone of the mangrove ecosystems of the Guatemalan Pacific because it shelters migratory animal species.
Monterrico Beach is also part of this reserve. In fact, it is one of the most important sites for nesting sea turtles and at the same time, it is habitat for a large number of animal species that inhabit the coast of the South Coast. There are many events where tourists, along with the local people, free the turtles into the sea.
But visit the swampy area is the best event one can think of: go well before dawn and enjoy the wildlife so close to the sandy beaches and hotel terraces and pools. This will give you insight into how nature is really fragile and how local people that live within boundaries of the reserve have to be careful and live with this ecosystem.
