Mexico's biggest jaguar stronghold
The Third National Jaguar Census, covering data through 2024, was coordinated by Mexico's National Alliance for Jaguar Conservation with the protected-areas commission (CONANP), 49 researchers, local communities and academics. It places 1,699 jaguars on the Yucatán Peninsula, the largest regional population in the country.
Nationwide, the census counted 5,326 jaguars, up from 4,800 in 2018 and 4,100 in 2010, an upward trend that's good news for the species.
Where they live
Jaguars need large stretches of connected forest with water and prey. On the peninsula those conditions survive mainly in the southern and eastern forests and in protected areas. At the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, for example, CONANP records jaguars, ocelots and margays.
Why you'll rarely see one
The jaguar is solitary, mostly active at night and around dusk, and avoids people. Researchers study it with camera traps, not direct sightings. That's why no tour can promise a jaguar: if one ever crosses your path, consider it extraordinary luck.
What threatens them
- Habitat loss from deforestation and land-use change.
- Illegal trafficking of skins, claws and fangs, including on online platforms.
- Logging and poaching inside protected areas.
- Collisions on highways and railways.
Buying souvenirs made from jaguar parts fuels that trade, so always avoid them.
The jaguar in Maya culture
The jaguar holds an important place in Maya art. At Chichén Itzá, for example, one of the structures you visit is the Platform of the Jaguars and Eagles. Seeing it carved in stone is, for most travelers, the most realistic way to "meet" one.
From Mérida
On Mary Tours' Chichén Itzá trips, the guided walk passes the Platform of the Jaguars and Eagles. The Las Coloradas and Río Lagartos trip explores a reserve where jaguars live, though seeing one is very unlikely. The office is on Calle 61 in Mérida's historic center; see prices in the booking section.
| Year | Estimated jaguars |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 4,100 |
| 2018 | 4,800 |
| 2024 | 5,326 |
| 2024, Yucatán Peninsula | 1,699 |
Fun facts
- The Yucatán Peninsula holds roughly a third of Mexico's jaguars.
- Jaguar censuses rely on camera traps.
- Chichén Itzá has a platform dedicated to jaguars and eagles.
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from $1,400 MXN per person
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7:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 7:00 AM Departure from the office — Almost three hours to the north coast, with a stop halfway.
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- 11:00 AM Cancunito beach — A rustic beach inside the reserve, calm water and hardly anyone around.
- 12:30 PM Boat ride through the estuary — Channels through the mangroves, flamingo watching areas, crocodiles in their habitat and the mineral mud bath.
- 2:15 PM Lunch in Río Lagartos — Fresh fish, ceviche, octopus or tikin xic on the waterfront of the fishing village.
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Frequently asked questions
How many jaguars live on the Yucatán Peninsula?
1,699, according to the Third National Jaguar Census (2024).
Can I see a jaguar on a tour?
It's very unlikely. They're elusive and nocturnal, and are studied with camera traps.
Is the jaguar population growing?
Nationally, censuses show an increase: from 4,100 in 2010 to 5,326 in 2024.
What threatens jaguars?
Habitat loss, trafficking in their body parts, poaching and road collisions.
