Chapultepec, more properly called the Bosque de Chapultepec, is Mexico City’s biggest park, and in fact the largest park in Latin America. In pre-Columbian times it was a retreat for the Aztec rulers and now it serves a similar role as a green lung for the capital’s populace.
Along with other institutions it contains the marvellous Museo Nacional de Antropología (closed Monday but open every other day from 9am to 7pm) which is one of the most interesting museums I’ve ever been to. Google map here.
However, it’s so big that I only saw a fraction of what was on display. As I had to work, I only arrived at 5pm and given my limited time (it closes at 7pm) the guy at the information desk recommended that I just see the highlights which, according to him, were the Teotihuacan, Aztec and Maya rooms.
In practice though, I only saw the Aztecs and the Oaxaca Area displays (see next post for the latter). In fact I spent 2.5 hours in just two of the twelve rooms on the ground floor, and there are another ten rooms on the second floor! In short, choose wisely and give yourself plenty of time!
Click on a photo to go to full screen slideshow…
Amazing stuff don’t you think? See my next post for the Olmecs (also amazing).