Did you know that crocodiles are a species that have lived in Puerto Vallarta for thousands of years? In fact, they inhabited the area long before people lived in the area. While Puerto Vallarta used to be a quaint fishing village, it converted itself into one of the country’s top tourist destinations about half a century ago when it became known as a place to visit if you wanted a beach vacation in paradise. These days, PV is growing each day with tons of new developments being built around town and in areas that were formerly uninhabited by humans. There, many species of wildlife including crocodiles have lived. Today, although crocodiles do live in Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, there are limited reports of crocodile attacks on humans. Keep reading below to learn if crocodiles are a problem in Puerto Vallarta.
Are Crocodiles a Problem in Puerto Vallarta?
In general, the truth is that crocodiles rarely attack humans. However, crocodiles are very interested in four legged mammals such as dogs and there have been incidents where unattended pets were taken by the large prehistoric-like reptiles. In general, crocodiles are seasonal visitors to the area, and appear in the largest numbers during the spring and summer months. Due to construction near the Ameca River, many crocodiles have found their way into the oceans from time to time in recent months. In addition, crocodiles have been spotted where the River Cuale empties right into the ocean in the center of Old Town Puerto Vallarta. Although no incidents have occurred, people do swim in the ocean frequently. In fact, the only incidents where crocodiles attacked humans occurred at night when people were swimming in the dark. To stay on the safe side, avoid swimming in the ocean after dark.
How Common are Crocodiles in Puerto Vallarta?
While very few incidents have been reported in Puerto Vallarta over the decades, any sighting of a crocodile seems to gain a lot of attention, even if it’s only a crocodile crossing the road or swimming between yachts in the marina. In Puerto Vallarta, the most common species of crocodile is the American Crocodile. Due to a change in their habitat from construction and the rainy season rains, crocodiles have begun to move out of estuaries and rivers into the sea. As they do, they end up crossing beaches and swimming closer to the shore. In the Boca de Tomates area, crocodiles are regularly seen coming out of the Boca Negra estuary and swimming on the beach, so it’s important not to swim in those areas, especially at night. When crocodiles have been spotted swimming, authorities display a purple flag that indicates their presence.
Although crocodiles have inhabited the Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay area for thousands of years, there have been more recent challenges due to the increase in population in PV and the large incrementation of developments that disrupt the natural habitat of the crocodiles. In general, it’s easy to stay safe from crocodiles in PV as long as you stay aware, and avoid swimming in the ocean at night. Although crocodiles are seen pretty frequently in the area, they tend to be concentrated in 2 different areas in the bay including the Estero El Salado, a local mangrove natural reserve, and El Cora Crocodile Sanctuary. If you spot a crocodile on land, it is important to be 10 meters away from them. If you see a crocodile in the ocean, leave the water right away. Together, humans and wildlife including reptiles like crocodiles can live in peace when the proper precautions and common sense is used.
About Lemuria Real Estate
Ideally situated on Puerto Vallarta’s exclusive South Shore, Lemuria Residences is a new luxury condominium complex that belongs to a Master planned community designed by the prestigious Gensler Global Architecture firm. The ecologically planned themed property includes more than 1700 acres of preserved Sierra Madre jungle with stunning views of the mountains and Banderas Bay. The outstanding onsite amenities include multiple pools, BBQ areas, restaurants, a 2000 square meter spa, Sports Club, gym, tennis courts, pickleball courts, organic herb garden, and yoga spaces. There are also freshwater rivers and private hiking trails located nearby so it’s the ideal place to invest if you want to be close to nature. Contact Lemuria Residences today to learn more about our luxury beachfront condominiums for sale in Puerto Vallarta.