ECOTOURISM
In
the surrounding areas of Guadalajara you can live the
intense and unbeatable experience of ecotourism
as you visit vast reserves with various flora and fauna while observing the spectacular natural wonders that make
up part of the Mexican Bajio
region.
Parque Barranca de Oblatos-Huentitan ? Located on the
northern edge of the metropolitan
area in Huentitan off the
Guadalajara-Zacatecas-Saltillo Highway 54. Trekking enthusiasts often visit this
park, where they can enjoy the splendid landscape
of a 500-meter-deep canyon. The Rio
Santiago (Santiago River) and
its tributary, the Rio Verde (Green River), run
through the canyon. The park
also has a sanctuary for the protection
of wildlife. The 40-hectare (98-acre) refuge has 360 animal species.
Bosque La Primavera ? Located in the Primavera Sierra, 20 km (12 mi) west
of Guadalajara along the Guadalajara-Tepic Highway. It is considered
the most important national park in the metropolitan
area and is often referred
to as the city?s lungs. It
has a territorial extension of
36,229 hectares (89,485 acres), which is dotted
with pines and Encino oaks. Inside the
park you can see what was
once the Colli Volcano. In this wooded area you
can observe a wide array of flora and fauna, including more than 1,000 indigenous plant and tree species,
such as pine and Encino oak trees, orchids
and numerous types of mushrooms.
It is also
home to 106 terrestrial animal species and 137 bird varieties,
including the white-tailed deer,
pumas, coyotes, the calandra lark
and owls, among others.
Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra de
Manantlan
? Located 202 km (125 mi) northwest
of Guadalajara on Highway 80. This biosphere reserve is one of Jalisco?s
main protected areas and covers
about 139,500 hectares
(344,565 acres)
of forest dotted with Encino oaks and pine trees.
You can also find interesting varieties of caudicifolia,
such as ferns, as well as mammal, reptile and bird
species.
