San Miguel-La Palotada Biotope Biotopo San Miguel-La Palotada

The San Miguel La Palotada Biotope is mainly a dense old-growth forest containing unique habitats and ecosystems.

The Palmar Lagoon and other swampy sections are a sanctuary for many bird and reptile species as well as for the tapir and other large mammals.

The bat colonies in the caves in the central area of the San Miguel-La Palotada Biotope provide a unique show at dusk when bats by the thousand depart as one to begin their nightly activities. This phenomenon gave the area its name: Zotz, which means bat in the majority of Mayan languages.