About the Sian Ka'an Biosphere - "Where The Sky Is Born"

Sian Ka'an, a Mayan phrase for "Where the Sky Is Born", was the first established Biosphere Reserve in Mexico. It is currently a UNESCO World Heritage site and remains a high priority of protection for the state of Mexico.

As the third largest protected area in Mexico, the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve comprises 1.3 million acres of tropical ecosystemsin the State of Quintana Roo. Consisting of lowland forest, flooded savannas, mangroves, and a portion of the world's second largest coastal barrier reef-- the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef--the Reserve is home to 800 plant species and provides habitat for 350 species of birds, as well as jaguar, puma, ocelot, spider and howler monkeys, crocodiles, and many types of turtles. Additionally, the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve is home to 23 different archaeological sites of pre-Columbian culture.

THE TOURS:

Muyil Forest and Float Tour

From Tulum the van ride is only 20 minutes to the Muyil Ruins where we start with a 1-hour guided tour of the ruins and surrounding nature by our Mayan trilingual guide. We look for rare, colorful birds and teach visitors about the poisonous, medicinal, and hallucinogenic value of the endemic plants. The guide’s stories are inter-laced with tails from his ancestors and accounts of his personal experiences living in the area.

After the Pink Palace and Castle ruins, we follow the sac-be, Mayan for "white road", through the jungle toward the Canan-Ha trail head. From there it is a short, historic walk to Muyil lagoon – a clear turquoise fresh water lagoon. You are invited to climb the 17m look out tower, called a mirador, which reveals spectacular views of the ruins and the lagoons from above the trees.

Once at the lagoon, we will take a boat ride into the lagoon for our journey into the clear waters of the Muyil lagoon to a man-made canal on the other side. The Mayans dug out the canal 1,000 years ago as a part of a trade route that linked the Muyil lagoon with its larger neighboring lagoon called Chunyaxche. Ancient Mayans traded salt, incense, gum, honey, wood and animals skins with others from Guatemala and Honduras. On the other side of Chunyaxche lagoon we lead into another canal that is natural and much deeper.

Along the canal—which extends 12 kilometers--we will stop at Xlapak ruin, a small, mysterious Mayan ruin used as a rest stop and customs post on the trade route. After exploring the ruin, we will dive into the clear canal water to float and snorkel as the currents carry us gently toward the sea. At times the only sound you will heart will be the peaceful rustle of wind through the straw and saw grasses that surround us. Our guide will share his knowledge of the plants and wildlife along the winding canal.

After the 40-minute float we will make our way into our boat and ride back through the series of canals and lagoons to the shore at Muyil archeological site. Going back on the road we stop in a pristine, colorful and unspoiled cenote where a tasty lunch is waiting for us. You are invited for jump into the warm water and enjoy cooling off before, during and after lunch—a wonderful way to finish our journey in Sian Ka’an.

Punta Allen Ecoadventure Tour

The Punta Allen Eco-adventure tour offered by Community Tours Sian Ka'an is an unforgettable one day journey to the most preserved portion of the Yucutan peninsula's coral reef. It starts once one of our local bilingual guides picks you up at your hotel and drives along the coastal road between Tulum and Punta Allen. You can see pristine white beaches bordered with coconut palm tress along the undisturbed dunes.

On the another side of the road, brackish and freshwater lagoons make for a peaceful and delicate landscape. While we pass the colorful estuary of Boca Paila, we move into more remote portions of Sian Ka'an where you may have a casual encounter with a rare bird like an Osprey, woodpecker, or come across deer, raccoons and other mammals along this road.

Along the road called Paso Lagartos, you will leave the vehicle and take a boat to the lagoons. En route towards the fishing town of Punta Allen, we will stop on at a small mangrove island, a breeding site for aquatic birds. Colored rosette spoonbill can be found keeping company with herons, ibis and egrets. A cenote--a small freshwater lagoon lined by limestone--gives your local guide the opportunity to explain the hydrology of the Yucatan peninsula and the relationship between cenotes and the distribution of the manatee populations.

In town you will experience the peaceful and quiet lifestyle of the Punta Allen community. Learn how they have been developing a conservation-oriented, profitable way of life using the ocean resources and their fishing expertise. Then test the fit of your snorkel gear, order a meal for lunch and prepare for your boat tour on the ocean. Sea turtles, star fish and dolphins swim freely alongside, providing friendly encounters while the boat heads toward the coral reef barrier.

During an hour of exploring the amazing underwater world of the coral reef, you will see thousands of colorful fish and other marine animals that live in this fragile ecosystem. After lunch, you will hike on a trail between the town and the Laguna Negra (Black Lagoon) to learn about the criteria that UNESCO used to declare the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve a World Heritage site.

Heading back, first by boat and then by vehicle, you can enjoy the wonderful landscapes that the sunset provides over the lagoons and arrive at your hotel by evening.

Fly Fish a Grand Slam

The flats at Ascension Bay are considered among the best places around the world for salt water fly fishing and our local guides are the most helpful to assist you in having the fishing experience of your life, regardless of your ability.

You don’t need to bring your equipment for catch and release, we will provide everything you need. You may catch one, two, three or yet four species of permit, snock, tarpon or bone fish, and throughout your fishing experience you will be surrounded by the fantastic landscapes of Ascension Bay.

After we pick up you at your hotel in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle, we will travel along the coastal road between Tulum and Punta Allen. Just 20 minutes after passing the Sian Ka’an entrance, you will find yourself in one boat shooting in the first flat.

Throughout the day-long fishing journey, the local guide and the captain will move to at least three different flats and change the handmade flies to give you as many chances as possible to make a grand slam catch! After lunch you will continue shooting and benefit from the sunlight, which allows you to easily identify schools of fish. At the end of the day, you will arrive at your hotel by 5:30pm.

Birding & Natural History

Learn about the remarkable landscapes, birds, animals and people of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve by joining our local trilingual guide for a tour. With high levels of endemic bird species in the Yucatan, large numbers of species sighted in Sian Ka’an and predicable migration cycles along the Caribbean coast, Sian Ka'an is an the ideal place for bird watching.

Our specialized trips focus on birds in the area and our guides are trained in natural history to ensure an informative and enjoyable birding tour. Over 350 avian species have been sighted in the Reserve, including many species which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Tourists frequently see the canivet's emerald hummingbird, Yucatan vireo, common Tody Flycatcher, Rufous Necked wood rail and brown Booby. Numerous migratory species can also be found here during the winter.

In addition to bird watching, guides at Community Tours Sian Ka'an can introduce visitors to common medicinal and edible plants, along with their Mayan names. Trained by Rare, our guides are good sources of information about the ecosystem and conservation issues of Sian Ka'an.

We offer morning or evening walks around the Muyil Archeological Site. Muyil is the best birding option in Sian Ka’an because it provides easier access to birdwatchers. Get to know the ancient and modern Mayan representatives, and add some birds to your life list.