Isla Contoy is a small island nature reserve nearly 20 miles north of Isla Mujeres. Since 1961, the island has been protected by the Mexican government and was declared a national park in February 1998. Only a few tour companies have permission to bring a maximum of 200 daily visitors for supervised eco-tourism. Four species of turtle find a safe haven for nesting on the beaches of the island: the loggerhead, green, hawksbill, and leatherback. The reserve is also a sanctuary to approximately 150 tropical marine birds, like the frigate, brown pelican, and the double-crested cormorant.