Xel-Ha Park facts for kids
 Xel-Há Inlet
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| Location | Km. 240 Carretera Chetumal-Puerto Juárez local 1 y 2 módulo B, Quintana Roo, Mexico |
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| Coordinates | 20°19′2.22″N 87°21′24.55″W / 20.3172833°N 87.3568194°W |
| Owner | Promotora Xel-Ha S.A. de C.V. (subsidiary of Experiencias Xcaret Group) |
| Website | http://www.xelha.com/ |
Xel-Há Park is a super fun aquatic theme park and ecotourism spot. It's located on the beautiful Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo, Mexico. This amazing park is part of the Xcaret Experiencias Group. This group also owns other cool parks like Xplor Park and Xcaret Park.
Xel-Há Park is found in a famous area called the "Riviera Maya." This region is a popular place for tourists to visit. The park is about 240 kilometers (149 miles) north of Chetumal. It's also about 122 kilometers (76 miles) south of Cancun. The park gets its name from an old pre-Columbian Maya civilization site called Xelha. Part of this ancient site is actually inside the park's area! The famous Maya ruins of Tulum are also close by, about 13 kilometers (8 miles) to the south.
Contents
Discovering Xel-Há Park
Xel-Há Park first opened its doors in 1984. It is managed by the Mexican-owned Experiencias Xcaret Group. The park's main attraction is a natural inlet and a beautiful lagoon. This special area is formed where a river meets the ocean. Fresh underground water mixes with salty ocean water here.
Exploring the Natural Aquarium
The inlet at Xel-Há is like a giant natural aquarium. It is home to hundreds of different kinds of tropical fish. You can also see lots of amazing plants here. The park even has a special area for sea turtles. Scientists at the park study these turtles to learn more about marine life. They also work to help protect the environment in the area.
A special fence keeps sharks out of the lagoon's entrance. This means visitors can safely swim and snorkel in the clear waters. Underneath the water, the soft limestone has worn away over time. This has created many small caves and grottos to explore.
Fun Activities at Xel-Há
Xel-Há Park offers many exciting water activities. You can go snorkelling to see the fish up close. You can also try scuba diving to explore deeper. Some visitors even get to go swimming with dolphins!
Xel-Há's Commitment to Nature
Xel-Há Park is very dedicated to protecting our planet. In 2014, it became the first tourist park in the world to get an EarthCheck Gold certification. This award means the park is doing a great job with its sustainability programs. They buy products from local businesses. They also train their staff to care for and protect the environment.
Protecting Habitats and Plants
Xel-Há is also excellent at keeping its natural habitats safe. The park protects 75% of its natural area. They do this through a special program started in 2000. It's called the "Rescue, Reproduction and Reforestation of Native Plants Program." The plant nurseries at Xel-Há helped a lot with a huge tree-planting effort. The parent company, Experiencias Xcaret Group, planted over 400,000 plants in just 18 months! Almost half of these new plants were placed in public areas. You can find them all over Cancun and the Riviera Maya.
See also
In Spanish: Xel-Há para niños
- Xcaret Eco Park
