Wondering where to escape the Cancun bustle? Then Parque Ecológico Kabah is your answer. It is a compact lush urban park in downtown Cancun. The Parque Ecológico Kabah covers 41 hectares. It gives you a great alternative to the beach.
This natural oasis is for nature lovers. People come to Parque Ecológico Kabah to run to walk and to enjoy nature. There is a loop trail. There is a playground plus a museum. You can also enjoy the picnic area a duck pond and a small zoo.
The Parque Ecológico Kabah is full of wildlife. You can spot coatis and iguanas daily. Deer and peccaries are also present. Sometimes you can see a wild spider monkey swinging. Birds are numerous and loud in the Park. This is especially true in the winter months. Many bird species migrate south from North America then. The pond is home to ducks geese and turtles. Occasionally a heron is spotted.
The museum is housed in the Casa Maya. Casa Maya is one of Cancun’s original buildings. Casa Maya was originally built on the beach. It was later moved to its present location. The museum displays the history of Cancun. It also shows the development of the Hotel Zone. The aerial photographs show the city’s development. They also show the destruction of nature. The museum is free and open daily.
The Park has a loop trail. It is about 1.2 miles around. That’s 1.8 kilometers. The trail is rough but mostly flat. Many people use the Parque Ecológico Kabah to work out. The trail fills with runners and walkers between 7 and 9 am. There is a spot along the trail for exercises. You can do sit-ups and push-ups. This area is shady in the morning. It gets full sun later in the day. Strollers with larger wheels do better than small-wheeled ones. Bicycles are not allowed on the trail.
The zoo is small but worth a look. There are crocodiles and spider monkeys. Fortunately they are separated. The monkeys are doted upon by park employees. The Park Director is often seen with a monkey. The monkey clings to him trying to remove his glasses.
The Parque Ecológico Kabah was created to protect endemic species. It also gives them a home. It preserves a large green area. It is a protected zone for that reason. It was declared a protected natural area in 1995. This makes it one of the main attractions for residents and tourists. In its 39 hectares you can see many plant and animal species. Some are even endangered.
The Parque Ecológico Kabah’s vegetation is the remains of medium sub perennial forest. This forest existed before the city’s construction. The park has about 46 vertebrate species. There are 3 amphibian species. There are 10 reptile species. 21 species are birds. 12 species are mammals.
The park offers guided tours for knowledge. There are also ecological activities and workshops. These are adapted to the educational level. The park has several attractions. The Mayan house stands out. This was the first house built in Cancun. It housed the promoters and developers of the Cancun project. This house is now a historical museum. Other attractions include the chiclero camp the Mayan solar and the nursery.
Along the trails you can see mammals reptiles and birds. Coatis crocodiles and spider monkeys stand out. The park also has recreation areas. You can enjoy playgrounds surrounded by vegetation. It offers tranquility in the middle of Cancun. Many citizens use the Parque Ecológico Kabah for jogging. Some ride bicycles. Some escape the city life to admire the flora and fauna.
Parque Ecológico Kabah is located at Kabah and Nichupte Avenues. It is across from Costco. There is a large parking area. There is an entrance on Kabah. The main entrance is on Nichupte. The park is free and is open daily from 6 am to 4 pm. Take a break from the beach and explore this unique urban jungle.