Eco Themed Parks of the Yucatan Peninsula

DR. ALFREDO BARRERA MARIN BOTANICAL GARDEN Covering 60 square hectares, this is the largest botanical garden in Mexico, and contains fine specimens of most of the region's trees. The garden also has a replica of a chicle harvesting camp.

CROCOCUN Located south of Cancun at Km.30 on the Cancún-Tulum Highway, this wildlife farm keeps more than 300 swamp crocodile in captivity for breeding purposes. Trails wind through the jungle.

XAMAN-HA AVIARY Located in the Playacar complex, it covers 1.8 square hectares of predominately medium growth jungle vegetation, housing some 60 bird species, some of them on the protected species list.

XEL-HA ('Place where water is born') protects one of the region's largest inlet and lagoon systems. It is thought to be one of the world's largest natural aquariums.

AKTUN CHEN The cave system is thought to have formed 5 million years ago. It is comprised of 600 meters (663 yards) of fabulous stalactite and stalagmite landscapes and at the end of the system there is a cenote about 112 meters (367 ft) deep.

PUNTA LAGUNA An area of jungle where visitors can see white-tail deer, jaguar, ocelots, jaguarundis, collared peccary, and a lagoon inhabited by swamp and river crocodiles and turtles.

EJIDO TRES GARANTIAS This community was founded as part of the Quintana Roo Forest Pilot Project with the objective of developing a sustainable wildlife management method. In 1990-1991 an old chicle harvesting camp was remodeled and bungalows for tourists were built. A 400-hectare (988 acres) area of communal farming land was declared a reserve, and controlled hunting of some of the most abundant animal species is permitted.

CENOTE DEL COCODRILO DORADO Located in La Union, on the banks of the Hondo river, the cenote gets its name from a legend about a golden crocodile that lived in its waters. The cenote rim is 55 meters (60 yards) from ground level to the water surface and rappel is practiced here. Be careful and ENJOY MEXICO!