Sedatu announces completion of first phase for Tulum’s Jaguar National Park
Through the Urban Improvement Program, the Secretariat of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (Sedatu) has concluded the first stage of the project, which includes the construction of a 21.7 kilometer-long perimeter fence that surrounds the Tulum National Park (PNT) and the Jaguar Flora and Fauna Protection Area (APFFJ). Additionally, a 1.8 kilometer-long bike lane has been built on Cobá Avenue, consisting of two service modules and a system of planters that serve as a cushioning barrier from vehicular traffic, while also promoting active mobility in the municipality of Tulum.
Collaborative Efforts of Different Organizations
Several organizations are working together towards the development of the Jaguar National Park, including the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp), Sedatu, the Ministry of Culture through the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa), and the National Guard. The project involves the modernization of infrastructure and improving the conditions of visits to Natural Protected Areas (NPAs) and the archaeological monuments near Tulum.
Development of Jaguar National Park
The Jaguar National Park project aims to provide a site for public visits and low-impact tourism that highlights the archaeological monuments, natural and cultural richness of the federal reserves, as well as conservation elements, which include the ecosystems that support the flora and fauna of the area. The project includes land from the APFFJ, the PNT, the beaches of the Mexican Caribbean Biosphere Reserve (RBCM), and the archaeological zone of Tulum.
Improvement of Visitor Access and Mobility
Efforts are also being made to improve access to the PNT, which includes the provision of administrative offices, service areas, a public forum, and ticket booths. There are also plans to improve mobility in the southern zone of the park to ensure smooth access to different sites. This includes the construction of a visitor center for the archaeological corridor that includes the Tulum and Tankah archaeological zones.
Sustainable Development
This project promotes sustainable development while preserving the natural and cultural richness of the area. As such, tours will be implemented along the cliff, through paths with sea views towards the north of the park, where visitors can contemplate the Nauyacas and Cresterías temples, which evoke the theme of Maya navigation. In the south, the park will have seven access points: four to public beaches, Mangle, Maya, Pescadores, and Santa Fe; one to the cliff (south access beach), one to the Mirador Temple, and one to the lighthouse.
The archaeological site of Tulum is located on a natural rocky elevation, and it is one of the few walled cities. Its buildings stand out for their architectural beauty and bear witness to the Maya’s greatness. It is a site from the Postclassic period (1100-1529 A.D.), known to Europeans since 1518 when the Spanish expeditionary Juan de Grijalva observed it from the Caribbean Sea.
The New Access to the Archaeological Site of Tulum
The new access to this archaeological site will be integrated by information modules, ticket offices, bicycle parking, public restrooms, an immersion room, a documentation center, guide modules, restoration workshops, and turnstiles. There will also be a campsite intended for the INAH’s research work in the region.
The Works
The works include the construction of a site museum whose executive project is already underway. It will incorporate representations of Maya culture, such as their model of a house, honey production, cultivation, biodiversity (with an emphasis on the jaguar), and the use of local medicinal plants. In turn, Conanp works on the conservation of endangered species and promotes sustainable visits and tourism, as well as ecosystem restoration.
The recently declared APFFJ stands out for the presence of fauna such as the jaguar, spider monkey, and royal flycatcher. It has various types of vegetation and is home to 982 species, including fungi, plants, animals, and insects.
In the PNT, you can find the four species of mangroves (red, white, black, and buttonwood), bromeliads, and endemic palms such as the chit, guano, and nakax. Here, for the last nine years, Conanp has monitored and documented with camera traps the presence of jaguars, ocelots, tigrillos, and their prey, such as deer and collared peccaries. There are also cenotes and water holes used by wildlife as watering holes in this area.
Adjacent to the PNT is the RBCM, where sea turtles, hawksbill, green, and loggerhead, nest every year from May to October. It is also an important area for resident and migratory birds, and the Caribbean Sea has seagrass and coral reefs that are part of the Mesoamerican Reef System.
In the National Jaguar Park, a path of connecting trails is considered, with stops linking the project to the Tulum station of the Tren Maya and new operating spaces for various federal dependencies.
