Los Petenes Mangrove Boardwalk at Tankuche

The boardwalk begins in the village of Tankuche, reached by colectivo van from Calkini in about 30 minutes or by car roughly 90 minutes north of Campeche city via Federal Highway 180 and Calkini; the community turismo committee at Tankuche opens the site daily and collects a modest access fee, with local guides available for an added charge. The route combines 3-5 km of raised timber boardwalk with levee paths running out into the reed beds of the Los Petenes Biosphere Reserve, at sea level throughout with no elevation change. The boardwalk surface is dry and stable, while the connecting levee sections can be muddy or wet depending on the season, and there is little to no shade once away from the petenes themselves, the island-like stands of tall forest that give the reserve its name and rise unexpectedly out of the surrounding marsh. Landmarks along the route are the petenes stands and the open salt pans, where white ibis, roseate spoonbills, and wood storks feed year-round and flamingos arrive in winter; the far levee paths, where the marsh opens out most fully, make a natural turn-around point. There is no shelter or water source beyond the village at the start, so exposure to sun and insects should be planned for accordingly. The freshwater springs that create the petenes make this one of the more unusual wetland walks on the Yucatan Peninsula, combining mangrove, marsh, and forest habitats within a single short route.