Every time I arrive at Rivera Cuale, I marvel at the glory of the surrounding nature, pristine and pure. My eyes feast on all the colors of the plants and my ears rejoice in the calls of the many birds and the river rushing by. Recently, it was like I suddenly woke up and saw the bigger picture, that Rivera Cuale is not only home to various plants, birds, fish, insects and animals, but so much more. Rivera Cuale is an ecosystem, a community of living organisms and nonliving elements all in delicate balance, linked together through nutrient cycle and energy flow. All of the elements and organisms of this precious ecosystem, including people, are interdependent on one another to support each other and render life possible. The air, water, soil and sunlight nourish the plants, the plants produce the oxygen in the air that we breathe, and through photosynthesis, food. This food is the nourishment for our ecosystem’s wildlife and insects, which in turn are the food of other organisms, and thus goes the food web. When we exhale, we emit carbon dioxide, which the plants absorb and use in the photosynthesis process.
In this article, I will tell you a little about some of the animal life we find in the Rivera Cuale ecosystem. In future articles, I will take you on a tour of our many varied plant species.
The Puerto Vallarta countryside is one of the most unique ecological environments in all of Mexico. The city is positioned between three different mountain ranges, creating the unique and diverse plant and animal wildlife that is found throughout the city and the area beyond. 
The north side of the city has a more deciduous forest type of wildlife and the east and south sides are more like a sub-tropical jungle.
From high in the Sierra Madre flows the Cuale River, as it makes its life-giving journey through the mountains on its way to the Bay of Banderas. A truly integral part of Puerto Vallarta and its history, the river winds through El Caloso and Old Town. It is here that Rivera Cuale is located, on the river’s very banks. To the north, east and south are spectacular mountains, and to the west lie the town and the Bay of Banderas. The combination of mountains and fresh river water bring cooling breezes to the area.
Being situated on the banks of the Cuale River offers the unique opportunity and privilege of giving back to that which has given so much to the community. Caring for this most precious of resources is a responsibility that Rivera Cuale has embraced and incorporated into its philosophy of sustainable development. Integrating nature with its design, Rivera Cuale is a tropical oasis in the city, surrounded by the unaffected beauty of the river and mountains, flora and fauna. Here, life is reminiscent of a simpler time, and nature abounds.
The Cuale River and the banks around it are home and shelter to many different bird species, like the Great White Egret. These graceful creatures perch statuesquely on boulders, waiting for the passing water to bring them small fish, frogs and reptiles. When it’s time to move on, they spread their angel-like wings into graceful flight. You can see 
many other birds around Rivera Cuale, including herons, great-tailed grackles (blackbirds), frigate birds, hummingbirds, kingfishers, cormorants, swallows, wrens and others. Just down the river at the bay and up the river in the mountains there are so many more to see too.
You may be surprised to learn that there are a couple species of squirrels native to the mid west coast where Puerto Vallarta is located. One is the Colima tree squirrel, and the other is the ring-tailed ground squirrel. At Rivera Cuale you will likely see the tree squirrels, moving so adeptly through the trees that they appear to be flying. These cute little critters are ever-industrious, looking for and hiding away food and foraging for materials to build their nests. They are especially active in the mornings and around sunset. They have tails that are longer than the combined length of their head and body, which they use to maintain their balance and not fall to the ground when running about in the treetops. They typically eat fruit and seeds, and some observers have said they eat plums, wild mushrooms and coconuts.
Many varieties of iguanas, a genus of lizard, live around the river, which is a natural habitat for these majestic creatures. They like to bathe in the river and pass time in the trees. Their coloring helps them to blend into vegetation as a means of camouflage from predators. They spend a lot of time in the sun to soak up heat, as they are cold-blooded and cannot produce their own. Since they are diurnal, they are awake during the day, so you will likely spot one, or many! While they are often seen lazily lounging about in the sun, they can move surprisingly fast! Generally, by the time you have seen them, they have already seen you, and if you make any movement they slip stealthily away into the underbrush or river. Most iguanas are herbivores and dine on plants, flowers and fruit, but some will eat eggs, insects and small vertebrates.
Another genus of lizard, the gecko, is native to the area. Referred to as “cuizas” in Vallarta, these tiny lizards are everywhere and like to visit your home, which is a blessing because they eat insects. They are harmless and really unique looking, with no eyelids and skin so translucent you can almost see right through them; they sometimes look like they are made of rubber and could be mistaken for a toy if not for the chirping noise they make when socially interacting with other geckos. You can observe them from a fairly close distance, but as you get within arm’s length, they come alive and scurry and wiggle their way to safety. Some geckos will even drop their tail in defence, or if caught by the tail so they can get away, but they have the ability to regenerate them. Many gecko species are well known for their specialized toe pads that enable them to climb smooth and vertical surfaces, and even cross indoor ceilings with ease. They like to hide behind paintings, in nooks and crannies, and in window frames even, so take care when closing your windows!
We also see a wide variety of butterflies, who make themselves at home in the gardens, and bees too, which come to feed on the flowers’ nectar and pollen. The bees then (unintentionally through contact) pollinate the same or other flowers by transferring pollen to them, which is a prerequisite for the fertilization that allows flowers to reproduce by making seeds…seeds that produce food. Butterflies and hummingbirds are pollinators too, as well as some other insects we see, like moths and flies. Rivera Cuale is also home to many beautiful dragonflies…and what do they eat? Butterflies, bees, and other smaller insects, like pesky mosquitoes! While hummingbirds feed on nectar from flowers, they also get their energy from tree sap. And where did these flowers and trees get their energy from ? The sun. And what else keeps
this flora alive? Water. And air, which plants inhale in one form and exhale in another, so that we humans can breathe. The whole process is more complex than I write, but I am sure I have said enough for you to begin to understand the interdependency between the living and nonliving elements in the ecosystem.
You can see now, that when you come to Rivera Cuale and are delighted by the gardens, the animal life and the river, that there is really so much more going on beneath the surface. And from this, we gain a newfound respect for the ecosystem that we have the privilege of being custodian to.
Article by Leanne Smith
I welcome your questions and comments!