El Salado Natural Protected Area (169 ha) near Puerto Vallarta features about 135 ha of mangroves and marshes, plus two forest patches and surrounding thorn and secondary growth. Declared a conservation zone by Jalisco on July 27, 2000, it’s overseen by a scientific council of national and international experts. A permanent 2-km channel (≈20 m wide, 3 m deep) mixes fresh and saltwater, supporting 100+ bird species, 29+ amphibians, reptiles and mammals (including iguanas, crocodiles, raccoons), and abundant fiddler and blue crabs.