Discovering Chapultepec Park in Mexico City
Even though I have been coming back to Mexico City and the Chapultepec Park for the past 3 years, I still feel that there is an endless source of discoveries waiting for me there. There are often pop-up exhibitions by the entrance of the first sector, special programs during holidays and many many hidden spots that draw me back time and time again. It is definitely one of the must see-s of Mexico City but I would go as far as to say that it’s worth visiting the city just to go to the park if the noise and crowds are too much for you to bear.
Chapultepec Park or Bosque Chapultepec (Chapultepex Forest) is the second largest city park in Latin America at around 686 hectares. The park attracts an estimate 15 million visitors a year and it is one of the most important green areas of Mexico City. The park is frequented by locals and tourists alike and it is a preferred location to spend weekend days by chilangos.
The history of the park goes back to the Toltecs who used it as a sacred location and was the place for sacred ceremonies. The name of the park itself comes from the Nahuatl Chapoltepec, which means “Grasshopper Hill”. The park is divided into 3 sectors and there are different activities and opening hours for each.
In the first sector you will find the Chapultepec Castle, with the National History Museum inside and the famous Chapultepec Zoológico. The latter is home to many exotic animals and is an important location for wildlife conservation efforts, such as breeding endangered animals in captivity. Further to the zoo, there is a botanic garden and a number of fascinating museums, such as the Modern Art Museum, the Tamayo Contemporary Art Museum and the National Anthropology Museum. Going further into the park, one finds the Lago the Chapultepec (Chapultepec Lake) which was artificially created and offers a wide variety of activities, such as renting boats and water bikes. In this sector there is also a large area filled with restaurants offering a variety of typical Mexican dishes at very reasonable prices and the road leading into the park is packed on both sides with vendors offering sweets, toys, temporary tattoo stations and souvenirs among other things.
In the second sector there are more museums, such as the Natural History Museum and the Papalote Children’s museum, as well as the national cemetery, El Panteon Civil de Dolores. The third sector is the least visited and most reminiscent of an actual forest. It is a huge natural wooded area with hills and canyons and the perfect location to get away from the noise of the city.. While the first sector is only open from 5 am to 8pm on between Tuesday to Sunday, the second and third sectors are open 24/7 year round.
I hope this article made you a bit curious about visiting the park. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
