|
Home
>
Cancun
Travel Guide
>
Things to Do > Ecology & Parks |
Ecology
& Parks
|
|
|
|
Near Cancun
are several natural wonders that
are a joy to visit and photograph,
including Mexico’s third largest
biosphere reserve, bird sanctuaries,
and a spider monkey refuge.
The most popular parks are Xcaret,
Xel-Ha, Tres-Rios and Garrafon.
At many of these
parks you can swim, snorkel, scuba
dive, swim with dolphins, explore
caves and cenotes, see Mayan ruins,
and view wildlife and plants native
to this area.
|
|
|
|
"It was at
Yaxchilan that I had my
introduction to howler monkeys.
My companions had warned
me of these monkeys' eerie
nighttime howls, but the
first time I woke up to
the sound my flesh crawled
nonetheless. Actually, "howler"
doesn't do them justice
- it's more like an amplified
Darth Vader roar, raspy
and threatening, followed
by staccato grunts. The
first night at Yaxchilan,
I lay wide awake in my tent,
rationalizing that the reason
they sounded so close was
because they had to pass
our tents to get from the
forest to the river."
-Joyce
Gregory, "In Search of the
Lacandón Maya"
|
|
|
|
Celestún
|
|
If you take a side
trip from Cancun to visit Mérida,
Celestún is just 56 miles west of
Mérida. Celestún is an Audubon fantasy
world. Hire a small boat from town
to motor down Rio Celestún to the
flamingo reserve, passing storks,
egrets and blue herons. After 20
minutes, the boatman cuts the motor
and you aim your binoculars at the
several thousand flamingos that
spend their day pecking for shrimp
in the shallow waters under the
Mexican sun. Location: 56
miles west of Mérida, Yucatán (route
281) towards the western tip of
the Yucatán Peninsula in the Gulf
of Mexico. Organized tours
are offered daily at most major
hotels and travel agencies in Mérida.
|
|
|
Crococun Crocodile
Park & Zoo
|
|
Located 35 km / 25
minutes south of Cancun. This
ecological park covers 3 hectares
and is a crocodile ranch with snakes,
monkeys, deer and wild boar. Coati
mundi, parrots and macaws roam free
around the property, creating a
wonderful experience for children
and adults. |
|
|
El Eden Reserva
Ecológica
|
|
Established in 1990,
this is a privately owned 500,000-acre
reserve dedicated to research for
biological conservation in Mexico,
only 30 miles northwest of Cancun.
|
|
|
El Garrafón
|
Isla Mujeres
Garrafon Special
Location:
Isla Mujeres.
Departs from:
Cancun.
 Garrafon park is
a recreational
center located
in Isla Mujeres.
It is famous for its
beautiful reef
and a
spectacular
panoramic view
of the Caribbean
Sea, Cancun and
the bay from
the highest
cliff of the
Yucatan
Peninsula. The
park’s main
attractions are:
Snorkeling at
the coral reef,
considered one
of the most
beautiful reefs
of the world
with a maximum
depth of 12 feet
and about 1000
feet long;
kayaks,
hammocks, salt
water pool, the
lighthouse, walk
to the Maya
Ruins and
Sculpture Park,
as well as the
fun shopping
tours to
downtown Isla
Mujeres. Come to
Isla Mujeres and
spend an
unforgettable
day at the
wonderful Garrafon park! |
|
|
|
Interactive
Aquarium
|
|
La
Isla Shopping Center, Blvd Kukulcán,
Km 12.5. Located in
the heart of the hotel zone in the
La Isla Shopping Center, where you
can enjoy a breathtaking, hands-on
encounter with the marine world.
Swim with the dolphins, view huge
sharks, and touch manta rays and
sea turtles. In the Interactive
Aquarium you will see fascinating
exhibits of marine life from the
tidal pools to the deep ocean. You
will get to see rarities such as
seahorses, barracudas, tiger and
bull sharks.
|
Dolphin Swim La
Isla
 Location:
Cancun.
Transportation
optional from:
Playa del
Carmen, Riviera
Maya.
This Dolphin
Swim program at
“La Isla” will
allow you to
caress, play and
swim with
dolphins. You
will learn about
their abilities
and enjoy
amazing tricks
such as the very
famous foot
push. Come to
“La Isla” and
experience the
best Dolphin
Swim program you
will find in
Cancun and
spend a
wonderful day
with your
family! |
|
|
|
Isla Contoy
|
|
Isla Contoy is a
small, uninhabited island, 25 miles
north of Cancun and 19 miles from
Isla Mujeres. It is a refuge
for birds, marine and animal life.
Isla Contoy is a bird sanctuary
for more then 70 species, including
some large nesting colonies and
wild frigates. Declared a national
wildlife reserve in 1961, there
is a small museum and a lookout
tower for a spectacular panoramic
view. A limited number of
visitors are allowed each day so
it is best to make reservations
in advance. |
Contoy Island
Asterix Tours
Location:
Isla Contoy.
Departs from:
Cancun
Enjoy an
unforgettable
experience
crossing the
majestic
Caribbean Sea to
get to a place
few have had the
privilege to
discover: Isla
Contoy. The
tour to Isla
Contoy aboard
the Asterix
boats is a
unique
experience and
the most
comfortable way
to get to know
this amazing
natural haven.
Choose from
Contoy-only or
the Contoy plus
Isla Mujeres
option. |
Contoy Island
"Kolumbus Tours"
Location:
Isla Contoy.
Departs from:
Punta Sam near
Cancun
Enjoy the
numerous species
of birds and
beautiful white
sand beaches and
visit the new
museum of
nature. Enter
the magical
underwater world
with the help of
your snorkeling
equipment and
see the amazing
fauna in the sea
depths; also,
watch and learn
about the
diverse birds in
their natural
habitat with the
help of an
experienced
guide. This
wonderful trip
is done onboard
the “Corsario”
or the “Pinta”,
both replicas of
famous discovery
vessels, which
will transport
you back in
time. Finish it
with a feast of
delicious "Tikinxic"
fish (Maya-style
grilled fish)
prepared by your
own captain. |
|
|
|
Palancar Aquarium
|
|
Palancar Aquarium
(34 km. south of Cancun): A small
indoor aquarium filled with informative
exhibits about the area's marine
life. Located roadside, just north
of Puerto Morelos. |
|
|
|
|
Wet 'n Wild
 Location:
Cancun.
Transportation
available from: Playa del
Carmen, Riviera
Maya.
Come and spend
an unforgettable
day at Wet´n
Wild, the only
water park in
Cancun. Wet´n
Wild, also known
as Parque Nizuc,
is the perfect
place to spend a
fun day with
your family.
This wonderful
water park
features several
attractions,
such as: The
Twister, Buba
Tub, Double
Space bowl, Lazy
River,
Bobble-up, the
wave pool, live
music and lots
more. |
|
|
|
Rio Lagartos
|
|
This
town is the home to Mexico's largest
flamingo population. It estimated
that over 8,000 pink flamingos live
within the now protected canals
and mangroves just up the river
from Rio Lagartos. Located about
100 km north of
Valladolid,
it is easy to get to Rio Lagartos
by bus or rental car. Follow the
only road into town to the boat
docks, park anywhere you like and
find a fisherman/guide to take you
out to see the birds. The trip takes
about 3 hours and you will see hundreds
of flamingos, cormorants, gigantic
white pelicans, seagulls, herons
galore, egrets, and maybe a few
spoonbills.
|
|
|
Sian Ka'an Biosphere
Reserve
|
Sian Ka'an
Adventure &
Muyil Tres
Palmas
 Location:
Riviera Maya.
Transportation
provided from:
Cancun, Playa
del Carmen,
Riviera Maya.
The tour to Sian
Ka’an is a
beautiful
expedition to
the biggest
natural reserve
in Mexico.
Immerse yourself
in the World of
the ancient
Mayan culture
and the pristine
natural
surroundings of
one of Mexico’s
largest nature
reserves. This
wonderful
adventure will
get you in touch
with several
different
species in a
beautiful and
unparallel
ecosystem. Spend
a fascinating
day with your
family or
friends at the
ecological
reserve of Sian
Ka’an. |
|
|
|
|
"The next
and last morning of my stay
at the station [in Sian
Ka'an Biosphere Reserve],
I take a final drive down
to the Glorieta Rogo Gómez.
Beyond an imposing stretch
of selva alta - tall jungle
- the road eases itself
onto a narrow causeway.
The mangroves take over.
A few minutes later I am
at the end of the line,
surrounded by blue sky,
blue bay. And birds. Hundred
of birds. Great blue, little
blue, green-beaked, tri-colored,
yellow-crowned, and tiger
herons; snowy, great, and
reddish egrets; roseate
spoonbills, white ibis,
pelicans, cormorants, frigate
birds; and scores of gulls,
terns, shorebirds. In short,
all the birds that were
supposed to be at Laguna
de Muyil when I was there
and weren't, because they
were all here."
-Donald
G. Schueler, "The Temple
of the Jaguar: Travels in
the Yucatán"
|
|
|
|
Xcaret
|
Xcaret
 Location:
Riviera Maya.
Transportation
available from:
Cancun, Playa del
Carmen, Riviera
Maya.
“Nature's sacred
paradise”,
Xcaret is the
world’s most
famous
eco-archaeological
park. Here you
will find:
archaeological
ruins, dolphins
show, horses, a
farm with
tropical birds,
butterfly caves,
bat caves,
beach; you can
practice your
snorkeling
abilities in its
famous crystal
caves and the
well known
underground
river. With its
53 activities to
enjoy, Xcaret is
an experience
for all your
senses. This
ecological park
was once one of
the Maya
civilization's
most important
ports. Come to
the unparalleled
ecological park
of Xcaret,
located in the
Riviera Maya, and
spend an
unforgettable
day with your
family. |
|
|
|
Xel-Ha
|
Tulum and Xel-Ha
Location:
Riviera Maya.
Transportation
optional from:
Cancun, Playa del
Carmen, Riviera
Maya.
All-Inclusive
optional.
Discover one of
the most
beautiful
archeological
sites of the
Riviera Maya,
the only one
overlooking the
Caribbean Sea
and its
turquoise waters
as a walled
fortress. Let
yourself be
taken into the
temple of the
frescoes, the
one of the
descending god
and "El
Castillo" an
amazing temple
built on a cliff
with splendid
views of the
coast. From here
you will be
taken to Xel-Ha,
the perfect spot
for snorkeling
and relaxation. |
|
|
|
