Laguna de Oviedo

The largest lagoon in the country, with a salt-water level three times higher than that of the sea, Laguna de Oviedo is a prime bird watching area. Around the lagoon’s thick mangrove swamps and 24 keys dotting its more than 10 kilometers (six miles) of length, you’ll spot royal and blue herons, the great egret, gulls, roseate spoonbills, sandpipers, pelicans, parrots, and beautiful American flamingos. One to three-hour tours of Laguna de Oviedo and its surroundings can be booked through the information center of the Ministry of Environment, located off the main road in Oviedo. Because of the intense heat, the best time to view wildlife in and around the lake is very early in the morning.