Fodor's Expert Review Laguna de Manialtepec

One of the most leisurely day trips from Puerto Escondido is a journey to this tranquil lagoon surrounded by mangroves and lush wetlands just 20 minutes from town. It's home to more than 300 species of migrant and resident birds such as pelicans, hawks, and roseate spoonbills. Although a half-day tour by motorboat, kayak, or canoe with Lalo Ecotours or Canadian naturalist Michael Malone of Hidden Voyages Ecotours (December–March) is the most convenient way to visit, you can also take public transportation and hire a local guide once you arrive. At certain times of the year, the lagoon glows with luminescent plankton and a night-boat tour offers the opportunity for the truly intrepid to jump in and swim amid the phosphorescence.