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| CHANKANAAB | ||||
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Chankanaab used to be a place where the people of Cozumel spent their
Sundays long ago. At that time the lagoon could only be reached by sea
or trail. It was a piece of paradise.
In a short time the history changed. First the paved road was
constructed between the lagoon and the sea, collapsing the tunnels that
connected the lagoon with the sea. In 1967 the cyclone Beulah silted the
lagoon and devastated the vegetation. Tourists began to reach the place
and with them vendors. By 1980 Chankanaab looked like a garbage dump
above and below the surface.
The state and local government along with the people of Cozumel started
a successful restoration program with the purpose of reverting the
damages caused to the ecosystem.
The effort also included a life restoring program. This and other
efforts have turned the Chankanaab lagoon into a major attraction of the
island and a center of cultural and ecological interest.
Chankanaab means little sea. It has evolved into a world renowned
ecosystem The lagoon is approximately 74 by 46 meters and its depth
varies from 1 to 3.5 meters.
Chankanaab is very likely the best known place in Cozumel. Its crystal
clear water, the reef just under the water level a few steps makes
Chankanaab one of the finest places in the world for snorkeling. It is
also the best place for you who haven't practiced your scuba diving
skills for a long time and want to get in shape again.
Many underwater rivers reach the sea at this place. These caves had been
followed several miles inland by specialized divers. The entrance to
these caves and caverns are closed for the visitors safety.
But Chankanaab is not just one of the best places in the world for
snorkeling and shallow diving. The park also has a botanical garden
where you may see many tropical trees, bushes and flowers. The botanical
garden also has many replicas of some of the best representations of
prehispanic monuments, especially Mayan.
The park has all that you might need to make your stay more pleasant,
including dressing rooms, freshwater showers, several restaurants,
full-service dive shops, equipment rental, clothing, photo and souvenir
shops. The park has lifeguards on duty all of the time.
Most of the Chankanaab waterfront is reef. But for those that like a
nice sandy beach, there is a small one. The inlet is like a sea water
pool. Children enjoy this part of the park very much.
For all of you whose dream is to swim with dolphins, Chankanaab also
hosts a Dolphins Discovery Center where you can learn about and interact
with these marvelous creatures. The program requires an additional cost
depending on the program in which you choose to enroll. There is also a
sea lion show that is performed at a special theatre. On July 2002 the
center welcomed the first dolphin born in the park. |
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