After all, what other place in Mexico allows you to see dolphins, crocodiles, turtles, rays and manatees in the wild? Interested to know how to get there? Its nearly two-hours long. Youll find here more info on how to explore the reserve and find Sian Kaan tours. We sat on ourlife jacket and thats it. We stopped at a small supermarket on the main road just before reaching the Muyil ruins. Its also a quicker trip, as going to Sian Kaan via Muyil is a very doable DIY trip that can be accomplished in a half day. We spotted some birdsand appreciated the calm and the refreshing feeling. But you do need to pass through Tulum bioshere to get there. Youll have the opportunity to float down an ancient Mayan canal! It kind of reminded me of the bumpy ride to reach the Palenque Mayan Ruins a few weeks ago! A year later, Sian Kaan was declared a World Heritage Site by theUNESCOand it remains the largest protected area in theMexican Caribbean. Thanks for spotting that this isnt phrased very clearly! There is a level of trust involved as we paid the money for the tour to the man at the ruins, who phoned another man at the dock giving a loose description and vague timing of when we were coming. The boat tour will usually consist of exploring the mangroves for some epic bird watching as well as searching for, dolphins, turtles, rays and manatees in the open waters. This is a full-day tour so bear in mind that youll end up returning to your hotel at around 16:00. From Punta Allen, you will be able to book a Sian Kaan boat tour for the next day so you can see the reserve. There, we quicklyvisited a Mayan temple. var stg = new Object(); stg.crt="8234238211340";stg.version="1.04"; stg.id=stg.name="adgshp-1879485682"; stg.width="200px"; stg.height="339px";stg.ReferenceKey="K2BpUCVx7exXPTM/RXAMVg=="; stg.Layout="SquareCalendar"; stg.Language="en-us";stg.Cid="1881071"; stg.City="5954"; stg.DestinationName="Cancun, Mexico";stg.OverideConf=false; new AgdSherpa(stg).initialize();
. In Maya, Sian Kaan meansOrigin of the Sky. Information Center About 10 kilometers from the entrance of the reserve is the visitor center. Ready for sailing the Caribbean my fellow buccaneer brothers? What were some of your favorite activities? From here, our boatman took us straight back to the dock. I talked to Bambi to learn more about the park and the excursions he was offering. If you visit the ocean side, chances of seeing dolphins and turtles are good. Be sure to bring biodegradable sun-screen since the sunlight is extremely strong and the boat provides with minimum cover for it (thats why our wildlife spotter guide is dressed like a Pirate Ninja in the photo above). Sian Kaan boat tours only go from Punta Allen, so you must go here and speak to the boat captains directly to organize your boat tour. The Muyil Archaeological Site is small, but I enjoyed visiting it. We recommend that yougo very early or in the eveningas the sun is very strong in the afternoon. We took the time to climb the rickety watchtower built alongside the boardwalk for a first view of the lagoon. Its about a five-minute walk (or 1-minute drive) down a small dirt road, where there is a secure parking lot ($50-pesos), about a two-minute walk from the boat dock. p.parentNode.insertBefore(s,p);
We wandered around the ruins for 30 minutes before leaving the site and entering the jungle trail leading to the boat dock. var s = d.createElement(sc), p = d.getElementsByTagName(sc)[0];
Because of its status as a Biosphere Reserve, there are some restrictions regarding the use of drones in Sian Kaan. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
, Klook.com Its easy to find. Full-day tours leaving from Tulum takes you through the jungle in a Jeep convoy or by boat all the way to Punta Allen. The road conditions are allegedly extremely bad (parts of the road seem to be washed away) and the road is inaccessible without a 4WD. By bicycle, getting to Punta Allen is a long time, we advise you not to go far and enjoy the virgin beaches that surround the reserve. Indeed, Sian Kaan is protected from mass tourism to benefit the ecosystem and the local economy. There is free parking at the Muyil ruins. I also saw a full-day kayak tour around Sian Kaan which could have been a good option to get closer to nature and spot more wildlife. Take the boat tour on the laguna, highlight of a trip to Sian Kaan via Muyil. Youll be interested in this article about the best snorkeling in Tulum! On Google maps, this looks like an easy drive, but based on local advice we decided against it. "https://affiliate.klook.com/widget/fetch-iframe-init.js"
The better option would be to visit from Muyil or, as we did, by catching a boat just near Tulums entrance. There is no place alike anywhere in the Riviera Maya. It is more expensive, but you are sure to have safe transport. However these take the best part of the day, meaning you have to spend two nights in Punta Allen if you want to have a full day to explore. Yes, I found Sian Kaan Reserve by luck. They are very beautiful and you can have the beach to yourself just to enjoy a refreshing swim. Our floating adventure started at the pontoon. We walked back to the car the same way we came, stopping again at the Muyil ruins for some photos in the evening light. Be sure to pack some nausea pills because the bumpy van ride to reach the docks is not for the faint hearted my wonder friends. The name means Origin of the Sky in Maya. bring water to hydrate yourself, sunscreen and insect repellent, and a hat or a cap. I read they would charge $600 pesos per person at Muyil boat dock for a couple of hours on the ship. Planning a trip to Tulum?Check out my article on the best accommodation in Tulum and Playa del Carmen. The Muyil access point to Sian Kaan is also much more cost-effective compared to Punta Allen. The place deserves such a beautiful poetic name. Do you like snorkeling? Every weekend is an adventure: you don't always have to go far to travel! The Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve has got two entry points, depending on which section of the protected area you want to see. From the endpoint where you exit the water, a boardwalk through the marsh takes you back to the trade post and the boat. It you skip the floating, youll be back earlier, but it is a really enjoyable experience that I recommend. })(document, 'script', '//cf.bstatic.com/static/affiliate_base/js/flexiproduct.js'); This website contains affiliate links, often indicated by *. p.parentNode.insertBefore(s, p);
The water is crystal clear, so you can easily spot fish swimming around. (function(d, sc, u) {
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Come prepared. (I wasnt sure because 25 usd would be a bit less in pesos) thank you . Sometimes, people spot crocodiles during their cruise. Did you like this article about the tour we did in Sian Kaan Reserve? Posted on Last updated: February 15, 2022, Sand Dunes in Vietnam: Mui Ne Travel Guide, Nomads of the Ocean: the Bajo People of Wakatobi, Indonesia. Most of the time it is cheaper to just book a spot on a tour than take the public bus and organize the tour yourself. We recommend to start with visiting the Mayan ruis (allow 20-30 minutes exploring), then walk all the way to the laguna though el sendero mirador laguna (20-minutes) enjoying the lush jungle scenery. Rent A Car And Drive Yourself To Sian Kaan. Luckily this time nobody puked on top of my luggage! A lifejacket is provided to float down the canal with. But honestly, you would only have a sneak peek of the beauty of Sian Kaan. When you think of the Riviera Maya, you probably think of a mixture of culture and nature. We always had in mind to be a self-sustaining local tourism project, self-promoting our tours without the dependence of the market power of big tour agencies. As a rule of thumb, drone use is only allowed in Punta Allen and in the reef area. There are so many things to do in Cancun and the Riviera Maya that it can become a nightmare investigating, choosing the best experiences in Cancun that suit your time, your budget and your tastes! It is a good idea to rent a car and drive to Sian Kaan but make sure your car is good and the road is accessible and in a good state. You can make a booking for this and more properties via ourBooking.com Affiliate Link of Wonders! | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine. Food: bring plenty of water as well as your lunch and snacks. It even came with a net over the bed so there was no need to worry about mosquitos! We were in pure and endless nature. Depending on how much you linger, it will take you 30 50 minutes to reach the boat dock from the entrance of the reserve. Have fun in Tulum! However, I also encourage you to buy local and help small businesses when possible. We could get closeand even go inside. The freshwater side of Sian Kaan is much easier to reach and makes a perfect day trip from Tulum or other locations on the Riviera Maya. s.async = true; And is the boat ride suitable to an easy going two year old who loves the water and birds? We sat in the boat for about an hour, crossing two lagoons and following canals. Take The Bus To Sian Kaan from Tulum To Punta Allen. I spend most of my weekends in national parks or underwater. var s = d.createElement(sc),
Entry to the site is 50 pesos per person. Drive up Highway 307 until you reach Muyil (the Mayan name Chunyaxch is used widely as well). s.async = true;
Trying to give you tips and recommendations to travel smarter in Mexico! Apart from seeing the ruins, this will also give you access to a nice jungle trail to the boat docks. The float was super relaxing. For your question regarding your kid, first let me tell you that Im not a parent. Sian Kaan Mexico, Quintana Roo, is just south ofTulum. You can park the car there. We did not putMuyil ruinson our itinerary as we already visited several Mayan ruins (Coba, Chichen Itza and Tulum). You are travelling and trying activities at your own risk. document,
For the first part, you are actually following a sacbe: an ancient road constructed by the Mayan people. Facilities and services in Muyil and Sian Kan are limited to non-existent, so if you are visiting Sian Kaan independently, make sure to pack the following essentials. })(
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All of this reflective water for which the Mayans called this area Sian Kaan, meaning Origin of the Sky.. If you are on a budget, you can choose just to enjoy the beach and have a look at the stunning shades of the lagoon from the pontoon. You wont have to worry about the driving, you can choose to get 1 day tour or multi-day tour, youll have a wonderful day booking a Sian Kaan Tour. Then, you just let the current take you back to the boat, slowly, as you enjoy the views on the beautiful mangrove and try to spot some wildlife. In 2012 I left my old life behind to start a new life of travel and I havent looked back ever since. This was just a basic grocery store, but we found all we needed for the day. I started with the Cenote dive article before I arrived at Sin Kaan. There is no need to hurry there are several boats and the likelihood of having to wait is small. All opinions are my own. We visited the freshwater section from Muyil and skipped the ocean side, because this was too complex to as a day trip. If you just want to go on the boat trip and skip the ruins, there is byway (just past the ruins if youre coming from Tulum) that takes you straight to the boat dock. There is no other place like this one on the Riviera Maya.Nature lovers will love Sian Kaan for its natural beauty and the thousands of species of flora and fauna that areprotected in this biosphere reserve. You can even spot remains of ancient trading posts! Dont expect your guide to speak a foreign language Spanish it is. If you have a snorkelling mask, bringing this is a good idea as the views underwater are interesting; Sunscreen, hat and all the other protective gear: its likely to be a hot day and even if the sky is overcast you will feel the sun whilst on the water.
Are you ready to book your trip? We paid $5,500 pesos for five people for our half-day tour with Bambi. Because of its location in the south, the most convenient place to do so is Tulum from where we were picked up by Karma Trails and embarked on a very bumpy journey to the Sian Kaan boat departure area for about 90 minutes. They also live in Australia, but they are hard to spot.Bambi knows a lot about the species in the reserve. By bus The buses from Tulum to Muyil come frequently, about every 30-60 minutes, so you can go to Muyil by bus at virtually anytime. We would first explore the lagoon by boat to search for wildlife. Make sure you select the belongings youll travel with to Sia Kaan so youre not stressed about leaving them alone for a few minutes. The lagoons and canals are unique and our friendly guide knew everything about birds and other wildlife in the area. If you dont do the Sian Kaan boat tour, there really isnt much point in visiting. The cost of the boat is pretty steep compared to other entry fees and activities, but our day was still a lot cheaper compared to what we would have paid for a tour. The jungle trail starts behind the main structure of Muyil Archaeological Site, El Castillo. I was happy to see something different from the ocean side. It is recommended to spend 2 to 3 days to enjoy it fully, knowing that the boat tour is the thing you shouldt miss out. The ocean facing section is saltwater area that encompasses a part of the barrier reef excellent for snorkelling! I have read a few reviews on the road conditions to reach it. p.parentNode.insertBefore(s,p); So I enjoyed the beach, cleaned it a bit and decided to come back the week after with my friends. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm an adventure lover, and I like to share my travel experiences and tips to help others plan their big and small trips. When you are travelling to the Riviera Maya, especially to Tulum. Add it to your Pinterest board: Hi Eloise loving your Yucatn articles! The inland facing section is a freshwater labyrinth of lagoons connected by Mayan built canals used for transport of supplies. Its always a pleasure to read that the articles are helpful. Disclaimer: This article was brought to you in collaboration with Karma Trails and Zamas Hotel. Animal diversity in Sian Kaan is excellent. However, we quickly realised that hanging around Tulum with the tourist crowd was not how we had imagined ending our trip. In Punta Allen, you will experience the ocean side of Sian Kaan. shared minivans, going from Tulum to Punta Allen. Good luck in finding a quiet and natural spot on the Riviera Maya. You can book a tour from Tulum, or drive and directly deal with the guides/boat drivers in the park. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), The best cenotes in Tulum for snorkeling with a map of all Tulum cenotes. ), but its still a very beautiful natural environment. We docked at a small island inside the reserve. The boat tour into the Sian Kaan lagoon costs$1,000 pesos per person. There really isnt a lot to do there, but it would be a cool experience to spend a night there for sure. See you in Sian Kaan my wonder friends!!! Bambi was a fantastic captain managing to speed up and take narrow turns to add some sensations and great fun to this beautiful trip. These variations of blue may be my highlight of the trip. What time of day does the tour leave the pontoon? Visit the Muyil ruins then walk along a boardwalk in a jungle marsh, climb up an observation tower, and continue along the boardwalk to the boat docks. Visit Punta Allen Punta Allen is a fishing village where you will find places to sleep and eat seafood with a local Maxiacan vibes. You catch it close to the ADO station in Tulum. We appreciated a lot the change of atmosphere. this article about the best snorkeling in Tulum. Lighthouse Take a walk (2km) through the native jungle to the lighthouse, enjoying the beach and the mangrove. I paid a small fee that supports the conservation of the park and left the car a few kilometres further, at Bambis camping. Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve is a unique natural attraction to visit in Mexico. "script",
Sian Kaan Tours can be booked once you are in the Riviera Maya. Can you imagine snorkeling in these waters? In total there were less than 50 people visiting the same places that we did and when you consider that the line to buy Chichen-Itzas tickets can sometimes take more than 20 minutes you will see how 50 people is nothing in comparison. Bambi had many stories to tell about Mayan history. TIPS: Book the tour in the morning because you have a better chance of seeing dolphins and other wildlife, snorkeling with turtles and go to a virgin beach in the morning. Tulum has two great attractions, one being the Tulum Ruins and one is the UNESCO World Heritage Site Sian Kaan, still not very known, but when visiting Tulum or the Riviera Maya, you should not miss to do a tour with Visit Sian Kaan tours. They are fascinating animals. If you want to do the tour I did, go and meet Bambi at the campground in Sian Kaan. Mayan Jungle & Freshwater Sian Kaan in a Half Day Trip, it is what you will find in Muyil. Dont forget to subscribe in order to get more awesome updates and tips straight to your e-mail! Hope you enjoy your visit! The front of the boat was a bit bumpy when the boat was going faster, but we were very comfortable at the back and never had to hold tight. I hope you have enjoyed this article about the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve. We explored the ruins of a Mayan trade post, but quickly our guide pointed to the narrow canal next to the ruins. I finally felt a relief to leave the buildings behind for a pristine biosphere reserve. If your accommodation is on the right side of Tulum and you can avoid the town centre traffic, it may be less than 20 minutes. There are Mayan Ruins here and there to add a nice local touch. The boardwalk leads straight to the dock where the boats depart. If you do not plan to join a tour to visit Sian Kaan, then driving to Punta Allen may not be the best option for you. The car park is not huge and does fill up. Although we didnt see any of the cats that allegedly roam the jungle, I enjoyed spotting the variety of birds. If you are staying in Tulum, you can catch the bus, colectivo, from Tulum to Punta Allen in Sian Kaan. The maximum people you can have on the boat is 6, so you can wait for people you might be able to join to fill up a boat. On the way back, we went to Boca Paila, where the lagoon and the ocean meet. The excitement of seeing a dolphin dad and mom roaming freely in the wild with its babies is one of my most cherished travel experiences of 2017. Who in their right mind would want to imprison these majestic animals? Welcome and I hope you enjoy the journey! Quickly you will reach the official entrance of the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve. You will find information panels about the reserve, apier, anobservation towerand you canrent kayaksor take aboat ridethrough the Caapechen lagoon. From the thick Yucatan jungle, freshwater marshes extend out through lagoons and even Mayan-built canals, all the way to a thriving barrier reef in the Carribean Sea. I cannot remember at what time we left, it was a little while ago. For the Sian Kaan ocean side, Id consider an organised tour. I know things sometimes look easier than they actually are for parents. No crowds at all!!! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Check out my article on the best accommodation in Tulum and Playa del Carmen. Also, swimming is forbidden in most wildlife watching areas except for the designated ones. It is located 2 hours south of Cancun near the small town of Tulum. The entry point to the ocean side is Punta Allen, a sleepy fishermens village at the end of Highway 15 from Tulum. Make sure you bring your own mask and snorkel to be able to view the fish and other critters that live amongst the mangroves. The business of the boat tours is very organised. In this blog post, Im capturing how we made our independent visit to Sian Kaan a success. But it also means that maybe no one will show up. Hello happy travellers! I took my snorkelling mask to explore below the water surface. Because they know how bad the road is and that its very likely you will either get the car filthy driving through the mud, or you will have a flat tire. Thank you for your kind words. TIPS: do not tell the rental car company where you are going. Its quiet and pretty (in a cute way). In general, captains are kind and put you on a list and get you when they have enough people to fill up a boat. );
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The excursion to Sian Kaan was a full, active day involving a boat ride on the lagoons and floating in an old Mayan boat channel. s.type = 'text/javascript';
Tour operators taking you to Sian Kaan from Tulum are plenty, but since we had a rental car and recent poor experience with tours in the Yucatn, we were set on visiting Sian Kaan independently. Inland jungle, Mayan ruins, wetlands, freshwater lagoon, mangrove forests, Mayan-carved canals, and float down said canals, youll find this all from the Muyil access point to Sian Kaan. There is only 4 restaurants and they have no electricity from 2 pm until 7 pm each day, then again from 2 am until 7 am, so you will need to bring a book! Well keep that in mind . It is signposted Sendero Mirador Laguna. (function(d, sc, u) { Also, did I mention how crystal clear the water is? Tour groups to Sian Kaan are limited and often require you to book a few days in advance to secure a spot. It is a busy place with resorts and tourist attractions all the way from Cancun to Tulum. Although this was surely the more difficult way to go as competition is big, but in the end this is our commitment towards preserving Sian Kaan! This place will allow you to rest on the way and enjoy activities in the lagoon. We got to see a variety of, sometimes surprising, vegetation. 4 Spectacular Dive sites in the Mergui Archipelago, Diving in Cabo San Lucas Marine Park The 4 best dive sites, Edzna Ruins (Campeche): Complete guide 2022, Calakmul Mayan Ruin, the ultimate guide 2022, Everything You Need to Know About Renting a Car in Mexico, Uxmal Yucatan Most impressive mayan site 1 hour from Mrida, 4 archeological sites near Mrida to explore, SISAL Yucatan The perfect destination for a gateway weekend, A Guide to Explore the Cenotes in and Around Tulum. The outline of the tour is standard and so is the price. Simply head tothe main ADO bus station in Tulum (onAvenida Tulum between Alfa and Jupiter). The drive from Tulum to Muyil to us about 30 minutes from our hotel on the wrong side of Tulum. The canal is lined with mangroves and the water is very clear. There, you can watch wildlife and snorkel on the reef. Prices of the tour start at 130 USD per person including transport, lunch, guided boat tour, and snorkel gear rental. It is the largest coastal protected area in Mexico. Enjoy this article and remember that Mother Nature is always the best when it comes to designing the wonders of this world. Make sure you seek information from official sources (e.g. The content published on this website may be out of date, and things may have changed since my last visit. One even made a special effort to show us quickly his body and tail. There are (few) colectivos, i.e. The Jeep or kayak tours I have found go from USD$130 to USD$185. Share your thoughts and let me know what you think! , Thanks so much Eloise!! The tour I did with Bambi is similar to the Visit Sian Kaan tours, but you cannot directly book online with them. We saw pink spatulas, pelicans, cormorants, eagles, herons, aigrets, white ibis A paradise for bird lovers. As we had a car and I had met Bambi before, it was easier for us to go directly with him. s.src = u + '?v=' + (+new Date()); We had a boat to ourselves and a friendly, knowledgeable guide. You dont get to see the ocean when accessing Sian Kaan from Muyil, but you get to float in the Mayan canals and see lots of birdlife instead. Drive slow, take your time, and youll be fine. Most of Sian Kaan biosphere is protected land and not inhabited, so if you want to stay there you will need to visit Punta Allen which is a small town within the Biosphere. There are signs for Muyil and a small parking lot that always seems to have spaces available. The Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve is one of Mexicos most impressive natural wonders. Have you ever been to Sian Kaan? His mates are at the dock, manning the boats and taking tourists on the tour. Read this article for all you need to know about Sian Kaan and beyond! This is a selection of the best sellers tours and excurtions in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, from 1 day activity to several day trips. I did not go there so I wont write more about it. The lagoon had incredible shades of blue. By car Simply take Highway 307 south to the ruins of Muyil, which youll be able to easily recognize and will be on theleft side of the road. Booking.com Count me in! Avoid this option during the rainy season (from march to may) as the raoad can get totally washed out! But from my point of view, the boat ride shouldnt be a problem for a kid who loves being outside and who behaves. You have to buy an entry ticket (50 pesos per person). Commissions and advertising help me maintain this website and create more content. Would you like to do the same? Its roughly a 20-minute drive south of Tulum town (22.5 km). var s = d.createElement(sc), p = d.getElementsByTagName(sc)[0]; For the final days of our road trip around the Yucatn, wed booked accommodation in Tulum and were counting on a couple of relaxed days. In the end, I would say that if youre in the Riviera Maya already, a visit to the wonderful Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve is a total Must-Do. From the majestic Mayan pyramids (check out my Pyramid Guide of Wonders) to pristine beaches and cenotes, the Riviera Maya has absolutely everything to marvel you. Sian Kaan reserve covers a big area. The 1/2 day trip with Bambi looks amazing. All Rights Reserved. I guess to be that lucky, you need to go there early in the day as crocodiles are active at night. Search directly on the Tulum directory to find everything you need in Tulum. But when I read on Cassies guide of the Mexican Ruins that its a well-kept secret and a magical place, I think that maybe we should have included it in the itinerary.
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