Pantanos de Centla

The Pantanos de Centla, literally the Centla Marshes, is a giant wetland and wildlife reserve in Tabasco. Officially, a biosphere reserve, the place is open to visitors and explorers at a few points that don't require professional credentials. (Obviously, the place is also an important area for scientific research, too.)

But as the sanctuary covers some 300,000 hectares, it is easily far bigger than states like Morelos or Tlaxcala. Nine out of ten visitors will come south from Frontera, to the first visitors center on the road to Jonuta. And that makes it convenient. But experienced visitors will go a little further to the Tres Brazos Visitors Entrance, on the same road. It is a magnificent day trip but it is also a living museum of aquatic plants, wildlife, and breathtaking scenery. The Tres Brazos entrance is still only about a 20-minute drive from Frontera and is usually less crowded. 

The swamps make up the delta of the giant Grijalva, Usumacinta, and San Pedro rivers. Here they make a complex freshwater network that feeds lagoons, streams, and estuaries before finally emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. More die-hard visitors will come for sport fishing, bird watching, and boat rides that connect from well inside the swamps.

The Tres Brazos Observation Tower starts to give you an idea of the sheer scale of this majestic landscape. More than 255 species of birds are regular visitors or permanent residents. White ibis, cormorants, giant herons, and osprey are just the biggest. The marshes regulate flooding, recharge aquifers, control erosion, and protect against storms. Overall, the ecosystem gives life  and protects it.

For those traveling from Villahermosa, many buses will connect you with a tour service from the bus station in Frontera. There are also frequent tour groups departing from Frontera which can connect you with boat and other modes of transit within the biosphere.