Coatis in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

"Are those monkeys? Little bears? Anteaters?!"⁠ 🐒⁠ This is what I said to my husband as these animals suddenly appeared during our walk down to the beach attached to our hotel in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (@ParadisusPlaya).⁠ 😮⁠ Actually, they're called "coatis" - and they are adorable! This was my first time ever seeing or even hearing about these beautiful creatures.⁠ 😍⁠ Apparently, they emerge from the mangrove forest by the dozens around sunset to avoid the daytime crowds.⁠ 🏖️⁠ Oh, and fun fact - they play a very important role in the ecosystem by helping to control insect populations and by dispersing seeds around as they look for fruit.⁠ 🍌⁠ Swipe right 👉 for some cute coatis photos! Have you ever seen coatis before? 🦥 #BeyondTheGuidebook⁠