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Cancun
Mexico's Ecological Playground
By Donna Smith
The beaches smooth as velvet, shimmering green and aqua waters, blooming hibiscus and white-capped waves in Cancun, Mexico, may be eye candy for us, but these natural amenities are a tropical playground for children. While Cancun may rock during Spring Break with fun-going college kids and serve as a year-round haven for couples looking for romance, this city welcomes families and has much to offer them besides the beautiful beaches.
Xcaret, which means "little inlet," is a one-of-a-kind eco-park that will keep a family busy from morning to night. Children will be mesmerized as they learn about ancient Mayan traditions and discover nature – up close and personal – in this "eco-Disney." The park's Wild Bird Breeding Aviary has more than 37 species of birds and averages 30 macaw births each year. Sea turtles of all sizes swim in lagoons and tanks, and up to 20,000 are hatched each year. Children may get a butterfly kiss in the Butterfly Pavilion, which is one of the largest in the world, and colorful fish reign supreme in the Coral Reef Aquarium. While they don't flutter or swim, be sure to enjoy the beauty of the 118,000 plants in the Botanical Garden and 149 different orchid varieties that are actually produced "in vitro" at the park.
If it sounds like all a family can do is sight-see at Xcaret, think again! Hop into the Mayan Village River and play under trickling waterfalls and coast through a Mayan village to watch this ancient culture at work. The Underground River is another one-of-a-kind at Xcaret. The clear, mysterious river flows 20 feet below the ground and is nearly 2,000 feet long. The icy water is exhilarating and the coral formations breathtaking. Be sure to stop and have a family portrait taken along the way! Scuba gear is provided, as well as lockers to hold valuables.
