REVILLAGIGEDO ISLANDS 🇲🇽 MEXICO PACIFIC
Revillagigedo Islands | SOCORRO ISLAND 🇲🇽 MEXICO PACIFIC
Archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 235 nm SSW of the tip of the Baja California peninsula and 300 nm WSW of Cape Corrientes off Mexico's Pacific Coast. The islands are administered by Colima state, Mexico. Covering an area of 320 square miles the archipelago consists of numerous volcanic islands.
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The largest, Socorro, which rises to an elevation of 3,707 feet (1,130 m), is 24 miles (39 km) long and 9 miles (14 km) wide. San Benedicto, 40 miles (64 km) north of Socorro, and Clarión, 250 miles (400 km) west of Socorro, are the two other large islands; small islands include Roca Partida, 60 miles (100 km) west of Socorro, and Roca Oneal, just off the northwestern coast of Socorro.
In 1957 an outpost was established on long-uninhabited Socorro, and trees were planted for timber and fruit. The expedition found about 8,000 sheep on the island, the residue of a temporary Australian settlement of the mid-1800s. The Revillagigedo Islands are rich in sulfur, fish, and guano.
In July 2016, the Revillagigedo Archipelago was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in November 2017 they were declared to be a marine reserve and a national park of Mexico. Some of the volcanoes are active, with the last eruption of Volcán Bárcena in 1953, and Socorro in 1993. A small military airstrip exists on Socorro.
No evidence of human habitation on any of the islands exists before their discovery by Spanish explorers. Hernando de Grijalva and his crew discovered an uninhabited island on 19 December 1533, and named it Santo Tomás (Socorro Island) and on 28 December they discovered Isla de los Inocentes (San Benedicto) which owed its name to having been found on the day of the Holy Innocents.
In November 1542, Ruy López de Villalobos, while exploring new routes across the Pacific, rediscovered Inocentes and Santo Tomás and charted the latter as Anublada ("Cloudy"). Villalobos was the first to report sighting of Roca Partida Island giving it its present-day name. In 1608, Martín Yánez de Armida, in charge of another expedition, visited Anublada and changed its name to Socorro. In 1779 José Camacho was the first to report sighting of the island remaining, that he charted as Santa Rosa ("Saint Rose"). Santa Rosa was later renamed Clarion after the vessel commanded by Henry Gyzelaar at that time.
They offer divers reliable encounters with giant manta rays, whale sharks, dolphins, humpback whales, tuna, pelagic fish and many other shark species.
The Revillagigedo Islands are home to many endemic plant and animal species, and are sometimes called Mexico's "little Hawaii". They are recognized as a distinct terrestrial ecoregion, part of the Neotropical realm. Socorro is the most diverse in flora, fauna, and topography. The Mexican Government established the islands as a Biosphere Reserve on June 4, 1994. Oceanographic Magazine stated in 2020 that, "Its remoteness, protection and peculiar oceanography makes it one of the most biodiverse and exciting marine destinations on earth."
Apart from the native birds, migrant shorebirds and others are often found on the islands. Bahia Azufre (Sulfur Bay) on Clarión seems to be a favorite stopover location, as it is one of the few longer stretches of beach in the islands; mostly, the shoreline is steep cliffs. The archipelago is also a part of wintering grounds for humpback whales in the North Pacific.
Las Grutas Cacahuamilpa 🇲🇽 Guerrero, MEXICO
Las Grutas Cacahuamilpa 🇲🇽 Guerrero, MEXICO
16°51.0616' N 099°48.495' W
The Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park in Guerrero, Mexico, is best known for the Grutas de Cacahuamilpa Caverns, which are one of the largest cave systems in the world. It is also home to the Grutas of Carlos Pacheco, a smaller system, as well as two subterranean rivers which have carved out tunnels in the rock. The park has outdoor pursuit attractions such as rappelling, and rock climbing in Limontitla Canyon as well as the two underground rivers to explore. It also has a small botanical garden, a pool and places to camp. It's near Taxco.
The site is located in the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains in the northeast part of Guerrero state. This section of the Sierra Madre del Sur is made of rock, mostly limestone, which formed under oceans millions of years ago. The caverns extend through the municipalities of Pilcaya, Tetipac and Taxco of Guerrero state over 2,700 hectares of land located southwest of Mexico City, near the silversmithing town of Taxco.
Cacahuamilpa is one of the largest cave systems in the world. A "live" cave system as groundwater still filters down into it, and that the formations there are still growing. Inside the cavern system are ninety large "salons" separated by large natural rock walls and connected to one another via a central gallery. Only about twenty of these are fully explored and open to the public. Most of these salons are located under the Cerro de la Corona, a limestone mountain ridge.
These salons average about forty meters wide, and vary in height from twenty to 81 meters. Most have names which reflect the major formations found in them such as the Goat Salon, the Throne Salon and the Cathedral Salon. All the openings numerous rock formations growing from both the ceiling and the floor. One of the drier salons has been dubbed the “Auditorium”. It has a large flat floor and has been outfitted with seats.
LOCATION
Visiting Las Grutas de Cacahuamilpa, one of the largest cave systems in the world located in the state of Guerrero, Mexico, can be a thrilling and educational experience. Here are some tips to help you plan your visit:
Planning Your Visit
- Best Time to Visit:
- The caves are open year-round, but the best time to visit is during the dry season (November to April) when the weather is more pleasant and the roads are in better condition.
- Getting There:
- By Car: Las Grutas de Cacahuamilpa is about 2 hours from Mexico City. You can take the Autopista del Sol (Highway 95) towards Cuernavaca and then follow the signs to the caves.
- By Bus: Buses run from Mexico City’s southern bus terminal (Terminal de Autobuses del Sur) to Taxco or directly to the caves. From Taxco, you can take a local bus or taxi to the caves.
- Entrance Fees:
- There is an entrance fee to visit the caves. The fee typically includes a guided tour. Check the official website or local tourism offices for the most up-to-date prices.
What to Bring
- Comfortable Shoes: The tour involves a lot of walking on uneven terrain.
- Light Jacket: The temperature inside the caves is cooler than outside.
- Water: Stay hydrated, but note that food and drinks are usually not allowed inside the caves.
- Camera: Photography is allowed, but flash photography may be restricted to preserve the cave's natural environment.
During Your Visit
- Guided Tour:
- Most visits are conducted as guided tours, which last about 2 hours. The guides are knowledgeable and can provide interesting information about the history and geology of the caves.
- Highlights to See:
- Stalactites and Stalagmites: These impressive formations are a major draw.
- The Salon del Luchador: A chamber named for its rock formations that resemble a wrestler.
- The Cathedral: A vast chamber often used for concerts due to its excellent acoustics.
- Safety Tips:
- Stay with your group during the tour.
- Watch your step as the ground can be slippery.
- Follow the guide's instructions at all times.
Nearby Attractions
- Taxco: The nearby town of Taxco is famous for its silver jewelry and colonial architecture. It’s worth spending a day exploring this charming town.
- Parque Nacional Grutas de Cacahuamilpa: The surrounding national park offers hiking trails and picnic areas for a day out in nature.
By planning ahead and knowing what to expect, you can make the most of your visit to Las Grutas de Cacahuamilpa and enjoy this natural wonder to its fullest