Parque Kabah

Parque Kabah is where Cancún residents go to exercise, walk and spend time under the trees, and it shows a side of the city that most beach visitors never see. The park lies in Supermanzana 53, on the mainland side of Cancún, with parking on Avenida Kabah and Avenida Nichupté. It covers 41.49 hectares and was protected by a state decree published in November 1995; local reporting describes it as the first natural protected area declared in Quintana Roo. It began life as an urban park, and its official name is the Parque Ecológico Estatal Kabah.

Management has changed hands in recent years. In February 2022 the Benito Juárez council voted unanimously for an agreement under which the city takes on the running of the park from the state government, working with the state environment ministry and its biodiversity institute. At the time the park was receiving around 10,000 visitors a month, which gives an idea of how much it matters to local people.

What you find inside is modest but pleasant. There is a small museum, an aguada (a natural water hollow), a Maya solar, the Chacá esplanade, children's play areas and outdoor exercise equipment, together with toilets, offices and parking. Regulars come for sport, yoga, tai chi and guided walks to look at the plants and wildlife, and the park also hosts workshops and group activities, many of them free, some organised by the municipal government and others by residents.

Kabah is a place for a quiet hour rather than a headline sight. It suits families staying downtown who want somewhere green for children to play, runners and walkers looking for an alternative to pavements, and visitors curious about everyday life away from the Hotel Zone. Because it is a protected area, keep to the paths and leave plants and animals undisturbed.

The park is open every day from 6:00 to 18:00, and the early hours are the coolest time to visit. Insect repellent and water are sensible in any season in a forested park in this climate.

If you enjoy Kabah, the city also protects a smaller reserve, Ombligo Verde, declared in 2012 as Cancún's first municipal ecological preservation zone. It covers just over four hectares between Supermanzanas 33 and 34, is open daily from 7:00 to 16:00, and has footpaths suited to family walks. Both parks offer much the same programme of free activities.