Landmark· Banco Chinchorro· Mexico
Cayo Centro (Banco Chinchorro)
18° 35.0′ N · 87° 20.0′ W · approximate
The largest cay of the atoll, a 537 ha mangrove island ringed by fishermen's stilt houses, with a CONANP field station, a frigatebird colony and the atoll's crocodiles.
Practical
Coordinate is approximate: the reserve's central coordinates (18 35'N, 87 20'W) published by GECI, near which Cayo Centro lies - not a surveyed position. Fishermen from Majahual, Xcalak and Chetumal work lobster and conch from here, living in palafitos 60-100 m offshore (Wikipedia); in fishing season up to 100 people (WWF). Licensed dive trips (XTC) include a walking tour of Cayo Centro and the fish camp during the surface interval. Its inner lagoon 'Los Rabios' hosts nesting frigatebirds November-May (México Desconocido). Mostly red-mangrove fringe with a narrow sandy beach at the south-east tip.
Best for
Fish-camp and wildlife visit on a licensed trip
Nearby
- Chinchorro American CrocodilesRight here
- Frigatebird Nesting at Cayo CentroRight here
- Cayo Centro Fish-Camp Walk (Banco Chinchorro)0.7 NM away
- Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve0.8 NM away
- Chinchorro Wrecks (40 Cannons)0.8 NM away
- Lobster and Conch Closed Seasons (Banco Chinchorro)0.8 NM away
- Cayo Centro Anchorage (Banco Chinchorro)0.9 NM away
- Cayo Norte Anchorage (Banco Chinchorro)10.1 NM away