However, when he began to clear the land, he started uncovering cenotes formed by collapsed cave ceilings weakened by 3 million years of erosion from underground rivers running through them and flowing into the sea. He felt that so much beauty should not be accessible only to a privileged few.
So, Quintana began to formulate the idea of a Natural Park open to the public and soon joined forces with Oscar, Marcos and Carlos Constandse to turn this great dream into a reality.
Together, they faced this enormous task and the park-a family-oriented park with something for all ages--opened in December of 1990. At the same time, they established contact with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in order to restore the Mayan pyramids and buildings found in the site. XCARET subsidized all the work and INAH provided a team of experts to supervise restoration.
Whether relaxing or exploring, at Xcaret one can enjoy all the wonders such a privileged region provides. The Eco Park has a Museum with scale models of the ancient Maya cities; a Butterfly Pavilion; a Wild Bird Breeding Aviary; an archaeological zone; a Mayan village; two underground rivers; a Botanical Garden housing an Orchid, a Mushroom Farm and an Apiary; the Rincon Mexicano, with an hacienda, charreria (traditional horsemanship) shows and a fair; a Coral Reef Aquarium; two dolphin areas; a lagoon with manatees; pumas and jaguars on their own lush islands; small mammals representative of the local fauna; five restaurants offering Mexican and Caribbean specialties, along with live music; rest areas; aquatic activities; a rotating scenic tower; and, finally, Xcaret Spectacular Night in the Grand Tlachco. Xcaret Park promises a day full of fun and unforgettable experiences.
