Mesoamerican Barrier Reef

• The Inner Reef
• The Middle Reef
• The Outer Reef

• Belize, the entire coastline is protected by the reef
• Guatemala, the Maya Biosphere Reserve of 2,112,940 ha is the second largest forest in Central America after Bosawas
• Honduras, the Caribbean Honduras including the Bay Islands of Utila, Roatán, Guanaja, the Hog Islands and the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve
• Mexico, the reef spans both the Riviera Maya and Costa Maya regions, including Cancun, Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro
  • Xcalak
  • Isla Contoy, a national park on the northern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula, the reef starts to the south of this 8.75-km-long, 230-hectare island park

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) is also known as the Mesoamerican reef and often abbreviated MAR. It is composed of a string of barrier and fringing reefs, atolls and patch corals, lagoons, sea grass beds and mangrove stretching over 1,000 km (620 mi) from Isla Contoy at the tip of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, through the barrier reefs of Belize and Guatemala and then down to the Bay Islands of Honduras. The reef system includes various protected areas and parks including the Belize Barrier Reef, Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park, Arrecifes de Xcalak National Park, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve, and the Cayos Cochinos Marine Park.

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef structure is the largest coral reef in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest barrier reef in the world. The reef ecosystem provides a habitat for countless marine species and is a vital natural resource for coastal communities throughout the region. The reef supports major fisheries and local food supplies, provides coastal protection from storms, and supports a robust and growing marine tourism industry.

The reef system is home to more than 65 species of stony coral, 350 species of mollusk and more than 500 species of fish. The reef is home to numerous endangered and protected species, including the sea turtles (Green turtle, Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Leatherback turtle, and the Hawksbill turtle), the Queen Conch, the West Indian Manatee, the Splendid toadfish, the American crocodile, the Morelet's Crocodile, the Nassau grouper, Elkhorn coral, and black coral.

The reef system is home to estimated 1,000-1,500 manatees, one of the worlds largest population of these creatures. Some northern areas of the reef system near Isla Contoy are home to the Whale shark, the largest fish on the planet. These normally solitary fish congregate there in social groups to eat and to mate.

In the recent past initiatives such as the Coral Friendly Guidelines for Tourists have identified divers, snorkelers and other coral reef visitors as some of the strongest and most effective advocates for coral reef conservation. The previous ICRAN Mesoamerican Reef Alliance (MAR) project that drew to a close in 2007 was an example of a collaborative effort aimed at confronting the decline of the Mesoamerican coral reef ecosystem by improving economic and environmental sustainability through capacity building activities, the development of better practices, and building of partnerships with the private sector. In July 2006 voluntary standards were unanimously approved across the 4 countries of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System and included marine tour operator associations, park managers and conservation NGOs, the cruise ship industry, scientists, and concerned divers. The program was the world's first adoption of voluntary sustainable tourism environmental performance standards for reef marine recreation providers. Participants have agreed to adopt conservation process and marine tourism environmental business practices supporting conservation, sustainability and effectively managed marine parks. Visitors to the region may prefer to use providers who have adopted the voluntary standards in their business activities upon the reef.

The region has domestic air links supplied by many regional carriers.

• Aero Caribbean, Belize City, Havana, Guatemala City
• AeroCaribe de Honduras, Roatan, Puerto Lempira, San Pedro Sula
• Aerolineas Sosa, Tegucigalpa , Brus Laguna, Guanaja Island, La Ceiba, Puerto Lempira, Utila Island, Roatán, San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa
• Aeroméxico, Cancún, Havana, Mexico City, Miami, Monterrey
• Aeroméxico Connect, Mexico City
• Aerotucán, Cancún, Cozumel
• Central American Airways, La Ceiba, Tegucigalpa, Roatan, San Pedro Sula
• Maya Island Air, Belize City, Cancún, Caye Caulker, Caye Chapel, Corozal, Dangriga, Guatemala City, San Pedro Sula, Placencia, Punta Gorda, San Pedro [Ambergris Caye], Savannah
• MAYAir Cancún, Ciudad del Carmen, Cozumel, Mérida, Villahermosa
• Avianca, Belize City, Cancún, Flores, Guatemala City, La Ceiba, Tegucigalpa, San José de Costa Rica, San Salvador, Cancún, La Ceiba, Tegucigalpa, Roatan, San Pedro Sula
• Tropic Air, Belize City, Belmopan, Caye Caulker, Corozal, Dangriga, Flores, Kanantik, Placencia, Punta Gorda, San Pedro (Ambergris Caye), Sarteneja
• Lanhsa, Roatan Island, Utila Island, Guanaja Island, San Pedro Sula
• Volaris, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Puebla, Tijuana, Toluca

This region is one of the world's most significant aquatic areas, there is a lot to see including national parks and aquatic reserves.

• Turtle watching, all species of sea turtle are endangered and need protection, always use care and respect when swimming near them.
• Whale watching
• Diving, choose tour operators that use mooring buoys or drift diving techniques rather than anchors that can cause reef damage.
• Snorkelling
• Underwater Cleanup. Clean up the reef following guidelines developed by the Coral Reef Alliance. 

Please see the individual destination articles for details.

Please see the individual destination articles for details.

Conditions throughout the area have many variables and there are no universally applicable guidelines for the region. Please see the individual destination articles for details.

• Belize
• Cuba
• El Salvador
• Mexico
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Nicaragua
• Yucatán Peninsula
• Bay Islands
• United States of America