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El Garrafon National Park Review

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El Garrafón National Park

Address: Carretera El Garrafón, 2½ km (1½ mi) southeast of Playa Lancheros, Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo
Phone: 998/884-9420 in Cancun; 998/877-1100 to park
www.garrafon.com

Category: Parks
Location: Isla Mujeres

Write a review | Avg. member rating: 5.0/5

Fodor's Review:

Despite participation in the much publicized "Garrafón Reef Restoration Program," much of the coral reef at this national marine park remains dead (the result of hurricane damage, as well as damage from boats and too many careless tourists). There are still some colorful fish to be seen here, but many of them will only come near if bribed with food. Although there's no longer much for snorkelers here, the park does have kayaks and ocean playground equipment (such as platforms to dive from), as well as a three-floor facility with restaurants, bathrooms, and gift shops. Be prepared to spend big money here; the basic entry fee doesn't include snorkel gear, lockers, or food, all of which are pricey. However, the park does offer some package deals online that include gear, lunch, a swim with the dolphins, and even transport from Cancún. Another option available at Dolphin Discovery, the area of the park that offers different swimming packages with dolphins, is swimming with bull sharks. (The Beach Club Garrafón de Castilla next door is a much cheaper alternative; the snorkeling is at least equal to that available in the park. The club is open to everyone and the entrance fee is $4. You can take a taxi from town.)

The park also has the Santuario Maya a la Diosa Ixchel, the sad vestiges of a Mayan temple once dedicated to the goddess Ixchel. 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 here 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. On the way to the temple there's a cutesy re-creation of a Caribbean village selling overpriced jewelry and souvenirs. Just before you reach the ruins you'll pass the large sculpture park with its abstract iron sculptures painted in bright colors. Inside the village is an old lighthouse, which you can enter for free. Climb to the top for an incredible view to the south; the vista in the other direction is marred by a tower from a defunct amusement ride (Ixchel would not be pleased). The ruin, which is open daily 9 to 5:30, is at the point where the road turns northeast into the Corredor Panorámico. To visit just the ruins and sculpture park the admission is $3. Admission to the village is free.

Cost: Basic entrance fee $19; tours from Cancún $29-$59; tours from Isla $44
Open: Daily 8:30AM-6:30PM

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Member Reviews and Ratings

Reviewed by Cstiles01 from Grapevine, Texas, USA on 8/18/09
My boyfriend and I have been here 2 times and yearn to go back. The staff are very friendly and the buffet is awesome! We've seen starfish, Parrot fish, stingrays and barracuda in the coral. It truly is a beautiful and worth the money!