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Chankanaab National Park Facts

Chankanaab National Park Facts
Chankanaab National Park is a park located on Cozumel, Mexico's west coast, inside Cozumel National Marine Park. Chankanaab National Park was established in 1980 in an effort to protect the animals and plant species found on the island and coral reefs. Chankanaab National Park is very popular with tourists as a snorkeling, diving, and swimming destination. Located within the park's botanical gardens are more than 400 plant species that visitors can view. The park is considered to be Cozumel's most popular beach park, with replicas of ancient Mayan ruins that can be reached by taking a 'jungle walk' meant to mimic the surroundings of the ancient Mayans.
Interesting Chankanaab National Park Facts:
In the Mayan language Chankanaab means 'small sea'. 'Chan' means 'small', and 'Kanaab' means 'sea'.
Mayan settlements were the first known developments in the area of Chankanaab National Park. This is the reason that Mayan history is incorporated into the park's activities.
Chankanaab refers to the natural lagoon located in Chankanaab National Park.
It is believed that at one time pirates may have sought refuge at Chankanaab's lagoon. They may have used it as a place to bury treasure.
The replica ancient Mayan ruins located in Chankanaab National Park contain huts, a bathhouse, and other features that would have been common to the ancient civilization.
The main attraction of Chankanaab National Park is the underwater park that features a variety of marine life species including coral reef and tropical fish that can be seen by swimming, snorkeling or diving.
Visitors to Chankanaab National Park can swim with dolphins as part of the Dolphin Discovery attraction.
Activities that visitors to Chankanaab can experience also include zip lining, watching sea lion and dolphin shows, lounging at the beach, and learning to scuba dive.
The goal of Chankanaab National Park is to protect the environment through conservation while providing an opportunity for visitors to learn about the nature of the area.
There is an Interactive Natural History Museum located in Chankanaab National park where visitors can learn about the history of the Mayan people.
It is possible for visitors to take an underwater submarine ride called Atlantis Submarine Ride in Cozumel that takes passengers to Chankanaab to see the marine life that was previously only visible to those who could scuba dive.
There are three ways that visitors to Chankanaab National Park can interact with the marine life. These include swimming with dolphins, swimming with manatees, and a seal lion encounter.
There are replicas of archaeological finds in the Mayan village in Chankanaab National Park. These include small Mayan temples, the Chacmool statue (a reclining figure), the Tenochtitlan Moon Goddess Coyolxauhqui stone, and Olmec colossal heads.
While snorkeling in Chankanaab's water it is possible to see sunken ships, a variety of tropical fish species, and statues and anchors on the sea floor.
Types of fish that can be seen living in the coral reef of Chankanaab National Park include scorpion fish, stonefish, splendid toad fish, sand rays, trigger fish, tang fish, as well as octopus, lobster, and crab.


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