CANCUN, Mexico --
Luxurious, beachfront resorts may be relaxing oases, but they often
dont satisfy the itch to experience the natural beauty of a
destination.
Xcaret Eco Park
here scratches that itch. Just be sure to bring a comfortable pair
of walking shoes and a lot of energy. Theres much to do and much
ground to cover.
Xcaret,
pronounced shka-RET, opened in 1990 on a site that six centuries
ago was a thriving port for the indigenous Mayan people. Pyramids
and other structures were restored and can be explored by
visitors.
But the biggest
attraction is the wildlife, and all of the animals in the wildlife
sanctuary at Xcaret, such as spider monkeys, jaguars, deer and
hundreds of species of birds, are native to the region.
And while walking
on the rustic paths through the park, visitors will see other
native creatures, including iguanas.
Of course, theres
marine wildlife, too, at the aquarium. For more adventurous
visitors, theres snorkeling in an underground river and swimming
with bottlenose dolphins, the one activity that my wife, Christa,
was talking about for weeks before our trip to the Riviera
Maya.
Christa wasnt
disappointed. The highlight of the experience was getting a ride
from a dolphin -- it pushed its nose into the soles of her feet,
propelling her through the water.
Xcaret conducts
the dolphin activity in groups of 10 to 15; the price is $115 per
person. General admission to the park
is $49; for kids ages 5 to 12, $25. Most hotels in the region
offers tours to the park that include transportation.
Visit www.xcaret.com for more
information.
To contact
reporter Jerry Limone, send e-mail to [email protected].