All about Parque Ecológico del Poniente in Mérida (2025)

Parque Ecológico del Poniente, located in Mérida's Yucalpetén district, is a hidden gem that even many locals aren't familiar with.

This expansive natural park offers long walking paths surrounded by lush vegetation, including typical Yucatecan trees like flamboyants, tamarinds, ceibas, and oaks (see below).

The park also boasts an artificial lake, filled with water lilies and other aquatic plants. The entire circuit within the park spans approximately 2.9 kilometers, making it ideal for leisurely walks or jogs due to its easy terrain.

The "Sunken Park"

One of the park's unique features is its sunken pathways, which are about seven meters deep and lined with stones and tree roots reaching up to 15 meters high. This distinctive landscape has earned it the nickname "Parque Hundido" or "Sunken Park."

What to Know Before You Go

While the park offers a tranquil escape from the city's hustle and bustle, it's important to note that there are no food or drink vendors on-site. It's advisable to bring your own refreshments and perhaps a picnic to enjoy amidst the natural beauty.

Like the other two or three parks of this kind in Mérida, you're unlikely to encounter many other people along the way. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash. Depending on the time of day, you should keep Mérida’s heat in mind.

Great Spot for Bird Lovers

If you're into birdwatching, Parque Ecológico del Poniente in Mérida's Yucalpetén district is also an interesting spot to explore. The park features several paths, some of which are fairly narrow and perfect for birders looking to catch a view of a mot-mot or flycatcher.

Because the area surrounding the park has long been used as a quarry, it often floods when it rains, which in turn attracts all sorts of species that would otherwise not be seen in this part of town.

Trees Worth Noticing

I would like to briefly highlight two special trees in the park:

One is the tamarind tree. The tree has brown, pod-like fruit with a sweet, spicy pulp that is often used in cooking all over the world (including Mexico). Almost every supermarket in Mexico sells sweets made from the sticky tamarind.

And the ceiba tree (ya'ax'che in Mayan) is a sacred tree for the Maya, which holds up the sky with its branches and reaches into the underworld with its roots. The ceiba can grow up to 70 meters tall and the trunk can reach a diameter of up to three meters.