One of the best spots for birdwatching in Mexico, this pristine wildlife preserve north of Isla Mujeres is riddled with mangroves, lagoons, coral, and beaches where flocks of pelicans, frigates, double-crested cormorants, and boobies (among dozens of other species) gravitate. Also frequented by nesting sea turtles, the reserve is only open to 200 visitors daily. Ask your hotel concierge to recommend a tour company. Most boat tours leave from Isla Mujeres north of Cancun. Many scuba and snorkel operators also run tours to the surrounding waters, where 18- to 25-foot-long whale sharks migrate every summer. –Kim Grant

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