National parks near Las Coloradas, Yucatán
Isla Contoy National Park is the closest national park to Las Coloradas, Yucatán — 124 km (76.9 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 16 min behind the wheel.
Isla Contoy, Costa Occidental de Isla Mujeres, Arrecife de Puerto Morelos, and Tulum make a full day trip — leave early. Dzibilchaltún, Arrecifes de Cozumel, Arrecife Alacranes, and Arrecifes de Xcalak are better with a night booked nearby.
Las Coloradas has a population of about 1,151.
Isla Contoy
Costa Occidental de Isla Mujeres
Arrecife de Puerto Morelos
Tulum
Dzibilchaltún
Arrecifes de Cozumel
National parks near Las Coloradas
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isla Contoy National Park | 124 km (76.9 mi) | 2 hr 16 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Costa Occidental de Isla Mujeres National Park | 131 km (81.6 mi) | 2 hr 23 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Arrecife de Puerto Morelos National Park | 143 km (89 mi) | 2 hr 33 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Tulum National Park | 165 km (103 mi) | 2 hr 53 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Dzibilchaltún National Park | 175 km (109 mi) | 3 hr 2 min | Best as a weekend |
| Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park | 177 km (110 mi) | 3 hr 3 min | Best as a weekend |
| Arrecife Alacranes National Park | 195 km (121 mi) | 3 hr 19 min | Best as a weekend |
| Arrecifes de Xcalak National Park | 371 km (231 mi) | 5 hr 55 min | Best as a weekend |
| Dry Tortugas National Park | 622 km (387 mi) | 9 hr 36 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Palenque National Park | 625 km (388 mi) | 9 hr 39 min | Worth a longer road trip |
Camping near Las Coloradas
Within reach of Las Coloradas, 1 campground across 1 park appears on Recreation.gov: 1 at Dry Tortugas.
Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.
Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.
When to make this trip
Isla Contoy 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.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Las Coloradas are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Isla Contoy → Costa Occidental de Isla Mujeres | 34.1 km (21.2 mi) | 48 min |
| Costa Occidental de Isla Mujeres → Arrecife de Puerto Morelos | 39.9 km (24.8 mi) | 55 min |
| Isla Contoy → Arrecife de Puerto Morelos | 73.6 km (45.8 mi) | 1 hr 31 min |
| Arrecife de Puerto Morelos → Tulum | 91 km (56.6 mi) | 1 hr 47 min |
Planning a trip from Las Coloradas
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.
Other towns in Río Lagartos
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Las Coloradas?
Isla Contoy National Park. It is about 124 km (76.9 mi) from Las Coloradas, roughly 2 hr 16 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Las Coloradas?
Yes — Isla Contoy National Park, Costa Occidental de Isla Mujeres National Park, Arrecife de Puerto Morelos National Park, and Tulum National Park are within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Las Coloradas?
10 parks are within reach of Las Coloradas, 4 of them close enough for a day trip.
Where can you camp near Las Coloradas?
Recreation.gov lists one campground at the national parks within reach of Las Coloradas, at Dry Tortugas National Park.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Las Coloradas?
For Isla Contoy National Park, the closest one, generally December through April, the drier and less humid stretch. Either side of that, May and November stays quieter.