All about Reserva Ecológica Cuxtal in Mérida, Mexico

Reserva Ecológica Cuxtal is an enormous ecological reserve dedicated to environmental protection and conservation. It is officially recognized as a nature reserve and is managed by the city of Mérida.

It is no tourist destination and there are no guided tours or anything like that, but it is home to more than 1,000 different species of flora and fauna and could be of interest to designated nature lovers.

The area is also important for the city as it serves to maintain air quality, buffers extreme natural events and also supplies Mérida with fresh groundwater (covering around 50% of its water needs).

It requires a car to get there. You can reach the reserve via the Hacienda Dzoyaxche. There are two swimming pools, which can be used for a small entrance fee, some picnic benches and a small, rather old playground for kids.

The area

The reserve begins on the southern outskirts of Mérida and covers a total area of 11,894 hectares (one hectare is equivalent to 10,000 square meters).

The nature reserve borders the small villages of Yaxnic and Texán Cámara to the south, the municipality of Kanasín to the east and the small villages of San José Tzal and Ticimul (close to the Hacienda Santa Cruz) to the west.

Calle 50, which begins at the Parque de la Plancha in the center of Mérida, leads south through Mérida, beyond the outskirts of the city and almost through the entire reserve to the small village of Xmatkuil.

Former Henequen production

Henequen production in Mérida began in the late 19th century and reached its peak in the early to middle years of the 20th century. The heyday of the henequen industry in Mérida was between the late 1800s and the early 1900s.

Prior to its designation as a municipal nature reserve, the area was part of intensive henequen production, of which the haciendas in the area still bear witness today.

Archaeological sites

The extensive area has numerous vestiges of human occupation of pre-Hispanic origin from the late Preclassic period (300 BC to AD 300), linked to the region's Maya past.

There are 28 archaeological sites in total, although the state of preservation is generally poor, often there are just piles of stones.

The world of archaeology

Some interesting figures about Mayan archaeological sites on the Yucatan Peninsula:

Image Source: ©Adrianamrm, wiki commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

The picture was modified (resized, image improvements)