Chapultepec Forest is one of my favorite areas of the Mexico City. Within the largest urban park in Latin America there are many places to discover, some secret, others not so much.
Of course, it’s not hard to find some restaurants, museums, and places to go running. However, I’m going to mention five places that are essential and unmissable for both locals and tourists who are enjoying the magic of CDMX.
5 must-see stops in Chapultepec Forest
1 – Chapultepec Castle (National History Museum)
The Castillo de Chapultepec or Chapultepec Castle has been used in many ways: as a home for the viceroys, the imperial palace of Maximilian (the second emperor of Mexico), a military school, a presidential residence and even a national observatory.
From the top of Chapultepec Hill, the place tells the country's history through rooms organized by historical episodes. One of its attractions is that it displays clothes and furniture that were used by people like Miguel Hidalgo and José Maria Morelos.
Tip: It's worth asking for special tours of spaces that are not normally open to the public, such as Empress Charlotte's chambers.
2 – Chapultepec Zoo (Alfonso Herrera Zoo)
If you love animals, Chapultepec Zoo is definitely worth a full-day visit. In addition to being the birthplace of the first panda in captivity outside of China, it is also the second largest zoo in Mexico.
They continually have new species on display, such as Iztac, the snow leopard, or animals that are raised in the same zoo, such as Manik, the Nile hippopotamus.
Since the food inside the zoo is not the best, we recommend that you bring your own food and have a picnic by the lake after visiting.
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3 – Lagos Mayor and Menor do Bosque de Chapultepec
For decades, it has been one of the icons of the forest, whether for rowing, feeding the ducks or even sunbathing. The two lakes in the forest are artificial. Their green waters – the color is caused by the oxygenation of the water – can be explored from the decks, where they rent kayaks, rowboats or pedal boats.
If you are afraid of water, don't worry, the lake is approximately 1 meter deep.
4 – National Museum of Anthropology (MNA)
It is worthy of spectacle and amazement, not only for the pieces it displays, but also for its architecture. The building was designed by Pedro Ramirez Vasquez in collaboration with different artists, such as the Chávez Morado brothers.
This museum is one of the most important in the world, as it brings together pieces from almost all Mesoamerican cultures.
On your visit, you should take a look at the Teotihuacana room, which has an exact replica of the temple of Quetzalcoatl; the jade mask of the Mayan ruler Pakal II; the mask of the bat god, made of jade and shells; the statue of Coatlicue and, of course, the Piedra del Sol, also known as the Aztec calendar.
Tip: The worst day to visit is Sunday, as entry is free, the place gets crowded.
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5 – Altar a la Pátria in the Chapultepec Forest
It was made in memory of the fighters who lost their lives during the American invasion in 1847.
Although its basement is not open to the public – to prevent it from deteriorating – it is possible to admire it and take a photograph with the altar and the castle in the background.
Most of the five million people who visit the forest pass by this monument at the main entrance to Chapultepec and it is one of the capital's most famous postcards.
4 secrets of the Chapultepec Forest
Chapultepec Forest is one of the favorite areas of the city's residents. In addition to being the most important lung of CDMX, it offers many attractions for children and adults.
You can visit all the museums in the area, there are also ideal places to walk your dog and, if you feel hungry, you will always find good restaurants.
In addition to Castillo de Chapultepec or Casa del Lago, which are places that we can all easily find, I invite you to explore these five secret places that not many locals know are inside the forest.
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1 – Dolores’ Carcamo
It is one of the most beautiful corners of Chapultepec and also one of the most complex. This hydraulic work made possible the existence of the Lerma-Cutzamala system, which supplies water to a large part of the city and reaches the forest.
There you can admire the mystical Tlaloc Fountain and the mural “Water: the origin of life on earth”, both works by Diego Rivera.
Although the latter was designed to be partially observed underwater, in the 1990s the flow that reached the casing had to be redirected to prevent the part from deteriorating further.
This eliminated the sound of water inside the building, which years later was replaced by a sound installation by artist Ariel Guzik. The result is still impressive: a work that absorbs you visually and audibly with beauty.
Tip: If you’re traveling with children, be sure to visit the Water Culture Center, which is just a few meters from Cárcamo. There, they will explain Rivera’s mural and some scientific facts about water through workshops.
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2 – Sensory Garden
This is a small space within the Chapultepec Botanical Garden where you can put your hands, smell and listen to explore new perspectives.
Through a path away from the noise, you have to turn off your senses, except one, and experience it at four specialized stations.
For example, you will tune your ear to the sounds filtered by a lake; you will sharpen your sense of smell by smelling aromatic plants while walking on a stone bridge and discovering textures in panels with different temperatures.
Tip: There are guided tours available as part of the Green Saturdays program. In addition, the Blind Tours organization organizes tours on some weekends.
3 – Senior Citizens’ Garden
It might go unnoticed, perhaps because of its exclusivity: you can only enter here if you are over 65. The secret of this oasis of tranquility – which has been around for 31 years – is that they offer more than 30 free activities to senior citizens.
These include painting, piano, dance and even computer classes; although they can also simply play chess and chat.
Another gem in the garden is the Korean Pavilion, a smaller replica of the pavilion at Tapgol Park in Seoul, Korea.
Tip: If you're lucky, from Wednesday to Sunday you can ask for permission to visit the Korean Pavilion.
4 – Chapultepec Botanical Garden
It has a wide variety of vegetation from the Mexican highlands arranged in flower beds around the tezontle walkways, as well as a greenhouse with medicinal and ornamental plants.
What makes this place unique is that it has an orchid garden with almost 200 types of species, displayed in stained glass windows that are not always visible, as they are covered to prevent sun damage.
You don't need to be a botanist to understand the different ecosystems represented, as there are always staff members who will kindly answer questions and explain where the species come from.
Another advantage is that, although the entrance is on Avenida Reforma, the noise from cars and the city is almost imperceptible.
Tip: If you want to visit the orchid garden, you have to arrive early as it closes at 15pm.
4 delicious restaurants in Chapultepec
If you are discovering the secrets of Chapultepec Forest and are feeling hungry, don't worry.
I will now recommend some of my favorite restaurants and cafes in the forest to enjoy after taking a walk or after visiting the forest museums.
1 – Moo House
In the Chapultepec Forest, among trees and squirrels, you will find this ideal place for an afternoon picnic or to simply satisfy a craving.
The specialty is American-style burgers and milkshakes, a combination that we know will sabotage any diet, but it's worth it.
2 – Café del Bosque Chapultepec
With an incredible view of the smaller lake in Bosque de Chapultepec, this café-restaurant offers authentic Mexican food with Californian and Oriental touches.
3 – Tamayo Restaurant
Tamayo Restaurant has a beautiful terrace and is pet-friendly. Try the duck tacos with hibiscus, the plantain soup or the snapper, paired with a nice craft beer.
This restaurant is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat before or after an exhibition at the Museo Tamayo. As a tip, visit the shop next to the restaurant, where you can find some amazing Mexican design items.
4 – El Lago Restaurant
Its front-row tables overlooking Lake Chapultepec make it a classic for Sunday brunches with the family, romantic dinners and business lunches.
Their motto is that they are “The most beautiful restaurant in Mexico.” Since their opening in 1964, their gastronomic quality has fluctuated with ups and downs.
At some point it became an exclusive restaurant for foreigners, business lunches and senior citizens.
Its presence next to Lake Maggiore in Bosque de Chapultepec has lasted more than 50 years; or, in other words, it is an icon in the history of restaurants in Mexico City.
Main museums in Chapultepec Forest
Tamayo Museum of Contemporary Art
The Tamayo Museum houses the collection that Olga and Rufino Tamayo have collected over the years. Focused on international contemporary art, it was gathered by the couple with the intention of donating it to the people of Mexico.
Based on the collection, Museo Tamayo aims to contextualize international contemporary art, acting as a center for dialogue and confrontation between critics, in addition to carrying out an in-depth historical review.
The collection consists of a total of 315 works that cover most of the aesthetic trends of the XNUMXth century. In it we can find works by Rothko, Miró, Max Ernst, Wilfredo Lam, Léger, Torres Garcia, Isamu Noguchi, among others.
Museum of Modern Art
It houses one of the most diverse permanent collections of Mexican artists such as Frida Kahlo, David Alfaro Siqueiros, José Clemente Orozco, Diego Rivera and Remedios Varo.
It also has one of the most complete photography collections with exhibitions by Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Héctor García and the Mayo brothers.
National History Museum
The National History Museum, inside the Castillo de Chapultepec, is a place that narrates transcendental stages in the history of Mexico.
If its walls could talk, they could tell details of the stay of Emperors Carlota and Maximilian, events during the struggle of Ninos Héroes (teenagers who defended the homeland) and the presidential stay of Lazaro Cárdenas, who in 1939 declared it a historical heritage site and gave it its current name.
Papalote Children's Museum
Fun and educational, it has been one of the most visited museums since its opening in 1993. Now, it has been updated to offer a more complete experience and make better use of the grounds.
Its permanent exhibitions focus on the human body, consciousness, science and expressions. In addition, its mega IMAX screen is one of the few rooms in the city where you can find scientific films and nature documentaries; and on Thursdays there are special visits for adults.
Museum of Natural History and Environmental Culture
Its collection includes replicas of dinosaur bones, stuffed animals, dioramas and models divided into themes such as the evolution of life, adaptation to the environment and biogeography.
The museum features a beautiful replica of the complete skeleton of a Diplodocus carnegiei, a dinosaur that lived 150 million years ago in the western United States.
The incredible replica that covers the central area of the Evolution room was installed in 1930 in the Museo del Chopo and was transferred to this museum in the sixties.
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