🐆 Got a few days and wondering about a visit to Aluxes Ecopark in Palenque? We hear you… and so we prepared this post to help you figure out if you should go… or not!
Aluxes Ecopark is set just 4km outside of Palenque in the State of Chiapas, Mexico. Aluxes, pronounced a-loosh-es, is home to many of the region’s animals. You’ll meet flamingoes, tapirs, ocelots, the scarlet macaw, howler monkeys and spider monkeys to name just a few.
Yes Aluxes Ecopark could be described as a zoo. But we aren’t the type of travellers who visit facilities that keep and display animals. Instead we prefer to visit animal sanctuaries, or support organizations, that work with animals and locals in their natural habitats.
Given that the park came recommended by a fellow traveller, we decided to do our research and find out more about the facility and its programs. And what we learnt, encouraged us to go check it out. Ultimately, we were glad we did, as we discovered some of the programs and the good taking place at Aluxes Ecopark, Palenque.
This post answers your questions about Aluxes Ecopark and sheds some light on what is happening within. Browse our guide for a better understanding of what you can expect to see on your visit.
Also Read: How to Visit Palenque Ruins Without a Guide
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Table of Contents
What is Aluxes Ecopark All About?
Aluxes Ecopark in Palenque, is an animal sanctuary, with an emphasis on rehabilitation for the purpose of release. They serve to educate about the impact of deforestation and highlight the dangers of taking wild animals for domestic pets and profit.
They also have a big hand in some of the reintroduction of the local wildlife. With the reintroduction of the scarlet macaw being one of their success stories.
The park is made up of around 40 hectares of lush native jungle, just outside Palenque. And given its mission towards conservation, we believe that Aluxes Ecopark is a great morning or afternoon activity. It certainly should be on your list, if you’re travelling with the kids.
Read on to find out why we think so!
How to Get To Aluxes Ecopark in Palenque
Only 4km from Palenque town, on the road to the Palenque Ruins, Aluxes Ecopark couldn’t be easier to get to.
Because it’s so close to town you have several options for getting there. You can drive if you have your own car, grab a taxi, or hop in a shared collective.
You might even like to stretch the legs if it’s not too hot, in which case it’s only a 40 minute walk.
Below we explain each option in more detail.
Driving
🚙 Firstly, if you’re driving your own vehicle, make your way to the roundabout outside the ADO bus station.
- From here take the roundabout south towards Ocosingo.
- At the next roundabout take the first exit onto Carr. Zona Arqueológica / Ruinas-Palenque.
- Follow the road for around 2.6 km, keeping a look out for the entrance to Aluxes Ecopark on your right.
- After you’ve turned into the park, continue along to find plenty of car parking.
Taxi
🚕 Secondly, consider a Taxi! Simply wave one down and negotiate a price to Aluxes Ecopark.
We spoke to three different drivers, and were quoted 100 by the first two, then agreed on 70 with the third. So expect to pay between 60 – 100 MXN pesos each way.
To get back to Palenque from Aluxes Ecopark, you may be lucky and find a taxi outside the entrance. Alternatively, you can walk down to the main road to wave one down. Or possibly even a collective, on its way back from the Palenque Ruins.
For ease however, we recommend you ask for the taxi driver’s phone number, then message when you’re ready for a pick-up. This is what we did, and at the same time were able to agree on the same cost for the return trip.
Shared Collective / Colectivo
🚐 To catch a collective, head to the ADO bus station and look for the mini-van heading to the Ruinas.
These colectivos run the public transport route out to the Palenque Ruins. They pass in front of the bus station more or less every 15 minutes. The cost to the ruins is 25 MXN per person, but we’re not sure of the price to the Aluxes Ecopark. I would expect it to be less than this.
Naturally, when it’s time to return you can catch a colectivo at the main road on the way back into Palenque town.
Walk
🚶 Now for anyone wanting to stretch the legs, or who might be travelling on a budget, then it’s an easy 40 minute walk. There is in fact, a wide bike path along the 2.6 km Carr. Zona Arqueológica /Ruinas-Palenque. What’s more it’s a pleasant walk among the beautiful green landscape of the region.
What to Expect at Aluxes Ecopark in Palenque
So now you know how to get to Aluxes Ecopark in Palenque, what can you expect to see and do. Below we explain the price for entrance, the animals you might see and a little info to help you identify if it’s a trip worth taking.
Tickets & Cost to Aluxes Ecopark
From the road entrance, make your way towards the main entrance and shop. As you enter, your first stop is the ticketing desk.
Entrance Tickets cost:
- Adults cost 180 MXN pesos
- Kids under 130cm cost 90 MXN pesos
- Kids under 90cm are free
Packets of fish feed can be purchased for a small charge, this is great if you have kids. You’ll also be given a map to the park like the one we have photographed below, and away you go.
Note that the only cafe and toilets are here at the entrance. So it’s a wise idea to take a pit stop before getting started.
The park is really easy to navigate! As you exit the ticket office, walk past the first fish pond and through the entrance gate. Then onto the main path which can either be followed clockwise or anti-clockwise. As you will see from the map, the parrot house and jaguar enclosure are the first on the trail if heading in a clockwise direction. Next up are the manatees and flamingos… and so on.
The team at Aluxes Ecopark also offer experiences and tours for visitors who want a more in-depth understanding about some of the rehab and release programs.
These range from encounters with macaws, giant tortoises, crocodiles, boas and the resident manatees. Though some are offered day by day, depending on what is happening at the time. So if there is something you are particularly keen on, we recommend contacting them ahead of time.
What Kind of Animals Will You See at Aluxes Ecopark
Aluxes ecopark is typically home to animals from Palenque and the state of Chiapas. Some of the types of local animals you can expect to see are jaguars, manatees, macaws, crocodiles, ocelot, tapir, deer, howler monkeys and spider monkeys.
The park is set within native rain forest, and it feels as though you are weaving through thick jungle that has most likely always been there. This is one of the best things about Aluxes. It all feels natural, and the enclosures appear to have been developed with the well-being of the animals at heart.
Most of the enclosures are quite large. And there is an ethos on quality of life for those animals that aren’t able to be released back into the wild. The layout is pretty great, with lagoons, marsh and swampland intertwined with rainforest. We definitely recommend a walk up the watchtower, where you can see above the tree canopy. This provides visitors a unique perspective, and a sense of the dense surrounding jungle.
Given that Aluxes Ecopark has created large natural enclosures, means that you’ll need to look hard for some of the animals. But we appreciate the reason behind this and praise the team for creating a space that respects animal welfare.
🐒 During your walk make sure to keep an eye out and up, as not all the animals are confined to the enclosures. More specifically the macaws, howler monkeys and agouti roam free.
Conservation Programs & Educational Experiences
Aluxes Ecopark in Palenque is an amazing place to get up close to some of Mexico’s native wildlife. While at the same time getting to wander through their natural habitat.
What makes it truly special is the opportunity to learn about the local efforts taken to protect these animals.
Below we highlight what Aluxes Ecopark is doing in terms of education, rehabilitation and reintroduction.
Education
Aluxes Ecopark is first and foremost a rehabilitation and educational facility. Not only does this come across loud and clear through their website, but you also get a sense of this from the moment you enter. And this message is reiterated throughout the park… a reminder of the impact humans have on the natural world.
There are many signs situated throughout the park that share information related to the animals and conservation. These help provide a much better understanding of the animal and their situation. Most are provided in English.
For example the explanation of ‘why am I here‘ outside Lola the jaguar’s enclosure, which ultimately serves as a valuable message to visitors. I felt it was helpful to read, about the stories of some of these animals, throughout the visit.
Rehabilitation
Sadly the animals you will meet on your visit to Aluxes, have either been injured or removed from a domestic situation. Aluxes temporarily becomes their home while the team attempt to rehabilitate the animals for a possible release.
Unfortunately, not all the outcomes are great. Sometimes due to loss of habitat, the severity of the injury, or in some cases when the animal isn’t a native species, rehabilitation isn’t an option.
Such is the case for the parks once domesticated jaguars, who now live in enclosures. We found seeing the big cats tracking back and forth in their cages rather devastating. With that said, knowing the story about how each came to the park helped us to understand their situation.
And while the cages are not huge, they are larger than regulated by international standards. The team have also created a space with height and multiple levels, allowing the cats to climb.
Aluxes, also run enrichment programs with all their animals, providing them with stimulation and exercise. Yes, it’s tough to see such beautiful animals, restricted in captivity. But it does bring home the point of deforestation and the illegal trade of wild animals.
Reintroduction
Aluxes Ecopark, runs a release program but there are specific criteria for this. For instance the animal needs to be fit and healthy, and needs to have had limited human contact. Naturally they also need to be able to forage and fend for themselves. In addition to this the habitat needs to be able to sustain them, while providing little human impact.
The reintroduction of the scarlet macaw is one of their biggest success stories.
The scarlet macaw which was once plentiful within the Lacandon rain forest around Palenque, was thought to have been extinct for some 70 years. This was predominantly due to hunting, deforestation and illegal trade.
After breeding the birds in captivity, then training them to forage from locally sourced food stocks, the birds were released. Over the spring of 2013, 96 birds were released from the park, with the program continuing at a great success since.
🤗 It’s stories like this, that motivate us to ‘show up’ and support conservation programs when visiting small towns like Palenque.
How Long Do You Need to Visit
The park is open 7 days a week, from 9am to 6pm, but the last admission is at 4.30.
If you’re wondering how long you might need for your visit to Aluxes, then this would depend on your level of interest.
However for most, we would assume between two and four hours would be enough time to explore the full track. This would comfortably allow sufficient time to stop at each enclosure, reading various information signs along the way.
Subsequently, a visit to Aluxes is a great morning, midday or afternoon activity. Of course if you’re passionate about Mexican wildlife, you may end up spending the better part of the day. It’s definitely a nice spot to chill and take your time, with plenty of rest areas for you to relax at.
Is Aluxes Ecopark in Palenque Worth Visiting
If you’re an animal lover then we thoroughly recommend a visit to Aluxes Ecopark. It’s the perfect rest day, if you need a little time to catch up on the travel and adventure.
But also if you’re interested in finding out more about Mexico’s wildlife. In other words, we believe Aluxes Ecopark is a great place to learn about some of the issues impacting the animals of Chiapas, as well as the environmental programs in place.
We are a family of four and our two girls absolutely loved the experience. However, you don’t need to be a kid to enjoy a day out at Aluxes Ecopark. There is plenty here to keep all travellers entertained.
If you’re looking for more awesome things to do in and around Palenque, then check out our other blogs:
- Read our complete guide of the best things to do in Palenque (coming soon)
- Take a day trip to Roberto Barrios waterfalls
- Or a day trip to Agua Azul and Misol-Ha waterfalls
- And get our map & guide on how to visit Palenque Ruins without a tour
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