Yumká and La Venta
For a very reasonable fee of $72, Alex and I had a car and driver for the entire day. The car was a brand-new Toyota, driven by Carlos, a friendly young man who worked for the tour company. The tour included the entrance fees to both Yumká and La Venta Park.
Yumká is a wildlife park in the Mexican state of Tabasco, about a 30-minute drive from the city of Villhermosa. The 250 acre park is well-maintained and home to a large collection of exotic animals and a sanctuary for birds that roam freely. Visitors climb aboard a large, open truck that seats about 30 passengers and then you are taken on a "safari."
The exotic animals such as these zebras appeared content and well-nourished...
... and many like this giraffe roam free but keep their distance from the safari-mobile.
Some of the more dangerous animals are kept back by a barely visible hot-wire.
After the "safari" you are taken to the Visitors' Center that has many interesting displays, including several aviaries and many birds that roam the grounds freely.
Here is a termite nest that provides a constant supply of food for some birds.
The parrots at the Visitors Center were entertaining... they talked and did pirouettes for the visitors, but their wings are clipped.
After a great morning at Yumká we stopped for lunch at La Lupita, a popular sea food restaurant where I had an very good crab cocktail and Alex had freshly-caught grilled fish. Then we were off to La Venta Park which was within walking distance of our hotel. Carlos took us to the gates where we met our guide, Raul.
La Venta Park is not to be confused with La Venta archeological site which is located several hours from the city of Villahermosa, the capitol of Tabasco. We visited only La Venta Park which includes an outdoor museum and a zoo. The most important Olmec artifacts were moved years ago from the archeological site to the park to safeguard them from vandals. La Venta Park is dedicated to highlighting and preserving the Olmec "mother culture" of Mexico. There is much to see at La Venta, but here are just some of the highlights.
This colossal head, unlike the others found at La Venta, does not represent half-open lips, but portrays a harsh gesture and wears a helmet decorated with three petals (c. 700-400 B.C.).
This is the "Triumphal Altar," one of the best-preserved altars and of great iconographic meaning. A human face and jaguar jaws with a symbol of crossed bands which represent the spots of this feline, associated with power, can be made out in the central part of the cornice of this monument.
This colossal head is known as the "Young Warrior" (c. 700-600 B.C.) and was found lined up in northernmost La Venta. A familiar feature is the teeth-revealing open mouth. The basalt used for this head confirms the existence of many deposits exploited by the Olmecs in the Tuxtlas region of Veracruz.
This colossal head is known as "The Old Warrior" and is similar to other heads by its features. However, this governor-warrior represents different iconographic elements such as the helmet which is decorated with a claw, possibly of the harpy eagle.
This sculpture is known as the "Governor," a crossed-legged seated character who must have been a high-ranking dignitary based on the garments he is wearing, pectoral on his chest, divided headdress and decorations over his ears.
A large group of coatimundis live in the park, foraging freely... they are also adept at begging from visitors. They are known as "tejones" and will appear from nowhere to get a treat of dried bread.
~ Lisa
Yumká is a wildlife park in the Mexican state of Tabasco, about a 30-minute drive from the city of Villhermosa. The 250 acre park is well-maintained and home to a large collection of exotic animals and a sanctuary for birds that roam freely. Visitors climb aboard a large, open truck that seats about 30 passengers and then you are taken on a "safari."
The exotic animals such as these zebras appeared content and well-nourished...
... and many like this giraffe roam free but keep their distance from the safari-mobile.
Some of the more dangerous animals are kept back by a barely visible hot-wire.
After the "safari" you are taken to the Visitors' Center that has many interesting displays, including several aviaries and many birds that roam the grounds freely.
Here is a termite nest that provides a constant supply of food for some birds.
The parrots at the Visitors Center were entertaining... they talked and did pirouettes for the visitors, but their wings are clipped.
After a great morning at Yumká we stopped for lunch at La Lupita, a popular sea food restaurant where I had an very good crab cocktail and Alex had freshly-caught grilled fish. Then we were off to La Venta Park which was within walking distance of our hotel. Carlos took us to the gates where we met our guide, Raul.
La Venta Park is not to be confused with La Venta archeological site which is located several hours from the city of Villahermosa, the capitol of Tabasco. We visited only La Venta Park which includes an outdoor museum and a zoo. The most important Olmec artifacts were moved years ago from the archeological site to the park to safeguard them from vandals. La Venta Park is dedicated to highlighting and preserving the Olmec "mother culture" of Mexico. There is much to see at La Venta, but here are just some of the highlights.
This colossal head, unlike the others found at La Venta, does not represent half-open lips, but portrays a harsh gesture and wears a helmet decorated with three petals (c. 700-400 B.C.).
This is the "Triumphal Altar," one of the best-preserved altars and of great iconographic meaning. A human face and jaguar jaws with a symbol of crossed bands which represent the spots of this feline, associated with power, can be made out in the central part of the cornice of this monument.
This colossal head is known as the "Young Warrior" (c. 700-600 B.C.) and was found lined up in northernmost La Venta. A familiar feature is the teeth-revealing open mouth. The basalt used for this head confirms the existence of many deposits exploited by the Olmecs in the Tuxtlas region of Veracruz.
This colossal head is known as "The Old Warrior" and is similar to other heads by its features. However, this governor-warrior represents different iconographic elements such as the helmet which is decorated with a claw, possibly of the harpy eagle.
This sculpture is known as the "Governor," a crossed-legged seated character who must have been a high-ranking dignitary based on the garments he is wearing, pectoral on his chest, divided headdress and decorations over his ears.
A large group of coatimundis live in the park, foraging freely... they are also adept at begging from visitors. They are known as "tejones" and will appear from nowhere to get a treat of dried bread.
~ Lisa
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