National Parks of Mexico

Marine National Park Area of San Lorenzo Archipelago: The park located in Baja, California, is known for its variety of biotic resources. The park is home to many animals including blue and humpback whales and common and long-finned dolphins. The fertile ecosystem was decreed in 2005 to help protect some of the local wildlife.

The Montebello Lakes National Park:  The Montebello park’s lake was the first national park in Chiapas and considered by many the first national park in Mexico. The park is found on the border between Mexico and Guatemala.  The 59 ponds are surrounded by 7,000 types of vegetation and various caves. Also found there are mountain cats, birds, and deer.

Majalca Summits National Park: The Malajca Summits National Park found created in 1999 is 44 kilometers from the city of Chihuahua. It is known mainly for its unusual rock formations. It also contains awine cellar, cabins, and balconies. The park is found within an area of volcanic rocks and grasslands and transitional forest. Camping, hiking, and climbing are possible in the area.

National Park Summit of Ajusco: The national park located on the outskirts of Mexico City is known for its high peaks—reaching more than 12,000 feet—and its natural scenery. The park was decreed in 1936 and is commonly visited for horseback riding, biking, and hiking.

Desierto de Los Leones National Park: On the outskirts of Mexico City is Mexico’s oldest national park, the park is popular with hikers and bicyclers. The area is not a desert as the name would imply, but a park located high in the mountains. Among the sites is a monastery from the 17th century.

Coyoacan: The Coyoacan National Park refers to the neighborhood within Mexico City that is rich with history. Coyoacan includes the famous “Blue House” of Frida Kahlo and the museum created by Diego Rivera Anahuacalli as tribute to Mexico’s pre-Hispanic history and to his wife, Frida Kahlo.

The Cacahuampila Grottoes: The Cacahuampile grottoes are known for the caverns found in the area. The cavers were discovered in 1834 by Manuel Saenz de la Pena. There are guided tours of the underground caverns as well as a restaurant, snack bar, and souvenir shop.

Tula: Tula is the site of an ancient Toltec. The site includes pyramids, sculptures and sites for playing an ancient Mesoamerican ballgame. While many of the ruins were looted, but many of the prehistoric buildings still stand.

Izta-Popo National Park:  Created in 1935, the park includes two of the highest peaks in Mexico—Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl. The site also includes the surrounding vegetation The aim of the park was to preserve the natural beauty of the area and protect the agriculture and towns of the valley from rainfall. The park is popular for hiking.

La Marquesa: La Marquesa is popular to many locals from Mexico City. At the park, visitors can rent horses, four wheelers, go hiking, or do a simple picnic. The site has a great history and is actually part of the national park Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla created in 1936.

Molino de las Flores: Molino de las Flores contains the remnants of an old homestead. Most of the buildings were built by Don Miguel de Cerantes. It contains a temple and Chapel supposedly created after a miraculous appearance of stone. The temple was carved practically carved into the rock.

Nevado de Toluca National Park: The Nevado de Toluca Park was created as a form of conserving the area Nevado de Toluca Volcano and its surrounding territory. From the peak the surrounding Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes can be seen. At the foot of the mountain is Deer Park for country walks. The park is also very popular for people looking to hike the volcano.

Cumbres de Monterrey National Park: The Cumbres National Park was created in 1939 and is one of the largest parks in the country. The park is known for its many mountains, valleys, and waterfalls. It also contains diverse wildlife including coyotes, mountain lions, and falcons.

La Malinche National Park: The park is designated to protect the popular La Malinche volcano. The volcano is popular due to its vicinity to Mexico City, and it is used by many hikers as preparation to hike some of the larger volcanoes.

Cozumel Reefs National Park: The park is one of the most popular in the country with thousands of divers per day in the area. It was created in 1969 and is located in Cozumel. Aside from the large reef, there are also tropical forests, lowland forests, and mangroves within the park.

 Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve: Sian Ka’an found near the Mayan ruins of Tulum was decreed a national park in 1986. The reserve has various activities, including fishing and tours. The Biosphere Reserve operates through many ecologically responsible approaches that make it stand out from many other parks.

Tulum National Park: Tulum is the location of an ancient Mayan walled city. The ruins are one of the best preserved Mayan sites in the country. The destination is divided into the archaeological site, the pueblo (town), the hotel zone, and the aforementioned Sian Ka’an preserve.

Archipelago of the Holy Spirit: The park was created in 2007 and is popular to tourists interested in camping, kayaking, hiking, or fishing. The archipelago offers beaches, contrast of sea and desert, and recreational diving around the islets.

Cabo Pulmo National Park: The Bay of Cabo Pulmo contains the only reef in the Gulf of California. The park was designated a Natural Protected Area in 1995. It is a Natural World Heritage list site for its its “unique example” of oceanographic processes.

Bahia de Los Angeles, Channels and Salsipuedes Whales: The area is an important habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds. Aside from being an important refuge for marine species it is also important for scientific research, recreation, and fishing. Located in the Peninsula of Baja, California, it was decreed in 2007.