5 parks and reserves · within 60 km
There are 5 parks and reserves within 60 km of Cancún in a straight line, an hour or a little more by road. The closest is Punta Nizuc, 15 km away; the farthest, Isla Contoy, is 38 km. They are all listed under Isla Mujeres, a Pueblo Mágico that makes a good base.
Parks and reserves are best on weekdays and early in the day. Bring water, and check the opening hours, since some close one day a week.
Best months, when most of these towns are dry with comfortable afternoons: Feb, Mar, Apr, May.
The Nature Parks 5
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Punta Nizuc · Nature reserve · 15 km from Cancún · Quintana Roo
Rocky southern tip of Cancún's hotel zone with the reef closest to the city, MUSA sculptures and mangrove speedboat tours. -
Croco Cun · Nature reserve · 31 km from Cancún · Quintana Roo
Interactive zoo north of Puerto Morelos that began as a crocodile farm; guided tours meet crocodiles, deer, monkeys and rescued local wildlife. -
Ruta de los Cenotes · Nature reserve · 34 km from Cancún · Quintana Roo
Jungle road from Puerto Morelos toward Leona Vicario lined with some 20 cenotes, from wild sinkholes to adventure parks with zip lines. -
Jardín Botánico Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín · Nature reserve · 35 km from Cancún · Quintana Roo
Puerto Morelos' 65-hectare jungle botanical garden, with labelled trails, a chiclero camp, a small Maya ruin, a lookout tower and spider monkeys. -
Isla Contoy · Nature reserve · 38 km from Cancún · Near Isla Mujeres
A protected bird island north of Isla Mujeres, with nesting pelicans and frigatebirds; only 200 visitors a day on authorized boats.
On the map
Distances are in a straight line; roads add about a third.
Where to stay
The Pueblos Mágicos these places are closest to, each with hotels, food and getting-there notes.
More places like these
More around Cancún
Nature Parks elsewhere
Names and locations from OpenStreetMap; notes and write-ups are our own.