Fodor's Expert Review Garrafón Natural Reef Park
Despite the widely publicized Garrafón reef restoration project, much of the coral at this national marine park is dead—the result of hurricanes, boat anchors, and too many careless tourists. There are still colorful fish, but many of them will come near only if bribed with food. Although there's not much for snorkelers anymore, the park—part nature, part amusement—does have kayaks, restaurants, zip lines, bathrooms, and a gift shop.
Be prepared to spend over $89 for the basic Royal Garrafón package, which includes snorkeling gear, breakfast, lunch, kayaks, transportation from Cancún, a bike tour, and an open bar. Another option is Dolphin Encounter ($129), which lets you use the park amenities and swim with dolphins. The neighboring Beach Club Garrafón de Castilla is a much cheaper alternative; the snorkeling is at least equal to that available in the park, and a day pass is just MX$50. You can take a taxi from town.
El Garrafón... READ MORE
Despite the widely publicized Garrafón reef restoration project, much of the coral at this national marine park is dead—the result of hurricanes, boat anchors, and too many careless tourists. There are still colorful fish, but many of them will come near only if bribed with food. Although there's not much for snorkelers anymore, the park—part nature, part amusement—does have kayaks, restaurants, zip lines, bathrooms, and a gift shop.
Be prepared to spend over $89 for the basic Royal Garrafón package, which includes snorkeling gear, breakfast, lunch, kayaks, transportation from Cancún, a bike tour, and an open bar. Another option is Dolphin Encounter ($129), which lets you use the park amenities and swim with dolphins. The neighboring Beach Club Garrafón de Castilla is a much cheaper alternative; the snorkeling is at least equal to that available in the park, and a day pass is just MX$50. You can take a taxi from town.
El Garrafón Natural Reef Park is also home to the Santuario Maya a la Diosa Ixchel, the sad vestiges of a Mayan temple once dedicated to the goddess Ixchel. This southern point is where the sun first rises in Mexico, meaning that thousands of travelers make a pilgrimage to the temple on New Year's to see the country awaken. A lovely walkway around the area remains, but the natural arch beneath the ruin has been blasted open and repaired with concrete badly disguised as rocks. The views are spectacular, though: you can look to the open ocean, where waves crash against dramatic cliffs on one side and the Bahía de Mujeres (Bay of Women) on the other.
En route to the temple there's a cutesy Caribbean-style shopping center selling overpriced jewelry and souvenirs, as well as a park with brightly painted abstract sculptures. The ruins (open daily 9–5) are near the old lighthouse, where the road turns northeast into the Corredor Panorámico. You can visit just the ruins and the sculpture park for roughly $4; if you've paid the admission to El Garrafón, access to them is included.
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