Travel to the end of the Paseo de la Reforma and you will reach Chapultepec Hill. Chapultepec Hill is the focal point of Chapultepec Park. The Hill was an important site in pre-Columbian times. Montezuma had a palace there. After the Conquest, the Spanish viceroys destroyed the Aztec palace. A viceregal residence was built on top. It is this residence that is today's Chapultepec Castle. Adjacent to the Castle is the main park. Admission to the park is free.
Stroll around the main park's 551 acres. Chapultepec Park is similar to many other great urban parks. Meadows and woods offer great spots for picnicking and jogging. You can canoe on the lake or visit one of the many vendors. Vendors sell food and souvenirs. There is even a miniature train. See athletic events or concerts at the Auditorio Nacional. The cultural complex at the Auditorio Nacional, or National Auditorium, also includes three theaters. Watch everything from dramatic works to grand opera. Check the box office for tickets and prices to these cultural events.
Tour Chapultepec Park's many historical monuments. The Altar to the Nation commemorates the Child Heroes of the Battle of Chapultepec. Six young cadets gave their lives rather than surrender to the Americans during the Mexican-American War. They are buried beneath the sculptural ensemble. Just beyond the Altar to the Nation is Chapultepec Castle. Chapultepec Castle is most famous as the residence of Maximilian and Carlotta. The Austrian Archduke and his wife briefly ruled Mexico as Emperor and Empress during the 1860s. Their home was formerly a fort and before that the Viceregal Palace. Admission to the Castle is currently $1.50.
Learn more about these rulers and other episodes of Mexican history. Chapultepec Park features a collection of Museums devoted to the country's past. The Museo Nacional de Antropologia, or National Museum of Anthropology offers a detailed look at Mexico before the coming of the Spanish. Continue your study of Mexican history at the Museo Nacional de Historia, or National Museum of History. Exhibits at the Museo de Historia Natural, or Museum of Natural History, cover all aspects of history and evolution. Additional museums appeal to yet other areas of interest. Admission to many of these museums is free on Sundays and holidays.
Complete your visit to Chapultepec Park with a visit to the zoo and amusement park. A small zoo, the Parque Zoologico de Chapultepec, features a collection of animals from around the world. You can also ride a train that affords a panoramic view of the park. Children and adults will also enjoy the roller coasters and thrill rides at La Feria. The Amusement Park is open all year round from 10 AM to 6 PM, till 7 on Saturdays and 8 on Sundays. Prices range from 50 pesos.
