El Cielo Biosphere Reserve

If you are a nature's lover and would like to spend some days in a peaceful way and enjoying at one of the most beautiful ecological reserves of our continent, we invite you to visit the El Cielo Biosphere Reserve. Located at the southwestern part of the State of Tamaulipas, at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range (a.k.a. Sierra de Cucharas) on the municipalities of Gómez Farías (15%), Jaumave (56%), Llera (12%) and Ocampo (16%) having a total area of 144,540 has. with two nucleus zones and one of cushion. In 1985 the Biosphere Reserve was officially named by the Government of the State of Tamaulipas and accepted by the UNESCO in October 1987 as part of the International Network of Mab UNESCO.

 

This reserve has four types of vegetation as follows: Tropical forest (200 to 800   masl), where the trees reach heights of 20 meters (average 12 m); mesophilic mountain forest (700 to 1400 masl); quercus forest, locally called encinar (700 to 1000 masl) and coniferal forest (above 1000 masl) with vegetation typical to de species of each ecosystem, such as oak, cedar, orchids, acacias, magnolias and cactus.

There are at least three different weather climates inside the reserve, in an altitude between 300 and 800 masl there is a warm sub-humid climate. The average temperature of the coldest month is higher than 18°C. Between 700 and 1400 masl   elevation you will find the highest portion of the mesophilic forest, where there is a weather semi-warm with an average temperature of the coldest month between 15°C and 18°C. At 1400 masl, the predominant weather is sub-humid with an average temperature between 11 and 15°C.

As a result of the diverse vegetation of the region, the fauna is also represented in a mixture of neartic and neotropical species, 225 species of residents fouls have been identified and more than 175 species of the migratory type that arrive annually at the site: 23 rodent species, 60 reptile and 21 different amphibians have also been identified. In addition, 40 species of bats, wild cats like the jaguar, wildcat, ocelots, the jaguarundi, cougars and "tigrillos". Also present are the tamazates (red deer), white tail deer, the coyote, gray fox, black bear and other mammals of lesser size like the raccoons, the "tlacuache", the coati, weasels and three species of skunks among others.

 

How to get there:

The best way to reach the reserve for those visiting the magical south of the State of Tamaulipas is taking the Federal Highway 85 from Cd. Mante to Cd. Victoria. After driving for approximately 35 Km, take a detour on the left to Gómez Farías where you will drive 11 Km on the State Highway until reaching the town center.