The Return of the Jaguar in the Yucatán Peninsula
A decade after it was destroyed by Hurricane Georges, this magnificent Yucatán river-crossing bridge is back again to carry more tourists and pilgrims. Some say it has even got another name, the Bridge of the Immortals. But, in my opinion, its true name is the Jaguar Bridge, as it is the largest natural-formed stone bridge in the world. I have been fortunate to see it again, and this time, as the bridge is very narrow along the north side.
The Jaguar Bridge crosses a narrow strip of rock on the north side of the river. The bridge is not wide enough to have a two-way traffic, the highway, on the south side. We have to walk on the east side, along the narrow, paved road, to reach the bridge.
We follow the road (which is actually wide enough for two lanes) for about a mile to reach the bridge. There is no official information about the bridge, although it is mentioned in the brochure of the Fonchito Bridge Tours of Yucatán and Quintana Roo, on the west banks of the Yucatán Peninsula. One can enter the bridge by walking on the east side. The Jaguar Bridge is a great example of a natural bridge, which takes the force of the river currents to make a natural bridge of unusual beauty. At this point, you can get as close as you want to this bridge.
On my visit, after finishing my dinner, I got myself a nice walk along the east bank of the river. There is a nice restaurant along the river for a quick bite before getting back to the town.
I walked from Calakmul to the bridge, and had a walk through the countryside along the river (well-maintained roads). It was very hot and sunny, and I got to see all aspects of nature: the
