Jardin Botanico Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marin

About

Founded in 1982, the Jardin Botanico Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marin covers 65 hectares of lush forest just outside Cancun’s bustling resorts. Two kilometers of hiking trails wind their way through a jungle filled with the region’s flora, including the Maya’s sacred Ceiba trees, tall palms, bromeliads, ferns, orchids, and plants used in traditional Mayan medicine. A variety of native animals call the garden home, ranging from delicate butterflies to colorful birds, and the last troop of spider monkeys on the Yucatan coast. Along with preserving a bit of the Yucatan’s wild side, the reserve also has a small archaeological site, a reconstructed Maya home, and a chiclero camp.