Chapultepec Park has it all. At nearly double the size of New York’s Central Park, Chapultepec is home to nine museums, a zoo, a castle and a vibrant history dating far past Moctezuma and the Mexica. But what are Mexico City’s best parks that aren’t Chapultepec?
It’s also a major attraction to an average of 40,000 visitors a day. And sometimes you just don’t want to be around all those people. The good news is that in a city as big as Mexico City, there are alternatives that cater to everyone: meditators, hikers and Zumba experts alike. Enjoy this list of seven fantastic parks in Mexico City that aren’t Chapultepec.
Parque México
The leafy oasis in the center of La Condesa was constructed in 1927. Its oval shape is meant to evoke memories of the former horse race track it was built on. What the park currently lacks in horses is well made up for with a sizable population of neighborly dogs, nearly-domesticated squirrels and graceful swans floating around their manmade pond.
Size: 9 hectares
Hours open: 24 hours
Activities: Walk, run, bike, exercise at the outdoor gym, play at the playground, take a Zumba class, soak up some sun, learn how to properly wield a lightsaber.
Something unique: There is a designated zen zone for meditation and reading, with speakers playing soft music and hammock-style chairs.
Parque La Mexicana
Santa Fe’s answer to Chapultepec Park is studded by high rise apartment complexes that reflect off the lakes that serve much greater a purpose than aesthetics – they trap contaminants and dust particles as well as control temperature and humidity levels.
Size: 20 hectares, 8 currently under construction
Hours: 5:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Activities: Walking and biking paths, fountains, a skate park, sports fields, padel courts
Something unique: In addition to 17 dining establishments, there is an actual Costco onsite so you can stock up on paper towel rolls after a game of padel.
Parque Hundido
Parque Hundido translates to “sunken park” for a reason. The land it occupies in the Extremadura Insurgentes neighborhood of Benito Juárez was once rich in clay deposits which were extracted for a nearby brick factory, eventually forming a sinkhole. When Avenida Insurgentes was paved and the population swelled around the 1930s, the eyesore was transformed into a park for new, wealthy residents. It’s recognizable today for its giant working clock made of flowers.
Size: 100 square meters
Hours: 24 hours
Activities: Walking paths, an outdoor gym, children’s playground, an audiorama for outdoor concerts and movies
Something unique: There are 51 statue replicas carefully placed along pathways dedicated to Indigenous civilizations such as the Maya, Huastec, Zapotec and Olmec.
Viveros de Coyoacán
Mexican architect and environmentalist Miguel Ángel de Quevedo, also known as the Tree Apostle, dedicated a hectare of his own land for a plant nursery in 1901. By the 1930s, Viveros had become Coyoacán’s largest park. This verdant haven in the city’s south teems with towering trees and peaceful trails, as well as a healthy population of very friendly squirrels.
Size: 39 hectares
Hours open: 6:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Activities: Walk, run, bike, jump into a yoga class or fencing demo, have a picnic
Something unique: Hidden within the park are the ruins of a small chapel.
Parque Lincoln
This Polanco park is, as you may guess, named for U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, who famously opposed the invasion of Mexico between 1846 and 1848. Not a place to go jogging but certainly a place to enjoy the outdoors, Parque Lincoln is a quiet space which runs adjacent to some of Polanco’s trendiest restaurants and bars. Within its borders you can find sculptures, a botanical garden, an aviary and several ponds. There is an outdoor theater for live music concerts and festivals, notably the Polanco Jazz Festival in late November.
Size: 12 acres
Hours open: 24 hours
Activities: Strolling, relaxing on a bench, playing on a playground, shopping at the weekly tianguis
Something unique: On Sundays you can rent small motorized boats to race. While it’s meant for children, it always seems to be the fathers having all the fun.
Parque Nacional Los Dinamos
If you want to do some real hiking or mountain biking, this is where you want to go. Explore more than 26 km of trails that cut through waterfalls, over the Magdalena River, past old factory ruins and up towering peaks that grant you snippets of Mexico City’s expanse. There are designated sections for camping if you want to brave an overnight among foxes and rabbits.
Size: 2,429 hectares
Hours open: 6:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Activities: Hiking, biking, rock climbing, rappelling, camping
Something unique: Climb up a wobbly ladder to Puerta del Cielo for great pictures and spectacular views.
Parque Nacional Desierto de los Leones
No, there are no lions. This national park in the borough of Magdalena Contreras, said to be named after the León family, is another alternative for serious hikers as well as history buffs. It’s home to miles and miles of trails that range from easy to challenging, some which lead to the beautifully-preserved Ex-Convento del Desierto de los Leones. The 17th-century Carmelite monastery features monks’ cells and a church.
Size: 1,800 hectares
Hours open: 6:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Activities: Hiking, biking, rock climbing, picnicking, horseback riding
Something unique: Find the famous secret garden set inside the walls of the ex-convent.
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog, or follow her on Instagram.
