Are there rainforests or cloud forests in Mexico?

There are rain forests and cloud forests in Mexico along with tropical dry forests, subtropical dry forests, temperate forests, and jungles. About one-third of Mexico is covered with forests.

 

 

 

The rain forests are classified based on the amount of rain received in a year.  It must be at least 200 cm (about 75 inches).  They can be either tropical or temperate.  The temperate forests can have a distinct dry season while the...

There are rain forests and cloud forests in Mexico along with tropical dry forests, subtropical dry forests, temperate forests, and jungles. About one-third of Mexico is covered with forests.

 

 

 

The rain forests are classified based on the amount of rain received in a year.  It must be at least 200 cm (about 75 inches).  They can be either tropical or temperate.  The temperate forests can have a distinct dry season while the tropical forests receive rain on a steady basis throughout the year.

 

 

 

The tropical rain forests are found from Guatemala north along the Atlantic and Caribbean coast and also along the Pacific coast.  There are about 24 Mexican states that contain rainforest. Some parts of the rainforest are actually jungle.  The Lacandon Jungle is in Chiapas and the Yucatan and there is also some jungle near Puerto Vallarta. The Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve in Chiapas includes much of this jungle and is one of the best locations in Mexico to observe nature.

 

 

 

Cloud forests are found in 20 states and some of the best are in Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Tamaulipas.  The Reserva de la Biosfera El Cielo in Tamaulipas protects the northernmost part of the tropical and cloud forest.

 

 

 

The rain and cloud forests are enchanted places filled with brilliant color.  You will see marvelous plants, birds, and butterflies. If you are really lucky you may see some of the animals – maybe even a jaguar. If you look closely in the last photo you can see an Iguana in the lush vegetation of Puerto Vallarta.

 

(The photos are from Veracruz.  The structure is the Casa de Cortes, in Antigua, Veracruz.  The Iguana is from Puerto Vallarta.)

 

 

 

 

There are rainforests and cloud forests in Mexico, especially in the southern part of the country. Chiapas is the best location to see cloud forests. There are also rainforests in the state of Jalisco.
 
From Lake Chapala (about 40 miles south of Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco) towards the coast to the west and south, you would be amazed to find a tropical rainforest where you can find animals like the jaguar, which is one of the remarkable animal species found in Mexico.
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There are rainforests and cloud forests in Mexico, especially in the southern part of the country. Chiapas is the best location to see cloud forests. There are also rainforests in the state of Jalisco.
 
From Lake Chapala (about 40 miles south of Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco) towards the coast to the west and south, you would be amazed to find a tropical rainforest where you can find animals like the jaguar, which is one of the remarkable animal species found in Mexico.
 
A cloud forest is also a rainforest, but not all rainforests are cloud forests. A cloud forest is located at a higher altitude where you have clouds that come into the forest. Cloud forests in Mexico can be found in certain mountain peaks.
 
A lot of people from the United States think of Mexico in terms of border towns that are dusty and deserts or vacation places on the beach like Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta. Americans don't realize that a very good portion of Mexico is in the Highlands and that the majority of the land area of Mexico is highland area. Mexico offers many other options other than deserts and beaches.

 

There is a poor conception of what Mexico is, especially for Americans crossing the border such as people from San Diego, California, who want to have a Mexican experience and cross over to Tijuana. Tijuana is a border town and like many other border towns is dry and not well designed. There is a big difference comparing how these Mexican border towns have developed compared to the border towns in the US.