Important labor of Love
Crocodiles have been hunted and displaced by man for centuries, but they remain one of the most dangerous animals on earth.
They are known to be aggressive, territorial, and very intelligent, with a strong sense of smell and hearing, which makes them extremely difficult to capture.
American Crocodiles are close to being endangered due to habitat loss and hunting for their skins.
Coexisting between people and nature is not an easily achieved thing.
It usually leads to a harsh confrontation that threatens the balance of the ecosystem and causes the extinction of several species and the degradation of the local flora and wildlife.
Being a tropical paradise, the Banderas Bay region doesn’t escape this reality.
With growing and expanding urbanization, dangerous encounters between people and local wildlife are becoming more and more frequent, especially with intoxicated tourists walking on the beach at night.
The region has no more significant threat than the river crocodile (Crocodylus Acutus), a local species often found in recreational areas in foreign destinations such as resorts, golf clubs, and spas.
There are, however, heroes who step in to protect these voiceless victims of human activity and allow the creation of preservation spaces to promote healthy coexistence and educate the general public about the importance of various species and how to protect them.
The “El Cora” sanctuary was created to protect these creatures, and it has become a place where tourists can enjoy the beauty of the surroundings while learning.
The Sanctuary
It is intended to promote the conservation of endemic species of the Nuevo Vallarta estuary area.
The sanctuary is an authorized Environmental Management arm of the Mexican Government (Semarnat) that deals with species protection, wildlife preservation, and environmental education.
This natural area has been renovated to provide new experiences and amenities for its residents and tourists.
El Cora crocodile sanctuary is an excellent place for families with children between the ages of 4 and 12.
The visit and tour are perfect for the little ones as they are educational and interactive and instill the importance of caring for species and their ecosystem.
Where is it?
Located in Banderas Bay, nested between the lagoons of La Cortada, El Quelele, and La Vejiga.
About 160 yards south of the Flamingos Golf Club entrance right on the Mexico 200Highway.
You can’t miss the flamingo golf course. you will see a big white golf ball sitting atop a green tee on a dirt track off Highway 200 between Tepic and Puerto Vallarta.
Drive about 200 meters past the golf ball of Flamingos, and you will see a small dirt road. Next to it, you will see a sign with a crocodile drawn on it, be careful not to miss the entrance because it is a bit hidden.
Drive about 2 km down an unpaved country dirt track to reach the sanctuary’s entrance.
Fees and Tours
The entrance fee to this beautiful protected habitat is a donation of 250 Mexican pesos per person for a Tour.
Children under the age of twelve pay $150 (MXN). you can also choose to access without a tour for 150 Adults and 100 for kids.
They also offer 50% discounts for locals with official IDs.
We recommend you take a guided tour since the sanctuary depends and operates exclusively on Donations, entrance fees, and souvenirs sold to Visitors.
There are guided tours for groups of up to 20 people starting every 20 minutes. the duration of the tour can vary from 1.5 to 2 hours long
The tours are led by crocodile biology and veterinary medicine specialists, so you’ll be allowed to interact with crocodilians. If you are lucky enough, you might even get to feed them.
Animals on Display
At El Cora Sanctuary, visitors can see various wild and domestic animal species, including Mexican Raccoons, Coatis, turtles, One Tapir, Parrots, Geese, and other Birds.
There are currently eight crocodiles at the El Cora Sanctuary.
they include Bebé, who’s about 45 to 50 years old and about 13 ft (4m) long, and Alex, who is just one and a half years old and about 14″ (35 cms) long.
Alex is the son of Bebé and is one of the crocodiles that the sanctuary hopes to release into the wild once he’s fully grown.
There’s also Esperanza, who was rescued approximately four years ago. Esperanza is about a hundred kilos and 40 Years old.
She was rescued from the beaches of Nuevo Vallarta, and when she was found, biologists who checked her discovered she had been hit on the head.
Once the swelling diminished, they found out she was left completely blind.
Although Esperanza can’t see, she’s happy and safe inside her private enclosure, which has a nice pool for her to enjoy.
Due to her condition, she is one of the crocodiles that cannot be released back into nature. Therefore, she will spend the rest of her life in the sanctuary.
Finally, you will meet Gaspar, who is their most recent rescue. Gaspar was found in Boca de Tomates Beach, south of Puerto Vallarta, and was taken to el Cora by SEMARNAT elements.
Gaspar weighs a whopping 500 kilograms and is almost 4 meters long. (14 ft.)
Crocodiles can also be seen in the wild in the lagoon near the sanctuary.
Book your tickets well in advance if you want to visit El Cora during the high season. They have limited capacity, so it’s best to book early.
We visited the sanctuary, and we were able to see all the animals.
It was amazing to see how much work these guys do.
Hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday.
For more information:
Email elcora.cocodrilario@gmail.com – Visit https://www.facebook.com/cocodrilarioelcora/
Or contact us directly, and we will arrange a guided tour for you!
