National Parks in Mexico

Wednesday, 07 April 2010 21:05

This page provides information on national parks in Mexico in the regions of Baja California, Chiapas, Chihuahua and Mexico City. Most of the parks are are on land though there are a few that are national marine parks such as Cabo Pulmo and Bay of Loreto.

San Lorenzo Marine Archipelago National Park 
This park is on the island of San Lorenzo in the Sea of Cortez off the coast of Baja California. The park was established in April of 2005 to protect the fragile ecosystem that helps sustain the marine mammals and sea birds.

Sierra de San Pedro Martir National Park
This park is located in Baja California in Ensenada, Baja California. It is known for its pine trees and granite rock formations. The park shares its name with a mountain range that runs north-south along the center Northwest section of Baja California. The park is one of the few places where a pine forest exists in Baja California and is an important habitat for bighorn sheep.

Constitution 1857 National Park
This park is located the pine forest mountain range of Sierra de Juarez in Baja California, Mexico. Like the Sierra de San Pedro Park, Constitution 1857 National Park is an important habitat for bighorn sheep and mule deer. The park was created by decree of the Mexican government in April of 1962.

Bay of Loreto Marine Park
This marine park covers 2,065 square kilometers in the Sea of Cortez and spans from the Isla Coronado in the north to the Isla Catalina in the south. The park was created in July of 1996 and in July of 2005 it was added to the United Nation's list of Protected World Heritage Sites. The Sea of Cortez is home to more than 800 species of marine life, many of them are endangered and in need of protection.

Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park
This park is at the Southern end of Baja California Sur. The park spans five miles of beach and extends to the waters offshore protecting the only hard coral reef in North America. The fragile area went unprotected for many years; it was finally designated as a National Marine Park in 1995.

Canon del Sumidero National Park
This park is not only a recognized National Park since 1980, but is also a Mexican ecological reserve. The park is located in the Chiapas highlands protects Sumidero Canyon and the Grijalva River that runs through the center of it. It was created to help protect the area around the river because it is an important habitat for the American crocodile.

Palenque National Park
Palenque was a Mayan city in the Mexican state of Chiapas. Excavations of the site, which began more than 100 years ago, have revealed some of the finest Mayan architecture and sculptures. Palenque also allows visitors to explore the ruins unlike some other Mayan sites.

Basaseachic Falls National Park
This park is in the Mexican state of Chihuahua in the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountain Range. The park was created in February 1981 and is so named to its large waterfall that empties in the Candamena Canyom that was carved out by the Basaseachic River. Besides its impressive waterfall the park is known for its pine-oak forest, rock formations and spectacular views.

Cumbres de Majalca National Park
Located in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, the park was created in September of 1939 and showcases amazing rock formations created by wind and water erosion as well as its oak-pine forest. The park is also one of the few places in Mexico inhabited by black bears. Rock climbing, hiking, biking and camping are also large draws to the area.

Cumbres de Ajusco National Park
Located in the Federal District of Mexico near Mexico City, the park was established in 1936. The park has pine-oak forests and high mountain grassland and because it receives a good amount of precipitation it is covered in green forests and flowers.

Written by Lauren Adams You are reading National Parks in Mexico articles