Can Puerto Morelos remain a refuge from megadevelopment?
Be sure to visit the Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marmn Botanical Garden, at the turnoff for Puerto Morelos on Highway 307 at Kilometer 38. The gardens, occupying 65 hectares, represent the only land that has been set aside for conservation on the corridor between Canczn and Tulum. The habitats range from mangrove swamps to semi-evergreen tropical forest. In the tropical heat, the garden is a cool and well-shaded oasis. Wetland after being damaged by bulldozer. Native plants are fostered in the nursery, which has an important mission given the daily deforestation of the surrounding region. There are 3 kilometers (2 miles) of marked trails. Want to see a chicle tree? It’s there in the garden, along with a re-creation of a chiclero camp. The gardens contain a Mayan ruin named The Altar that dates to the post-classic period (A.D. 1400). You’ll find local medicinal and culinary herbs identified by their Mayan, Spanish, and Latin names. The park attracts wild creatures. If you’re lucky, you might ev
