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Banco Chinchorro
The largest atoll in the Northern Hemisphere, and the place of the crocodiles
It's the largest atoll in the Northern Hemisphere, and there's no one there. In its mangrove lagoons, you can get into the water with American crocodiles: an activity that exists in very few places in the world, and isn't for everyone.
In this guide you'll find out what this atoll is and why it's so little visited, how the crocodile activity works and under what protocol, what wrecks and reefs it has, when to go, and what the destination demands.
It's a biosphere reserve with reefs under almost no tourist pressure, and one of the few places on the planet where controlled in-water interaction with the American crocodile is documented.
Geography and access
Banco Chinchorro is a Mexican atoll in the Caribbean, off the southern coast of Quintana Roo, about thirty kilometers from shore.
It's the largest atoll in the Northern Hemisphere: a reef ring dozens of kilometers long enclosing a shallow lagoon, with a few sand and mangrove cays.
The cays have no permanent population beyond a lookout post and a few fishermen's huts on stilts.
In the mangrove lagoons of those cays lives a population of American crocodiles habituated to human presence. The in-water interaction is done snorkeling or freediving, in about one meter of water, and under a strict protocol.
The outer ring of the atoll concentrates wrecks from different centuries: the reef barrier has been sinking ships since colonial times.
Access is by boat from the southern coast, with a crossing of about two hours subject to sea conditions, and it requires a permit from the reserve.
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