Reserva de la Biósfera Sian Ka'an

Absolutely incredible—truly the gate to heaven as its name suggests. Part of me doesn’t want to share this place for fear that tourism will damage its pristine beauty, but for those doing the research and reading this: go. I can’t recommend it enough. The water is crystal clear— even clearer than some rivers in Switzerland. Floating through the channels (more like gently drifting, lazy-river style) was deeply relaxing and surreal. No sunscreen is allowed to protect this fragile ecosystem, which I truly respect. Please—seriously—don’t pee in the water, don’t wear sunscreen, don’t touch the trees, and don’t do anything that could damage the natural environment. That said, going with the right guide is essential. My guide explained there are multiple entry points, and the scenery and road conditions vary drastically depending on the route. We had only 3 minutes of bumpy driving and arrived in about 30 minutes—but my guide confirmed (and I’ve seen on YouTube) that the wrong route can mean crawling at 3 km/h for 3 hours, only to end up somewhere polluted with trash and plastic, like some negative reviews mentioned. The route we took had absolutely pristine water but not much wildlife other than birds and fish—no dolphins, manatees, or flamingos—but I’ve heard there are other routes that focus more on wildlife viewing if that’s your priority. Bottom line: do your homework and choose your guide and route wisely—it makes all the difference.

This reserve is so big; we really enjoyed the trip; warching the birds; first time saw spoonbills; they are so beautiful. We could also see the ruins. The best part is floating in the very cool and clear water of the Mayan canal. Luckily we could spot the manatee, but very fast so not very clearly

Truly a once in a lifetime experience!! NOTE no sunscreen, no phone, no plastics allowed! 1,000 pesos plus 100 to park but what an incredible location! Look for Cruz, he is the best guide and enjoy!

Incredible experience. We were staying in Playa Del Carmen and had a 1+ hour transport to get there but it was completely worth it. Manuel was an amazing guide. Speaking three languages and effortlessly switching between we had every question no matter how small answered. We're so lucky to see 3 manatees and crocodiles. Will never forget the lazy float down the river. An unforgettable experience!

If coming from Tulum on 15, it's not worth it!! 215 mxn pesos per person at the entrance (Arco Maya on the map). The only public beach access we could find is 4 km in and quite literally covered in trash, it's super sad to see. I wouldn't swim in it. The rest of the beach is fenced off, private property, which makes no sense on a nature reserve - but that's Tulum for you :/ For at least 14 km it's all jungle (pretty!) with no ocean or lagoon views until you get to a bridge with an awesome lagoon view, but it's only interesting for a few minutes and not worth the long drive on a dirt road. Unfortunately there are no trails or ways to really access the lagoon. I'm sure it's amazing with a tour but not if you're just driving in. Super disappointed at how this reserve has been privatized, trashed, and made inaccessible even for paying visitors.

Wonderful place to watch different animals and enjoy the mangroves and spectacular water of Punta Allen .

This is an amazing natural reserve area where there is an abundance of wildlife, including manatee, dolphins, crocodiles and many species of birds. Among the birds that were present during the dry season, when we visited, were frigates, egrets, osprey, and pink spoonbills which were nesting at the time. Fauna include of course the mangrove (red and black), air plants and banana orchids (not in bloom but still interesting) This is a must see and even though the tours are expensive at around 150 usd per person, you will get more out of it with a guide. Theoretically having that guide would mean that the tour would be more eco friendly and cause less stress to the animals. There is an unfortunate tendency for the boat drivers to surround the animals, which must cause stress. Luckily right now there are a limited number of boats but sometimes many arrive at once and there were a few times when i wanted to leave to give the animal more space. The Mexican government needs more oversight in the Form of rangers to curb some of the less desirable behaviours before it gets more out of hand.

We entered from Tulum. The guy asked for $250 pesos each. The road was a disaster - 1 mile took us 40 min just to get to a dirty beach covered with garbage. Will try to go from Muyil next time and hopefully it’ll work. Whatever you do don’t go through Tulum!

Sian Ka'an will forever be a special place. Not just because it's an UNESCO world heritage site, but because of it's natural beauty, biodiversity and the fact that I got engaged here. I highly suggest getting out on a boat to tool around the reserve, photograph the Beautiful birds, check out the manitees, and float in the Mayan channels. It's a special place!

This review is for Punta Allen, at the end of the Sian Ka'an bioreserve. Holy moly where do I start? We were thinking about a day trip to Holbox, but we met a local Yucatan couple at a cenote one day that said Punta Allen would be a much better option. The main deterrent is the road to get there, and that's what keeps the place such a hidden gem. They told us we would be fine in our little tiny rental car, but every blog/article online said you needed a 4x4. I read horror stories about getting stuck in the sand and the idea of getting a flat on a tiny strip of land in the middle of the ocean with nobody around for miles definitely scared us. We proceeded to ask local people, and they pumped us up to go, so off the hell we went! It was definitely the craziest drive I've ever experienced. There are so many dips everywhere, if you're not a good driver or a nervous driver it might not be a good idea. It is also one of the most beautiful drives through the jungle with glimpses of the ocean every now and then and watch out for the iguanas crossing the road. And then finally you reach the little town of Punta Allen, with no cell phone service and electricity only at certain times of the day. Amazing. There are plenty of eco tour options in the area, they're all connected so you're going to get the same price and tour. We were having lunch at one of the restaurants on the beach, and one of the tour boats was right there, so we finished up our super fresh seafood lunch and got right on the boat. Our host was amazing and man can he drive a boat! He's a local that's dedicated to this and knows this part of the ocean like the back of his hand. He took us to see dolphins, then to see sea turtles, then to snorkel around the coral reefs, and finally to the "natural pool." This was such an amazing experience! This was one of the most magical experiences in Tulum, which is already magical. The hardest roads sometimes lead to the most beautiful places. I don't know whose bumper sticker I read that on but it fits. The rough journey makes it that much sweeter, and I'm so glad we made it.

SEE THE PHOTOS. AVOID THE SIAN KA'AN BIOSPHERE RESERVE AND ANY TOURS THERE. So stunningly disappointed in the state of Tulum's Biosphere Reserve. We came here hoping to see the natural beauty of the Biosphere Reserve and left disgusted at the filth and state of the coastline. In short, I recommend spending your money elsewhere and demanding better from any place claiming to be a natural reserve. 1) TRASH: The attached photos show the rule rather than the exception up and down the Biosphere's coastline. The pictures are just a sampling of what we saw at each location we stopped from the entrance of the reserve to Boca Paila. The Biosphere claims to be a reserve but it appears little is being done to protect the area of littering. Many people appear to be taking the speed boat tours to a very small section of the reserve that is not representative of the rest of the reserve. Moreover, it appears little if any of the revenue from those services are actually going towards maintaining the reserve. 2) HOTELS/PRIVATE PROPERTIES: We had the idea the Biosphere Reserve was a protected area. Upon entry, however, visitors will note the vast majority of the coastline along the reserve are either hotels or private properties with gates/fences blocking any access to the beach or surrounding lands. *****I REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TELL THEIR STORIES AND POST THEIR PHOTOS OF THE TULUM BIOSPHERE RESERVE TO INFORM OTHERS HOW DEPLORABLE THE SITUATION HAS BECOME*****

The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO property covering 1.3 million acres (making it the largest protected coastal area in Mexico). It's a wonderful place to explore, especially as it's a little off the beaten path and has a lot less tourists than other areas in and near Tulum (although it's just short drive from town!). We took a tour in the Reserve that began by exploring the ruins of Muyil (very interesting). We then took a boat ride across the Laguna Muyil and through a mangrove channel to Laguna Chunyaxche. (You have to have a reservation for the boat ride - indigenous people are the only people allowed to run the boats trough the Reserve, and there aren't that many boats!) It was simply stunning. The water in the lagoon are dark, dark blue as you leave the boat dock, because there's an enormous cenote under the surface! Riding through the mangrove channel was so cool - you move so slowly, as the channel is just large enough for the boat to go through. Once we arrived at the far shore of Laguna Chunyaxche, we explored the ruin of a trade outpost. Then we floated a lazy river - just us, two life jackets, and complete silence (our guide didn't even go with us - so it was just the two of us in this beautiful place for 30 minutes). The water was so clear I could see leaves on the floor of the canal. We did our tour through Mexico Kan Tours - and it was wonderful. I highly recommend checking out the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve either on your own or with a tour company. It was beautiful, peaceful, and one of the highlights of our week in Tulum.

We booked a private 2-3 tour through Agua Clara Diving Tulum and it was a good one-of-a-kind experience. The highlight of the tour is the approximately 30 min of floating/swimming along the lagoon. You don't really need to know swimming but you need to be comfortable wearing a life jacket and floating. The water is around 6-7 feet high in most places. Its quite a unique experience to just float along the lagoon in a quiet, serene surrounding. Towards the end of the tour, you can visit the Muil ruins. The ruins ain't don't compare well to the nearby Citchen Itza but well worth a 1 hour stroll.

I wanted an extra beach day, but I couldn't imagine missing this biosphere. And it is worth it! It's really hard to get in touch with the community tours, but I'm glad we were able to contribute to a good cause. They were able to squeeze us in at the last minute, but it would have been nice if they told us that the tour would be entirely in French. Thanks for high school classes, I understood most of it, but knowing that would have determined whether or not I took the tour. That said, they do serve some of the best food I've had. Anything pibil is delicious. As for the tour, it was breathtaking! A luxurious float down the Ancient Canal, boat trips through beautiful lagoons, a gorgeous little beach. I don't know how to DIY the tour, especially if you're trying to save money, but all I can say is, find a way to get in!

Muyil Lagoon River float in the Sian Ka'an Reserva is highly recommended! Local taxi drivers may not know how to arrive to the lagoon (ours didn't). By car/taxi, take highway 307 South from Tulum about 10 miles. You will see the Muyil ruins on the left side of the road. A 1/4 mile further, the very next road after the ruins you see is marked only by two orange posts. Take a left down the dirt road about a mile you will be stopped at a parking lot where you park for 50 pesos. Walk another 500 feet to the lagoon. The price is $750 pesos/person and is written at the bottom of the big state park sign to the right of the entrance onto the wharf if clarification is needed. The whole experience takes an hour and a half. We went to the lagoon by taxi and negotiated a price of 800 pesos round trip with the driver guarding our stuff while we were on the excursion. There are no lockers so I wouldn't recommend bringing valuables.

We loved Sian Ka'an and were surprised how vast and beautiful it is. I don't think I ever heard of the biosphere and the Mexican government's effort to preserve so much of its natural beauty. Because we don't like mass tourism and are not into crowds we decided to rent a house on the beach within the biosphere and for us it was the right choice. We not only had seclusion and privacy but it was the best way to understand and appreciate all the biosphere had to offer. The house was not only on the beach but right across from a dock which gave us access into the lakes within the preserve. The house manager arranged a few tours, which included watching manatees, eagles and crocodiles as well as swimming down a fish filled river on inner tubes. If you do visit the Reserve just know its really hot and humid for a good part of the year. Its also not that easy to access even from Tulum and for that reason - the best way to appreciate its beauty is to stay in the Reserve. House rentals can be pricey but if a house is divided up amongst friends and or family then the price of course drops significantly. It will still be pricey but for us it was worth the cost because its a great way to see much of what's offered at a slow and relaxing pace without the discomfort of driving or taking tour buses. The houses allow guests to swim in the ocean, boat on the lakes, enjoy local cuisine prepared by locals and appreciate Sian Ka'an in a non-touristy, non-crowded and not hectic manner. Staying within the biosphere allowed us to enjoy nature at its peaceful, quiet and unspoiled best.

This is actually a review for the Muyil entrance to the Reserva. There are multiple entrances to Sian Ka'an because it is huge. Anwyay, the Muyil entrance for the Sian Ka'an Biosphere is much easier to drive to if you have a rental car. Many reviews we read suggested we avoid driving ourselves to the Punta Allen area because it isn't a very well maintained road and is therefore better for drivers who are used to the road. It is also a much further drive to the Puerto Allen entrance. The main difference between the two entrance points is what you will see and experience at each. At the Punta Allen location, you will see more salt water marine life. Dolphins, turtles, crocodiles, etc. It is more of a wildlife experience. At the Muyil entrance, you will be on gorgeous fresh water lagunas most of the time. The lagunas stretch out as far as the eye can see and consist of crystal clear water that reflects the sky in a beautiful way. Vibrant greens and blues that gently dance in the sun. There are boat captains that will take you from the first laguna to the second laguna and then plow through what looks like a wall of plant life where you are suddenly in canals. Some canals were dug out by the Mayans and at least one of them is a natural canal. Once you get to the final canal you are informed that it is about 20km long and leads to a salt water laguna (which is officially part of the Punta Allen side of the reserve). You are instructed to put your lifejacket on like a diaper and then you get to float down the brackish water filled canal. The water is crystal clear and sometimes you might see a sea turtle. You will definitely see fish and a lizard or two. I hate water. It scares me. Deep water or water with dark edges terrifies me. But I always push myself to do things that are water related because I always look back and am happy I did it... even if I was anxious as hell in the moment. This was one of those times. The water level varies from about 7 feet to 4 feet deep and is crystal clear BUT you are kind of trapped in the canal. On either side of you there are just walls of mangroves with no real "earth" to stand on. You could hang onto a mangrove if you had an emergency but it isn't like you could really escape the water completely and walk back to the boats. This is my nightmare. If you have similar anxieties, definitely think about that. I held onto my friends the entire time we were floating but I still had trouble with it. It was sooooo pretty and technically peaceful though. I'm glad I got to experience it with my friends. We arrived later in the day so we were in the canal completely by ourselves. Our guide said he was going to go with us but after floating for 10 minutes we still hadn't seen him. This added to my anxiety. Towards the end of the float (apprx 1.5 km) he caught up to us. After exiting the canal, we walked for about another kilometer on a wooden boardwalk through the marsh. Ironically, my friends found this part to be the scary part as they imagined falling off the boardwalk and getting bit by something. Haha. The boat ride back was made even more exciting as our guide knew no one else was coming through so he sped through a canal at full speed. Not super safe but it was exhilarating. When we got to the lagunas we could see the rain in the distance and the water had started to look darker without the bright, sunny sky reflecting on it. The other pictures that are on this page don't do this place justice. It looks like the poster used a yellow toned filter. When we were there is was very blue and green. Definitely worth doing and I would highly recommend this entrance and experience to everyone. The boat captains have a set price of $600 mxn per person. It is non-negotiable and they will all give you the same price. Because of this, we didn't tip. The guide mostly just drove the boat and plopped us in the water. He gave a little bit of the history of the lagunas but it seemed to be a very typical boat ride. It felt weird not tipping but since negotiating wasn't part of the process we figured it wasn't necessary. Had we negotiated down to $500 mxn we likely would have tipped $100mxn. So I guess it balances out.

This would have 5 stars in my book except for the road. We were on motorcycles and the muddy, gravel, pot-holed "road" was less than relaxing to cruise down. The other oddity of the road is that for the first few miles, private homes hold the beachfront so you just see the backs of peoples houses instead of the water. That being said, once you're passed the houses the drive is gorgeous! After the funny chic-ness of the Tulum strip it was refreshing to see idyllic beaches and aquamarine colored water. We saw lots of birds and a gator! I would highly recommend packing a picnic and making this a day trip.

This was EPIC! You must go. Although pricey, the cost goes to a good cause. The $ goes towards preserving the fragile nature of the area and supports the people in the community. This tour taught me more about the Mayas and enriched the overall Mexican experience. My favorite was floating in the lazy river! Also, the meal they serve you was delicious! You can choose between the traditional Mayan chicken or fish.

Unbelievably gorgeous. We drove to Sian Ka'an from Playa Mujeres. About a 2.5 hour trip one way. We arrived very early as to find birds, which we did but not at the reserve but on the highway and across the street in residential area adjacent to ruins. We did not pay to see ruins but we did pay to walk through the jungle area. Not much to see. We booked a 2 hr. boat tour once there at dock. The lagoon is amazing. The operator is Mayan and had a lot of knowledge to share. The float downstream is a wonderful experience. Safe for children. Must see! Bring a waterproof camera and a hat. Apply sunblock prior to arrival. Restrooms available. Next time we will take the 4 hour tour to the sea and get to see manatee.

Very beautiful & secluded. The road south of Tulum is rough, but it is worth the trip. Can stay at Playa Kuun - about 3 km past the park entrance - for a small fee.