Diego A. Núñez Martínez – is a native of Río Lagartos, Yucatán, and a long-time naturalist, birding guide, and conservation-oriented ecotourism professional & a Founder of Rio Lagartos Adventures Team with Birding Yucatan , he promotes small-scale, private experiences designed to support local communities while contributing to the long-term protection of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve.
His guiding Team approach emphasizes ethical wildlife viewing, quiet observation, and habitat respect, particularly in sensitive flamingo breeding areas and migratory bird habitats.
Diego is known among visitors and colleagues for his professionalism, reliability, and commitment to conservation-based tourism that balances scientific interest, education, and responsible economic development.
Río Lagartos Adventures® is the original locally operated company based in Río Lagartos, with years of experience leading certified nature and wildlife tours.
Skip the agencies and the middleman. Experience the authentic Yucatan with a local pioneer.
Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve
Discover with Us the wild beauty of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, a place where land and sea merge into one of the most biologically productive coastal systems in the Yucatán Peninsula. This protected area encompasses Mexico’s largest estuary along the Yucatán coast and is dominated by vast mangrove forests that support an extraordinary concentration of life.
The reserve is internationally recognized for its biodiversity, particularly its avian richness, with more than 395 recorded bird species, including one of the largest resident populations of American flamingos, exceeding 40,000 individuals. Its shallow lagoons, salt flats, seagrass beds, and tidal channels form a complex mosaic of habitats essential for breeding, feeding, and migration.
Beyond birds, the reserve shelters American crocodiles, diverse fish and invertebrate communities, and a wide array of plant species uniquely adapted to saline and estuarine conditions. The mangrove ecosystem plays a critical role in coastal protection, carbon storage, and fisheries productivity, while also serving as a nursery for marine life throughout the southern Gulf of Mexico.
As a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Ramsar wetland of international importance, Ría Lagartos stands at the intersection of conservation, traditional fishing practices, and scientific research. Its ecological integrity is vital not only for local communities but also for global biodiversity and migratory species that depend on this estuary year after year.Discover the wild beauty of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, where the land meets the sea in a world of Flamingos, Crocodiles & Endless Mangroves Forrest with the largest Estuary in the entire Mexico’s Yucatán coast, this Protected reserve is home to over 395 bird species — including 40,000+ resident flamingos.
🙏 Thank You
By choosing a private tour, you help us protect Río Lagartos and keep this place peaceful and authentic for wildlife and future visitors.
Thank you for helping us protect this special place through responsible tourism.
Thank you for being part of responsible tourism
We’re proud to have been recommended by many trusted travel guides over the years — including Lonely Planet, Moon Guide, Let’s Go Mexico, Yucatán Today, and others who’ve shared our love for nature and authentic experiences in Río Lagartos.
Rio Lagartos Adventures since 1995
Legal & Authenticity Disclaimer Río Lagartos Adventures is an independent, locally operated company based in Río Lagartos. The use of similar business names, spellings, or copied content by other operators does not imply affiliation. All services offered on this website are operated directly by Río Lagartos Adventures.
“The future of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve depends on those who grow up within its waters. At Rio Lagartos Adventures, we are proud that the next generation—led by Don Diego’s Children and their close colleagues—has embraced this mission.
Mentorship from the Source: Every guide on our team has been personally trained and mentored by Don Diego, ensuring they carry forward his vision of ‘Total Protection’ and scientific excellence.
A Lifetime of Experience: Having grown up in the Reserve, our young guides possess an intuitive knowledge of the ecosystem that cannot be taught in a classroom.
Professional Continuity: By choosing our team, you are supporting a family-owned legacy that ensures the Ría will be protected and professionally guided for decades to come.”
“The next generation of naturalists: Diego Jr. and our team of expert guides.”
Diego Antonio Nuñez Jr.
Specialization: Expert Fly-Fishing Guide and Coastal Naturalist.
Background: Having grown up in the Ría Lagartos estuary, Diego Jr. represents the next generation of “Catch & Release” pioneers.
Expertise: Personally mentored by Don Diego, he combines intuitive local knowledge with professional conservation ethics to provide world-class fly-fishing and wildlife photography tours.
Diego Jr. Nuñez Marfil
Andrea Nuñez Marfil
Andrea Nuñez: The first woman Bird Guide in Rio Lagartos
Expertise: She specializes in the history of the Biosphere Reserve and manages the professional standards that have earned the team its #1 ranking on TripAdvisor.
Specialization: Environmental Conservation and Logistics.
Background: Andrea is a vital part of the family legacy, often seen working alongside Don Diego in conservation initiatives.
Don Diego Nuñez his Daughter Andrea
Andrea Nuñez on a boat birding tour for Rio Lagartos Adventures
“Don Diego Nuñez with the next generation of certified guardians, ensuring our 25-year legacy of conservation continues”.
Full-Time Commitment: Unlike part-time operators, these young professionals are dedicated 100% to ecotourism and the protection of the flamingos and crocodiles.
The Apprentice Team (Family Friends)
For the young guides:“Mentored by experience: Our team of guides combines local intuition with professional naturalist training.”
For the “colleagues”:“Part of the Rio Lagartos Adventures family: Local experts dedicated to the conservation of the Biosphere.”
Carlos Can
Angel Navarro Nuñez , Diego´s cousin.
“Diego Nuñez Sr.: Always learning from the best!”
🌎 Responsible Ecotourism Since 1995
We’ve been sharing the wonders of Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve for nearly 30 years. Our mission has never changed: to protect this fragile paradise while giving travelers an authentic experience guided by heart, knowledge, and respect.
When you travel with us, you support :
Fair income for local families, Sustainable, low-impact tourism, Conservation of wildlife and habitats.
