Parks Manager

National parks near Caobas, Quintana Roo

Arrecifes de Xcalak National Park is the closest national park to Caobas, Quintana Roo — 136 km (84.5 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 27 min behind the wheel.

Arrecifes de Xcalak makes a full day trip — leave early. Tulum, Dzibilchaltún, Arrecifes de Cozumel, Palenque, and Arrecife de Puerto Morelos are better with a night booked nearby.

Caobas has a population of about 1,412.

National parks near Caobas

Parks ranked by distance from Caobas
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Arrecifes de Xcalak National Park136 km (84.5 mi)2 hr 27 minDoable as a day trip
Tulum National Park264 km (164 mi)4 hr 20 minBest as a weekend
Dzibilchaltún National Park299 km (186 mi)4 hr 50 minBest as a weekend
Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park300 km (186 mi)4 hr 52 minBest as a weekend
Palenque National Park329 km (204 mi)5 hr 17 minBest as a weekend
Arrecife de Puerto Morelos National Park355 km (220 mi)5 hr 40 minBest as a weekend
Lagunas de Montebello National Park378 km (235 mi)6 hr 1 minWorth a longer road trip
Costa Occidental de Isla Mujeres National Park390 km (242 mi)6 hr 11 minWorth a longer road trip
Isla Contoy National Park417 km (259 mi)6 hr 35 minWorth a longer road trip
Arrecife Alacranes National Park442 km (275 mi)6 hr 57 minWorth a longer road trip

When to make this trip

Arrecifes de Xcalak National Park is generally best December through April, the drier and less humid stretch, with May and November as the quieter shoulder either side.

June to November is the wet and hurricane season — heavy rain, high humidity, and occasional storm closures.

Heat and humidity are constant. Plan activity for early morning and carry more water than feels necessary.

Month-by-month detail for Arrecifes de Xcalak National Park

Seeing more than one

Several parks near Caobas are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.

Distances between parks near Caobas
PairApartEstimated drive
Tulum → Arrecifes de Cozumel43.1 km (26.8 mi)58 min
Arrecifes de Xcalak → Tulum220 km (137 mi)3 hr 41 min
Arrecifes de Xcalak → Arrecifes de Cozumel240 km (149 mi)3 hr 59 min
Tulum → Dzibilchaltún245 km (152 mi)4 hr 3 min

Planning a trip from Caobas

Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.

Read the Arrecifes de Xcalak National Park guide

Other towns in Othón P. Blanco

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Caobas?

Arrecifes de Xcalak National Park. It is about 136 km (84.5 mi) from Caobas, roughly 2 hr 27 min of driving.

Can I do a national park day trip from Caobas?

Yes — Arrecifes de Xcalak National Park is within about a three-hour drive.

How many national parks are near Caobas?

10 parks are within reach of Caobas, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.

When is the best time to visit the parks near Caobas?

For Arrecifes de Xcalak National Park, the closest one, generally December through April, the drier and less humid stretch. Either side of that, May and November stays quieter.