Chapultepec park and zoo

CHAPULATEC PARK

For hundreds of years Chapultepec has been a focal point in this city of such tremendous population growth that an airy expanse of green is absolutely vital. It is complemented by important cultural centers including world-class museums (as the Museum of Anthropology ), amusement parks, a zoo and lakes, and is crisscrossed by access routes. These routes are most used by hordes of visitors, many of them making up typical extended Mexican families, with their far-reaching family ties.

Cerro de Chapultepec (Grasshopper Hill) was the first nature reserve in the Americas, created in the 1420s. It boasted botanical gardens, zoos and aviaries. It provided drinking water for Tenochtitlán.

There never seems to be a time when the 1,655 hectare park could be considered empty. On weekends and holiday's Mexican families' picnic on the expansive green lawns.

CHAPULTEPEC ZOO

Located in the first section of Chaputepec Park. In the late 1990s the park underwent a renovation. Gone are cramped cages and poor signage.
What you will find are representations of several ecosystems including deserts and tropical jungles. In addition, the park boasts an aviary. The zoo is one of the few in the world in which a panda has been born in captivity. The zoo is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9am - 4pm. give yourself a few hours to enjoy the visit.

The closest metro is Auditorio, though it's a pleasant walk through the park if you enter from the Chaputepec metro. The entrance is located just off Reforma, so you can also take a taxi. Entrance is free and maps are available for a small charge.