Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve

Leaving this sleepy little fishing town to hit up parts of this 123,500-acre reserve, Parque National Ría Lagartos where, arguably, many of the world's flamingos come to hatch their chicks after mating 140 miles southwest along the Yucatán peninsula in Celestún.

This is where I met Nancy, Sergio and their three kids, from Mexico City, D.F. We not only shared a boat trip, lowering the cost drastically, they later gave me a ride back to Tizimin, saving me even more duckets!