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How to Visit Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve: On Your Own or Tour

March 22, 2023 By John Widmer 335 Comments

Publishing note: This post about Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve was last updated on January 28, 2024.

Known for its complex environment, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is a unique natural attraction to visit in Mexico. From the thick Yucatan jungle, freshwater marshes extend out through a series of lagoons all the way to a thriving barrier reef in the Caribbean Sea. Perhaps it’s all of this reflective water for which the Mayans called this area “Sian Ka’an,” meaning “Origin of the Sky.”

It was recognized by the Mayans as a special place thousands of years ago. And Sian Ka’an retains its allure today, thanks in part to conservation efforts taking place to protect the reserve as development continues throughout Mexico’s Riviera Maya.

While traveling throughout the Yucatan years ago, we really wanted to visit Sian Ka’an ourselves. But we couldn’t figure out exactly how to get to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve on our own.

Tours to Sian Ka’an from Tulum are the most common way to reach the biosphere reserve and are most convenient. Many of these tours are excellent, have small groups, and use local guides, like these tours on Viator . But for budget-minded travelers, Sian Ka’an tours can get a bit expensive.

We knew there must be some way to easily get to Sian Ka’an on your own. It turns out that Sian Ka’an is, in fact, easily reachable from Tulum , Akumal, and Playa del Carmen, among other nearby Riviera Maya locations, by bus or rental car. With a little know-how, a short walk, and an optional boat excursion – it all makes for a fantastic day trip!

While it’s possible to reach Sian Ka’an’s coastal ecosystem, with stunning beaches, coral reefs, and marine life, we found that exploring Sian Ka’an’s inland freshwater environments to be an easier route for a do-it-yourself trip.

Approaching the freshwater environments of Sian Ka’an provides the experience of floating down a Mayan-carved canal, walking through the jungle, and admiring ancient Mayan ruins.

After working out the logistics of how to get to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, we put together this travel guide so other travelers can reach this lesser-visited destination near Tulum.

Since our first visit to Sian Ka’an, over five years ago now, we’ve found this post has become a helpful tool to get to Muyil and Sian Ka’an. As such, we now (2024) keep this travel guide up-to-date and continue to revisit Sian Ka’an during our regular Mexico travels . We hope this detailed Sian Ka’an travel guide also helps you to reach this special place in the world!

📖 Background about Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve 🗺️ Understand: Two Different Areas to Explore 🏖️ Coastal Sian Ka’an: Punta Allen       How to Get to Punta Allen: by Car | by Van + Boat | by Tour 🏞️ Mayan Freshwater Sian Ka’an: Muyil       How to Get to Muyil: by Car | by Public Bus 🧭 Directions Through Muyil Ruins to Boat Docks 🛥️ Taking a Boat Through Sian Ka’an + Canal Float 🛣️ Returning from Muyil to Tulum 🎒 What to Pack for Sian Ka’an 💵 Total Cost & Prices of DIY Muyil Sian Ka’an Tour 🚐 DIY Adventure to Sian Ka’an vs Booking a Tour

A Brief Background About Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

The story of Sian Ka’an begins with the ancient Maya, who settled in the region thousands of years ago. These ingenious folks recognized the area’s unique beauty and ecological diversity, and they constructed an intricate network of canals and lagoons to harness its resources.

These waterways, some of which are still used today, connected several Mayan cities. Today, Sian Ka’an boasts 23 known archaeological sites, including the captivating ruins of Muyil. (Later in this guide, we’ll give all the info on how to experience both the Mayan-built canals and the Muyil ruins.)

Yet, it’s the natural beauty that adds to the allure of Sian Ka’an. The Maya inhabitants recognized the scenery of this coastal gem and named it “Sian Ka’an,” meaning “Origin of the Sky.”

Sian Ka’an boasts a diverse range of ecosystems along its 120 km coastline. Featuring tropical forests, palm savannahs, wetlands, lagoons, mangroves, and sandy beaches, it teems with wildlife. Sian Ka’an is home to manatees, turtles, dolphins, crocodiles, various bird species, and even elusive jaguars and pumas, among other mammals.

Although Mayans have long been inhabiting Sian Ka’an, it’s only in the past few decades that travelers have been beginning to dip their toes into Sian Ka’an as a designated biosphere reserve.

As development began to encroach around the region, a nature reserve was created in 1982.  A few years later, in 1986, Sian Ka’an was designated as a national biosphere reserve. Then in 1987, Sian Ka’an became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of only six natural UNESCO sites in the country. Read the full UNESCO description and criteria here .

How to Get to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve Mexico

First, it should be understood that Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is a massive area, sprawling across 5,280 km 2 (2,039 sq mi). For perspective, Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is even larger than the nearby island of Cozumel and larger than the US state of Deleware!

Being such a big area, there are multiple access points to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Most people start their trip to Sian Ka’an from Tulum. So if staying elsewhere in Mexico, consider reaching Tulum first.

In this post, we’re giving detailed directions on how to get to Sian Ka’an using two different routes and various transportation options.

There are two main access points to set off and explore Sian Ka’an:

• Punta Allen

Base map source: Google Maps, used with permission

Two Ways to Get to Sian Ka’an: Punta Allen vs Muyil

Although you can get to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve from both Punta Allen and Muyil, each of these two access points provides for two completely different experiences and contains two very different ecosystems. A further logistical difference is the feasibility of reaching each of these two Sian Ka’an destinations.

In short, visitors to Punta Allen will experience Sian Ka’an’s marine life, coral reefs, and beaches. But this coastal environment of Sian Ka’an can be logistically difficult to reach and it takes more time. Sian Ka’an via Punta Allen can be visited in one long day, with a tour. But those attempting to reach Punta Allen independently will need a few days and overnight stays due to the timing of transport. (We’ll explain that in detail next.)

Meanwhile, going to Sian Ka’an via Muyil will expose visitors to the freshwater lagoons, canals, and marshes, in addition to ancient Mayan sites. Logistically, Muyil is much easier to reach and can be visited in a half-day, whether going independently on your own or visiting as part of a tour.

So which section of Sian Ka’an is best to visit, Punta Allen or Muyil?

That entirely depends on your interests, budget, and time constraints.

If you have the time and budget, we’d advocate visiting each of these two parts of Sian Ka’an on two separate days. Because each of these sections of Sian Ka’an is so different from the other, you can go to the oceanic side (Punta Allen) one day and then have a completely different experience visiting the freshwater Mayan environment (Muyil) of Sian Ka’an on another day. How to Get to Sian Ka’an Via Punta Allen If you want to see the oceanic side of Sian Ka’an, including beaches and saltwater lagoons, then the Punta Allen route to the Sian Ka’an may be for you. This is the marine part of Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve to go snorkeling on coral reefs. While cruising in small boats around coastal Sian Ka’an, passengers often spot marine life such as dolphins, turtles, and manatees!

Experiencing coastal Sian Ka’an is a great trip. The only downside is the extra time & effort or the higher cost it can take to get from Tulum to Punta Allen.

There are four ways to visit the coastal area of Sian Ka’an:

• 🚙 4WD vehicle : best for adventurous independent travelers with a 4WD
• 🛥️ Colectivo + Boat : best for independent travelers who can stay 2+ nights in Punta Allen
• 🚐 Colectivo : generally not recommended, but is the cheapest way, still needs an overnight stay
• 🚍 Small Group Tour : the best way to see the marine side of Sian Ka’an in a single day

🚙 Logistics: Tulum to Punta Allen by 4WD Car

If you have a rental car in Mexico, be aware that it’s unadvised (or impossible) to drive there without 4WD, given the extremely rough road conditions to Punta Allen. Yet if you already have a 4WD vehicle or want to rent one, driving to Punta Allen could be a possibility.

A sturdy SUV with all-wheel drive is needed. When we were last there, the pothole-ridden road to Punta Allen was in awful condition due to rains that had been eating away at this rough dirt road. We attempted the drive in a 2WD rental car but didn’t make it very far after deciding that our rental was going to get stuck or damaged in the process.

The road to Punta Allen is not just potholes, but more like massive craters in some places. The road to Punta Allen is often in bad shape. So just beware of the severe erosion if considering driving, particularly if going during the rainy season (June-Oct). If attempting with a rental car, be sure your vehicle has good insurance coverage, a working spare tire, and a jack.

To get from Tulum to Punta Allen by car, simply head south on the dirt road past Tulum’s beachfront Hotel Zone. When the hotels end, you’ll drive through a Mayan arch. Shortly after passing through the Mayan Arch (Arco Maya), you’ll have officially entered Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. A Sian Ka’an visitor center is just beyond, where you can check in and begin to attempt to drive down the rough road ahead.

The Mayan Arch is where the rough road begins, but it gets progressively worse a few kilometers south. So don’t let the first few kilometers toward Punta Allen give you a false sense of confidence. From the Mayan Arch, it’s a 43-km (27-mile) slow-going drive to Punta Allen.

Also, realize that although the road goes along the coast, the beach is often obscured by shrubbery. The beaches are often inaccessible from the road until you are much further south. Yet once you do, you can find some beautiful secluded beaches.

Although Google Maps estimates a 1 hr 16 min drive, plan for the drive to take at least a few hours, each way. With a good 4WD SUV, it is possible to reach Punta Allen and drive back to Tulum on the same day. But planning to stay overnight in Punta Allen, would make for a more relaxing adventure. (More info in the next section on where to stay in Punta Allen.)

🛥️ Tulum to Punta Allen by Colectivo + Boat

If relying on public transport to get to Punta Allen, you must allow for multiple days, given the timing of the once-a-day colectivo  (shared van public transport) from Tulum doesn’t reach Punta Allen until evening.

This option is best for independent travelers who have at least 2 nights and 3 days to spend traveling to and from Punta Allen.

The colectivo departs daily from Tulum town and goes to a pier just beyond the Sian Ka’an visitor center, where it meets with a boat. This boat continues to Punta Allen and arrives before night. The colectivo departs at 2:00 pm from the iTour Mexico agency, located right here . Expect to pay $400 MXN, each way, for the colectivo + boat.

Since you won’t arrive until the evening and there’s no return transport on the same day, you’ll need to stay overnight in Punta Allen. And since return transportation is in the morning, you’ll need to stay in Punta Allen for at least two nights to experience this area of Sian Ka’an during the day.

Once in Punta Allen, it’s fairly easy to hire a boat to take you out to see the marine side of Sian Ka’an, for a price, of course. Bring cash. Ask to go to Blanquizal, a beautiful shallow pool of clear waters in the middle of the sea.

Where to Stay in Sian Ka’an Punta Allen Mexico

If making the trek out to this remote town be sure to have a plan for accommodation in Punta Allen. There are a few fishing lodges in Punta Allen and prices vary. But beware that during the off-season of the summer months (May/June through November), camps and even some hotels close up. Check in advance.

For an inexpensive option , there is a hostel in Punta Allen, Las Palapas , run by a friendly retired couple. A bed in shared rooms is usually around US$32/night. Check prices and availability at Las Palapas de Punta Allen .

For a basic yet comfy hotel right on a beautiful beach location, Villa Roseliz usually has prices around US$125. Search your travel dates at Villa Roseliz .

Or consider a glamping set-up on the beach or one of the nicer ocean-view rooms at Hotel Cielo y Selva  with prices starting at about US$150 per night.

🚐  Tulum to Punta Allen by Colectivo

If for some reason, the colectivo + boat option is not running, there is another colectivo option. It’s cheaper but less practical. Transferring to the boat in Sian Ka’an provides for a smoother and quicker ride. This colectivo from Tulum to Punta Allen departs Tulum Pueblo on the corner of Centauro Norte and Avenida Tulum daily at 2:00 pm .

The colectivo making the daily journey takes about four hours to complete the 55 km (34-mile) ride over the rough road , arriving in Punta Allen around 6:00 pm. If taking this colectivo, also plan to spend at least two nights at Punta Allen, because the return colectivo back to Tulum only departs from Punta Allen at the early hour of 5:00 am daily.

🚍 Full-Day Small Group Sian Ka’an Tours – Oceanside:

A final consideration is taking one of the small-group Sian Ka’an tours that journey by land and sea throughout this coastal portion of Sian Ka’an, in a single day. These tours of the marine side of Sian Ka’an use small boats in attempts to get passengers up close to nature in wildlife.

There are a few different operators that offer a full day exploring the ocean and beachside of Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. The Sian Ka’an tours tend to be similar to one another, just run by different companies.

During these small group tours, they drive up the bumpy road for about 15 km to the Boca Paila Lagoon, where you’re transferred to a small boat for the remainder of the coastal voyage across Sian Ka’an. Stops for manatee spotting and watching for dolphins ensue while cruising toward Punta Allen. There is snorkeling at a coral reef and a visit to a sandbank with a beautiful lagoon. Then visit Punta Allen for some time to relax and the included lunch. (It can be lobster, when in season!) Keep an eye out for birds and turtles throughout the voyage.

Given all that’s included, these small group tours can be worth the splurge for the convenience of being able to experience this all in one day. These Sian Ka’an tours to the reserve’s oceanic areas are priced starting at $180.

Photo credit: Viator

The following are some well-priced Sian Ka’an tours that have a consistent track record of excellent reviews :

• Sian Ka’an Adventure : 8-10 hour tour with 5-star reviews. Includes wildlife boat ride, snorkeling, swimming at sandbank lagoon, visit to Punta Allen, and lunch. Check prices and availability on GetYourGuide .
• This other Sian Ka’an tour is nearly identical to the tour above, run by a different operator, costs slightly less, and boasts 4.5-star reviews. Book this one on Viator .

To determine a Sian Ka’an tour that best fits your what you’re looking for, read the full descriptions, scan recent reviews, and check up-to-date pricing & availability.

If the tours of coastal Sian Ka’an are not within your budget or time constraints, need not worry. You can still reach the fresh-water inland environments of Sian Ka’an on your own via Muyil, as described below.

How to Get to Sian Ka’an On Your Own Via Muyil

If you want to see the inland jungle, Mayan ruins, wetlands, freshwater lagoon, mangrove forests, Mayan-carved canals, and float down said canals, you’ll find this all in the portion Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve accessed from Muyil.

Logistically, the easiest way to get to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve on your own is by going through Muyil. The Muyil access point to Sian Ka’an is also much more cost-effective compared to Punta Allen. Going to Sian Ka’an through Muyil is also a quicker trip.

Visiting Sian Ka’an on your own via Muyil is doable in a half-day, including a stop at the Muyil archeological site. The remainder of this article provides detailed directions and instructions specifically on how to visit the Muyil section of Sian Ka’an on your own.

There are three main ways how to get to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve via Muyil :

• 🚗 By car : Best for those who already have a car. It’s an easy 23-km drive on a good road.
• 🚌 By bus : Best for independent travelers. Frequent buses. Most economical.
• 🚐 By tour : Best for those looking for convenience.

Tulum to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve via Muyil by Car:

Simply take Highway 307 south from Tulum to Muyil. The Muyil archaeological site is on the left side of the road , just before km 205 .

Although Muyil is on the left, you’ll see signs for Muyil on the right soon before approaching the archaeological site. It’s fairly easy to spot if you know to look. At Muyil, there is a small parking lot that always seems to have spaces available.

From Tulum to Muyil, the drive is roughly a 20-minute south of town (22.5 km). It’s a straight shot on a flat paved highway that’s in good condition.

How to Take the Bus from Tulum to Muyil :

The buses from Tulum to Muyil come frequently, about every 30-60 minutes. So you can go from Tulum to Muyil by bus virtually anytime. There is no need to reserve a ticket in advance. There are usually many seats available. Simply head to the main ADO bus station in Tulum (located on Avenida Tulum between Alfa and Jupiter ).

Buy a ticket from the ticket counter (not on the bus) and ask for a ticket to Muyil. The cost for the one-way ticket from Tulum to Muyil is $28 pesos .

Important note : The destination listed on your ticket will NOT read Muyil , but do not fret that the ticket agent misunderstood you. Your ticket will instead list the destination as Chunyaxché , which is an alternate name for Muyil.

If not, just be sure to get off at the Muyil bus stop (see pic). If you get off here, you’ll simply have to walk a few minutes to get to the ruins.

How to Get to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve from Muyil

Once you’re at the Muyil ruins, you can either:

• Visit the Muyil ruins , then walk along a boardwalk in a jungle, climb up an observation tower, and continue to the boat docks. This all takes approximately 1 hour (maybe 2 hours, if you take it slow). We recommend this option if you have the time to explore.
• Go directly to a boat to explore Sian Ka’an. If you opt to bypass the ruins and go directly to the Sian Ka’an boats, then drive or walk south on HWY 307, past both the Muyil ruins entrance and bus stop until you a dirt road on your left (East side) at the km-marker 205. It’s about a five-minute walk (or 1-minute drive) down a small dirt road, where there is a secure parking lot ($50 pesos), and a two-minute walk from the boat dock.

We recommend visiting the Muyil ruins and jungle boardwalk first . Detailed directions are in the following section. Below is a map to help understand the layout of Muyil, the lagoon, and other points of interest discussed next.

Source map: Google Maps, used with permission.

1️⃣ Step 1: Enter Muyil and Explore the Mayan Ruins

You’ll see the entrance to Muyil from the parking lot. There’s a proper ticket counter to buy your entrance ticket to this archeological site.

Plan to spend about 20-30 minutes exploring the Muyil ruins. It’s an interesting archeological site to visit.

Understand that Muyil was once a prominent Mayan trading port that dates back to 300 BCE and was inhabited for nearly two millennia, until the 16th century. Muyil is the most important Mayan city among the 23 settlements located within the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. It played a crucial role in connecting the Yucatan’s inland network via its system of canals and lagoons.

To compare Muyil to the nearby Tulum ruins or Coba, it may not quite have the same wow factor. Muyil is a smaller archaeological site. But part of the appeal of the Muyil ruins is that you’ll likely have this archeological site nearly all to yourself. This site is far less visited. So that means no crowds and no hassle.

The Muyil ruins have not reached the mass-tourism market, so it’s so nice to be able to enjoy the tranquility and history of this important ancient Maya city. Explore the Muyil ruins and enjoy!

2️⃣ Step 2: Locate the Trail from the Muyil ruins to the Muyil Lagoon:

This well-manicured archeological site is anchored by three main structures. You’ll encounter them in this order:

• the Entrance Plaza,
• the Castle (AKA El Castillo or Building 81-3), and
• Temple 8 (AKA the Pink Palace or Building 9k-1)

Once you reach the third main structure, the Pink Palace, do NOT follow the signs toward the exit . Instead, turn around and retrace your steps back to “the Castle,” pictured below.

It’s easy to identify El Castillo (the Castle) in Muyil since it is the largest pyramid structure on the site. There is also a sign to help verify you’re at El Castillo. It’s important to locate this particular ruin because it is behind El Castillo where you find the nature trail and boardwalk to the entrance to Sian Ka’an Biosphere and the boat docks.

Once you’ve located El Castillo, walk around to the back side of the Castle. It’s here that you’ll find a white plaque on the ground that explains what a Sacbe is (it’s a pathway the Mayans built).

Just beyond that informational plaque, you’ll then see the actual Sacbe . The wooden sign with yellow paint, as pictured below, helps to ensure you’ve found the correct trail.

Go on and walk down this trail into the jungle. It’s about a 5-minute walk until you reach a boardwalk with a formal entrance to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

3️⃣ Step 3: Enter Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve and Proceed Down the Boardwalk

After the short stroll down the sacbe , you’ll eventually  reach a sign about the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve . Behind that Sian Ka’an sign, you’ll see a palapa ticket booth. This is where you pay a Sian Ka’an entrance fee of $50 pesos , per person, to enter the boardwalk, known as “El Sendero Canan-Ha,” or “the Canan-Ha trail.”

From this point onward you’ll be on this wooden path through the lush Yucatan growth. It’s a scenic 500-meter walk through the jungle marsh that winds over the wetlands.

A sign indicates that it should take about 40 minutes to complete the walk, but we believe a more reasonable estimate is 20 minutes. If the bugs are buzzing (and they likely will be), you’ll walk briskly across the trail.

Be sure to look up in the trees. Monkeys are sometimes spotted along this trail, as are many birds.

This rickety tower allows you to see well above the jungle canopy. Climb at your own risk. We think it’s worth the steep climb to take in the nice view of the nearby Muyil lagoon before continuing further down the boardwalk.

After the tower, the Canan-Ha trail soon opens up to a dirt road, where you’ll see the lagoon and boat docks. If you don’t want to take a boat ride around the lagoons and Mayan canals, you can head back the way you came. Or walk down the dirt road, which is a more direct route back to the main road and Muyil parking lot.

But we highly recommend taking in the full experience of a boat ride through the lagoons of Sian Ka’an and even a float down a Mayan-dug canal. This tends to be the highlight of a trip to Sian Ka’an via Muyil.

Sian Ka’an  Lagoon Tour and Canal Float

Taking a boat tour through Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is the main event of this half-day DIY trip from Muyil. This boat journey travels across two scenic lagoons and weaves into a narrow canal. It’s a fun ride across a mix of sparkling clear and beautiful turquoise water!

How To Take the Sian Ka’an Lagoon Tour by Boat & Prices

The price of the boat ride into the Sian Ka’an lagoon is firmly a fixed price of $1,000 pesos per person . The price is non-negotiable and no discount is given for groups of two or more. So if there are two people, expect to pay a total of $2,000 pesos and three people will pay $3,000 pesos, etc.

This fixed price of the boat ride (~58 USD per person) is high by Mexico standards. Yet we found it to be such a great experience and hence recommend it. It’s nearly two hours long and you’ll likely even have a private boat, all to yourself.

Once you arrive at the boat docks, simply express interest in taking a boat trip with the guys at the dock. Mayan is their first language, but most speak Spanish. Usually, there is at least one person who also speaks great English.

There shouldn’t be a strong language barrier to break. They’ll know what you’re here for. You already know the price. If you don’t speak Spanish, miming and smiling can go a long way. The boat guys are all very nice, friendly, and non-aggressive.

Ask them to arrange a boat trip, and then take this tour around the Sian Ka’an lagoons and canals! The guys usually arrive at the docks around 8:00 am or shortly thereafter and the last boat goes out around 4:30 pm.

Here’s the boat route they’ll take you on from Muyil through Sian Ka’an.

👶 Note regarding children : While the adult price is firmly fixed, the rate for children is flexible. We’ve received comments from readers that pricing for children ranged from $350 pesos to $900 pesos. It’s also been reported that infants and toddlers are permitted to go on the boat tour for free. (But you must bring your own toddler life jacket).

Is the Sian Ka’an Boat Trip Worth it?

The $1,000-peso price of the Sian Ka’an boat trip is a bit steep. Whether it’s worth it may vary from person to person. Personally, we thought it was worth it and think that most others would agree.

We strongly recommend this Sian Ka’an boat tour if you can budget for the price. It would be a shame to come out this way and not experience the waters of Sian Ka’an. This boat trip, and particularly the canal float, tends to be a highlight of any visit to this Muyil area of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

What To Expect on this Sian Ka’an Boat Tour

Here’s a glimpse at what the experience is like to help you decide whether to pursue it. Expect a beautiful boat ride across Sian Ka’an’s lagoons and into narrow canals that are just barely wider than the boat itself.

This is not a guided tour of Sian Ka’an. So don’t expect the boatman to provide details about the places you’re passing through. He’s just there to safely drive the boat to the points of interest you’ll be visiting.

The water throughout this boat trip is crystal clear. You can easily spot fish swimming around. But look up in the air too, as Sian Ka’an is known for over 300 species of birds.

Eventually, you’ll reach a small Mayan ruin that was used for commerce centuries ago. The boat docks here so you can take a look around.

Yet the highlight of this boat trip is next. You’ll have the opportunity to float down an ancient Mayan canal! The canal is lined with mangroves and the water is very clear. It’s also super refreshing, after that short but sweaty trek through the hot & humid jungle! A lifejacket is provided to float down the canal with.

We recommend packing your own mask and snorkel to be able to view the fish and other critters that live amongst the mangroves. We saw many fish and crabs that we would have otherwise missed during the canal float.

The boatman stays with the boat as you float down the canal on your own, which takes about 15-20 minutes. He eventually meets you at a spot where you can then walk back to the boat on a scenic boardwalk through a marsh.

Eventually, this magical journey through this inland freshwater area of Sian Ka’an ends and you’ll return to Muyil through the same scenic lagoons and canals you had entered. This entire Sian Ka’an boat excursion usually takes between 90 minutes to 2 hours.

Note: There’s also a 4-hour Boat Tour of Sian Ka’an that Reaches the Coastal Ecosystem

The boat trip, as described above, does not venture into the ocean environment of Sian Ka’an. So understand that you will not see dolphins, sea turtles, etc when taking this 90-minute boat trip from Muyil.

However, there is an expanded 4-hour boat excursion you can take from Muyil, priced at $ 6,000 pesos, per boat. This expanded tour continues further toward the ocean, so you may see some marine life. But it does not reach the barrier reef for snorkeling.

While the $6,000-peso (~US$350) price seems quite expensive to us, it could be worth it if you have a group that can share the cost. For example, if you happen to have six people, the price for this lengthier 4-hour boat tour would be $1,000 pesos per person, which is the same per-person price that’s charged for the 2-hour boat tour.

So if traveling as a group, consider this expanded tour to get more value from your pesos.

Returning to Tulum from Sian Ka’an & Muyil

Upon completing the nearly 2-hour boat tour and floating down the canal, you can exit the reverse way you came in on the trail back to Muyil. But for a more direct route (recommended), simply walk down the dirt road back to Highway 307 where you’ll find the bus station for the return to Tulum.

What to Pack for a Day Trip to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

Even if just venturing out for a half-day, it’s recommended to bring a daypack. There are some essential items that you’ll need throughout your journey into Sian Ka’an.

Here are some things to pack for a visit to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve:

👙 Bathing suit : Be sure to wear or pack a bathing suit so that you can float through the canal during the boat ride. The canal float is a must-do!

☀️ *Biodegradable* sunscreen: The chemicals in sunscreen have been found to harm this fragile environment. Visitors to Sian Ka’an are now being asked not to wear any sunscreen at all into the water. But if you’re going to wear sunscreen, ensure that it’s biodegradable sunscreen and does NOT contain oxybenzone and octinoxate. This Alba Botanic SPF 45 is on Amazon . Note, that nearby cenotes are now cracking down on harmful sunscreens too.

🤳 Underwater Camera : Bring a waterproof camera if you want to take it with you while floating in the canal. GoPros are fantastic but the $400+ price tag is not. Did you know you can find knockoff GoPros on Amazon for only $50 ? That’s what we’re using and they work great!  Without an underwater camera, be sure that you’re comfortable leaving your phone or camera with the boatman while you’re floating. (Note: The Sian Ka’an boat guides do tend to be entirely trustworthy, but you still may not feel comfortable leaving any expensive equipment).

💵 Money: While the Muyil trip with boat ride should total about $1,200 pesos per person, we recommend bringing slightly more, just in case any pricing has changed, an emergency, or if something else comes up.

🚰 Drinking water: Mexico is hot. Don’t get dehydrated. We recommend packing  at least a 1.5-liter bottle of water per person. Bring it with you or purchase it at the convenience store across the highway from Muyil.

🌮 (Optional) Food: There are some small local restaurants and an Oxxo convenience store across the street from Muyil. It’s possible to grab a bite there. Otherwise, you may want to pack some snacks.

⚠️ Travel insurance – It’s a good idea to have travel insurance, not only for a trip to Sian Ka’an but for any trip throughout Mexico. You never know what could happen during your travels here. You could get sick, a flight gets canceled, hurricanes (June-Nov), your phone falls in the water, your camera gets stolen, etc. Travel insurance will help you and cover the costs of any such unfortunate circumstances. We never roam around Mexico without it. We use and have been happy with World Nomads , which has what we’ve found to be the best price & coverage combination. Usually, we get their regular plan, but you may want to consider upgrading to the Explorer plan if you’ll be doing lots of snorkeling and/or other adventure activities.  Enter the dates for your trip  to get a quick estimate. (Takes 1 minute.)

🧳 What Else To Pack for Your Mexico Trip? The packing suggestions above are just a few recommendations specific to Sian Ka’an. You may want to check out our  Ultimate Packing Checklist   for other packing tips and to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything before your trip to Mexico.

DIY Muyil & Sian Ka’an Cost and Prices – Total

This DIY trip to Sian Ka’an, the Muyil ruins, boardwalk, boat tour & float, and busing to/from Tulum comes to  a total of $1,193 pesos per person .

To recap, here are the costs for this day trip including all entrance fees and public transport:

• Tulum to Muyil bus price: $28 pesos
• Muyil entrance fee: $75 pesos
• Sian Ka’an Boardwalk entrance fee: $50 pesos
• Boat tour around Sian Ka’an lagoons price: $1,000 pesos
• Return bus Muyil to Tulum bus price: ~$40 pesos

=Total: $1,193 pesos

At the current exchange rate, that comes out to about $70 USD per person. We do find the price for this DIY trip to be a bit high. Yet visiting Muyil and Sian Ka’an can be justifiably worth it. It tends to be a highlight of many travelers’ visits to this area of Mexico.

The US$70 cost is less than the Sian Ka’an group tours to Muyil and the lagoon, which are priced around US$150, like this one . These tours embark on a very similar route to what’s been described in this post, yet include a local expert guide, the seamlessness of door-to-door pickup/drop-off, and the assurance of catching a boat, among other perks.

Whichever way you go, just know that the Muyil, lagoon boat tour, and canal float all make for a great half-day adventure from Tulum.

Do-It-Yourself vs. Sian Ka’an Tours

Do you prefer the convenience and seamlessness of a tour? Do you want to learn more about Sian Ka’an from a local expert? Or are you comfortable with public transportation, exploring on your own, and saving some pesos? That’s what you need to decide.

The detailed instructions we outlined to get to Sian Ka’an on your own should get you there and provide for a great DIY trip. But some may run into issues. Those who are not comfortable with independent travel in a foreign country may want to book a tour instead.

If you don’t want to have to worry about the logistics, wait for bus connections, and find your way, then it’s certainly worth considering one of the many tours to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

If booking a Sian Ka’an tour, you’ll undoubtedly pay more than going to Sian Ka’an on your own. But small group tours i nclude the convenience of hotel pickup, snacks or meals, drinks, entrance fees, etc. This all can help to justify the higher price.

Yet the biggest benefit to going on any Sian Ka’an tour is the local knowledge you’ll receive from local experts. A guide will be able to share so much more information about Sian Ka’an than what you’ll find by doing it yourself. Many of the tour guides are of Mayan descent and will provide not only Mayan history but also local folklore that’s been passed down. They also know where to find wildlife and what delights their customers.

If taking a Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve tour, then we recommend booking through trusted sites like Viator and GetYourGuide . They are always reliable, have an up-to-date calendar, the ability to seamlessly book online in advance, verified reviews, good prices, and generous cancelation policies.

Here are a few recommended tours.

To See the Muyil Ruins, Jungle W alk, Boat Trip, and Canal Float : We recommend this Sian Ka’an & Muyil Tour to experience those sites as part of a tour instead of on your own. It’s the best-priced Sian Ka’an tour we’ve seen listed online that also has consistently great reviews. It does regularly sell out, so book ahead. Check availability and prices on GetYourGuide .

To Explore Sian Ka’an Marine Ecosystem : We suggest the 5-star rated Sian Ka’an Adventure on Viator for a full day out on the water, finding marine life, snorkeling, enjoying pristine beaches, and more. Check prices and recent reviews .

Have You Visited Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve?

If you’ve ventured out to Sian Ka’an on your own, please let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear about your experience. Also, since this post has become a resource for people traveling to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, we do try to keep it up-to-date with any changes over time. So if you’ve gone to Sian Ka’an and have noticed that any prices, procedures, or directions have changed, please let us know and we’ll edit the post to ensure it remains up-to-date.

Meanwhile, for more travel tips before your trip, be sure to check out our in-depth guide to the 75+ Best Mexico Travel Tips to Know Before Your Trip . It reveals how to save money, avoid hassle, stay safe, respect cultural etiquette, and have fun throughout this beautiful country!

You can also find more blogs and detailed travel guides about Mexico here .

Happy travels to Sian Ka’an and have a great trip to the Yucatan!

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March 25, 2024 at 7:44 PM

The information for the short tour is correct but we tried to fix the long trip and it was not 6000 peso’s. We were with four and they first Said it would be 9000. In the end we paid 8000.

Long trip brings you further down to the seawater section of sian ka’an where you supposedly would see manatees and crocs but we Just saw manatees from really far away and no crocodiles. So I think the short trip is more than enough in my opinion.

Also trying to negiotiate on a better Price for the long trip is not recommended as they guys are very passive aggresive.

Greetings from two Belgian travelers! Thanks for the great information above!

March 21, 2024 at 8:19 AM

So, that’s our report, for those interested. 😊 In March 2024, we did the DYS Muyil trip, including the (shorter) boat tour, and it was really cool! Floating was a unique nature experience. We came with a scooter, which was a good choice for us. (We left our helmets at the entrance at no extra cost. 😆)

The most useful gear for us were wide hats (a very sunny day), a GoPro (with a ‘dome’), and simple wet suits (with UV protection). We totally didn’t need our snorkeling gear or the dry bag (a regular backpack felt like enough protection for my DSLR from the few water splashes).

Also, we felt that the “only two boat trips a day” policy is kind of a business ploy or rather a blatant lie by the tour operators at the entrance. They ‘forced’ us onto a boat around 10 am, which meant we needed to rush down the boardwalk to catch the boat on time. In the end, there were many boats that morning going up and down the lagoon and canals. We wished we knew that in advance.

‘Alfonso’ was introduced to us as our captain, but after arriving (stressed and sweaty) at the pier, another guy suddenly became the new cap – which was fine. An older but sneaky Canadian couple tried to sit at the front of the boat – what you should also try, to take the best pictures. 😂 The new captain was very nice and patient. He calmly explained things (in ‘beginner Spanish’ that was easy to understand).

By the way: The house where you pay the entrance fee for the trail was unmanned, so we went for it. Halfway there, a man in work clothes approached us: “¡Hola! 50 pesos.” He had a machete in his hand, so we paid him politely. 😅 Afraid of heights, we skipped the tower (there is also one at the pier, which you apparently shouldn’t climb up without asking).

Later in the canal, we thought the Canadians wasted their time snorkeling underwater (not much to see), while we and others floated down the canal wearing life jackets as ‘underpants,’ enjoying the feeling of floating and the view of the mangroves.

Overall, it was one of the best experiences during our 16-day round trip in the Yucatán. (If we hadn’t seen a body on the way back to Tulum, suspected to be shot by the Guardia Nacional. But if you read the Tulum news, it’s probably nothing special. 😔)

Thanks again for this awesome guide; it really helped us a lot! 👍 To everyone still planning the trip: have fun – and take the boat ride! 😉

March 11, 2024 at 4:16 PM

Visited the reserve/ruins on March 5 and your guide was very helpful. Just a few points to highlight: – The sign for the reserve was knocked down so we drove past the parking lot but did a quick retorno in town. – You were bang on the costs but they handled the $1000MEX for the boat/float at the front entrance, coordinated a time with us there, provided wrist bands and introduced us to our boat pilot so it was all very seamless. – The tower is a little scary if you’re afraid of heights but well worth doing – just don’t look down and take it one step at a time! – We left our belongings with the boat when we did the float and there were no problems at all. – As far as guides/tours go I would highly recommend doing it on your own (we had a rental car so it was an easy commute from Tulum). – The boardwalk is in OK condition (we noticed lumber at the lagoon so it looks like repairs are planned). – If you’re not in a big hurry I would say its worthwhile using the boardwalk both ways – that’ll give you a better chance of seeing some wildlife (we spotted some parrots on the way out).

February 12, 2024 at 10:12 AM

First of all thanks a lot for this amazing guide here. That’s exactly the info we needed! Although we still have four questions:

1. Would you say it’s somehow safe to leave your valubles on the boat while yo do the floating part? (As far as I understood the boat captain picks you up later down the canal and would be alone with all the stuff you leave on the boat.) 2. Despite not beeing on a tour, is it still possible to discover wildlife? (I guess tour guides know way better, where to look at to see wild animals.) 3. And becaus of this: Is there a possibility to stretch the time/way down to the boats by walking a few side paths or is there literally only one way? 4. Since you can’t use chemical (or biological) sun blocker and mosquito repellent: Is there a possibility to wash it off once you arrive at the boats? Or is it neccessary to not apply it at all that day? 5. As I read you can/need to pay the guy organizing the boat tour in advance. Can you still just decide once you arrived the dock?

Would be super happy to hear from you guys!

February 16, 2024 at 3:00 PM

So glad it’s helped! Hope I can further answer some of your questions: 1) My opinion: yes, it’s safe to leave belongings in the boat. Yes, the boat man comes and picks you up after the canal float and will have your belongings. This will still incur some level of risk/trust. For me, even though I trust the guys, I still wouldn’t leave any expensive jewelry or pricy electronics in the boat, just in case. I’d probably be worrying about them while on the float. But, personally, I feel comfortable leaving some clothes and wallet with a few pesos. 2) Yes, it’s possible to spot wildlife without a tour. Good guides will likely have local knowledge of where to look for local wildlife, so your odds may improve on a tour. But it is also possible to spot wildlife when going on your own. Some people are lucky to find spider monkeys and coatis along the boardwalk between the ruins and the boat docks. If bringing a mask on the canal float, you’ll likely see small fish hanging by the mangroves. Birds can be spotted throughout. To see marine life (turtles, dolphins, etc) you’d need to go to the marine side of Sian Ka’an, most easily approached with a day tour. 3) There is only one path that you can take from the ruins to the boat docks. You may be able to find some forested corners around the ruins to explore a tiny bit, but there are no side trails (that I’m aware of) that jut off from the main path between the ruins and the boat docks. Much of it is a boardwalk with no way off. 4) There aren’t any showers or anything like that at the boat docks to wash off sunscreen. If you aren’t able to get any eco-friendly repellent or biodegradable sunscreen, perhaps you could try to cover up best as possible before entering the water. Not sure there’s anyone checking, but it would be a responsible and ecologically-minded thing to do. 5) If going on your own, you can wait to decide/pay for the lagoon tour and float once your arrive at the dock. There are three separate things to pay for: (1) Muyil ruins, (2) Biosphere Reserve / boardwalk path, and (3) the lagoon boat trip with canal float. You can decide which of these to do and pay for, although I recommend them all, of course.

Hope you have a wonderful time and enjoy! 🙂

February 19, 2024 at 6:46 AM

Thanks a lot! This provides a bit more clarity for us.👍 Would “pricey electronics” encompass your DSLR? It’s an item many carry but can’t take underwater. 😅 I know, it’s hard to say – just would like to know your guys personal opinion.

February 19, 2024 at 11:58 AM

Personally, I have left my Sony DSLR in the boat, in a dry bag backpack, no problem at all. I felt totally comfortable doing so. It’s tough to tell others their belongings will be fine with certainty, because you never know what could come up. So although I think it’s 99.9% fine and have never heard of any problems or issues, there still may be some small element of risk/worry. I wish I could give you a more finite answer or guarantee, but ultimately it’ll comes down to your own risk tolerance and photography desires. Have a great time! 🙂

February 19, 2024 at 2:04 PM

Thanks a lot for your quick reply and evaluation. I thought the same. I’m planning to leave it on the boat in a dry bag as well. But of course: You can never be 100% sure. I once left my huge bagpack with some nice native people in the Bolivian Andes and the next day all my money and electronics where still there – but they stole my pants (seriously, which guy steals another guy’s pants??) 😄 Again, thank you for this awesome guide and your answers. Cheers from Germany!

December 9, 2022 at 8:38 AM

Loved this day trip, thanks for the info. Floating through the mangroves was amazing. We visited Dec 2022, entry to the ruins was 65 pesos pp and boat trip was 1000 pesos pp which we booked and paid for at the ticket desk of the archaeological site. Entry to the reserve we paid at the start of the boardwalk 50 pesos pp. Arrived at 9.45am and there were only 2 other cars in the car park. We also had a boat to ourselves. We saw spider monkeys and a coati. The boardwalk and the observation tower could do with some maintenance in places so watch your step! Afterward had a lovely lunch (quesadillas and mayan tacos) in an open air restaurant on the opposite side of the road to the carpark and a bit further along.

December 14, 2022 at 3:46 PM

Thank you for coming back to our site to comment on your experience and current pricing. Much appreciated. Super cool you saw a monkey too!

January 13, 2023 at 9:46 PM

I can’t find a button on my phone for normal commenting so I will reply here. Went here today and your info helped a lot!

I got on at the collectivo stop in Tulum instead of the bus station. I got tourist scammed a lil and didn’t get any change for my 50 pesos.

For the rest prices are the same as in this post, except for the Muyil entrance which was 70 pesos when I visited. I actually ended up entering for free as I had a Mexican student card (I am an exchange student).

The parking fee for cars was 50 pesos I believe.

January 27, 2024 at 7:12 PM

Very informative post!! We are going tomorrow!! Thank you

November 18, 2022 at 4:47 PM

We did the Muyil ruins and boat trip today (18 November 2022) Ticket for the boat tour was $1,000 pesos per person. Was $50 pesos for the board walk/national park entrance fee. They were charging some people for the ruins however we did not get charged. Instructions on this blog were mega useful and still super accurate. There was a couple of your groups bringing people down to use the boats and do the trip. So would strongly recommend getting there in the morning. We were the third boat to arrive at the floating section and we got on the boat at 1020 after walking around the ruins. Observation tower still in place and climbed that as well. Have some recent photos so feel free to email me and can send them across for the blog if you want. As this was a great help for us.

January 18, 2022 at 10:48 AM

10.01.2022. We paid 8000MXN for a 4-hour trip with Muyil for 6 people. This price has already been negotiated.

February 6, 2023 at 11:58 AM

Hi, can you give more details about who to contact for such a tour and what the tour included? For instance, did you do a float down the canals? Thanks much!

January 2, 2022 at 8:01 AM

Hey! Very informative post thank you! I am just wondering if it’s possible to store somewhere luggage? As we are stopping by there on the way down to bacalar it would be great to have ablocket there for our backpacks.

January 4, 2022 at 3:11 PM

I do not know of any lockers there. But one option is to ask someone (and offer a propina) at the Muyil ticket office or at one of the establishments across the street to inquire if you can store your luggage for a few hours. Of course, if you have items of value, there is some trust/risk to consider.

November 18, 2021 at 9:40 PM

Thanks for the great and detailed advice!

Update: you can now book the boat at the entrance of the park, 1000 pesos per person incl. the 50 pesos park fee.

September 8, 2021 at 4:31 PM

Hey! Thank you SO MUCH for this post, it saved me from trying to go to Punta Allen and getting potentially stuck on the road. Everything is exactly as described, except the entrance fee to the Muyil ruins is now 50 pesos. I drove a car, Google maps downloaded in advance, so it was easy to find this place. Note. If you forget bug spray, the price at the gift shop across the Muyil entrance is 120 pesos, which was way too much IMHO, so I just went without. Not too many bugs, so not an issue. Coba was worse in the insect department.

August 30, 2021 at 1:36 AM

August 2021 update.

We did the Muyil boat with self drive from Tulum.

Directions here are great. Thank you.

Covid has reduced boat capacity to 50% so 3 people. Same group can be bigger so our family of 4 was all on one boat.

They have taken over the temple cash desk for their marketing. Though low pressure.

A couple next to us were told MXN1100 for two.

We were told MXN1100 for four.

We paid the MXN6000 for the longer tour. Hey what’s another MXN2000 at that point. That took us out under the bridge to the beach on the oceanside. Sad to see so much washed up plastic after Hurricane Grace. Also all along the inside of the barrier land looking for Manatee. Didn’t find them but saw lots of Manatee poop and birds.

The boats can only go twice a day. They know they are monitored for the UNESCO rules and follow that, and sunscreen and life jackets etc.

They encourage you to do the boat first and ruins after. If doing the longer tour remember that currently the ruins are 9-3. With that we missed the ruins. Ah, next time.

November 26, 2020 at 6:10 AM

Great find! Thank you. Was disappointed that the price of yours from Tulum was a bit steep for our family of 4 and this was perfect! Paid $1000 for the adults and $800 for the kids , we did the 2 hour tour but it seemed for $5000 for the boat you could do the 4 hour to include the ocean crocs and manatees….I think that was what he said…so worth doing if you have the time! Fantastic advice, thanks a million.

November 5, 2020 at 12:02 PM

My husband and I visited Muyil/Sain Kaan on 11/1/2020. Thanks to this site, we had a fabulous time. We rented a scooter in Tulum for our vacation, so that was our transportation. We were the first folks at Muyil at 9:00 (all the regional sites open now at 9, due to COVID, I was told). Carlos, our boat captain, was waiting at the entrance and told us about the lagoon ride/float down the river. We paid the park $45 pesos each and Carlos $1000 pesos each and agreed we’d meet Carlos at the lagoon in about 30-45 minutes. Walk to ruins and to Sain Kaan as described and we paid our $50 pesos to enter. Went up into observation tower, super steep steps/ladder but well worth it. Boated across the lagoons to the river float and we were the first boat there. It was just my husband and I. Such a great experience and so different! There were seven boats docked when we walked back to the boat. Carlos said the captains take only two trips each day. I would say all together there were probably 12 to 15 boats.

January 5, 2022 at 6:35 AM

Hi Jacky! How did you meet captain Carlos? Where you able to contact him in advance? Or you just ran into him at the entrance at Muyil? Thx a million

August 18, 2020 at 7:43 PM

As soon as I observed this web site I went on reddit to share some of the love with them.

February 19, 2020 at 5:09 PM

I first found this info 5 years ago, and finally had a chance to go, so I’m glad you’ve been keeping the info current. Basically everything I read was true, except I was sad not to encounter the Boa 😉

Wed, Feb ~10:30am per person $45mx ruins site $50mx sian kaan access $1,000mx boat tour with float

We did meet our captain, Jesus, at the entrance of the ruins. and arranged to meet him 50min later at the dock. This gave us time to view the ruins at our pace & make our way through the (very peaceful) jungle path. We choose to leave the lookout tower for our trip back so we didn’t need to rush.

My expectation of the ruins were surpassed, the boat ride great, and the float the most relaxing thing I’ve done in a looooong time. We were so grateful to have Jesus looking after us!😏

January 3, 2020 at 1:12 PM

We just came back from the DIY Trip to Sian Ka‘an. Thanks for The Great advice. Tours are soo expensive – do it in your own and you will safe almost twice the Money.

Don’t use sunscream or mosquito repelente Before you swim!

Nice Trip but we Would‘t do it again just cause it’s a lot of Money still, but we are only once here so therefore it was fun and Great nature to See. Get up really early we caught a Bus at 7:45 ish from ADO Station 31$ Pesos per Person to Muyil. Walkend down the Road an der paid 1000 pesos for the boat Trip – 2000 for 2 People. Starting this early, we were the First floating and got so see the magroves without anyone. 50 pesos for the Ruins and back with the colectivo directly from the Main Street at the entrance of the Ruins for 70$ pesos each. We came back at noon, Great half day trip. And it’s true, they are ristricted to go out only twice a day, thats why it’s so expensive Told us our Captain.

January 22, 2020 at 11:53 AM

Many thanks for this information. We caught a taxi from Tulum ($400) as we were a bit late after booking in to the treehouse hotel. We paid $2000 for 2 of us and really enjoyed floating down the channel. Afterwards we walked back to the road and had a lovely lunch at Coco Nita. Many thanks to the Germans who gave us a lift back to Tulum.

September 21, 2022 at 4:04 PM

We just returned from this DIY 1/2 trip. All information was accurate. We did decide to hire an English/Spanish speaking guide ($500MX) to the ruins who ended up being fantastic! It completely changed our understanding of the native plants and the history of the Mayan civilization. We would have loved the opportunity to float the canals twice. It was that awesome! For sure climb the rickety tower.

December 31, 2019 at 7:08 PM

Thank you so so much for this post! It gave us the confidence to go and do this trip without a tour, which we found excellent. We rented a scooter (not for the faint of heart, but definitely safe if you have some experience driving two wheels) and headed to Muyil in the late morning on Dec. 31. We arrived around 11:30 am, then walked through the ruins and got to the dock around 12:00 pm. There were several boats and guided around, with one seemingly acting as the organizer. Boats only left once there were six people in the boat, so my partner and I joined with a family of 4 and headed out. The float was PHENOMENAL. Even during one of the most touristy times of year, we were floating largely by ourselves. I’m already dreaming about coming back. After the long walk back to our boat, we sped back across the lagoon and made it back around 2 pm. It was still 45 pesos to enter, 50 pesos once we got to the path, and 1000 pesos per person for the boat ride. Expensive, yes, but totally worth it 🙂

December 31, 2019 at 12:09 AM

We did this today (Dec 30) following your advice – thank you so much! Since its high season we were nervous about getting a boat without a reservation and I guess we got lucky. We were the first ones there at 8:00am. Price for parking still $50 pesos, price for the boat per person was $1000 pesos. The second dirt road to get to the secure parking lot was a little tough to find, but google maps got us close (although google wanted us to take the first turn into the Zona Archeologica). I highly reccomend going early because the lakes are gorgeous that early in the am, and smooth as glass. Thanks again for such a detailed description!

December 9, 2019 at 10:55 PM

Thanks for the useful post, we just did the excursion today (Dec 9). There was a bunch of guides waiting at the entrance to the ruins and we had no problem booking a tour even at 2pm. Our guide told us this was his only trip of the day. I wouldn’t expect things to stay the same as high season kicks in shortly. As mentioned here, the price is $1000 MXN. We didn’t have to pay for the kids (preschooler and baby). Cheers!

December 23, 2019 at 9:38 PM

On Monday 23 December we had no problem getting two boats for our group of 10 at about 9:am – there were 5 at the dock when we arrived, but it seems things tightened up shortly thereafter. When we returned around noon, there were no boats and a couple of tourists waiting. Note that we paid $1000/person, including kids ages 7 and up. It took some talking to get the 4yo at half price. Moral of the story – go early, and expect to pay for all the kids.

November 22, 2019 at 11:42 AM

Such a helpful tutorial! I’ve visited Sian Ka’an Muyil portion numerous times as part of tours. Now that I live full-time in Akumal, I wanted to find a do-it-yourself option so I was thrilled to find this post! I visited on November 19th with a friend visiting from San Miguel. It was her first experience and she had a fantastic time! The 205 km marker is missing but the Oxxo is a great landmark and the entrance is just a few meters north of there, We opted to walk the ruins and the boardwalk, making our way to the boats. A Boat Captain greeted us near the Cathedral ruins and showed his ID and offered the boat tour. We each paid our $1k pesos and received wristbands for the tour. We continued to make our way through the ruins and the boardwalk and our Boat Captain was waiting for us when we arrived at the docks. He took the 2 of us as well as one other twosome on the lagoon tours and then the canal. We donned our “diapers” and enjoyed our float. He met us at the other end with our shoes so that we could make the mile long trek back down the boardwalk to the boat. Back through the lagoons and he dropped us back at the boat dock. We walked back through the ruins to arrive back at our car. Simple and hassle-free! This will now be how I always experience Muyil in the future when friends and family come to visit! Now, I need to plan my first Punta Allen Sian Ka’an experience! Thank you so very much for this detail! Truly appreciated!

October 24, 2019 at 9:58 PM

Hello all, we just did it this morning (24th of October). We arrived at 9:30am directly at the main entrance of the archeological parc, we paid the parc fee and a guide directly proposed us the boat for 1000 pesos. We took it and paid it directly without moving. He took us by car to the boat directly through the second path. We were ready to go (only 2 in the boat + 1 captain and his trainee) but we waited for another couple that came the same way, with a guide (Pepe). And… That’s it !

We had a wonderful visit with pepe that explained us a lot of Mayan culture, showed us many animals and plants. He is very passionate. And we did the full tour (with the floating etc).

When we came back, we went by ourselves through the archeological patch, from the beach to the parking. We paid the entrance (50 pesos) as written in this blog and we visited everything by foot including the mirador. We did it at our return so that we were sure to have a boat. The other couple went back by a car that waited for them to go from the beach to the parking. They proposed us but we wanted to visit the ruins and Mirador.

To finish, the period of October is very cool, you can come in the morning and find available boats. But captain and guide told us that during holidays it’s mainly impossible, too many people and they can’t do more than 2 boat tour / boat / day (UNESCO regulations). That’s the reason why people have to book. Highest period is July – August (and a bit of September) and mainly December, January.

Thank you for your very detailed article that helped us a lot and that maked us saving money !!

Last peace of advise, don’t forget to put solar cream before the boat because after the departure it’s too late (UNESCO regulation too), don’t forget to bring water and snacks if you return by your own.

September 16, 2019 at 10:34 PM

Thanks a lot for the detailed info!! We really like avoiding the big tours so your info was very valuable! (And it was actually easy to follow) We went today (16th of september), and didn’t have any problems getting a boat at 9.30 a.m. (Actually we found the boat guys at the bus stop! I randomly asked the shop owner where the road to the boats was, and he turned to the guy having breakfast who was one of the guides) As it is low season there really were enough boats for everyone! (About 10 at the dock) So if you are going low season, no need to worry! Did get a sunburn though, from the float and the walk back to the boat, be careful everyone! Thanks again guys 🙂 Flo

October 4, 2019 at 12:30 AM

Thanks so much for commenting with your up-to-date experience. What you describe is how it’s always been, so am appeased to hear you had no problems catching a boat, as others have reported recently.

August 19, 2019 at 8:09 AM

Like others have said, huge thank you for putting this together!! It was so helpful. Adding m experience in case it’s helpful.

I went August 18. Arrived at Muyil ruins around 10:15am and the boat operators were at the ruins inviting people to go ahead and reserve their boat tour. They encouraged us to do the boat tour first and then come back to the ruins to beat the heat (as much as you can do in Mexico in August!). The information was somewhat disjointed, but they said they have two trips per day – one in the morning and one in the afternoon. What I gathered was that they have a certain # of boats, and each boat goes out twice per day. But again, rather unclear.

Anyway, we paid 1000 MXN per person and were on our boat by 10:45. There were only a couple of remaining boats for what appeared to be the “morning shift”. The tour lasted about three hours, and when we were heading back around 2 we saw other boats starting their tour.

We had a great time and would definitely recommend this tour to others! Our guide was very informative, the lagoons are gorgeous, and the float down the canal was incredible. Not to mention it revolutionized how I wear a life jacket! 😂

Also – at the entrance to the parking lot that takes you directly to the boats (just past the ruins) there is a a little food truck where they sell coconuts – it’s worth a stop!! We stopped to get coconuts after our boat ride; for 50 MXN we got two coconuts, the husband of the woman who runs the truck taught my partner how to cut open the coco with a machete, and then he whipped us up smoothies with the meat. Very friendly guy (he spoke some English) and very refreshing after several hours in the hot sun.

Thank you again for putting together this awesome guide!!

August 11, 2019 at 7:04 PM

First of all thanks for the guide. Big thumbs up for the structure and details of it. Since there seems to be a lot of confusion, if it is possible to get the boat ride on your own: You can. So what we encountered with entrance fees was the following: On the entrance there was a guide already waiting and asking us if we wanna take the tour with the boats. He wanted 50$ USD for it, which he converted to 1080 pesos. He filed us a receipt, explained the whats in this guide is to find and gave us entrance tickets for the archaeological side. So we did not pay the 45 pesos and since there was nobody at the other shed also not the 50 pesos. I asked if you can just book the boat tour down at the peer and our guide confirmed that as well, supposing your accessing over the dirt road. Good luck

August 13, 2019 at 12:07 PM

Thanks so much for the update on your recent experience. In the past 5+ years, it’s never been a problem at all to get a boat ride on your own. There’s always been plenty of people ready to take visitors out for a ride through the lagoons and the canal float. But just in the past few weeks, people have been commenting about higher prices and a cap regulating the number of boats going out for the lagoon tour each day. I’m relieved to hear that you were easily able to get a boat to take you out and am hopeful that future visitors are similarly able to.

August 5, 2019 at 4:33 AM

Hi. Many thanks for the information on your site. We tried to take the Muyil-boattrip on July 29. Price was 1,000 pesos for an adult and 900 pesos for a child (7/9 years old). However, upon arrival (11am) we were told that on that day no more boats would leave and that we would have to make a reservation for the next day (or later). Such a reservation could only be made at the docks (and not by mail or telephone). As a result we, regretfully, could not take the boats. Obviously we were a bit disappointed but we didn’t let this ruin our day/week/holiday.

August 6, 2019 at 8:19 PM

Am so sorry you were not able to take the trip. Thank you for stopping back by to let us know. It’s disappointing to hear. As there have been plentiful boats and no issues at all for the past 5+ years. It seems quite odd that they have seemed to suddenly greatly restrict the boat trips, and in the low season nonetheless. Makes me wonder what is happening behind the scenes that may be affecting this. With similar feedback now becoming more consistent, I will go ahead and update this post to now warn other travelers who are venturing out to Muyil. Thanks again for stopping by to let us know. It will hopefully help others to avoid potential disappointment with these recently changed conditions.

July 31, 2019 at 6:20 PM

Thank you so much for this especially helpful guide! Today is 31 July 2019. My friend and I are after a month traveling Mexico, and decided to base in Tulum for the last bit of this trip. Woke up early enough to get to Muyil by 9:30. When we got to the boats dock (it was 10:30 already), it turns out the price is 1000 pp. We weren’t gonna let this change our plans, but then the guy explained that because the number of boat at the lagoon is now restricted, the next tour will leave only when the other one returns, at 12:00. 1 hour and a half of waiting in the burning heat and humidity finally made us change our plans, and we turned around “empty handed”, no tour. I guess we can make 3 useful point out of today, that may help others: 1. Notice that the price we were told is 1000 pesos per person.

2. Bring some snacks and water, just in case you arrive at a timing when you’ll have to wait 1-1.5 hour. I guess if we were prepared for this wait, it wouldn’t have ‘broke’ us, and we would wait to go on the tour.

3. Three months ago a cenote was discovered near Muyil, during a digging that took place while building a new resort. The name of the place is “el corazon del paraiso” (‘the heart of paradise’) – a well earned name: its beautifully shaped like a heart, water are crystal clear and very cool, alot of little fish swimming around.. Its a beautiful spot!! They charge accordingly, 150 pesos per person. You can also rent snorkel and mask (do it, its beautiful down there!). We ended up there, so maybe all in all its not that bad we missed the tour 😉

August 4, 2019 at 12:44 PM

Thanks so much for the feedback on your recent experience – very helpful! We’ll update this post again soon based on yours and others’ recent info.

Sorry to hear there was a lengthy wait amidst claims of new restrictions. Am a bit surprised to hear that. The summer months tend to be a slow period for Sian Ka’an (and the Riviera Maya area), so there tends to be not many visitors and boat activity during this time of year. If his claims are legit (and it wasn’t for some other reason), I can only imagine how this will impact trips during the busier time of year (Dec-Apr).

That cenote sounds amazing! And so happy to hear you were able to salvage your trip to Muyil by taking a dip in those clear waters. Can only imagine how refreshing it must have been after waiting for the boat in the hot sun. We’ll definitely have to check that out ourselves next time we’re in the area. Thanks so much for the recommendation and sharing this special place with everyone!

July 13, 2019 at 10:33 AM

Hi, Do you by any chance know if it is possible to do the boat trip on sundays? Or is there a risk that the boat men are not there? Thank you. All best Merle

July 13, 2019 at 12:52 PM

Yes, the boat men are there seven days a week ready to take people out through the lagoon and to the canal float.

July 14, 2019 at 11:25 PM

We went a few days ago. The price is still $900 each for the boat trip.

Thanks so much for this article we followed your advice and had a fantastic time. Enjoyed by my 3 teenage kids too!

I almost don’t want to say how good this is as it seems to be so understated and consequently under commercialised. There’s no stall constantly badgering you at all. I thoroughly recommend this trip

July 15, 2019 at 4:30 PM

That’s all so great to hear and thanks so much for stopping back by with the update. Yes, we’ve similarly found it to be a very un-commercialized experience. It really seems to be well managed. And it’s particularly less visited during these summer months. How awesome to share this experience with your teens! They must have enjoyed that canal float.

May 9, 2021 at 3:34 PM

Hi — A friend and I will be there the first week in June. I and a friend prefer not to walk to the lagoon and will have a rental car. Can we just drive (for a fee) to the boats? thanks

May 29, 2021 at 7:46 AM

Yes, there’s a parking lot right by the boat docks. You can park there for much more direct access to the boat trip, instead of walking through the Muyil ruins and boardwalk.

June 7, 2019 at 9:51 AM

We visited in May 2019 and they increased the price again to 1000 pesos and our guide told us that they are looking at increasing again soon to 1200 pesos to make sure that not too many people are visiting the place at the same time. It was still very worth the experience at 1000 pesos. Our guide told us that the tour is now longer (3h). Thank you for the tips on getting there, it was super useful.

June 11, 2019 at 2:49 PM

Oh my! Thanks for the update. Surprised to hear of yet another price increase so quickly. On the bright side, that’s really nice that they provide a longer tour. Also, I suppose it will help deter the potential for overtourism, even though we see very few other visitors during each of our visits. So glad to hear you had a great experience and gracias again for the pricing update! 🙂

May 11, 2019 at 5:50 PM

Hello! We followed your instructions today and all went perfect! Indeed 900MXN fixed, but we found it worth it. Santos and Felipe were two guys that helped us out there and their english was ok. The boatride and canal floats are magnificent. The walk there behind El Castillo is beautiful and an adventure in itself. For future adventurers: take in the jungle feel and try to spot cool animals – but little fun fact: keep one of your eyes on the wooden pathway at all times if you can. We had the pleasure of encountering two snakes on there during the walk. One was tiny green-yellow and thin, ok. The other one was something else entirely and scared the living daylight out of me nearly stepping on its head! It was positively identified by three locals (and google afterwards, hah) as “ooh just a boa”. As in – Constrictor! But it was “fine because this is not the mama”. “Not the mama” was already big and exciting enough for us though :)! So keep your eyes out for Mama Boa etc folks. Ps: we got past both of them just fine, you don’t bug them they won’t bug you, so DO NOT let this stop you from following this excellent travelplan, it was great and gorgeous! Thanks, Tine & Thomas

May 13, 2019 at 6:48 PM

Thanks for confirming that the recently increased pricing still is indeed in effect. That’s so cool that you got to see a boa – awesome! (Okay, well maybe a little frightening too, haha!) But really that’s a pretty special sighting. Really neat to hear about your encounter. So thanks for the heads-up and watch out for that Mama Boa indeed! 🙂 So glad you had a great time, snakes and all!

April 23, 2019 at 5:03 PM

Fantastic guides. Thanks for your hard work. I had already read one of the guides to Merida and now came across this one.

April 23, 2019 at 12:58 PM

Hi! Me and my wife just did the trip to Muyil and to the lake, instructions are all good, thanks for the tips. The new update is in the 2-hour boat tour price, it is now 900 pesos per person and when talking to one of the guides he said that it will stay like that as there are new regulations of how many boats they can have so the authorities increased the tour price. We didn’t go for the tour as we think it was overpriced for what it really is but thought this info would be helpful. Cheers!

April 23, 2019 at 5:09 PM

Thanks so much for the update. It’s disappointing to hear they raised the prices again. You are the second person to report that this week, so it seems a new rate is indeed in effect. I’ll update the post now to let everyone else know. The boat ride is a great experience, but $900 is really getting up there in price. Thanks again for the update – very helpful!

April 29, 2019 at 8:39 PM

Me and my partner wanted to express our thanks for the instructions it’s people like you that have seriously made the trip worthwhile. can also recommend the restaurant across the road with the fountain especially if you like your chilli hot

April 19, 2019 at 7:16 PM

Thank you so much for posting this! It was really helpful.

Today, April 19, we went out to see Muyil and do the 2 hr boat ride. Took the ADO bus (28 pesos pp) out and the collectivo back into Tulum (30 pesos pp) Unfortunately, the price for the boat had increased. On our way down the boardwalk we met up with a group who told us they had already been down at the dock and been told the price was now 900 pesos pp due to it being the holy week. They had declined. In our arrival we were told the price was now 900 pesos pp as they were now more restricted on how many trips a day they could make into the reserve. Seemed a bit scammy. Did not seem negotiable especially as there were many groups there going out. My partner was not down with the generally scammy vibe but I convinced him as I really wanted to see the reserve via boat. It was beautiful. We ended up on a boat with another couple (4 total on the boat). The man-made channel between the lakes was so cool and the float in the natural channel serene and we saw a few fish with our masks. I’m interested to find out if the price goes back down to 700 on a different day!

April 23, 2019 at 5:02 PM

Ah, it’s disappointing to hear they raised the price yet again. A year or two ago, they raised it $100 pesos. Now, another $200, yikes. We can only hope that it due to an effort that ultimate helps to protect this special place. Glad you were able to enjoy the boat trip despite the price hike. Will monitor to see if it stays this way. Thank you very much for this update and letting us all know. Gracias!

April 14, 2019 at 2:47 PM

Hi, I’ve just completed the half day trip to Muyil ruins and the canal float, taking the bus there and back to Tulum. The instructions are perfect and worked like clockwork in reality. All of the prices are still accurate. Thank you so much for this, I really enjoyed it!

April 15, 2019 at 9:31 AM

That’s great to hear! Thanks so much for stopping back by to confirm. 🙂

March 20, 2019 at 8:49 PM

Thank you for this great article. Everything worked exactly as described!! Except our bus trip back was even less expensive 25 pesos each!! We also elected to eat lunch at the tiny restaurant at the end of the dirt road. 100 pesos for 1/2 chicken with slaw, rice, salsa, and tortillas and 15 pesos for a Fanta. Look for the sign Asadero de Pollos Muyil. The food was really tasty and we had a nice table in the shade while waiting for the bus.

March 21, 2019 at 4:13 PM

Nice! It’s always a happy surprise when something costs less than expected. That chicken lunch sounds fantastic and a good deal too. Thanks for the tip! Sounds like a perfect way to spend chowing down while awaiting a return bus. But now you’re making me hungry, lol.

March 14, 2019 at 12:52 PM

Awesome write up you guys, thank you both for taking all the time and effort to chronicle such a detailed guide! We are planning a trip in May and have booked tickets from France to Cancun. Would you guys recommend we spend 2-3 days at Sian Kaan? We are definitely interested in Birding and dolphin/whale watching. Also would you have any info on the best way to get from Cancun airport to Sian Kaan. Any recommendations on places to stay? Thank you so much again.

March 18, 2019 at 2:56 PM

If going towards Muyil, only a half-day or so in necessary. But if interested in dolphin watching, you’ll need to go the Punta Allen route. That can be done in either a full day tour or spend a few days there. Up to you. To get from Cancun airport to Sian Ka’an, you’ll first need to travel towards Tulum. You can take a bus (via Playa del Carmen), a taxi, or organize private transport. It just depends on your budget and travel style. Same with where to stay. There’s everything from 5-star resorts to cheap hostels.

March 11, 2019 at 6:38 PM

Thanks fo sharing your Info. Short tour (2h) is 700 pesos per person. We did the long one (3,5h) for 6000 pesos for one boat. I know that some others want 7000 and 8000 for a boat..

Short one is nice.. but only the long one you go until the sea and look for manati and crocodile.

March 10, 2019 at 6:23 PM

Thanks a lot foe all the information! Have been to Muyil and everything was as described. Right now am in Punta Allen and want to share some extra tips on how to get there without a tour from Tulum. In Tulum go to the itour agency in front of the supermarket. There is a bus leaving from there every day at 2pm. Roughly and hour drive until the visitor center of sian kaan. It costs 135 pesos. From there you can catch a lancha which will bring you directly to punta allen in around 1h as well for 250 pesos. Maybe more pricey than the collectivo but the lancha trip is like a tour in itself. To go back same way the lancha leaves at 7 20am from punta allen deck. You can also come back from punta allen at 3pm with the tortillero. He comes everyday from tulum to punta at 1pm and leaves back at 3pm. Not sure of the price yet as I’ll take it tomorrow but the camping am staying told me around 300 pesos. Will let you know. Thanks again for all your great advices.

March 14, 2019 at 10:10 AM

Thanks so much for chiming in with this added route! Someone on Facebook had recently messaged us about this too. Sounds like a great way to go and I’ll try to update the body of the post soon to include this. I believe it must be new, and possibly seasonal. We’ll be back in Mexico ourselves soon and we’re looking forward to checking this out ourselves. Sure, it’s a bit pricier than the collectivo but the time it saves and the hours seem well worth the extra few pesos! 🙂 Really happy to hear about this more convenient route from Tulum to Punta Allen! Gracias again!

April 19, 2019 at 11:47 AM

Hi everyone, many thanks for the detailed informations. We’re desperately looking for some natural treks and non-tourist traps around the riviera (all over Yucatan really, but doesn’t seem to have many) and the biosphere seems to have both, so this post and the comments are greatly appreciated.

We’ll do the Muyil bit in half a day while staying a couple of nights in Tulum, but we also want to have full days of natural immersion, so we want to stay in Punta Allen for 3 nights. I was wondering if it’s possible to walk around the reserve starting from Punta Allen, and if there are enough trails to cover two full days of trekking? I see that from Muyil there’s only a 2-hour walk and we’re looking for longer ones.

The pre-made tent option looks great, but we’ll have all our things with us so was also wondering if it’s possible to leave backpacks (with laptops etc) somewhere safe during the day in order to trek comfortably?

Thanks a lot!

April 19, 2019 at 12:05 PM

Punta Allen is the end of the line. On one end, it’s ocean. On the other end, it’s simply a long narrow peninsula. In Punta Allen you’ll definitely be able to escape into nature and the escape the more touristic areas found throughout the rest of the Riviera Maya. But it may not quite satisfy your urge for trekking. There are certainly some nice walks along the shoreline, but don’t expect a network of hiking trails. After all, much of the Sian Ka’an is water, not land. Perhaps one option you could consider is storing your big packs at a hostel or hotel in Tulum, then negotiating with a taxi to take you halfway to Punta Allen in the early morning so that you could spend that entire day walking the rest of the way to Punta Allen. Then chill out there for a day or so before ultimately taking the colectivo/boat back to Tulum town. It’s about 40 kilometers from the beachside entrance of Sian Ka’an to Punta Allen, so that distance would likely prove too much to walk in a single day, particularly considering the heat. But perhaps tackling 20 kilometers or so could be more manageable and enjoyable. Just an idea. Hope it works out. Stop back by and let us know how it went. Have a great trip!

March 9, 2019 at 8:45 AM

John, Great job with sharing all those tips and information’s related to Sian Kaan biosphere. Appreciate your effort. Will try to follow your advices within next 3 weeks :o) Have fun with next travels!

March 14, 2019 at 9:49 AM

Thanks – so glad it’s helped! We hope you have an excellent time exploring Sian Ka’an and Mexico!

February 12, 2019 at 9:16 PM

Your instructions were PERFECT and led my boyfriend and me to one of the most memorable experiences of our Tulum adventure. The cost of the boat tour is still $700 pesos/person ($45 USD, but they prefer pesos) and worth every single bit. When we arrived, the organizers were surprised that we hadn’t made a reservation, but we got a boat within 10 minutes. They asked that we not use ANY (not even reef friendly) bug spray or sun screen, in order to protect the aquatic life, which makes sense and I felt inclined to respect their wishes. Make sure you cover up well, though. It’s a lot of strong sun. Our tour guides were Abner and Jaime. They were FANTASTIC. So welcoming and willing to work with us in our very limited Spanish and their somewhat limited English. They shared about their native Maya language and culture, and knew so much about that ecology of the place. The float we took down the canal was absolutely amazing! I recommend a snorkel mask. We saw a bunch of beautiful fish. It’s also nice to just float, so if you don’t have the mask, you’ll still have fun. We tipped the tour guides. This felt like the right thing to do.

A note on finding the place: if you go straight to Sian Ka’an instead of touring the ruins first, the left turn to the parking lot is just after you pass the southbound Muyil bus stop and just before the northbound bus stop.

Thanks again for this excellent guide to one of the area’s hidden gems.

February 19, 2019 at 7:06 AM

Thanks for the feedback! 🙂 And that’s interesting and encouraging to hear that they’re no longer allowing bug spray or sun screen of any kind. I will update this post again soon to reflect this change. Gracias! So glad you had a great time!

January 18, 2019 at 7:20 PM

Thank you for your elaborate instructions! We did the tour on December 19th. We entered through the Muyil Archaeological Zone and your instructions were 100% accurate. We had a wonderful tour, in which we saw a Tiger Egret from short distance. We enjoyed seeing the mangroves from close by during the float, and the many orchids and bromelias growing on them. Next to the boat landing the water is shallow, but you cannot stand there. What seems like a sandy bottom is actually a thick layer of spongy, ill-smelling mud (I found out the wrong way 🙂 ). If you take the route through the ruins, make sure to be back from your boat tour before 4:30pm or so. They do close the gate to the boardwalk. But you can walk the alternative road. (We just climbed the gate, but the night guard at the entrance to the ruins was not amused. And he had to open the gate to the parking lot to let out our car. We gave him a tip, of course.)

January 20, 2019 at 10:00 AM

Thanks for the added tip about the gate closing at 4:30. 🙂 And glad to hear you had a good trip, despite sinking into mud and hopping gates, haha!

February 11, 2019 at 10:28 PM

How would you recommend we make a trip from Barcelo Maya Palace to both Sian Ka’an and Muyil in a day or less? We would be in the area in early April.

February 19, 2019 at 7:09 AM

Catch a southbound bus or taxi from your hotel to Tulum (should take about 30 minutes) and then continue with the instructions provide in this guide. Alternatively, choose a tour that offers hotel pickup at Barcelo Maya Palace.

January 9, 2019 at 10:06 PM

Great information, thanks very much , we had a great exploring and saved lots of money ! We did the walk through ruins and boardwalk pretty quick but can take longer if you want! Boat trip was well worth the money

December 30, 2018 at 2:59 PM

Thanks for the pointers as it was exactly what we were looking for. We visited the biosphere today and prices haven’t changed. It was 50 pesos for parking and 700 pesos per person for boat ride. We had a guide and captain of whom both spoke good English – Ricardo and Santiago. We also noticed many other guides speaking English and a female guide spoke French too. Floating on the longer canal to the Mayan temple was also a kool experience.

January 5, 2019 at 2:47 PM

That’s great – thanks for stopping by with the feedback! Was unaware there was a French-speaking guide too – impressive! 🙂

December 27, 2018 at 7:04 PM

Thank you so much for the detailed information. We visited there today planning to take the 4 hours boat trip. The price was not 4500 per boat but 8500!!! Now, this is the peak season (12.27) but still… Eventually we took the 2 hours trip which was fun. We arrived around noon and they had only one boat left for 2pm. So if you are coming on the peak season try to book in advance (I don’t know if this is at all possible). The Mayan ruins are nice but you don’t get a real feeling of a jungle walk, it is short and the wooden deck kills the natural feeling.

January 5, 2019 at 2:52 PM

Yikes, thanks for the update about the price increase on the 4-hour boat tour from Muyil. Perhaps it’s because it’s or a larger group or because it’s peak season. But anyway you slice it, 8,500 pesos for the 4-hour is crazy expensive in our opinion. Which is exactly why we advocate that it’s better to do one of the beach side tours from Tulum if wanting the ocean experience of Sian Ka’an. Glad you had fun on the 2-hour trip and thanks for stopping back by with feedback. Buen viaje! 🙂

December 24, 2018 at 9:00 PM

Excellent advice, and all accurate as of 23 Dec 2018. Not much fauna around when we visited around 3pm. Boat drivers seem more interested in getting you to the float part of the canal, and somewhat at a loss for what to do with you if you don’t want to do that. Thanks that the write up!

December 14, 2018 at 6:21 PM

Just a quick message to say thank you. This is such generous and useful information, and 100% accurate at the time of writing this. We had a truly wonderful time 🙂

December 13, 2018 at 9:00 PM

We went to Muyil and Sian Kaan today. It was marvelous! Thank you so much for this post it was super helpful.

Also, there is now a boatman hanging out at the entrance to muyil and he organizes the trips for everyone. He had a helpful little map and told us where to meet him. Then when we got to the dock he matched us with our guide, Rodrigo, and then we were on our way!

December 5, 2018 at 2:58 PM

Thank you! This was so helpful 🙂 I had a great visit thanks to your detailed advice.

January 25, 2019 at 4:34 PM

Hi, am planning to go in April and do the trip on my own – is it safe?

January 28, 2019 at 4:17 PM

I’m not aware of any major safety concerns in taking the day trip to Sian Ka’an. We’ve found it to be safe.

January 30, 2019 at 9:20 PM

thanks John. I look forward to this trip and will follow your tips

November 30, 2018 at 2:10 PM

You guys are saviors- this is exactly what I was looking for! Can’t wait to explore it on my own in Feb.- thanks for putting in the work!!!

December 1, 2018 at 4:44 PM

So glad it’s helped! Have a great trip in February and hope you enjoy this special place!

November 28, 2018 at 7:19 PM

WOW… Thank you! I thought I would never find this info. I do have one additional question: if we are leaving Tulum and doing this excursion on our way further south, we will have our backpacks with us. Any idea if there is somewhere to leave bags at the entrance at Muyil?

December 1, 2018 at 4:54 PM

So glad this proved helpful. Regarding your packs… there’s definitely no left luggage or anything like that. You may be able to ask the Muyil ticket guy if he’ll securely hold your bags in his office and offer him a nice propina to do so. Worst case scenario, you’ll be stuck carrying your packs through Muyil and bringing them on the boat with you. But if you feel comfortable leaving your packs with someone at Muyil, I’d imagine you’ll find someone to help you out. There are a few stores and such across from the ruins too. If you do leave your luggage, it’s probably a good idea to still keep a daypack on you to carry any valuables. If you give this a try with your backpacks, please stop back by this page to let us know how it went. Gracias! And have a great trip!

November 26, 2018 at 8:56 AM

All the information provided here was so helpful that I wanted to provide updates/feedback after my trip. My husband, two children (ages 1 and 5) and I visited via Muyil a few days ago. My husband is originally from Mexico, and I lived there for a few years too, and we had made several trips to the region previously which is why we felt comfortable doing this outing with such young kids. I wanted to share that I asked our guide at Sian Ka’an if there was a cooperative of boat guides and he said that there’s are in fact three cooperatives of guides, all of which have to follow strict licensing requirements. He also volunteered that the tour is more expensive because a portion of the money goes to the preservation of the preserve and that it is intentionally more expensive to prevent the masses from visiting so as to minimize damage to the reserve and especially the ancient canals. (Although it seemed to me that lots of people are making their way to the reserve regardless!). I also wanted to mention that we got to Muyil around 9am and decided to do the Sian Ka’an reserve first to avoid being out in the midday sun and heat. I just asked at the Muyil entrance booth which way to go and was pointed down the street to the next entrance on the left side of Highway 307. After doing the tour of Sian Ka’an, we went back to Muyil and then walked to the observation tower and then back to Muyil again. I would recommend that others consider this too if you’re vising on a warm and sunny day (and when is it not warm?!?) and want to avoid the worst of the heat, as both Muyil and the walk to the observation tower and are well shaded. If you have a decent command of Spanish, you can just ask around once you get to Muyil and people will point you towards wherever you want to go. We never would have made this trip without this posting, though, so thanks so much for opening this door for us!

December 1, 2018 at 5:18 PM

Thanks so much for sharing your experience, added info, and tips! It’s nice to hear that the seemingly higher cost of the boat trip helps with the preservation of this special place, especially the canal. And thanks for the suggestion going out on the boat first to avoid the midday sun out on the water. That makes sense! We like to go to Muyil and the boardwalk first to then cool down on the boat ride and the canal. But the reverse way that you describe certainly has its advantages too, particularly so if going in the morning. 🙂 Glad you found this helpful and thanks to you too for stopping back by with this helpful comment!

November 25, 2018 at 4:03 PM

Thanks very much for these instructions. We followed them successfully on November 23, 2018 (I wrote them down anticipating there was no internet there) and it was great fun. Two things to add: 1) Be ready to wait for the boats, especially if organized tours are arriving–they will take precedence. We arrived at the dock at 11am and were told by Antonio, the man who said he was organizing the boat assignments, that it would be 20 minutes till our party of 8 could get on two boats (and be joined by 4 others to fill in the seats, 6 per boat). Every 20 minutes he promised another 20 minutes. We finally launched around 12:30pm. 2) Leave your shoes in plain sight if you do the canal float. The boatmen will kindly bring them to you for the 10 minute walk back on the boardwalk, but not if they can’t see them (for example, if you put them in a bag or under a hat).

December 1, 2018 at 5:28 PM

Thanks so much for stopping back by with the helpful added info. Good idea about the shoes! We walk back barefoot but would be nice to have our shoes. Good to know! How annoying about the 90-minute wait. Too bad but hope the boat ride was ultimately worth the wait! 🙂 We’ve gone a few times now and have never seen a wait for the boats. Perhaps it was a busy day and/or word about Muyil and Sian Ka’an is starting to get out. I anticipate that Dec-March will likely be busy too, so that’s really helpful to know for others to potentially budget a wait into their time. Gracias!

April 4, 2019 at 11:37 AM

Visited yesterday (April 3 2019) on the way out of Tulum. Prices correct. We took an extra 50 pesos to tip our boat guide though there was no pressure to do this. We wanted to do the boat trip first, in the morning, in order to keep the ‘no sunscreen’ part out of the midday heat. We therefore were looking for the dirt track turn off at the km 205 sign to go to the boat dock car park. We knew we were close, having located km 206 and 204 (!) however after some confusion we think the sign has now been taken down, and replaced with a new OXXO convenience store. After a couple of wrong turns ending in nothing, we found the right track was in fact directly opposite OXXO and between the 2 bus stops on each side of the road. Once located, as mentioned it is a short drive/walk until you meet a little hut and a cordon stopping you driving any further, with the car park on the right. It cost $50 pesos although we weren’t entirely sure if this was for parking or entry! But either way not much. You then walk perhaps another 2 minutes to reach the boat dock, so they may have slightly moved the parking area as the article description mentions parking was AT the dock. When driving or walking down this road, we noticed that if you look carefully there are some amazing hidden bits of Mayan ruins and carvings within the banks either side of the road. There’s nothing to call them out so it felt cool to have spotted them. Once we got down to the boat dock, there was an amazing gathering of probably 2 or 300 butterflies, which apparently come in April/May to drink the fresh water from the lagoon. It was quite magical to see them all dancing around. As the article mentions, bobbing down the Mayan river is definitely the best part of this trip. It’s very relaxing and serene. It probably takes half an hour to bob the 1km, til you get off and return on the boardwalk. A good tip from our guide was to wear your life jacket like a nappy (legs through the arm holes) for an extremely comfortable bobbing technique! We then did the reverse route back through the jungle boardwalk, up the observation tower (feels a bit hairy but worth it! Though might be a bit steep / scary for kids to climb) and out through the ruins. We stopped for lunch at a little cocina opposite the ruins entrance which was delicious and only 130 pesos for 2 people, for panuchos, quesadillas, a coke and fresh coconut water (a joy after coming from $$$ Tulum!). They were super friendly too, would definitely recommend. Regarding the Tulum/Punta Allen side of Sian Ka’an, the day before, late evening – about 4.30 – we drove all the way down to the arch at the bottom of the Tulum Beach road where Sian Ka’an starts. We paid 36 pesos each to go into the reserve, charged at the arch. Last entry is 6pm but there is no limit on last exit so you can stay in as long as you want. We had read a lot online about the road being impassable in a non-4×4 hire car however, whilst it was fairly slow going with bumps and potholes, we didn’t find it prohibitive (although we can only speak for this day in early April, we could imagine how rains and bad weather might make it too hard). Taking it slow, our small VW Polo did ok (but got very dusty). We stopped off at the visitor centre – perhaps 20 mins in – to walk down the lagoon-side pier and then drove down to the Boca Paila bridge which was spectacular. Although the map makes it look like it’ll be a scenic drive the whole way, almost 100% of the road to that point has the views of the sea / lagoon on either side obscured by thick foliage, with the only passable trail to the lagoon that we found to be near a sign for fishing trips, which lead to a short pier. However when you get to the bridge, both sides open up to give spectacular views. We saw a huge croc and were blown away by the views. We thought it well worth the trip and it was a nice time of day to do it. Thank you so much for putting this resource up, we really appreciated it! Happy travels everyone.

April 9, 2019 at 9:58 AM

Thanks for the update about the Oxxo. That is definitely a very new development. When we were last there, about eight months ago, didn’t even notice any construction of Oxxo going on. Must have gone up quickly! Shame they may have removed the kilometer sign in the process. Gracias for informing us on this new development which really helps us to keep this post up-to-date for future travelers to the area.

Yeah, that alternate car park is indeed a minute or two walk to the boat docks. I guess it just seems “at” the boat dock comparatively to parking at the Muyil ruin site. Thanks for pointing this out, as I’ll edit to be more clear.

Nice to hear you made it out to Boca Paila and so cool you saw a croc! This time of year, and even into May, does tend to be the best time to attempt that road. Once the rains begin again in June, it’s a different story. Thanks for much for sharing the details of your experience at Sian Ka’an!

November 18, 2018 at 6:59 AM

Thanks so much for your detailed description of how to go here. We went there on Monday, 14th with a rental car to the Muyil ruins and had the place nearly to myself. The boardwalk through Sian Ka’an was great, saw some interesting fauna ( flora was also exciting for Europeans, but since it wasn’t our first selva experience, were not impressed). We also got to the boat, where the guide carefully and very catchy explained us when and how the channels was built, what kind of animals can be seen in the reserva. He also shared some personal experience, since he was working in the reserva for 18 years. The float was superb – we even were lucky to be only two of us, like an exclusive experience 🙂 Funny is that right at the end of the boat trip, the weather got so bad and a rain was pouring for 30-40 mins. However, this didn’t spoil the experience – rather the opposite, just added a bit more wilderness to it. Strongy recommended.

December 1, 2018 at 6:21 PM

Thanks so much for sharing your lovely experience. It’s so nice when you can get a boat all to yourself. And great to hear that your boat guide was so talkative and informative! That is wonderful, as it hasn’t always been the case in our experience. What an experience that must have been coming back in the storm. At least you were already wet, haha!

November 11, 2018 at 8:59 AM

Thanks to you both for such an informative write-up. This area of Mexico is filled with mystique and the lack of clear info of transport certainly adds to that! Thanks again for the guide!

We visited about 10 years ago and rented bikes in Tulum. Had we more time we would have peddled all the way to Punta Allen. If you are prepared enough, camping along the way could be a real good DIY experience – we imagine, anyway! We did manage to explore some very desolate stretches of beach within the preserve and were saddened to see the amount of rubbish that washes up on this protected bit of land.

Soon, we will be back again look forward to having more time to see Quintana Roo. Thanks again!

November 8, 2018 at 11:00 AM

Thanks so much for your detailed description of how to go here. I went yesterday in my rental car to the Muyil ruins and had the place nearly to myself. The boardwalk through Sian Ka’an was great, and actually had a lot more people walking it but from the other end. I saw perhaps 20 different bird species, and even a Coatin (an arboreal mammal that looks a bit like a cross between a dog and a racoon). I skipped the boat trip, and instead spent more time on the boardwalks in the inundated forest to observe the birds, and as it was later in the afternoon I even had that stretch to myself… as it apparently closes at 16:00. The ranger at the ruins/reserva entrance was kind unlocked the gate for me even though I was a bit late, as otherwise it’s necessary to walk the road back from the boat launch. Great trip!

October 15, 2018 at 6:11 AM

Hello This looks a great trip! We’ll be in Tulum end of December, beginning of January. The only free date in our agenda is 1st of January to do this trip…. Do you think the entree will be open and the guys with the boats will be there?

Thanks for your help! K

October 23, 2018 at 8:43 PM

I would imagine that they’ll be there on New Years Day. I can’t guarantee it with absolute certainty, but I’d imagine there would be someone there to take you out in the boats. Worst case scenario, you’ll still be able to visit the Muyil ruins, take the boardwalk, and see the lagoon. But I’d guess that someone would still be there to also do the boat ride. That’s a busy time of year, so doubt they’d choose to forgo the business they’d receive that day. Have a great New Years in Mexico!

September 2, 2018 at 12:27 PM

Hello John:

It has been a year+ since our visit to Tulum, and our family of five had the trip of a lifetime! The highlight of the trip was our visit to Sian Ka’an, which would not have been possible without your carefully outlined trip details! I cannot thank you enough for this little adventure you helped us to go one. Our family will remember this for a lifetime!

Next we are considering Costa Rica….if you have any suggestion for similar, kid-friendly expeditions, I would love to hear about them!

Thank you again…I really appreciate it!

September 6, 2018 at 1:06 PM

So glad to hear that! And thanks so much for stopping by with the positive feedback! 🙂 As for Costa Rica, there’s so much! Perhaps our favorite experiences was trekking around the waterfalls of Tenorio Volcano National Park and whitewater rafting on the Pacuare River, both of which would be good with kiddos.

August 13, 2018 at 12:27 AM

Thank you for this great advice! We were a group of 8 (4 adults and 4 teenagers.) Paying the costs of a an organized tour was price prohibitive (over $100 a person), so it was great to come upon this information. We followed it exactly, and it was perfect. Thank you again! I loved the detail – really helpful! Here’s a few additions that I wanted to pass along to others: 1) Internet access is non-existent, so don’t expect to be able to follow these great instructions on the fly. I took screen shots of the important pages and it came in handy. 2) we ran into some issues at the boat launch because (I think) we arrived at the same time as some tour groups who were basically doing the same thing we were – trying to find a boat for a group. We did eventually get a boat, but had to get their attention which took a little time and Spanish skills. We arrived at the boat launch at around 1 or so. I recommend getting an earlier start and you may be able to avoid competition on the boat arrangements. Other than that the visit went off without a hitch and it was a highlight of our trip to the Yucatan. I highly recommend! The float down the Mayan canals was fantastic!

August 13, 2018 at 12:57 PM

Thanks for dropping back by with the comment and feedback! That’s a helpful point about the lack of Internet and I’ll add that to this post when I come back into here to update it again. When we were last there in June earlier this year, we also did not get any data on our phone and we were even using a local Telcel sim card. Your encounter at the boat docks sounds about right. We always get a chuckle about how lackadaisical the boat guys are, sometimes to the point where they don’t even seem interested in potential customers. They’re such a mild-mannered bunch, which is completely different to the sometimes-aggressive tour hawkers and promoters working off commissions found in the tourism hotspots nearby. Glad to hear you were able to work it out with some limited Spanish, despite arriving at the same time as a tour group, to ultimately have a fantastic float down the canal!

August 7, 2018 at 3:14 AM

I usually don’t write comments, but I want to express gratitude. Thank you so~~ much!!

August 13, 2018 at 2:00 PM

Gracias for the comment! 🙂

August 5, 2018 at 11:02 PM

Great Advice. We followed all your tips and everything was as you said. Loved the floating, I felt like Baloo from the jungle book.

We got on one of the last boats (the last leaves at 4.30pm) and it meant it was just me and my girlfriend floating the whole way.

Great day out. Thanks for the detailed and informative instructions! Keep up the good work!

August 6, 2018 at 5:00 PM

Baloo – what a perfect analogy! 😂 Sounds like a most-pleasant way to spend a late afternoon. And thanks for an update on the 4:30 timing of last boat out – will add that to this post.

July 30, 2018 at 5:41 PM

My girlfriend and I just arrived from the Muyil Trip. Everything was like you described. Thanks a lot John, your blog is amazing and so helpful. It made everything really easy.

Thanks again

August 1, 2018 at 7:08 PM

So glad it proved helpful and you have a great trip! Thanks for stopping back by with the feedback!

June 24, 2018 at 3:08 PM

Like many others, I could not believe it would be so easy. The Hostel travel guy did say it was impossible and no bus goes to Muyil! Well, it’s so easy, I just followed your tips and all worked perfectly. For the boat ride, since I was alone, they put me with a family that booked a private tour. Luckily, they didn’t mind. I skipped (I know, terrible mistake) the swimming part but that’s me. Plus, I had some DEET on, and didn’t want to kill all the fishes. Thanks a lot, I’m really gaining confidence in visiting on my own. I did Coba the day before, again on my own, and it also worked perfectly well. Updated schedule: the Mayab bus leaves every half-hour (8:30, 9:30 and so on). Price is cheap, 28 MxP one way. To come back, I jumped into a collectivo after waiting almost one hour for the bus. Collectivo was 40 MxP. When I went in, I notice the bus was coming in the back… Oh well, I stayed in the collectivo anyhow.

June 25, 2018 at 2:58 PM

It’s funny how so many hotels and hostels can’t advise how to get to Muyil & Sian Kaan, yet it really is so easy. 🙂 Glad you found it as such and are gaining confidence with independent travel down here! Thank you so much for the added info and an update on the bus times.

July 23, 2018 at 1:49 PM

Wow what a great report. We want to do this trip in the next days. Can you explain how to make sure that there will be guys for the boat trip at the dock in Muyil. Which is the nest time?

July 25, 2018 at 5:12 PM

There always seems to be boat guys there ready to take people out during regular daytime hours. We even last visited when it was raining and there were still guys there ready to give a tour around the lagoon. Muyil is open from 8:00-5:00 and the guys running the boat trip roughly follow a similar schedule.

June 11, 2018 at 4:04 AM

Your post is definitely helpful especially who loves to travel and maybe one day want to take an adventure in Sian Kaan. I would love to explore there someday.

June 5, 2018 at 3:17 PM

Wow! Thanks for the great article! I’m so excited to do the Muyil trip ourselves (with our 5 and 7 year old) in a couple months! 🙂

April 14, 2018 at 6:09 PM

Hi John and Heather,

Thank you so much for your detailed instructions, we had such a great day! Everything was exactly how you described and so much easier to know what to expect with our 6 year old. He absolutely loved it as much as we did!

May 9, 2018 at 11:42 AM

Always glad to hear this post is continuing to help people know what to expect. And what a great natural experience for a 6-year-old! 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping back by our site with your feedback.

April 1, 2018 at 6:26 PM

Visited the ruins and forest today, April 1st, enjoyed the trip. Travelled from Akumul on the collective, 110 each, well worth it. 45 to get into ruins and 50 for the forest. Took the boat trip 700 each really nice to see no other tourists. Pleasant day out only downside I did not see much wildlife apart from a few butterflies and fish. Thanks for the advice and tips really helpful.

March 23, 2018 at 8:09 AM

Thank you so much for this detailed information. My family and I will be in Playa del Carmen and Tulum for spring break 3/24/18 – 34/1/18. My husband and I were in Playa in December of 2016 but didn’t have time to explore Sian Ka’an. We hope to make it there with our kids and am glad to have detailed information to prepare for this part of our visit should we have time.

April 4, 2018 at 4:29 AM

We’re so happy that you’ve found our guide to Sian Ka’an helpful! We hope that you and the family will make it there too, the kids will especially love it. Enjoy your time in Mexico!

April 5, 2018 at 10:12 AM

Everything was as you related or as other commentators updated. We traveled with a 15 y.o., 13 y.o. and 9 y.o. We went through Muyil first (still $50P per person) and forgot to get a ticket to prove we paid but that wasn’t a problem on returning. The observation deck had a few people waiting and it’s five at a time so we opted to go up on our way back. The observation deck gives you a great view of the lagoon but it is a steep climb, and very open on the sides so young ones probably shouldn’t be climbing or should have an adult stay close to them as they climb and when they’re on top.

There is now someone who works for the park who will put you on a wait list and set you up with a guide whose boat can accomodate your party or add you to other parties on his boat. He was very friendly and the initial wait for us was 50 minutes. We were given a guide much sooner and it was just our family of five. The charge was $700P p/p and $500P for our 9 y.o.

You’re guided through one large lagoon, through a mangrove river and then another lagoon that leads you to the mangrove river that you can swim or snorkel in. Once at the dock, our guide, Carlos, collected our shoes and put it in a dry bag and floated with us (quite patiently) as we spotted fish. The water was freshwater and clear and it was like floating in a natural lazy river. So worth the Pesos. The shoes are necessary because you will have to stop at the next dock after about a 30 minute float and walk back along the boardwalk. There is a small ruin at the dock that you can look at before you go. If your guide doesn’t bring your shoes along in a dry bag, make sure you strap them on you or wear it on the float. We left the rest of our stuff on the boat and had no problems.

If you have younger kids, or have a limited amount of time (or had your fill of ruins as ours did), I would suggest skipping Muyil and go straight to the parking lot that leads to the dock.

We brought a lunch or heavy snack as we had a late start. The only food place I observed across the street was closed by the time we got back (around 3:30) to the Muyil parking lot so it’s wise to bring something to eat.

March 8, 2018 at 2:49 PM

Hello! Thank you for your informative post! I visited Sian Ka’an this morning via Muyil. My only update was it cost me $45 pesos to access the ruins but well worth it. I had the place to myself and really enjoyed wondering around what felt like a park without feeling pressured to get out of the way of a thousand tourists!! Was a great way to spend the morning! Thanks again!!

March 19, 2018 at 2:07 PM

Thanks so much for the update about the slight increase in pesos on the ruins! 🙂 Will edit this post again to reflect that. Yes, isn’t it awesome to have those ruins all to yourself? Such a more tranquil experience than the hoards at Tulum and Chichen Itza. Glad to hear you enjoyed!

March 3, 2018 at 8:16 AM

Thank you for such a detailed account! My husband and I followed your guide for our own experience this week. Only update for Feb. 2018 is that the price of admission for the ruins has increased to $45 MX per person. Otherwise everything is still up to date and so helpful for a “build your own” tour!

March 20, 2018 at 10:33 AM

Thanks for the update Becca! We hope that you’re enjoying your time in beautiful Mexico!

January 24, 2018 at 12:01 AM

Thank you for your informative post! We are in Tulum now, and planning to do Sian Ka-an one day, via Muyil. We hope to be able to bring our our inflatable SUPs (Standup Paddle boards), and SUP rather than speed boat. I hope that is allowed – haven’t been able to find anything on the web suggesting that wouldn’t be allowed. If you have any knowledge of that, we’d appreciate it. Otherwise, we’ll be giving it a try in a few days. Wish us luck!

January 24, 2018 at 10:33 PM

Good luck! Honestly have no idea. Sounds like an interesting pursuit! I would imagine it may be possible. I don’t think there’s any laws forbidding it or anything. But really don’t know. Would be awesome if you could report back your experience. Best of luck!

January 16, 2018 at 1:07 PM

Thank you for this thorough and helpful description!!!!! My husband and I visited Sian Ka’an last week and followed your directions to the letter. It was all exactly as you’d said it would be, even the price of the boat ride! We really wanted to experience Sian Ka’an on our own, without a guide, and I didn’t think that would be possible until I read your post. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this helpful info!

January 24, 2018 at 11:09 PM

Always glad to hear this post is continuing to help travelers! 🙂 Thanks so much for popping back by to confirm costs and let us know. Hope you had a wonderful trip to Mexico!

January 15, 2018 at 3:53 PM

We were so grateful to find this post before our recent visit to Tulum. It was definitely a highlight of the trip! Our costs were very consistent with recent comments. 28 for adults for the one-way ADO bus trip. The kids were half-price. We were able to get a slightly reduced-price boat tour for our nine-year old. The return collectivo was 40 pesos per person. The boat tour operation was more professional that we expected from our initial read of the post. The captains/guides had uniforms and official biosphere wristbands. We had our snorkel masks with us, which made the float more interesting for the kids.

January 15, 2018 at 7:19 PM

Oh that’s great! And seems as if they boatsmen have organized the operation a bit more, which is nice to hear. Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and comment to confirm prices and share your experience! 🙂

January 8, 2018 at 4:58 PM

Great article, thanks so much! When we went to the bus station, they didn’t have an option to go by bus, but steered us to the collectivos at 70 pesos each, one way. It was a fantastic experience, especially the float.

The only snafu was getting back. The collectivo goes well past Muyil, and if it’s full on the way back, it won’t stop. Same problem with taxis. We did see one ancient tour coach pull over going outbound, but it didn’t look like a public bus; none came on our side of the road. So we hitched a ride with some people exiting the ruins into the parking lot.

January 15, 2018 at 7:40 PM

Hmm, strange to hear about the bus. Thanks for the feedback. There have been regular buses plying that route for some time. But glad you got the colectivo and were able to hitch a ride back.

December 30, 2017 at 6:30 PM

And yes, the cost of t he boat tour is 700 pesos.

December 30, 2017 at 8:58 PM

December 30, 2017 at 6:29 PM

Thanks for the information! It was helpful as ”official” information as it is difficult to get on the net. We are a family of four and we did the ”tour” today. We drove down to the boat ramp and was assured we´d get at boat in an hour. We drove back to the ruins and parked and then walked to the boat ramp on the board walk. We got our boat on time and then did the boat tour, the swim in the canals, the walk back and then back to the boat ramp. We all had a good time and a good experience although it was quite a lot of people today. Again, thanks for the information – it was very helpful!

So glad hear you had a good time! 🙂 I imagine it’s likely more crowded than the norm around the holidays. It was nearly empty during our last visit in late-January. Thanks so much for stopping back by our blog to share your experience. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

December 28, 2017 at 9:07 PM

My husband and I just returned from Mexico and used this write-up to DIY a trip to the Sian Ka’an Reserve. We had a rental car, parked at km 205 at entrance to Muyil where we paid 40 pesos each for the ruins and were able to use bathrooms. The ruins were interesting and had good tree coverage to keep cool. Signs, maps, descriptions of what you were looking at were limited and no guides available to explain, but well worth $3 for a jungle walk and self-guided tour of the small site. We then did the boardwalk with the observation tower, another 50 pesos each. Path ended at the parking lot for the boat ramp. We requested entrance for 2 and were told it would be 700 pesos and that we’d have to wait for an open boat between tour groups. We waited about 15 minutes at which time a different park official came over to give us wristbands. He said it was 700 pesos, we said ok and gave him 1400 (2 500s and 2 200s), he then gave a 200 peso bill right back to us. So, we paid only 600 pesos each, but believe it was his counting error, so we can confirm the price of 700 pesos each as stated by 2 separate park officials.

There really wasn’t much of a tour once on the boat. The guide drove quickly across a large lagoon, through a short canal, and across another smaller lagoon before entering the float canal. He parked, we jumped out, floated for ~40 minutes, and at the end the guide was waiting with our shoes from the boat where you then have a 10-15 minute walk across a boardwalk back to the boat (and your towel/clothes). The float was incredibly relaxing and a really unique experience in crystal clear freshwater. We had goggles and snorkels, but only saw a handful of fish – not worth bringing the gear. I suspect the increased traffic has pushed the fish to hang elsewhere.

This was worth it once, not sure I’d pay $35 to do it more than once.

December 29, 2017 at 8:36 PM

Thank you for the review and updated price info. Feedback has seemed to indicate that prices for the boat tour and float have, in fact, (unfortunately) raised to 700 pesos. But am glad to hear you were able to get away with paying 600. Yeah, there’s not loads of fish and aquatic life in the canal but we find it worthwhile to bring snorkeling gear to see through the clear waters and see what the freshwater mangrove environment looks like below the surface. Many of the fish and critters tend to swim and hide amongst the mangrove plants lining the canal. Agree the price is a bit steep for Mexico but definitely worth it at least once! 🙂

December 23, 2017 at 5:18 PM

Today Dec 23rd 2017: boat trip was 700 pesos. Place was packed. No negotiation. Lovely trip- Thx for info. Bus to muyil 28 per person. Return was 80 for 4 people in a taxi heading back to tulum (bargain). The collectivos (mini buses) charge 40 per person. Just stand outside the park entrance and you’ll get a ride.

December 29, 2017 at 9:18 PM

Thanks so much for stopping by to confirm the updated pricing – really appreciate it! 🙂

December 22, 2017 at 1:06 AM

Hey you guys, thanks for this amazing post! We just came across your blogpost as we are heading to Mexico in a couple of days! We will definitely keep your recommendation in mind and are sure to enjoy sian kaan! We will let you know when there are any changes regarding the prices.

Keep it up! Fabio & Jo

December 29, 2017 at 9:26 PM

Great! Hope you have/had a great trip to visit Muyil and Sian Ka’an!

December 1, 2017 at 8:48 PM

Guys, thank you so much for this detailed description of DIY tour to Sian Kaan! It was very helpful and everything worked as you described.

We did the tour last week (November 2017) and we have some updates about the prices (per person): – bus Mayab (Tulum-Muyil): 28 M$ – ruins: 40 M$ – jungle entrance: 50 M$ – boat: 700 M$ – collectivo back: 30 M$

The boat trip is really overpriced (compared to other trips we did in Mexiko: flamingo tour in Celestun – 2000 M$ / 8 persons on the boat or Canon de Sumidero 200 M$ per person), but thanks to your blog post, we were ready to pay such price and we have to admit that we really enjoyed the trip and especially the long floating part!

We tried to negotiate the price for the boat but the guys were pretty strict.

Thanks once more for the post and take care!

Greetings from CZE.

December 6, 2017 at 6:58 AM

Thank you for the update on the prices, as I’ll be updating this post again soon. Interesting to hear you were charged $700 pesos for the boat ride. It’s been $600 steady for the past four years straight. But perhaps they’ve finally decided to increase prices. Hope not! Perhaps others may be able to confirm what they’ve been charged recently. Also – agree with you about the prices. I thought the $600-peso price point was on the high side in comparison to other boat trips we’ve taken throughout Mexico. But we still find it to be such a great experience and worth it, even though it should be less. Thanks again for dropping by and giving this recent update! 🙂

November 5, 2017 at 11:05 AM

Hello! We cannot wait to visit Sian Ka’an in a week! I have a couple questions I hope someone can help with. How much time should we allow, start to finish? We would like to potentially explore the ruins as well as do the lazy river. Is the boat ride two hours each way or does it take two hours total for the boat and the lazy river float. Thanks so much!

November 6, 2017 at 2:00 AM

I’d plan for about a half day total. The boat ride is about 2 hours, including time floating in the canal. 30 minutes would be ample time to see the ruins and another 30 minutes or so for the boardwalk and tower. That’s just a rough estimate. Some people may go faster or slower. Hope that helps and you have a great trip!

October 8, 2017 at 2:34 PM

Thank you for this great advice! I m eager to do it that way when I head to Tulum again. Exciting!!!!

October 24, 2017 at 11:43 PM

We hope you have a great time visiting Sian Ka’an! It’s a fun place to journey out to!

September 15, 2017 at 11:06 AM

Hi, Thanks for your great post! I’m a solo traveler woman traveling to Riviera Maya next month. I would love to try your DIY trip to Sian Ka’an Reserve but as a solo traveler can I expect to pay more for the boat? Is it safe? Can I join an other group on the boat? Should I not bother and take a tour instead? Thanks for your input.

October 25, 2017 at 1:41 AM

Hi and sorry for the delayed reply as we’ve been traveling with limited Internet. Hopefully this may have reached you before your trip. You won’t have to pay more for the boat trip, as the price is per person. The only trouble is that it could be possible that the boatsman may not find it worthwhile to take a single person. I’ve heard reports of other solo travelers going on a private boat trip all on their own just fine, and have heard other reports of the boatsmen not wanting to take a solo traveler. You can definitely join another group if you happen to be there around the same time as others. And yes, it is safe. It’s definitely possible to on your own, solo. But for more of a sure bet, I’d recommend trying to find another traveler to pursue this with or perhaps considering a tour.

September 4, 2017 at 7:29 AM

Just wanted to thank you John for this write up. The instructions work just as well now as they did when you first wrote them for the Muyil ruins, jungle plus speedboat/mangrove tour.. My family visited and enjoyed the trip immensely, it was one of our highlights.

Some things to add/update that might help others – specifically for Muyil ruins, jungle plus speedboat/mangrove tour:

Allow around 3 hours for the trip, from arriving at the ruins. Prices are still as above. We managed a small discount por los Ninos but not much 🙂 You cannot sail alone – we helped a solo traveller out by allowing her to join our boat. So if you are heading down there alone – or maybe even in a group of two – you may need to buddy up with others and/or hang around until other solo travellers arrive. There is not much to the Muyil ruins, so dont go thinking you’ll spend an hour or more there. More like 20-30 mins. There are toilets at the entrance to the Muyil ruins and crucially – once you exit the jungle and reach the boats. This means you can use the loo on arrival and departure from speedboat/lagoon trip. The jungle section is cool, well worth the extra pesos – especially the observation tower! Don’t go expecting much nature other than some fishing on the Muyil trip, though do take a snorkel if you can! Take more water than you think you’ll need. There are small shops on the road at the entrance to the ruins, but nothing beyond there. Take more mosquito spray thank you think you’ll need if you do the jungle section, the mosquitoes are many and hungry! (avoid deet as it is poisonous to wildlife). Take a waterproof bag for anything you wouldnt want to leave unattended for an hour. Although the guides are many and I found them to be very trustworthy, to avoid any problems, bear in mind you will be expected to leave bags unattended, therefore either dont take anything valuable with you, or have a waterproof small bag you can put round your neck or something. FWIW – I left my wallet in my satchel with cash, credit cards, driving license, you name it.. it was fine, but, dont put yourself in that situation.

September 4, 2017 at 7:04 PM

So glad to hear it helped and it turned out to be a highlight! Thank you so much for the updated and extra info you’ve provided here. I think these comments have evolved into a helpful group forum to keep this all up-to-date and helping other travelers make it to this special place. So thanks again for the added input! Those are great points about solo travelers and the toilets!

August 17, 2017 at 1:47 PM

Went to Sian Ka’an this week and your write-up was invaluable to us as far as working it via DIY. We really wanted to have everything set up in advance as the drive was a significant investment. My desire was to do the Punta Allen tour as that would involve more marine life but found it difficult to get around the ecotour mafia that has relationship with the boats. I was able to directly contact a boat operator for the tour from Muyil but he was charging off his website 700 pesos. Continuing to persevere on the Punta Allen angle, we reached out to a hotel operator who for a nominal fee after much wheedling booked a boat for us and allowed us to use their property for changing and relaxing for 150 pesos. We got the exact tour that people pay for anywhere from 115 to 150 dollars for 600 pesos per person for a group of five or roughly 170 dollars total. We first went to see the dolphins frolicking, then to the sea turtle habitat (saw only one), went snorkeling at a gorgeous reef for about an hour, and wrapped up swimming in a shallow lagoon for just about three hours total on the water. The snorkeling was at a very heathy reef and was the highlight with lots of coral and fish.

The drive out was about 1.45 hours from the entrance to the biosphere, as the tropical storm from the week before has done a number on the road with lots of potholes but was quite doable. Saw two crocs at the bridge and even though it was a long day, it was definitely the highlight of the trip and felt all that more meaningful as we did it all on our own.

August 27, 2017 at 10:19 AM

Wow, that sounds awesome and a great deal too! I’m determined to visit the Punta Allen side during our next trip to the Yucatan and your account is very encouraging to pursue. Thank you for reporting how a DIY trip to Punta Allen is doable – very cool!

November 30, 2017 at 1:08 PM

David –

I am interested in doing the Punta Allen tour as well and would love any additional information you have on setting up a similar deal to what you acquired. Do you by chance remember the name of the hotel or where you provided any contact information for the boat captain or operator?

December 1, 2017 at 12:43 PM

I am a bit hesitant to give out a name as the booking was more of a favor then anything else. That was why we paid for using the premises because otherwise this individual did all the work of getting us connected with an operator for free. I will tell you there aren’t many lodgings in Punta Allen so with a little research you can figure out who may be able to connect you with an operator. If you plan on sleeping there then they’ll easily take care of it for you. I would recommend that at the start, mention you’ll pay a fee in advance for booking the tour.

July 9, 2017 at 8:04 PM

Thank you SO MUCH for this detailed post. I felt confident to go at it alone after this, and a girl from my hostel joined. Unfortunately the colectivo tried to rip us of and overcharge, so we took a Mayab bus which was 28 pesos and took some time to arrive, we waited 50 minutes instead of the promised 5 (I only just got here, it’s probably normal they do that) We skipped the ruins and went straight to the boat area where the guys welcomed us with open arms. 600 pesos is still what they charge, and all the compliments are for free. My friend gave him 650 pesos by accident (she paid with lots of notes) and the guy promptly gave her the 50 back, stating he thinks it’s important to respect us. I felt they were very honest people. We ended up being added to a group of German tourists which was somewhat of a bummer, but the floating bit lasted for a very long time and was a lot of fun. I still think 600 pesos is expensive, but we had a nice morning and I took some cool pictures. The guys told us we could backtrack and visit the watchtower without paying the 50 pesos because there is no one to charge it. We obviously took their advice. The food stands on the other side of the road served quite good food and were very cheap! It was a popular place for Mexicans to stop and have a snack. Going back to town it was very easy to hail a colectivo and this one just charged us 30 pesos luckily. A successful day, thanks again!

July 10, 2017 at 8:57 AM

Thanks for stopping back in and sharing your experience! Sorry the colectivo there didn’t work out but glad that you ultimately made it! 🙂 The ADO buses worked well when we were last there. Yes, the boat guys seem very honest and thanks for sharing your story that very much illustrates that. It’s refreshing to hear! We agree that 600-pesos is a bit pricey by Mexico standards but also thought it was worth it for the great experience. That’s interesting to hear you saved a few pesos by backtracking to the watch tower. I would have thought they may check your ticket. And thanks for the recommendation about the food stands across the street – very good to know!

July 7, 2017 at 10:11 AM

Hoping to do this tomorrow. Does anyone know if we could take a detour and catch some manatees?

July 8, 2017 at 9:20 AM

You will be more likely to see manatees in the bays around the ocean side rather than inland around Muyil. Manatees are known to frequent the Boca Paila lagoon area and Ascension Bay, which are in a different location/road than the Muyil departure point that is chiefly described in this post. If you have your heart set on seeing a manatee, you may want to consider heading towards Punta Allen instead. Good luck!

July 6, 2017 at 10:52 AM

Thanks so much for this post. It really helped guide us on our trip to Sian Ka’an this week. We try to avoid group tours at all costs and decided to go the DIY route to Punta Allen for the boat tour. A new Mexican friend recommended a taxi driver who would arrange everything in advance and take us there. And you’re right, while the road is incredibly bumpy and full of pot holes, it is by no means impassable or the worst road we’ve driven. The highway in Costa Rica was by far worse! I wouldn’t let the road deter anyone from taking this trip. From our hotel on the beach in Tulum, travel time was 2 hours. We stopped to sight-see on a bridge over an inlet where the ocean and the lagoon meet. We saw barracuda in the water, but no crocs or manatee. Our driver had pre-arranged a boat for us in Punta Allen and we had a private two-person tour with a knowledgeable young captain who was happy to share his home with us. The lagoon is HUGE and very calm waters. We went to an island and saw frigate birds nesting and newly hatched chicks, we followed a family of 5 dolphins who were only too happy to perform tricks for us in the water. We saw huge sea turtles, snorkeled the barrier reef and swam in coke-bottle colored clear water. At the end of the three hour trip, our captain dropped us off back in Punta Allen where a fresh grilled lobster lunch and cold beer awaited us. We paid $160 USD per person (plus tips), which is on the high side, but worth it for the convenience and privacy. That included everything. Park admission, boat tour, snacks and beer on the boat, and lobster lunch. A definite highlight of our trip!

July 8, 2017 at 10:36 AM

Glad to hear this post helped and thank you for sharing your experience – that sounds like a great time! So awesome you got to see turtles and an impromptu dolphin show. The snorkeling sounds amazing too and how great that it all culminated in a lobster lunch! It does seem a bit pricey by Mexico standards, yet perhaps well worth it for all that is included and the great experiences/memories. Small group tours with a similar itinerary to Punta Allen run about $140 from Tulum, so your taxi/tour is certainly in line with that pricing. Not bad at all, for a few bucks more for a more private, intimate experience even being invited into a local home. Sounds like a fantastic day!!

June 17, 2017 at 6:23 PM

Hi guys, I just wanted to say thank you so much for this very useful guide. I was there a couple of weeks ago and followed your instructions and found it perfectly – thank you so much! The guided tours were asking for 1900 Mexican pesos for a half day which I just didn’t want to spend. I got a colectivo from the main road (opposite side to the ADO and a little further up going out of town) and they charged 50 pesos for tourists and 30 for locals each way. The boat ride is still the same price (600 pesos) but as I was travelling on my own, they won’t take you out unless other tourists arrive. As chance would have it, the tour group came and I tagged along with them. I’m crediting you in my blog. Charlotte

June 20, 2017 at 4:06 PM

Hi Charlotte, we’re so glad to hear this guide was useful. And thank you for confirming the prices! Interesting to hear about the collectivos too – that’s good to know. Sounds like a good alternative to the ADO bus if one isn’t departing soon. All the best on your continued travels!

June 1, 2017 at 10:38 AM

Thank you so much! We followed your post and it was perfect – we are travelling for a few months and are on a budget, so this was exactly what we were looking for. Prices are $40 pesos per person for main entrance, $50 pesos per person for the boardwalk park, and $600 pesos per person for the boat ride (this was on May 31).

Again, much thanks!

June 2, 2017 at 6:37 PM

Perfecto! So glad you enjoyed this special place in Mexico. And thank you for confirming current pricing! 🙂

May 15, 2017 at 1:07 AM

Great write up! I will be printing this out for our trip next week. Question: how much time does it take to see the ruins? How long does it take to float down the canal, too? I’m debating if I should see the ruins or skip it since I’ll have a 3-year-old and an 8mo old with me… thanks in advance!

May 16, 2017 at 12:24 PM

For the Muyil ruins, it all depends on your preference. You could easily breeze through the ruins in 5-10 minutes or linger for over an hour. I would guess that most people spend about 20-30 minutes exploring Muyil. The canal float takes about 20 minutes. You could opt out of the canal float if you needed to care for your little ones, but I’d strongly recommend trying to do the canal float as it tends to be a favorite experience of this trip.

April 20, 2017 at 4:02 PM

Hi, Fantastic day just following yours directions! Merci beaucoup!!! Prices are still correct. If you are around 1.00 pm there is local bringing food at the dock to the guide and we enjoyed one of the best lunch of the day.

So glade you posted this so we could enjoy it too. Thanks

April 29, 2017 at 4:16 PM

Hi Marie, Thanks for the comment and sharing your tip with our readers about the lunch service! Glad to hear you had an enjoyable day at the Sian Ka’an.

April 8, 2017 at 7:49 PM

Thank you so much for this. We just came back for the trip. We have a rented car so we didn’t use the bus. We agree that the boat trip is amazing and well worth the cost. Priscilla

April 8, 2017 at 11:02 PM

Hey Priscilla, Thanks for the comment. We’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed your boat trip in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve!

March 30, 2017 at 7:53 AM

Thanks John we had a great trip – everything accurate and prices still the same.

April 3, 2017 at 11:32 AM

Hi Christine, Thanks so much for the comment and providing an update to our readers. Glad to hear you had a great trip in the beautiful reserve!

March 29, 2017 at 11:08 PM

Another thanks from our little group for this nice description! As Jasmine said it’s still 600$, plus 50$ for the observation tower and 40$ for the ruins. 30$ for the collectivo and 28$ for ado bus, one way. But I would like to add another very interesting suggestion to everyone. We are long term travellers on a low budget and thought that 600pesos for this boat ride was a little pricey for what it is and the work and gasoline they put into it. Also the wildlife is pretty unexciting. But they also offer someother boat tour from the lagune. You basically do the same thing (muyil ruins, observation tower and the floating). But then after the floating you could go to the next lagune and check for crocodiles, manatees and other wildlife. This whole tour would cost only a little bit more if you are enough people (preferably six). Because with this tour you pay by boat 4300$, which is around 200usd I suppose. If you are six people, you pay more or less 720$ per person. So only a little more for getting the chance to see some awesome animals! Problem for us was that we were not enough people and didn’t know about this option in advance. We looked for more people to join at the lagoon, but they saw it and said that they don’t mix up groups. So you need to find the people in advance, best in your hostel, or maybe still at the ruins and pretend you are one group together. Hope this entry can help someone to see the manatees. I am so sad that I couldn’t afford it… Cheers, Tabea

April 3, 2017 at 11:31 AM

Hi Tabea, Thanks for the comment and sharing your experience and opinion with our readers. Was there a way you were able to differentiate the tour providers offering the different tour you mentioned from the traditional tour? Good to know that a secondary boat tour is an option as well.

March 18, 2017 at 8:00 PM

Just wanted to say thank you for this guide as my husband and I followed it to make the trip to Sian Ka’an today on our own. I’m not sure how it was like when you were there, but there is now a small hut next to the observatory tower where the boatmen gather, and it appears as though it’s a collective rather than individually run boats. They had radios/walkie talkies. Anyway, I’m not sure if it’s because it’s a Saturday, or if the place is more known now, or we just happened to arrive when there was a crowd, but we arrived at about 1220 to be told that the next available boat was at 1340. My husband was a bit annoyed but we decided to wait since we got all the way there, so we sat enjoying the breeze and had some coconut ice cream (there was a man with a cart). Thankfully at about 1240 they told us they could take us, so off we went!

We were on a boat with another couple, but there was another boat with 6 other tourists so there was a little noise as we floated along the canal. Still, the place is beautiful and the floating part was fun! We brought our snorkels/masks as you suggested and saw some fish, but unfortunately that was just about the wildlife we saw.

For future visitors, the boat trip is still 600 pesos per person, the bus trip there & back was 56 pesos per person (return).

Once again, thank you for the comprehensive guide, and also for the other posts in Mexico (I used them quite a bit to plan our trip!)

March 19, 2017 at 10:33 AM

Hi Jasmine, Thanks so much for sharing your experience at the Sian Ka’an with our readers. It sounds like the place has gotten really popular! I think we were the only tourists there at our time of visit. I’m so glad that you were able to catch an earlier boat and not have to wait too long for your tour. Ice cream always helps while waiting 🙂 Thanks again!

March 3, 2017 at 6:52 AM

This might be a silly question- do we have to worry about crocs in the water?

March 3, 2017 at 7:16 AM

There are saltwater crocodiles that live in ocean side of Sian Ka’an but to the best of my knowledge they do not come into the clear fresh waters that the boat tours from Muyil pass through. I’ve never heard of any croc sitings in that area at all. And during our last float trip, I asked the guide about sharks and crocs and he just laughed and said they don’t come here. That all said, I am certainly not a wildlife expert of Sian Ka’an and hence would have to defer to someone that is to give you absolutely certainty of any croc risks of this specific area. (But I wouldn’t worry about it.)

February 21, 2017 at 11:59 AM

Hi there. We will be staying in Tulum March/ April and are interested in doing this tour by boat. I suffer from sea sickness 🤢 and was wondering how that boat ride is to that area?? And what the shortest route is ? Thanks

February 22, 2017 at 2:07 PM

Hey Gina, thanks for the question. I too occasionally get sea sick and had no trouble on this trip. It’s a small boat over very calm water. There’s only one route from the Muyil entrance, and I recall it being about a few hours.

February 22, 2017 at 3:50 PM

Thanks! … just to clarify… the boat ride to Sian Kann is a few hours by boat??

February 23, 2017 at 1:42 PM

Hey Gina, sorry for the confusion. I was referring to the boat ride around the Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve.

February 24, 2017 at 10:13 AM

Ah. Ok thanks

March 15, 2017 at 8:03 PM

Heather and John,

You two are great! Thanks for the time and effort. So nice to have options. My husband is a fly fisherman and we were wondering if there was a way to combine your DIY float trip with renting a boat at the end of the float to fish in the ocean (catch and release of course). Do you know if there are boats at the end to rent to explore the ocean area and if so, do you need a pass to use the ocean part of the reserve? Also, any clue where to get a fishing license? Muchos Gracias!!!

March 17, 2017 at 5:55 PM

Hey Suzan, thanks for the comment and question. I don’t recollect seeing any fishermen while visiting the biosphere reserve. The only few boats we saw were from the men providing the tours. Unfortunately, I’m not familiar with the logistics involved with getting a fishing license. I’d recommend the best place to start would be to contact one of the fishing charters in Tulum. Good luck!

February 20, 2017 at 9:34 AM

Thank you so much for this article! Spot on! Our visit to the Muyil Ruins was hands-down the highlight of our stay in the Tulum area. As a couple we paid exactly 1500 pesos ($75.00 USD) for the whole adventure including a tip for the boat guide. I will presume these guys get paid well for what they do, and likewise are very trustworthy. We felt more than safe leaving our belongings on the boat. The boat guide even carried our shoes to us after the float for the walk back on the boardwalk, much appreciated. Looking back, I really wish I would have brought water shoes, snorkel gear, and a waterproof case my phone to capture the awesomeness of this adventure – all stated in your tips. In town we saw many vendors selling all of these items for cheap. This place is not crowded at all, we may be encountered 20 people the whole morning. I would say 4 hours is accurate for the length of time it takes to explore everything here. We got there at 8:00 and were back to our car at 12:00. Plenty of time to grab lunch and hit a Cenote afterwards. You have done us a great service and we owe you dearly for this incredibly well written, detailed, DIY guide. Thank you!

February 21, 2017 at 4:11 PM

Hey Zeke, thanks so much for the comment. We really appreciate you sharing your experience with our readers. We’re thrilled to hear that your day trip was a highlight while in Tulum! We’re hoping to get back there one day, it really is an incredible place to visit.

January 12, 2017 at 9:04 AM

Thank you. Had we not found this fantastic article, we would never have figured out how to visit Sian Ka’an on our own. Every detail was spot on. The price remains $33 per person and was well worth it. Unfortunately, we picked the cloudiest and coldest morning of our trip, but the canal float was still worth the chill!

January 14, 2017 at 8:05 AM

We’re always so glad to hear that it has helped other travelers find their way to Sian Kaan! Thanks so much for dropping by to let us know and reconfirm pricing. It’s funny to think of the Yucatan as chilly but I know the temps do drop every once in a while. Hey, at least that helps to keep the mosquitos away! 🙂 Glad you found the chill to be worth it, and that will likely be helpful to others (like the previous commenter). So thanks!

January 10, 2017 at 7:44 AM

We are in Tulum and considering doing this trip. My one concern is the water temperature. It’s been on the cooler side this week and I get easily cold in the water. Thanks for any help!

January 14, 2017 at 7:59 AM

Hi Wendy, my advice: test the ocean water in Tulum and use that as your gauge, as the water in the reserve will be a similar temperature. My wife gets cold very easily and hates cold water (we’re from Florida after all). But she was fine with the temps swimming around in Sian Kaan.

December 27, 2016 at 5:56 PM

We just came back from Sian Ka’an with our three girls (12,9,6 years old) and we had the best time! Followed your directions exactly by driving to Muyil from Tulum. The prices were exactly as explained and managed to have a wonderful time and experience for a little less than $150 USD for all five of us! Thank you!!

The Bustos Family!

December 28, 2016 at 2:56 PM

Hi Kara, thank you so much for the comment! We’re thrilled to hear you and your family enjoyed Sian Ka’an!

November 30, 2016 at 7:50 PM

We can’t thank you enough for this very detailed information! So difficult to find out any of this stuff from the locals. We’re off to Sian Ka’an tomorrow and feel much more confident about how to get the best out of our visit now that we have read your guide. You have done a great service to independent travellers in this little corner of Mexico – many thanks!

December 1, 2016 at 10:14 AM

Hey Marice, thanks so much for the comment! I hope you enjoyed the Sian Ka’an as much as we did!

December 6, 2016 at 4:51 PM

Yes, thanks we had a great trip – your report was so detailed and faultless that we managed it with no hassles, and we picked up a tip for a guide from trip advisor, where we found the details of Pastor, who is one of the regular boatmen. He has been guiding there for 12 years. He speaks fluent Spanish and English, and he trained under a UNESCO scheme to learn all about the flora and fauna of the lagoon, a knowledge he is eager to share. His email is [email protected] . He answered our email within a couple of hours ( I guess after his working day finished) and offered us a 2hr trip round the lagoon, incorporating the down-river float, at either 9am, 12pm or 2pm, or a 4hr trip taking in the Muyil ruins and some of the surrounding jungle in addition, starting at either 9am or 1pm. The costs were 600 pesos per person and 900 pesos per person respectively. We chose the former, at 12pm, as we were confident that your report would enable us to visit the ruins and jungle without a guide. Pastor turned up to meet us on the dock at 11.55 and initially it looked like we were going to be just the three of us, but then just as we were leaving another four people turned up so we had what I think is the maximum boatload of 7 persons. In retrospect I think perhaps we should have chosen the earlier or later tour, because there was not much wildlife about in the heat of midday. However we did see a few interesting birds – local eagles, giant egrets, an osprey and a stork are the ones I remember – and in truth the experience of coasting through the lagoons and floating down the creek was more than worthwhile. We left our belongings in the boat while we did the floating, which lasted about 40 minutes. Pastor had assured us they would be safe. We had assumed that he would be staying in the boat all the time, but in fact he met us at the other end of the float, bringing our shoes, having walked round on the boardwalks which traverse the lagoon creeks. He then escorted us back along the boardwalks to the boat , imparting gems of knowledge about the surrounding flora en route. This took about 30 minutes, and, while it was very interesting to learn more about the indigenous plants, I was slightly nervous that our belongings, having been left untended for at least half an hour, might not be intact when we got back to the boat! However my fears were groundless and when we reached the boat again everything was exactly as we had left it. During the boat trip back across the lagoon to the dock Pastor made a couple of detours to get a closer look at some of the birds we spotted, and we arrived back at the dock about 2.15 pm. We then followed your directions to the ruins and spent a happy half hour or so enjoying the peace and tranquility of the site, where we did not see another soul. We then waited at the bus stop for about 15 minutes when we spotted an approaching collectivo ( I think you call them ‘Combis’ ? ) which we flagged down and they told us the fare into town would be 30 pesos each. I think this was a ‘tourist’ fare rather than a ‘locals’ fare, but we were happy to accept that price as we weren’t confident that the bus would be along any time soon. Ironically, the bus hove into view just as we were boarding the collectivo! All in all we had a great trip, and would recommend the do-it-yourself approach hands down – especially as Pastor told us that he is often engaged by the travel agencies who offer the heftily priced all-in day trips, and the boat tour he gives to their groups is exactly the same as the one we had. It should be pointed out, however, that Pastor works exclusively on the lagoon side, so if you wanted to see anything of the ocean side, with its different flora and fauna, I suspect you would have to go through one of the agencies and pay the 139 dollars we were quoted by a couple of them! Once again, thanks so much for your wonderful post – without you we would not have attempted what turned out to be one of the most enjoyable trips of our vacation!

November 15, 2016 at 7:14 PM

Thank you for your article ! It was so helpful for us, because we didn’t want to pay too much for this excursion ! We’ve done it yesterday, and it was really amazing ! Unfortunately, our captain didn’t speak English so we didn’t have any informations about the reserve during the boat tour. We think to write an article in french about this experience, to help french travelers ! 😉 And we will take some information from your article, that we will mention in our.

December 12, 2016 at 3:32 PM

So glad to hear this was helpful! I think it’s hit or miss whether the boat captains speak English. Some of them do and others don’t. Most of the boat men are there as boat drivers, rather than true “guides” that give you detailed info about Sian Kaan. Still, it seems there are a few who do speak English and provide more of a proper tour but it’s luck of the draw. Glad to know that this info will make it’s way to French speakers too. Merci!

December 24, 2016 at 6:46 PM

Hi, all this sounds absolutely wonderful and we will do this DIY trip tomorrow for a romantic Christmas Day to remember. I think I will print some info out about the wildlife and ecology. I would also really like to know how to how to get to Punto Allen as we have our own car and speak some Spanish. If anyone knows that would be so helpful. Thanks Niki and Tobia x

November 10, 2016 at 12:58 PM

Nov. 5, 2016: Ruins = 40ps Reserve = 50ps Boat = 600ps, but a group of 5 was able to negotiate down to 500ps

November 10, 2016 at 1:00 PM

Thanks for the price confirmations! And glad to hear that you were able to negotiate down a bit. There does seem to be tiny bit of wiggle room possible to negotiate with larger groups. Great to hear you were able to shave off 500 pesos!

November 3, 2016 at 7:13 PM

Hi and thanks for your DIY-tips!

We did the ruins and boat tour yesterday and it was great! We had our kids with us, 3 and 5 years. I can confirm the prices, 40 pesos for adults free for kids (ruins) and 600/300 pesos for the boat.

Our guide Jaime (or James, as he wanted us to call him) was completely trustworthy and spoke really good English.

I would like to add that there are restrooms both at the ruins and at the boat dock. A bit simple at the dock perhaps, but good enough.

Thanks again!

November 10, 2016 at 12:52 PM

Thanks so much for stopping by with confirming these prices. And great to hear that the kiddos get into the ruins for free! And thank you for adding that about the restrooms – those can always be important to know that they’re there however simple they may be 😉

September 29, 2016 at 8:45 PM

Thanks for this post. It was exactly what we were looking for this week! It is an easy drive from Tulum to the Muyil entrance. Guides are relaxed and seem very trustworthy wrt to leaving your bags in the boat, so no worries about that. Guides told us they have strict rules. Price was still 600 pesos pp. Excelent trip.

October 4, 2016 at 9:20 AM

Hey TK, thanks so much for the comment and sharing your experience! We’re delighted to hear you had an enjoyable trip with ease 😊

September 10, 2016 at 6:27 PM

Excelente publicación sobre sian kaan, gracias por los tips!

September 22, 2016 at 6:30 AM

¡Hola Daniel! ¡Gracias por el comentario! We are happy you found the tips to be helpful 🙂

August 18, 2016 at 8:16 PM

Thank you very much, first time i heard about those DIY initials and it is so much useful! Everything went as said. The guide we had was wearing a teeshirt from community tours. I asked him about crocodiles, he told me they don’t appear in the floating area much more on the ocean shore. Voilà

August 29, 2016 at 12:28 PM

Hi Kimy, thanks so much for the comment and sharing that your DIY experience went smoothly!

July 14, 2016 at 2:38 PM

Thanks so much for the thorough post! Hubby and I DIY’d this just last week following your instructions and it was a breeze 🙂

July 15, 2016 at 5:19 AM

Hi Zoe! Thank you so much for the comment and letting us know you found our information helpful. We’re delighted to hear that you and your husband enjoyed the Sian Ka’an Biosphere reserve!

July 7, 2016 at 5:46 PM

Hello! I MUST say, “Thank you very much for all the information you’ve posted!!” We are going to the Cancun area next month (our 2nd time). We skipped Sian Ka’an last time because of the $$$ price. We are a group of 6, 3-generation family trip:) And as you said, I have found NO information as to how to get there in a DIY way EXCEPT FOR yours!! Thank you very much again, and I will sure update after completing the trip.

July 10, 2016 at 5:05 AM

Thanks for the comment and we’re so glad that we could help save your family from the exorbitant tour prices! We hope that all three generations of your family really enjoy their trip to Muyil & Sian Ka’an and we look forward to hearing how it all went! 🙂

July 3, 2016 at 12:55 PM

Did it all…followed guide to a “T”. perfectly written. Kids loved it. It was 600 for adults, 300 for kids for the boat. We drove and parked at the ruins and walked out the same way we came in by trail. Very easy to do, not a long walk at all, this was with a 7 and 11 year old. Thanks fr this resource. No gators..;)

July 4, 2016 at 3:49 AM

Awesome! Thanks for the feedback! I can imagine that this would be such a fun experience for kids of that age. Am so glad to hear they loved it and it was gator-free 😉

June 29, 2016 at 4:15 PM

Hi, thank you so much for this great info! We are heading down there in a few days, and it will be ou first trip without guided tours. We are planning to drive; do you know how far it is from the end of the canal float back to the parking lot?

July 2, 2016 at 8:24 AM

So glad you found it helpful! After the canal float, you’ll the boat takes you back to the boat docks near Muyil. Once you return to the boat docks, it’s a 1 km walk (10-15 minutes) back to where your car is parked in Muyil. You can either walk back on the nature trail using the same way you came from Muyil or for a more direct route, just walk up the dirt road which will take you back to 307 (about a 10 minute walk). Make a right on 307 and walk North for just a couple minutes and you’ll be back at the Muyil parking lot. Have a great time!

June 15, 2016 at 1:36 PM

Question for anyone. We have 2 children 7 and 11. We are flying out Saturday and plan on doing this tour sometime next week. One thing I’ve heard no mention of is presence of alligators or crocodiles in the preserve. We are from Florida and one would never think of “floating’ in a lagoon here due to fear of alligators. Are there none there? I’m very cautious because of my children. thanks for any info on this. 🙂 We plan on replicating this itinerary when we’re there.

June 20, 2016 at 10:16 AM

There are saltwater crocodiles that live in ocean side but to the best of my knowledge they do not come into the clear fresh waters that the boat tours pass through. I’ve never heard of any croc sitings in that area at all. And during our last float trip, I asked the guide about sharks and crocs and he just laughed and said they don’t come here at all. We’re also from Florida and while I’d never feel comfortable swimming in Central Florida lakes, I felt fine in these clear waters. That all said, I am certainly not a wildlife expert of Sian Ka’an and hence would have to defer to someone that is to give you absolutely certainty of any croc risks of this specific area.

June 13, 2016 at 11:59 PM

Hi all, managed to haggle the price of the boat trip down to 450 pesos from 600, the boat driver initially wouldn’t budge but said of his own accord that if we were with more people than we could get it cheaper usually. Loved this place, had a great day, thanks for your recommendations and advice 🙂

June 20, 2016 at 10:23 AM

Interesting to hear that you were able to haggle them down a bit. They’ve always seemed to have held VERY firm on the price of 600 pesos per person. Perhaps you had some children in your party? (They’re usually negotiable) Either way, glad to hear you got the price down a but, and happy to hear you enjoyed the Sian Ka’an and the recommendations proved helpful. Cheers!

June 7, 2016 at 7:29 AM

Great article, thanks for writing all this up! Judging by all the comments, I’m sure you can tell how helpful it is! I’m going in August; I plan on doing the Muyil route and packing lunch and spending a goo chunk of time at Sian Ka’an. We’re hoping to see plenty of animals, if so, I’m sure it will end up being the highlight of my son’s trip!

Questions: What time of day do you recommend going to the Sian Ka’an? And does the reserve have specific opening and closing hours? Where are the best areas for wildlife?

June 8, 2016 at 12:29 PM

Thanks! August will be very hot so I’d recommend trying to go as early in the morning as possible. That may also help to avoid any afternoon thunderstorms that may pop up. Muyil opens at 8:00 am and there are no official hours for the boat guys at Sian Ka’an but I’d imagine you’ll find someone to take you out during the times Muyil is open. As for animals, there’s a lot of luck involved there and I wouldn’t get your hopes up too much. On the boat trip of the Muyil route, we’ve only seen birds, fish, and crabs in the water. Still, it’s a great trip and hopefully you and your son will enjoy very much. Have a great trip to Mexico!

June 2, 2016 at 11:06 AM

Thanks for posting your report. We used it as a reference point and visited Muyil. it was a great experience. As of 1 June, 2016, we paid 600 per adult, 500 for two kids (11 and 14) and 300 for our 4 year old. 2500 pesos total. It took less than 5 minutes to say we wanted to go on a boat tour and to get going. We joined another group but that was no problem. They also had a life vest for the 4 year old.

Great experience. It was worth the drive.

June 8, 2016 at 12:42 PM

So glad to hear this was helpful and thank you for returning to our site to provide an update. It’s always interesting to hear the pricing for the children, since we have no experience there. Nice to know they had a life vest for the 4 year old and happy to hear you had a great experience!

May 26, 2016 at 2:36 PM

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I have a friend who used this as his guide and recommended it to me for my trip to the Riviera in July. I have one question – I am going on this trip with a large family, and we may have more than 6 people interested in joining this part. Were there several or at least 2 boats ready to go when you arrived there? And did you get a sense that they might overlap the trips so that it would be possible for us to do the float through the canals together (let’s say, if like 10 people wanted to do it together)? I know you might not be able to say for sure, but it would be helpful to know if there were several boats waiting to take people, or if there were just 2 (in which case lowers our chances of having 2 boats ready to take us).

May 27, 2016 at 11:30 AM

Glad you found our site and this guide has proved helpful! I cannot say with certainty that there will be multiple boats ready to go, but I would say that it is very likely. If not, I’d imagine that they could probably call someone else to come. During our last visit, there were at least a half dozen boatmen just waiting there. Organizing two boats at once to do the canal float together, I wouldn’t think would be the problem at all. Hope it works out! Report back if you can to let us know. Have a great trip to Mexico!

May 1, 2016 at 3:22 PM

We did the “DIY Sian Ka’an tour” on april 10th 2016.

We really appreciate all of the given information on this site. The tour was really awful. Here are the up-to-date costs (per person): Local bus (go) = 27$MXN Collectivo (return) = 40$MXN Muyil ruins = 40$MXN Sian Ka’an park = 50$MXN Boat trip = 600$MXN

May 2, 2016 at 12:13 PM

Thanks for the update and confirmation on the pricing.

May 10, 2016 at 11:05 PM

Did it today, got the exact same prices.

I would only add that the Mayab bus to/from Playa del Carmen is 68 pesos.

May 13, 2016 at 6:02 AM

Thank you for confirming the prices and adding the bus info to get to Muyil / Sian Kaan from Playa del Carmen. Very helpful!

April 7, 2016 at 7:30 PM

This is an amazing contribution to the DIY travelers! I have been travelling central america for the past couple of years, and my experience in Mexico has been expensive and much more “packaged.” This article is super helpful, thank you for writing and sharing your experiences!

My family is coming to visit, and we are going to do this day trip as you describe it; but I did have one question. If we drive and park outside of Muyil Ruins entrance, and then do the boat trip/float trip as you explain above, when we are done, will we be anywhere near our parked car? Is it going to be easy to get back to it?

Thank you again! I am so excited about this day trip!

April 9, 2016 at 1:52 PM

Am always so glad to hear this is continuing to help out travelers! Thanks for commenting! 🙂

Yes, it is easy to get back to your car from the boat dock area. You can go the reverse direction that you came through the boardwalk. Alternatively, for a more direct route, you can simply walk up the dirt road which will take about 5-10 minutes. And then just make a right to walk on the side of the road for another 2-3 minutes to get back to the parking lot at Muyil. In total it is about a 1 kilometer walk from the boat docks to the Muyil ruins car park.

April 2, 2016 at 1:26 PM

Great post, thank you for taking the time to provide such detailed information. We’re in Tulum area for a month, will add these stops to our list. Punta Allen sounds amazing though that road is intimidating.

April 7, 2016 at 4:15 PM

So glad to hear this info proved helpful! Yes, Punta Allen sounds incredible and many visitors to that area of Sian Ka’an have confirmed this to us. We’ve actually never made it to that side but we’re determined to make it there one of these days. We’ve heard the road is as bad as people say it is. But sounds like it may be worth the trip! 🙂

March 26, 2016 at 4:17 PM

I really appreciate this article! Thanks a bunch! I will be attempting the same DIY adventure and will keep you posted!

March 26, 2016 at 9:16 PM

Always glad we could help a fellow traveler. Hope you have a great experience!

March 24, 2016 at 9:56 PM

We did this trip on March 23, 2016. Your directions and info are bang on. I think we paid 38 pesos each to enter the park and 50 pesos each to walk on the boardwalk. However, we discovered the road that leads out of the area after the boat tour. If you walk about 5 minutes you come out to the highway and walk another 5-10 minutes back to the park entrance. It’s the second “driveway” past and on the same side as the park. There’s a house with a large blue elevated water tank beside it. Turn onto that driveway that is actually a road. That’s the non paying road into the reserve that people park on to just take the boat tour and skip the ruins. Still 600 pesos for the boat ride for 2 1/2 hours including the 35 minute float. Be careful and listen for othe boats of tourists coming in the opposite direction in the canal. We were snorkelling and looked up and another boat was on us.All and all it was a good way to spend the day. The guided tours are very expensive. I would have been disappointed to pay a guide 260.00 USD for the same trip. Thanks for the great info.

March 27, 2016 at 7:21 PM

Thanks so much for stopping back by our blog with your updated account. With so many people confirming the $38 peso entrance fee to Muyil, I’ve gone back to editted the article to reflect this new pricing. It’s always nice to hear when prices are adjusted downward rather than up! 🙂 Yes, I know exactly the road you’re referring to. That’s exactly what we were referring to in the instructions to “Get directly to a boat to explore Sian Ka’an.” We liked visiting Muyil and the boardwalk but going directly to the boat docks is good for if it’s really hot, bug-infested, or anyone that just doesn’t want to walk. Yikes! That is scary to hear about boats coming up the canal that you float down. Thank you for alerting of us this. When we were there that canal seemed to be strictly for floating only and we walked back on a boardwalk to reconnect with our boat. I do hope that was some sort of rare occurrence, but if not, this is good to be aware of.

March 18, 2016 at 9:55 PM

Great article! Any idea if they will take a single person out on the boat for $600 pesos? Thanks!!

March 18, 2016 at 10:00 PM

Yes, they absolutely will. Whether you go solo or as a group of six people in a boat, it’s still 600 pesos per person. So you can have a private tour of Sian Ka’an Reserve. I’ve talked to people who have done just that. Enjoy it! 🙂

March 15, 2016 at 11:20 AM

Thank you so much for this blog. We never found the way to the boats through the Ruins but managed to find the gravel road. Unfortunately it was too windy to go for the boat ride but the board-walk and ruins were nice. Prices for adults are still fixed at 30 USD or 600 Pesos – turns out that children are negotiable however.

March 18, 2016 at 1:24 PM

Oh no, am sorry to hear you didn’t find the path. I just looked at your post and it seems that you did make it on the path from the reverse direction, so glad you were at least able to get there from the gravel road to walk on the board walk, go up the tower, and see the fishes. Thanks for confirming the price and very interesting to hear that children are negotiable! We hope that you are able to make it back there some day when it’s not so windy to experience the boat ride.

March 7, 2016 at 8:54 PM

Just took this trip today! Prices are all accurate. The entrance to the Ruins have indeed changed to 40 pesos/person. Everything was fantastic and directions were extensive and correct. Thank you for this great plan for travelers on a budget.

March 13, 2016 at 2:52 PM

Hi Frncesca – thanks so much for stopping back by this page and to confirm the price change to 40 peso entrance fee. Glad to hear the guide was helpful! 🙂

February 24, 2016 at 10:52 AM

Thanks for posting this guide. It was very helpful and spot-on in terms of buses, the boat and cost as of February 20, 2015. My girlfriend and I did this day trip from Tulum 2/20/16 and the overall cost was about $42, including boat ride, ADO bus back and forth.

There is a Corona beer store next to the bus stop in Muyil which comes in handy if you wait for the bus. We bought beer, our bus showed up in about 20 seconds, so we had to wait to drink our beer later. Very nice trip, a real highlight of visiting the Tulum area.

February 24, 2016 at 10:59 AM

Thanks for the validation that the guide still remains to be helpful and accurate. And thanks for the Corona store recommendation. A cold beer in the heat of Mexico while waiting for the bus is always a great idea in my opinion! Cool video too! Cheers!

February 23, 2016 at 4:51 PM

I have tried for over5 yrs to get this type of information, 10 yrs traveling riveria maya. Not a person, taxi,local,or hotel knew a thing!! It is wonderful to have reached your site, I may yet get this off my bucket list yet….sounds wonderful. We never liked tours however are older and have been unsure lately wether to venture as we did when younger. We have some spanish and a little savy ,your article encouraged us to try. We are in plsya, akumal then tulum for a month ,so am excited we could try this. Thank you.

Question. Do you know if it is possible to taje a boat to P A from akumal? Avoiding the rough road.

February 24, 2016 at 10:17 AM

Hi Denise, am so glad you found our site! Yes, we also found it peculiar strange that there wasn’t much information about Sian Ka’an and no one seemed to know anything about it in the area. So strange! That’s what prompted us to write this in the first place and we’re so happy to hear that it’s helping people to find this interesting place in the world. Regarding your question… I am not aware of any boat from Akumal to Punta Allen. I have heard about a water taxi / ferry from El Playon to Punta Allen. However, that seems to involve a having to go through Felipe Carrillo Puerto, which it seems that you will still incur a very long and extremely bumpy ride from Felipe Carrillo Puerto to El Playon in order to catch the water ferry / taxi there. It seems that route would actually be a longer and more indirect route to Punta Allen. I think the only benefit there is perhaps the times, as I understand that combis depart from Felipe Carrillo Puerto at 10am and 3pm each day from the market in Felipe Carrillo Puerto. (That’s the latest I have on that route but be sure to check local knowledge for up-to-date info.)

February 14, 2016 at 11:38 AM

THANKS FOR THE AWESOME SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS. WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS WHEN WE ARE THERE IN APRIL, CANT WAIT! I AM ALSO LOVING TOUR ENTIRE BLOG,ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING, I SHARED IT WITH MY COLLEGE AGE DAUGHTER AND SHE IS HOPING TO REPLICATE SOME OF YOUR EXPERIENCES.

February 15, 2016 at 8:54 AM

That is so great to hear! We do hope the directions prove helpful and that you thoroughly enjoy Sian Ka’an when visiting in April. Also, we always love to inspire travel, so thanks for sharing our site with your daughter! It’s so nice to see parents supporting and encouraging travel. 🙂 Cheers to you!

February 13, 2016 at 4:58 PM

Dude, you ROCK! This was the best info for figuring out this trip. Just went today and entrance fee was 40 pesos per person, fee for sacbe boardwalk was 50 pesos per person and yep, boat was 600 pesos per person. Amazing experience.

February 15, 2016 at 8:50 AM

Nice! Thanks so much for stopping back by our site and for confirming the prices you paid. It seems the general consensus is the Muyil entrance is 40 pesos, rather than 50 now. So glad to hear you had an amazing experience! We’re so glad this helped.

February 10, 2016 at 6:53 PM

Today I found your website on my cell phone while on the beach in Tulum after snorkeling. My husband and I were trying to decide what to do for the afternoon. We wanted to go to Sian Ka’an but are always reluctant to join the masses on a tour. With your info we were on a boat within an hour. It couldn’t have been easier and is a highlight of our trip. Thanks so much!

February 11, 2016 at 1:38 PM

Hey Peggy! Thanks for letting us know. Ah, you gotta love this Internet age with info at your fingertips. So great to hear this post helped to make for a spontaneous afternoon trip to Sian Ka’an and it puts a smile on our faces to know it became a highlight! Cheers!

January 18, 2016 at 10:28 AM

We followed your instructions and had an amazing time in Sian Ka’an on January 1 2016. I surprised the members of our group with canal float, which everyone agreed was a highlight of our time in Mexico.

We traveled with our 2 year old son, and he also loved the boat ride and canal float. Honestly, he loved Muyil as well (climbing and exploring where he could). The price was 600 pesos, but they did not charge us for the 2 year old. A word of warning to other parents about the lifejacket situation. Life jackets are required, and our boat had a child’s life jacket but not an infant life jacket. Fortunately we brought our own “puddle jumper” life jacket from home which worked great. Honestly, we used his lifejacket nearly every day in Mexico.

January 18, 2016 at 4:17 PM

Awesome! Isn’t the canal float great! Thank you for returning to our blog to confirm the instructions and the boat ride pricing.

And thank you for proving this great added info for those traveling with a little guy! Good to know he got a free pass. Seems like that puddle jumper life jacket would be essential to bring on a trip to this area. Great idea and recommendation!

January 17, 2016 at 10:33 PM

This info is so useful! Thanks for sharing! We’re planning to go in March. We’ll drive to Muyil. Do you have the GPS coordinates to get there? Thanks!

January 18, 2016 at 4:30 PM

Coordinates for Muyil (parking) are lat: 20.07889785, long: -87.61378884 And for the boat docks (right around the corner), try: 20.0753187, -87.60781979. If you have a chance after your trip, stop back by the site to report back accuracy of these coordinates and I’ll perhaps add them to the post itself. Have a great trip!

January 14, 2016 at 5:14 PM

Thanks for this article! Like many others, we followed your instructions and enjoyed it immensely. The canal float is the highlight of the experience, and they quoted us 600 pesos without asking. It was useful to know that was the going rate and gave us the confidence to do it. Speaking Spanish is really helpful; although the guides do speak English, I think that we got more out of the experience because we were able to speak in the guide’s native language (although for ours, his native language was actually Mayan). We did come from the Muyil side; it looked like some people may have come from the Punta Allen side and gone on to Muyil, but I am not entirely certain.

January 15, 2016 at 1:05 PM

Hi Elizabeth – Thanks for dropping by with this great feedback! Am glad to hear some consistency with the 600-peso pricing for the boat trip. We completely agree that the canal float is a highlight. Really a neat experience! Happy travels!

January 13, 2016 at 9:22 AM

Hey, Thanks for the great article. I plan to try this in 2+ weeks. Have you received any updates on this experience since? I only ask since before finding your article I had inquired with a tour group (visitsiankaan.com ) which offers the boat/Muyil tour (presumably from Punta Allen side). When I inquired about Muyil I was told the following;

“With regards to your question regarding the visit to Muyil. Unfortunately it is currently not allowed to enter the Muyil site froom the Lagoon side, which we were using so far. this is due to a number of new access restrictions. so we will not be carrying out this visit to the ruin.”

If you or anyone else can give an update on this claim I would greatly appreciate it, since the combo part of this trip is what makes it worth in IMHO 🙁

January 13, 2016 at 10:24 AM

We received notice as recently as last week from a reader who successfully embarked on the DIY trip to both Muyil and Sian Ka’an. If the tour group you’re using does, in fact, depart from the Punta Allen side as you suggest, then I could understand how it could be challenging to get to the Muyil ruins from there by boat via the lagoon side. That said, any restrictions which may have been placed on entering Muyil from the lagoon, should have zero effect on the DIY plan reviewed in this post since you are accessing Muyil directly from land and then embarking on the lagoon boat trip. Hope that helps!

January 13, 2016 at 11:00 AM

Thanks! I’ll plan it, and research if there are any centoes near by as a backup plan :-). I’ll updated everyone here if infact there is a very recent restriction. And thanks again for all the valuable information you’ve posted for everyone!

January 13, 2016 at 3:45 PM

Great! We’re hoping you find no restrictions and you have an awesome excursion into Muyil and Sian Ka’an. Will definitely appreciate it if you stop back by here to confirm this after your experience. Thanks for the heads-up. Have a great trip to Mexico!

January 10, 2016 at 5:38 PM

Echoing all above. thank you so much for the great suggestions. We followed your advice and just loved Sian Ka’An. We so appreciate you putting the puzzle pieces together for us!

January 11, 2016 at 10:04 AM

Yay! It really makes us happy to hear this post is continuing to help people reach this awesome place in the world. Thanks for stopping by to let us know!

January 1, 2016 at 10:15 PM

Thanks a lot for your advice! Exactly what I was looking for. We are doing this trip tomorrow, looking forward to it!

January 7, 2016 at 10:25 AM

So glad to hear this was helpful! Hope you had a wonderful time enjoying Sian Ka’an!

December 31, 2015 at 7:02 PM

Hi, just wanted to thank you for this post- it was so on point. My friend and I had the same experience in that our hotel wanted to sell us expensive day-long trips that included swimming with dolphins (no thanks!) We followed your suggestions to the letter and had one of the best experiences of our trip to Mexico. Keep up the good work! Joel

January 7, 2016 at 10:27 AM

This warms our hearts to here! Thanks so much for returning to the site to leave a reply. No thanks on the dolphin-swim – we totally agree! So glad to hear this helped to make such a great experience in Mexico. Happy travels! 🙂

December 31, 2015 at 12:02 AM

Thx so much for the response and advise! I’m comfortable doing DIY, as long as I know other people have been ahead of me, without too much problem. I just wasn’t sure if you were going to say we were crazy to go off on our own w out full language skills!!!!

December 29, 2015 at 10:05 PM

Super-useful write-up. We drove to Muyil, but otherwise followed your advice. Despite heavy Christmastime crowds, we were lucky to meet up with Candido – president of the Sian Ka’an tour guide operator coop – at the gates of Muyil, and he led us right to the boat ramp, where we paid $600 pesos each for the boat ride and float. Amazing adventure!

December 30, 2015 at 10:46 AM

So glad to hear you had a nice time and the advice was useful! Thanks for the report back and added confirmation on the $600 peso boat ride and float!

December 29, 2015 at 12:34 PM

Hi, love reading all this info you’ve inspired!! Will be in Akumal/Tulum area in Feb. someone told us to check out this huge park area, south of Tulum. Assuming they mean Sian Ka’an, lol! Would u advise doing the DIY version, if we don’t speak Spanish? Could we manage, w being polite and just a few words?

December 30, 2015 at 10:56 AM

Huge park South of Tulum? Its got to be Sian Ka’an! 🙂

If you’re fairly comfortable with traveling independently then I think you can manage to get by on the DIY version with some very minimal Spanish and a smile. You’ll simply need to be comfortable with buying the bus ticket (if traveling by bus) and then speaking with the boat men at Sian Ka’an. Funny enough, Spanish is not the boat men’s first language either. Rather, its actually a Mayan dialect. A man we spoke to there spoke some decent English too (although don’t count on that). Based upon recent feedback the price seems to be pretty fixed at $600 pesos per person, so there seems to be no need to negotiate. I would only caution if that you’re looking to have some more in-depth info then you may want to consider a tour. Otherwise you should be able to do it yourself just fine. Good luck!

November 23, 2015 at 10:38 PM

Hey there, I just wanted to update you on a couple of things. I was at Muyil yesterday and the current price per person for the boats is 700 pesos. I don’t know if it’s gone up due to it being close to high season or because there are more people visiting it. We did it alone. The site is lovely. I wanted to comment on your suggestion for bug repellant. You should NOT use a spray with DEET since it will affect the ecology of Sian Ka’an. If you go to Muyil and Sian Ka’an, or any other preserve, reef or park in Mexico, you should use an all natural bug spray that will not harm the environment. That goes for sunscreen as well. Coral Safe is the brand that I’ve been using this trip. Broad spectrum uv a&in reef safe. Anywho, your blog was a huge help to us in finding out how to visit Muyil and the canal. It was awesome. Thanks!

December 30, 2015 at 11:25 AM

Thanks for all the feedback. Its interesting to hear that they charged $700 pesos per person. I’ve been hearing pretty consistent reports of $600 pesos, so that’s a bit discouraging. I’d recommend for anyone else reading this to hold firm at $600 (although be sure to bring enough to cover $700 pesos, just in case). Thanks for the recommendation about bug spray. I didn’t realize that about DEET. I will try to update this article soon to reflect these environmentally friendly considerations that are important to be mindful of. Good advice! Glad to hear the blog was helpful and that you had an awesome visit to the Muyil, Sian Ka’an and the canal. Cheers!

November 16, 2015 at 10:44 PM

Question: we are most interested in the canal floating. We will drive on our own, and have our own snorkeling gear. Do you have to take a boat to the entrance area do the canals? Or, ar the canal areas accessible from shore?

November 17, 2015 at 9:03 AM

You cannot reach the canals from the shore. The canals are only accessible by boat. Its nearly a 30 minute boat ride from the shore to the canal that you float down, so that would be one heck of a swim.

November 14, 2015 at 7:38 PM

Thank You Very Much for your article which made our day!! My husband and I want to thank you for the detailed guidance to the diy tour of Sian Ka’an!! We had the most Wonderful day Thanks to You!!! EXCELLENT!! K & T 😉

November 15, 2015 at 9:53 AM

It puts a big smile on our faces to hear that this was helpful! Thanks so much for taking the time to let us know! We’re really glad you enjoyed it!

November 3, 2015 at 5:55 PM

Hi John and Heather, What a great contribution to the DIY travel community. We come to the Riveria Maya for 2 or 3 weeks each year. We DIY every year. We do rent a car and drive all over. Yes, it is an expense but it sets us free to explore. We keep trying new things. We have been in most of the cenotes, etc. Sian Ka’an was on the top of our “gotta do” list. I had not yet figured out how to get to Sian Ka’an easily and have a good day experience at the same time. Your detailed plan was fantastic.

We are staying in Puerto Aventuras. The drive to Muyil was 45 minutes. Parking at the Muyil Archaeological site is not a problem and seems very secure. The official Mexican Peso to USD exchange rate is 16.42P to 1USD. At Chedraui, the supermarket, the rate is posted at 16.61P to 1USD. To update a few things. The attendant at the Archaeological site is very helpful. The entrance fee to the archaeological site was 39P pp ($2.35 pp). The entrance fee to Sian Ka’an down the Sacbe was 50P pp ($3 pp). A boat captain was at the entrance to Muyil and I tried to negotiate the boat tour rate for the 2 of us but was unsuccessful, 600P pp ($36.50 pp). We gave the captain 200P as a reservation deposit and he met us at the boat dock after we walked down the boardwalk. Just the 2 of us on the boat tour. Captain Candido was excellent. We thought the entire experience was great.

Thank you for posting your directions. Steve

November 4, 2015 at 1:58 PM

Thank you Steven for sharing your experience and providing an updated pricing on what you paid. Its most helpful! Particularly since some time has past since our last visit. I’ve actually been meaning to update this article, so your most recent information just inspired me to finally do it. Thank you! Its also nice to see that the trip is even slightly more economical now given the further devaluation of the peso. Glad to hear you had a great experience and the directions proved helpful. Cheers!

November 2, 2015 at 1:07 PM

Thank you so much for writing this article! totally helpful!

Happy to help! Thanks for dropping by to let us know it was helpful!

August 30, 2015 at 7:58 PM

Thanks for this post!

Very helpful. I’m down in Tulum right now and was dealing with the same issue of not being able to figure out how to visit Sian Ka’an without a paid tour.

I really do want to visit the ocean side of Sian Ka’an, but we’re going to try your suggestion of Muyil tomorrow as I’m worried about driving the road to Punta Allen if it’s a mess. I’ll report back any interesting findings. 🙂

November 4, 2015 at 2:00 PM

Thank you Wes! Glad to help! So how did it go at Muyil?

The ocean side of Sian Ka’an sounds really enticing to us too and we hope to make it there next time we’re down that way.

August 17, 2015 at 5:39 PM

Dank je wel! Thank you!

We also did not know now to visit Sian Kaan, but we did thanks to you. We visited the ruins for 39 peso p.p. The ruins are small, but it is a lovely and quite walk in the forest. The walk throughout the forest is easy accesible and Nice to do for 50 peso p.p. The stairs of the tower are very steep, but it is worthwile Doing. You end up at the Beach by the boatsman. Thanks to you we knew what to expect about the price. It is still 600 peso p.p. The Tour over the lagoon and through the canal is very Nice. But the floating is absolutely top!!!

Thank you again! We had a wonderful three hours!

November 4, 2015 at 2:02 PM

We’re really happy to know this helped. Thank you for taking the time to let us know and for an update on pricing and your experience.

We agree – floating down that canal was definitely the tops!

July 17, 2015 at 8:40 AM

This information was invaluable for my husband and I who wanted to visit Sian Ka’an without a tour group and weren’t sure where to start. We appreciate it!

November 4, 2015 at 2:03 PM

Thanks for the feedback Lauren! It puts a smile on our faces to know this info was valuable!

July 6, 2015 at 10:55 AM

Incredibly helpful, thank you! I followed the instructions to Muyil and directly onto the boat, and as of July 3rd, 2015 – everything was running exactly as you said.

Some added tips: The boat guy told us it was 600 pesos/person. We were running low on pesos, and he said he could take dollars instead. Using a conversion calculator on our iphone (works offline), we showed him that 2 people at 1200 pesos calculated to $76 USD total, so he was willing to accept $80 USD.

We waited about 20 minutes for the bus to return to Tulum town, and when it finally came by it didn’t stop. As we waited for a taxi, a Collectivo (shuttle bus) drove by, so we hailed it down instead. It was 40 pesos/person from Muyil to the bus station in Tulum. Great deal if you don’t want to wait for the bus, or if the bus doesn’t stop for you.

Thanks again! Amazing trip in the lagoon, don’t miss the ‘natural lazy river’/float canal!

November 4, 2015 at 2:11 PM

Thank you for this update of information and we’re really glad to hear this info was helpful! Seem that 600 pesos still is the going rate and no negotiation. Good to know!

“Oh no” about missing the bus, but it may have been a happy mistake since you got such a good deal on a taxi. 40 pesos per person is nearly the same price as the bus. Thanks sharing that info, as I’m sure that is very helpful for everyone to know!

Ah, yes, the canal float – so much fun!

May 26, 2015 at 7:33 PM

Thank you for the information. I like to avoid tours as we’ll and was wondering how to get there when I found your blog. Travelling these days is really easy when there is great people sharing experience as yourself.

July 15, 2015 at 12:23 AM

Thanks Cristina! Hope you found this helpful!

May 12, 2015 at 11:15 AM

Didn’t have time to do this last year but will in a month. Thank you for this article as I will be heading out on my own and speak Spanish. Hopefully the boat owner will show me tons of wildlife which is what I’m going for. Not an organized tour person at all. So appreciative of your posting your experience.

June 1, 2015 at 12:08 AM

We hope you had/have an awesome experience out at Muyil and we’re really glad to hear you found this post helpful! Thank so much for stopping by to let us know! Its really a good plan for independent travel.

May 1, 2015 at 9:49 AM

Thanks for this great article. I’m actually just searching around the internet after visiting Sian Ka’an through Muyil. We arrived there a couple days ago from a resort, just to see the Mayan ruins, and were pleasantly surprised by the whole experience we had there (we also try and look up as little about the ruin sites before we go because its so much fun to walk through and be surprised by each structure). We had the place to ourselves! I would not trade this intimate experience for anything, well worth going alone or with a small group of friends. Its true i didn’t learn as much about the animals or the ruins but the experience of just quietly discovering and appreciating both the stunning nature setting and the accomplishment of these ancient people is more than a fair trade off.

We stopped off the side of the road a few minutes from Myuil to ask for directions, and it just happened to be from a laguna boat operator. Our friend driving who was the only one of us to speak Spanish, had a long conversation with the guy. At one point the guy made the sort of head chopping motion while speaking (to which in my mind was obviously part of some tourist decapitation plan and could not figure out why my friend was not getting us out of there immediately). Turns out he was offering us a better price on the boat tour, 400 peso per person (four of us) and said we would have to agree to that now and not talk about it down at the laguna because he would lose his job for giving us a good deal (head chopping motion to emphasize his point). We didn’t take him up on the offer, we had no plans of spending that much time at this site. We also had no concept of what to expect for pricing and couldn’t tell if he was ripping us off or genuinely giving us a deal.

To others traveling this area and feeling adventurous with your rental car I highly recommend seeing Becan. These ruins are unbelievable. Also had the place to ourselves. Its a long drive from the resorts (three plus hours depending on how fast you drive) but completely worth the trip (can do city of Chetumal in same day). I would give Tulum 3/10, Muyil 7/10 and Becan 11/10!

June 1, 2015 at 12:06 AM

Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your detailed account of your trip to the Muyil ruins. It really makes it so much more special being able to tour these ruin sites without the tourist hoards. We will have to check out Becan next time we’re in Mexico – that sounds fantastic. Thank you for the recommendation!

That’s pretty funny about the head-chopping motion. Seems like his price was a genuinely good deal for what seems to be a bit better than the going rate. Cheers!

March 18, 2015 at 4:06 PM

How is parking at the entry of Muyil? Is it safe to park there?

April 15, 2015 at 12:21 AM

The car park is just off the major road and the ticket booth is in site of the parking lot. I thought it looked completely safe but there is always some level of risk leaving valuables in your vehicle.

March 15, 2015 at 7:37 PM

Thanks to your info I was able to find the road to the boats at Muyil! I was in Mexico with my 65 year old mother who loved to do a boat trip. We paid 700 pesos per person, but ended up a bit disappointed. The area is gorgeous, the floating through the canal for me was fun, but for my mother who didn’t float it felt like a bit of a rip-off. Hardly spent any time in the boat, besides the 5 minutes to and from the point where the Maya-ruin is and where you enter the water to float. Expected more of that. They promised us a 2-hour tour, we were back within 70 minutes. We even raced high speed through the wetlands. Didn’t know that was possible.

So when someone has plans to go, in my experience it is worth the trip and money when you go floating the canal. If your not, don’t go. And when you go: make sure they show you the area.

April 15, 2015 at 12:18 AM

Thank you for providing us feedback from your experience and the price you paid. Floating down the canal was our favorite part of the trip, so I can understand how your mother may have felt disappointed and not worth the 700 pesos without the float, particularly if your trip was a bit rushed. During our trip, we went slowly through some canals and sped through other open areas. We enjoyed a the mix of both fast and slow. Having your feedback about your 70-minute trip, this is good to let others know so that they can get a time estimate and try to hold the boat drivers accountable to that.

March 10, 2015 at 12:33 PM

Thank you so much for this information. Your diligent research has saved us so much time! And as you know, time is one of the most precious things we have. Good karma to you! Xoxo Nicole and Matt

March 11, 2015 at 7:08 AM

Awesome! Thanks for taking the time to drop us a note and let us know. You just put a smile on our face. Happy travels!

February 3, 2015 at 12:57 AM

Thanks so much for posting this detailed guide. We are headed to Tulum in a week for a return visit and are thinking of visiting Muyil this time. We will have a 2-year-old in tow – any thoughts about whether this combined trip of ruins and boat ride would be too much for an adventurous toddler (with his own life vest, of course)? We are thinking he might like the boat ride and we may need to forego the float option, if we go for it. Thanks again – this is so helpful!

February 21, 2015 at 12:20 PM

The waters here are inland, so they are very smooth and calm, so I think the boat ride would be safe. The only issues I could foresee is heat and mosquitos bothering the little guy while in Muyil or at the boardwalk area. Also, the walk through Muyil and the boardwalk may present a challenge as its not completely stroller-friendly. But I think the boat ride would be fine. (This is just my two-cents from someone who doesn’t have children. Perhaps other readers with children who have been can weigh in further.)

January 31, 2015 at 8:37 AM

i just did the diy tour thanks to your great article. thanks a lot for sharing it. indeed it is very beautiful. just a comment about the savings you mention. I think a tour with a guide might include a more knowledgeable guide who might tell more about the biosphere, animals or show you a bit more of the animal life? that is just a supposition. at least visitor guide you would have a guide who speaks something else than spanisn. when i asked friends here for different price options that the agencies offer, it goes back to different level of comfort or prestations. they all say that for locals, the price difference is not a discount but simply a different level of comfort. so i would say if people are on a shoestring the diy might be nice. otherwise, the little extra might bring you more info if you are passionate about wildlife. again, that is a supposition 🙂 thanks again for sharing tips and pics

February 21, 2015 at 12:15 PM

Yes, that is indeed true. Good points. A guided tour would certainly offer a much more information about the wildlife and history of the area. There is some signage in Muyil and at the boardwalk but it is minimal. And the boat drivers don’t speak English to offer any commentary about the surroundings. They simply drive you to the points of interest around Sian Ka’an. A guided tour would provide much more info on everything and would be an easier option, but it would come at almost double the cost of this DIY itinerary. So it just comes down to how much someone wants to spend and their desire for in-depth info (or just seeing it on your own).

January 15, 2015 at 4:45 PM

This info is exactly what I was looking for. I plan to do this same excursion on my own in 2 weeks. Thanks for the great detail!

January 20, 2015 at 1:14 PM

So glad to hear this is helpful! Thank you for dropping by to let us know. Happy travels to Mexico and to Sian Ka’an!

May 4, 2015 at 3:48 PM

Wanted to provide an update (several months late) as your info was indispensable in planning my trip. We ended up doing your same tour (Muyil side, lagoon/canal float etc) and also made the drive down to Punta Allen. Both excursions into the Sian Ka’an became the highlight of a week long trip. The Muyil excursion was a perfect taste of the beauty of the area, but we wanted to complete the journey and go down to “the end of the road.”

Originally, we planned 1 night in Punta Allen and then would drive back out, catch a ferry to Cozumel for 2 nights. After the harrowing trip down that looong, battered and bruised road (it is worse than anything you could have read) the beauty and secludedness of Punta Allen took over and we knew we would be staying longer. We cancelled the Cozumel leg and extended our stay at PA, with the help of our gracious host Nikki at Serenidad Shardon, which was a beautiful property right on the beach.

Punta Allen ran to a different vibe of life, something I cannot accurately put into words, but we left there a changed people. If you ever are back in the area, I would highly advise you to also make your way down the road.

Thanks again for the tips, It has been a pleasure following along on your journey.

January 15, 2015 at 2:58 PM

Thank you so much for this detailed guide to DIY’g a tour of Sian Ka’an. I used to only DIY travel, but because of personal constraints last few years, I’ve had to rely more & more on guided tours. It’ll be so nice to do this on our own.

Btw do you happen to know if snorkeling can somehow be included in your DIY visit to Sian Ka’an? I’ve noticed that all the outfits offer snorkeling as part of this excursion. That would be a cool bonus. Thanks again!

January 20, 2015 at 1:16 PM

During the canal-floating portion of the boat tour you can snorkel there. However, they did not have masks and snorkel with them. So you must come prepared with your own gear. We brought our masks and it was neat to see the aquatic life such as fish and crabs in the mangroves.

December 17, 2014 at 9:17 PM

Thanks a lot for all the detailed info! I’m going there in a couple of weeks and didn’t want to take a group tour, and this is exactly what I needed! 🙂

December 21, 2014 at 9:24 AM

Thanks so much for letting us know! I’m really happy to hear that people our finding this article. Have a great time in Sian Ka’an and please drop us a line if anything has changed or was unclear. Happy travels!

November 6, 2014 at 3:43 AM

Amazing! Thanks for your information. I’m looking for some information about Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve because I don’t want to join group tours like you. Thanks a lot!

November 10, 2014 at 7:20 AM

Am so glad to hear this helps! Hope you have a great time visiting this beautiful place!

July 2, 2014 at 10:01 PM

Hey 🙂 Moving my comment to the correct article – Are these conversions correct? My calculations are different. Just wondering what to budget as I’m definitely going to try your suggestions! Thanks!

July 3, 2014 at 6:57 AM

Hi! I just double-checked and my calculations appear to be correct. Of course, the exchange rate has changed just slightly since I wrote this earlier this year. Currently $1USD is about 13 pesos according to XE.com. Perhaps the confusion is that I jumped a bit from per person prices to pricing for the both of us (sorry!). So allow me to clarify… We paid 1,150 pesos for the entire boat excursion and float for two people, which is $88.57 USD (at current exchange rate) or a little more than $44 USD per person. I’d bring at least 600 pesos per person for the boat excursion, 60 pesos per person for bussing there & back, 50 pesos for ruins, and 50 pesos for the boardwalk. At about 760 pesos per person, that’s just under $60 USD and about half the cost of the packaged tours. Definitely bring pesos (not USD) and bring some extra, of course, just in case. Good luck! Its a great adventure! Let us know if any other questions (or if I missed a miscalculation) and please stop back by this page to let us know how it went or any updates (as things do change).

April 4, 2017 at 3:54 PM

We found your guide very useful and have successfully visited today. The only thing we found was on entering at the Muyil entrance we were charged 50 pesos but they did not give us tickets. We were then broached by someone who tried to make us pay again as we had no proof we had paid. My husband had asked for tickets at the time. He then made us pay for a small hand gelled video camera 45 pesos. The notice says these hares apply to professional camera with tripods !! The man became quite aggressive. The other consideration is, when you leave the boat to swim in the lazy river,all your belongings are left unattended as the guy leaves the boat to meet you at the end point. We had a great time and nothing went missing. We were charged 600 per adult and 400 per child and there was no bargaining entertained ! Thank you for your help. Cathy

April 8, 2017 at 10:51 PM

Hi Cathy, Thank you for the comment and sharing your experience. I’m sorry to hear about the hassle you encountered with the entrance fee and being charged for the video equipment as well. That must have been incredibly frustrating. Aside from those setbacks, we’re happy to hear you had a successful visit and were able to enjoy the beauty of the reserve.

July 9, 2016 at 6:25 PM

Helllo Just did the Muyil tour today – GREAT! 👍 Price for bus from Tulum 27peso adulte, 14 peso kid under 12 years. 40peso the ruins, 50peso adulte – 25 kids for the boardwalk. Boat 600 adulte, kids under 7 half price, Return with collectivo 25 pr person to Tulum. Awesome tour,mother floating is really great…… 👍😜😎💪🌴🐠 Thank you for this great advice! Made it soooooo easy for us, just go as described.

July 10, 2016 at 4:52 AM

Yay! So happy to hear this post made your trip to Muyil & Sian Ka’an easier! Also, thank you so much for confirming recent prices. Was aware that kids are negotiable, typically half price, but didn’t know at what age. So thanks for that added piece of info! And what a great adventure to take kids on!

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BIRDSSUNSET

Observation tower, eco tours in sian ka'an for the environmentally conscious traveler, sustainable tourism in the mexican caribbean, discover the natural beauty of sian ka'an, what is the sian ka'an biosphere reserve.

Sian Ka'an Nature Encounter

Best tour option for: active and fun seeking individuals for water activities, snorkel in coral reef, float in the mayan canal..

Our aim is to give our guests an enriching experience and to leave them with a greater appreciation of the natural biosphere reserve, Sian Ka'an!. Besides these tours we also offer you tailor made tours and tour combinations upon availbility. Ask us for our special group discounts!

Sian Ka'an Reef Snorkel & Mayan Canal

A spectacular tapestry of coral that is home to dolphins, marine turtles and up to 500 species of fish, the Mesoamerican Reef is one of the most extraordinary places to snorkel on this planet.

Ancient Mayan Route

Best tour option for: learning about ancient culture of the maya, visit of a ruins on the lagoons, float in the mayan canal..

This not-to-be-missed boat tour follows the Sian Ka’an canal, built by the native Mayans more than 1,000 years ago. During the course of the tour, you’ll encounter a number of impressive ruins.

Sian Ka'an Fly Fishing

Most delightful fishing trips you've ever enjoyed.

The still saltwater lagoons of Sian Ka’an are world-renowned among fly fishers, both for the beauty of the scenery and the quality of the fish. As one experienced angler recently said.

Birdwatching at Sunset Tour

Best for birdwatching, sunset landscape beauty..

Many believe that Sian Ka’an is at its most beautiful as the sun begins to go down – and we tend to agree. That’s why we run this popular early evening boat tour, which grants you access to some of the Reserve’s most exquisite lagoons.

Private Wedding Tour

For that special day.

Our private wedding tour will take us to the marvellous Biosphere Reserve Sian Ka'an, which is a protected area and covers a size of 1,3 million acres alongside the Mexican Caribbean coast of the state of Quintana Roo.

Sian Ka'an is one of the most spectacular and ecologically diverse places on earth – and we want to keep it that way.

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• Rates listed are exclusively valid for the inquiry date.
• Upon making a reservation it becomes necessary for you declare to have full knowledge of our Reservation and Payment Policies, Disclaimer and Cancellation Policies.
• All reservations are subject to availability existing at the moment of your request. No confirmation can be issued until deposit for the requested service has been made.
• Please note that this verification and confirmation process may take up to, and never more than 36 hours.
• In order to avoid inconveniences, please make a printout of your confirmation payment voucher and have it ready for check-in to the reserved service.
• For any change to a confirmed reservation is needed, please contact us.

PAYMENT POLICIES:

We do accept all credit cards., cancellation and no show policies:.

• All cancellation requests must be addressed in writing to VISIT SIAN KA’AN as the basis reference.
• Cancellation requests made 15 (fifteen) or more days prior to confirmed arrival date are subject to a penalization of 10% on the total payment for the reservation.
• Cancellation requests made no more than 14 (fourteen) days and no less than 3 (three) days prior to the confirmed arrival date are subject to a penalization 20% of the total payment of your reservation.
• Cancellation requests within 24 hours to the confirmed arrival date or a “no-show” are 100% non-refundable. No refunds will be granted either for unused portions of the reservation due to an early departure.
• Cancellation policies for reservations made for Christmas, New Year and Easter may apply with 7 days and less will be a non-refundable. Please contact us for future details.
• All cancelations made within 24 hours or less prior to your tour, 100% penalty will apply.
• No show or not attended your tour 100% payment penalty will apply and must pay the balance to cover the full amount of the tour price

How to Visit Sian Ka’an WITHOUT A Tour: Ultimate Guide! (2023)

Some links in this post contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission if you use the links at no extra cost to you! Happy reading 😀

Looking at how to visit Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve in Quintana Roo? Sian Ka’an is one of the true few paradises on earth, and is a place of untouched, unique, natural beauty. This Sian Ka’an guide explains everything you need to know about visiting!

One of our highlights when visiting Mexico in 2022 was the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. A place of complete serenity, peace, stillness and raw beauty, it’s somewhere that can only be believed with your own eyes!

Regardless of how many photos we took, shared and raved about, nothing can explain how beautiful Sian Ka’an is. If I’m honest, I wasn’t expecting it to be quite so beautiful. It’s now somewhere I recommend to anyone visiting Quintana Roo in Mexico.

Sian Ka’an can be visited as a backpacker on a budget, especially if you team up and visit with friends. Hiring a car is undoubtedly the best way to visit Sian Ka’an, and if you book with the right company and split the costs, it’s a budget-friendly day out.

Further on in the post, I’ll be sharing ways to keep the costs down when visiting Sian Ka’an, so even as a budget backpacker, you can enjoy this slice of paradise!

Need somewhere to stay in Sian Ka’an? You can’t get anywhere better than  El Cielo Y Selva . It’s the closest I’ve been to paradise on earth, and really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You can take a look at  their site here.

Other Mexico posts:

• Kaan Luum Lagoon, Tulum: Complete Guide (2022)
• Is There Uber in Sian Ka’an? Getting Around Sian Ka’an (2022)
• 11 BEST Things To Do In Punta Allen, Sian Ka’an (Mexico)
• How to get to Punta Allen from Tulum, Mexico (2022)

What is the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve?

The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is one of the most beautiful and preserved areas in Mexico. It is still relatively unknown amongst tourists, which makes it a perfect weekend break away in the peace and quiet.

The site was established in 1986, and since then has been established as a UNESCO heritage site due to its biodiversity and historical Mayan Culture.

As a visitor to the reserve, you will experience dense jungle, long dusty roads and turquoise blue coastlines, opposite a large light blue lagoon. With thick mangroves and a chance to spot crocodiles on your left, you can turn right and spot wild dolphins and turtles on your right. It’s a truly unique experience.

There are under 1500 locals living in the reserve, and no indigenous groups. Most of the population either live in Punta Allen , or Punta Herrero.

Weather in Sian Ka’an is tropical, with picturesque coconut trees lining the coastline as far as the eye can see. The average monthly temperature is between 72-82, and the wettest month is September.

Sian Ka’an covers over 1.3 million acres, making it the biggest reserve in the Mexican Caribbean and the largest coastal protected area in Mexico! It is also home to the second biggest barrier reef in the world, The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which you can both swim and snorkel in.

When we visited Sian Ka’an, we experienced some of the best snorkelling we’ve ever done (and it was even better than the Great Barrier reef – sorry Australia!)

Where is Sian Ka’an?

Sian Ka’an is located south of Tulum, in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. It is on the eastern coast of the Yucutan Peninsula, and is one of Mexico’s largest protected areas.

TOP TIP: Due to the unique wildlife in Sian Ka’an, it is important to NOT use sunscreen when entering the lagoons or oceans here. Use coral safe sunscreen if it is absolutely necessary (this is the same in any cenotes in Tulum also).

How do you get to Sian Ka’an?

There are a few ways to get to Sian Ka’an, some I recommend, and some I don’t. This is the most up-to-date information ( written in November 2022 ) when deciding how to get to Sian Ka’an.

As Sian Ka’an is so big (it’s actually bigger than the neighbouring island of Cozumel!), there are multiple entry points.

The most common is via Tulum Beach road, driving south along the coast to Punta Allen . Alternatively, you can enter from Muyil.

Punta Allen is for backpackers and visitors who want to coastal scenes, with sandy beaches and palm trees lined along the coast. It’s the most ‘tropical’ part of Sian Ka’an, and offers a different experience to Muyil.

Looking to hire a car in Mexico? We’ve driven all over Quintana Roo, and recommend it as one of the safest ways to travel. Use this company for the best prices!

Visiting Sian Ka’an via Muyil

Visiting Sian Ka’an via Muyil is a different experience altogether. Taking a self-guided tour via Muyil means you’ll see more jungle, wetlands, mangroves and freshwater lagoons. You’ll also have a higher chance of spotting a crocodile!

However, as you are floating down these Mayan-made canals, you will not see the dolphins and turtles like you would on the Punta Allen side.

🚗 If you’re visiting Muyil by car , take Highway 307 south to the ruins of Muyil first. If you’re putting it into Google Maps, you will need to input ‘Zona Arqueológica de Muyil’, and follow this road. From there, you can either visit the ruins, or take a canal boat into the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

🚌 Taking the bus to Muyil is also relatively easy, and can be boarded at the main ADO station in Tulum town. Tickets cost around 30 pesos per person (£1.50/$1.55), and buses should come every 30 minutes.

🚎 If you would rather take a guided tour to Muyil, there are multiple tours that can be booked in Tulum town. This is the least budget-friendly way, and not a way I would advise for backpackers.

Visiting Sian Ka’an via Punta Allen

If you’re entering Sian Ka’an via Tulum Beach, it is likely that you will be visiting Punta Allen and the surrounding beaches.

🚗 If you’re visiting Punta Allen by car , you do NOT need a 4×4 or a jeep to visit Sian Ka’an. There are so many blogs and tours stating it is impossible to reach Punta Allen or other parts of Sian Ka’an without a 4×4, and this is incorrect.

We drove the entirety of the peninsula, all the way south to Punta Allen, in a tiny car rental . It was slow, and there were potholes, but it can be done! Many bloggers state the drive from Tulum Beach to Sian Ka’an is unadvised and unsafe. From doing this journey myself, I can say this is not true. You can do the drive, slowly, in a regular rental car, but just need to be careful and take your time!

🚌 Taking the bus (collectivo) to Punta Allen isn’t advised. Yes, it can be done, but sitting on public transport for 4 hours down a pot-holed filled road isn’t ideal. However, if you are set on taking public transport, you need at least 2-3 days in Sian Ka’an to make up for lost time.

There are 2 buses from Tulum town to Punta Allen, one which stops at a pier, to board a boat over to Punta Allen. Buses only depart once a day, at 2pm. The other takes the long road (the one you will drive down) and takes over 4 hours to reach Punta Allen.

🚎 If you would rather take a guided tour to Punta Allen , there are multiple tours that can be booked in Tulum town.

Check out my post: How to get to Punta Allen from Tulum, Mexico (2022) for more information.

Getting around Sian Ka’an

When you are actually in Sian Ka’an, you can either explore by foot, cycle or if you want to drive further, by car. We stayed at a campsite near Punta Allen, so we didn’t need to drive once we had arrived.

Most accommodations will supply bikes which you can hire at a low cost, or you can walk around the area on foot.

The majority of the areas in Sian Ka’an are uninhabited, meaning there are very few street lights. If you’re wandering around after sunset, just be sure to know your way back to your accommodation and have it downloaded on your maps.

For the majority of visits, you will stay within your site accommodation, as most are on the beach and have their own area to explore. Some may be near the small towns of Muyil or Punta Allen, which are both worth checking out if you’re close enough.

Booking buses in Mexico? I highly recommend the ADO bus when moving from place to place. It’s safe, clean, modern and has toilets! You can compare prices and book tickets here .

Best time of year to visit Sian Ka’an

December-April would be the best time to visit Sian Ka’an. This is due to the warm and sunny days, and it is dry season.

However, you can expect good weather all year round, just the occasional downpours and storms during wet season in Quintana Roo (September is known as the rainiest month!)

Wildlife and marine life can be spotted 365 days a year in Sian Ka’an.

Need somewhere to stay in Tulum? I highly recommend this apartment for digital nomads and backpackers who don’t want to stay in shared dorm rooms!

Is Sian Ka’an worth it?

Yes! Absolutely. Sian Ka’an is worth visiting, and is worth the bumpy road it takes to drive on. Anyone who says it isn’t is probably visiting for the day, and from a location too far away to make it ‘worth it’.

If you’re staying in Tulum, I highly recommend planning at least 1 overnight trip to Sian Ka’an.

However, it’s worth knowing that even from Tulum beach, Sian Ka’an is at least a 2-hour drive into the ‘heart’ of the reserve, so if you’re coming from Playa Del Carmen or Cancun, it’s going to be 5 or 6 hours of driving one way!

If you have the patience to drive on bumpy roads, visiting Sian Ka’an is worth it. If the roads were perfect, we wouldn’t be fortunate enough to see the untouched beauty that Sian Ka’an gives us, and it would be full of tourists. It’s still a ‘hidden gem’ of Mexico, and we were asked by two locals how we even knew about visiting.

Go now, whilst it’s still quiet and untouched!

Where to stay in Sian Ka’an

There are many accommodations on Sian Ka’an to stay at, and most are situated right on the beachfront. However, if you want a true, remote, paradise-like experience when visiting Sian Ka’an, I recommend El Cielo Y Selva.

Around a 3-hour drive from the Sian Ka’an entrance, El Cielo Y Selva is one of the most beautiful and eco-friendly places we have ever stayed at.

With glamping pods and tents along the beachfront, you wake up to the sound of the waves and the blood-orange sky poking through the palm trees from the sunrise. You’ll have access to hammocks metres from the ocean, a small swimming pool, a budget-friendly restaurant (with amazing vegetarian food) and be completely disconnected from reality.

There is a small area at El Cielo Y Selva that has wifi, but we chose not to use it for the majority of our trip. Being in the middle of the jungle, next to the ocean, it was an escape from the busy world around us. It was truly paradise.

El Cielo Y Selva (“Sky and Jungle”) also arrange a boat tour if you’d like to see the dolphins. The tour is 500 MXN pesos per person (if there are 6 people in a boat, more if there aren’t), and lasts around 3 hours.

You’ll sail to see dolphins, turtles, manta rays and other sealife, stopping off to snorkel in crystal-clear turquoise water in the deep ocean as well as shallow sand banks. We were not fortunate enough to see dolphins, but it was still one of the best experiences I’ve ever had!

If you’re looking to stay overnight in Sian Ka’an, El Cielo Y Selva has plenty of budget tents, or you can pay extra for the luxury glamping pods.

Book your stay at El Cielo Y Selva here ! (I promise you won’t regret it).

What to do in Sian Ka’an

There are so many amazing and unique things to do in Sian Ka’an, and these are just some of them!

• Snorkel or dive in the second-biggest barrier reef in the world; The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef
• Spot dolphins, turtles, manta-rays and other sealife on a boat trip
• Take the Sian Ka’an river float
• Go bird watching – there are over 379 different species of bird in the reserve!
• Look out for creatures like howler and spider monkeys, crocodiles, jaguars, pumas, ocelots, pink flamingos, toucans and tapirs and so many more
• Take photographs of some of the 1048 species of flora
• Sunbathe in the year-round hot weather
• Watch the rain from your glamping pod or tent at El Cielo Y Selva
• Wake up early for the blood-orange sunrises on the beach
• Take a picnic to the beach to watch the sunset
• Disconnect from the real world and sleep, read and eat
• Visit the tiny fishing village of Punta Allen
• Take a trip to the Muyil Ruins
• Cycle to the lighthouse in Punta Allen
• Drink coconuts sold by the locals
• Play with the dogs that roam the beaches

Aside from all of these incredible activities, you can plan to do nothing in Sian Ka’an and have an incredible time. Just soak up the nature, the true paradise surrounding you, and appreciate just how beautiful it all is.

Sian Ka’an is a one-of-a-kind place, I promise.

Things to do in Punta Allen

Punta Allen is a small fishing village right at the south of the peninsula of Sian Ka’an. It has under 1000 people living there (probably much fewer), and there are only 4 restaurants. There isn’t much to do there, apart from take a boat tour to see the dolphins, chat to the locals or drink cheap alcohol.

Note if you’re visiting Punta Allen, there is no electricity from 2pm-7pm or 2am-7am each day. This shouldn’t make a difference to you if you’re not staying there, but it’s something to bear in mind. It also helps to understand the remoteness of Sian Ka’an, and just how untouched it is!

El Cielo Y Selva is only a 6-7 minute walk from Punta Allen, so if you’re staying there, I highly recommend either walking or cycling down to experience it.

Expect quiet streets, the happiness of locals and cheap beer!

Check out my Punta Allen guides:

Do I need a jeep to visit Sian Ka’an?

No, you do not need a jeep to visit Sian Ka’an. The road has recently been graded (November 2022) and although there are still potholes and uneven parts of gravel, it can be done in a regular car.

We rented a small hire car for our trip to Sian Ka’an, and although driving 40km took around 3 hours, it was safe and easy to do at a slow pace.

Can I visit Sian Ka’an without a tour?

Yes, you can visit Sian Ka’an without a tour. A tour is not necessary unless you want everything organised for you. On a backpacker’s budget, this may add up to more money than hiring a car with a group of friends.

If you are visiting Sian Ka’an without a tour, you will need to pay a fee of 100 MXN pesos per person (£4.50/$5) on arrival. You are then asked to sign a guestbook . You’ll be given a wristband to wear for the duration of your trip. However, ours was never checked.

Going in and out of the water, snorkelling, diving or surfing in Mexico? Don’t forget your GoPro to capture all of your amazing memories!

Road conditions in Sian Ka’an

As previously mentioned, the roads in Sian Ka’an have recently been graded, and aren’t as bad as they used to be. You can drive all the way to Punta Allen from Tulum in a small hire car , without any problems (if you’re sensible).

The roads are full of potholes, but they can be avoided. If you have driven in Tulum town, the roads aren’t too dissimilar. If you drive at a slow pace, the 40km down to Punta Allen will take around 3 hours.

See picture below for how the roads looked whilst driving to Punta Allen.

Costs of entering Sian Ka’an

To enter Sian Ka’an, the most common way is via Tulum Beach. The entrance is right at the end of Tulum Beach road, marked with a large gate. When you arrive here, you’ll be asked to sign a guestbook with your numberplate and contact details, as well as a fee of 100 MXN pesos per person (£4.50/$5) on arrival.

You are also given a wristband to wear for the duration of your trip . Ours were never checked or asked for.

Don’t forget to pack a Microfibre towel for Mexico. If you’re anywhere near the beach, you’re going to be in and out of the water all the time (trust me, it gets hot!)

How to visit Sian Ka’an on a budget

Visiting Sian Ka’an CAN be done on a backpacker’s budget . If you’re prepared to sleep in a tent, or visit for the day, you can visit on a budget.

If you’re visiting Sian Ka’an for the first time, or on a backpacker’s budget, I recommend hiring a car. After you have paid for tour prices, or a 2-3 hour taxi there and back, you’re going to be paying double what you would for a car rental.

Car rental prices in Mexico aren’t too expensive . If you book with this company , they can compare and find you the best prices early on.

Here is a breakdown of costs for a 1 night stay on Sian Ka’an (Punta Allen side).

• Accommodation: £30/$35 a night for a 2-person tent at El Cielo Y Selva , £15 each
• Transport: Car hire for £50/$60 (including insurance) between 4 people, £10 each
• Boat trip: £22/$25 per person on a 6-man boat
• Dinner out/drinks: Roughly £10-15/$10 per person, but can be cheaper if you don’t drink alcohol and eat in Punta Allen
• Breakfast: £5-8 ($5-10)

Total price for an overnight trip for a budget backpacker in Sian Ka’an: £65/$70

With this price including accommodation, this is a bucket list activity for under £100! That’s practically unheard of in Mexico (Mexico isn’t the cheapest of backpacking destinations…)

However, if you want to upgrade and stay in a glamping tent, you do need to pay a bit extra per night. It depends on how much you have to spend, and what kind of experience you want to have!

Can you drink the tap water in Sian Ka’an?

No, and you cannot drink the tap water anywhere in Mexico. This isn’t just for tourists, but locals also only drink bottled water. The tap water in Mexico isn’t safe to drink anywhere, so always stick to bottled water.

Throughout our time backpacking Mexico, we did use the tap water to brush our teeth, and were never sick from this.

If you’re backpacking Mexico, always carry a water filter bottle with you. This means you can drink the water anywhere, and don’t have to spend a penny buying any!

Can you fly a drone in Sian Ka’an?

Yes, you are able to fly your drone in Sian Ka’an. Flying drones is legal in Mexico. You will not be questioned about owning a drone. We flew our drone on the roads around Sian Ka’an, as well as over El Cielo Y Selva.

There are rules when it comes to flying your drone in Mexico, such as:

• Do not fly your drone near or over people, or at large crowds (like at the beach)
• Never fly your drone near an airport
• A drone over 2 kg requires a permit
• You must only fly your drone during the day, and in good weather

If you would like to know more about drone rules in Mexico, check out this website.

Helpful resources for drone flying in Mexico:

• Can You Fly a Drone in Sian Ka’an? Mexico (2022 Guide)

Is there Uber in Sian Ka’an?

No, there is not Uber in Sian Ka’an. It is important to not rely on taxis when in Sian Ka’an, unless you have pre-arranged for your taxi to pick you up from certain locations and at certain times.

If you’re still unsure about getting around Sian Ka’an, check out my post: Is There Uber in Sian Ka’an? Getting Around Sian Ka’an (2022) for more information.

Hiring a car is your best option when visiting Sian Ka’an.

How to visit Sian Ka’an: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! A complete guide explaining how to visit Sian Ka’an, and how you can make the most of your trip.

It really is one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever visited, and I highly do recommend staying at El Cielo Y Selva . If you’re going all that way, you might as well make the most out of it!

When you’re planning a trip to Sian Ka’an, make sure you let me know over on  Instagram  or in the comments below!

If you haven’t come across my blog before, I write posts aimed at  first-time backpackers on a budget.  I’m currently backpacking Mexico with my boyfriend (read more  here !), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Mexico content,  all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates  here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Other Quintana Roo/Mexico posts:

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MEET THE AUTHOR!

Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.

If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).

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Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve: Tulum’s Best Kept Secret

• by Nellie Huang

Did you know there’s a huge protected area just 45km from Tulum? Here’s everything you need to know about the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

On the edge of Tulum lies the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, one of the largest protected areas in Mexico. It’s easy to see why Mayan people named it Sian Ka’an, meaning ‘Origin of the Sky’. When you take a boat and cruise through its lagoons and canals, you can see clearly in the distance, where the sky begins and the Earth ends.

Since moving to Mexico in 2021, we’ve explored many different parts of the Yucatan Peninsula and have found Sian Ka’an to be the wildest and most pristine corner. The massive reserve is made up of a huge array of ecosystems, ranging from tropical forests to mangroves and marshes. It serves as the habitat for a diverse array of species, including the rare black-handed spider monkey and the West Indian manatee.

Even though Sian Ka’an is just 45km (35 miles) from downtown Tulum, it’s not easy to get to as it’s so remote and hard to access. In this article, I’ll share detailed step-by-step instructions on how to get to the lagoon and coastal sides of Sian Ka’an.

Table of Contents

What is a Biosphere Reserve?

How to get to sian ka’an, which to choose: punta allen vs. muyil, visiting the muyil ruins, from muyil to sian ka’an, taking the boat in the sian ka’an lagoon , sian ka’an tours via muyil, how to get to punta allen, a. driving to punta allen, b. van & boat transfer, c. book a day tour, things to know before you visit punta allen, where to stay in punta allen, best time to visit sian ka’an , wifi/internet in sian ka’an, cost of travel in sian ka’an, is sian ka’an safe to visit, buy travel insurance for mexico, what to pack for sian ka’an, packing list for sian ka’an, is sian ka’an worth visiting, sian ka’an biosphere reserve , tulum.

Sian Ka’an covers an extensive area of approximately 5,280 square kilometers (2,040 square miles), extending from the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula to the Caribbean Sea. The reserve features a mosaic of ecosystems, including coastal dunes, mangroves, and marshes. The interconnectedness of these ecosystems is crucial for the overall health of the region.

In 1987, Sian Ka’an was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site . It was recognized for its outstanding universal value and its critical role in conserving biodiversity and preserving a significant portion of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. Despite its protected status, Sian Ka’an faces several challenges, including habitat destruction due to illegal activities, climate change impacts, and tourism development

Most parts of Sian Ka’an are closed to the public, only these two areas are open for visits: 

• coastal side – where Punta Allen is located; and involves at least 3 hours of driving or boat trip from Tulum to reach.
• lagoon side – massive swaths of jungle, mangrove forest and ancient Mayan canals; easily reached via Muyil (a 22-minute drive from Tulum).

A biosphere reserve is an area designated to conserve biodiversity and ecosystems while allowing for sustainable human activities. It typically consists of three zones: a core area where conservation is the top priority, a buffer zone that promotes sustainable land use, and a transition area that includes human settlements and seeks a balance between human needs and environmental conservation.

The goals of establishing biosphere reserves include protecting biodiversity, conducting scientific research, promoting education and awareness, and fostering sustainable livelihoods for local communities. These reserves are recognized and designated by UNESCO as part of its Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program and play a crucial role in demonstrating how humans can coexist with and protect the natural environment.

First and foremost, it’s crucial to grasp the vast expanse of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, which spans an impressive 5,280 square kilometers (2,040 square miles). To put this into perspective, Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve eclipses the size of the neighboring Cozumel Island and surpasses the entire land area of Delaware state in the US.

Most travelers use Tulum as their base to explore the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, as it’s the nearest city. Given its sheer size, the reserve can be accessed from different points. In this guide, I will give detailed directions on how to get to Sian Ka’an through two distinct routes, complete with various transportation alternatives. 

These are the two primary gateways to Sian Ka’an:

1. Muyil (lagoon side)

2. Punta Allen (coastal side)

Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is accessible through two distinct entry points – Punta Allen and Muyil – each offering unique experiences within divergent ecosystems. 

Punta Allen allows you to explore Sian Ka’an’s coastal side, so you’ll get to experience its marine life, coral reefs, and pristine beaches . It’s common to spot dolphins, turtles and manatees in the coastal side of Sian Ka’an. But getting there can be logistically challenging and time-consuming; it takes 4 hours to traverse the 56km (35 miles) potholed, unpaved road from Tulum to Punta Allen [read my guide to Punta Allen for details].

On the other hand, the Muyil route is much easier and accessible from Tulum . Here you’ll get to explore the reserve’s freshwater lagoons, ancient Mayan canals, and lush marshlands – but NOT dolphins or turtles on your boat ride. Logistically, Muyil can easily be seen in half a day, whether exploring independently or as part of an organized tour .

If you have the time and budget available, we highly recommend exploring both parts of Sian Ka’an on separate days . We’ve been to both and can safely say they each offer contrasting experiences, making it worthwhile to dedicate one day to the oceanic side (Punta Allen) and another to the freshwater environment (Muyil) within Sian Ka’an.

Option 1: Muyil

How to get to muyil.

The lagoon side of Sian Ka’an is a lot more accessible from Tulum and it’s also cheaper than Punta Allen . You can see the Sian Ka’an Lagoon via Muyil in half a day, including a stop at the Muyil archaeological site. I’ll share with you step-by-step instructions on how to explore Sian Ka’an via Muyil on your own.

To reach Muyil from Tulum, simply head south on Highway 307. The Muyil archaeological site is around a 20-minute drive away from town. It’s a straightforward drive on a well-maintained, flat, and paved highway. It’ll be on your left, just before reaching kilometer marker 205. Muyil offers a small parking lot with consistently available spaces.

To catch a bus to Muyil, make your way to Tulum’s ADO bus station , located on Avenida Tulum between Alfa and Jupiter streets. Buses departing from Tulum to Muyil leave regularly, typically every 30 to 60 minutes. A one-way ticket costs 28 MXN (US$1.4). Note that your ticket may display the destination as Chunyaxché, which is an alternative name for Muyil. 

Once you’ve reached the Muyil ruins, a boatman will wait at the ruins entrance to ask if you want to take a boat into the ancient Mayan canals. The standard price for a boat trip in the Sian Ka’an Lagoon is 1000 MXN (US$50) per person. This pricing is non-negotiable, and there are no group discounts offered. Prices are high as the Sian Ka’an is run by indigenous Mayan communities and these fees sustain their livelihoods. It’s highly worth your while though – floating through the canals is an absolutely surreal experience. 

Once you’ve paid for your boat trip, proceed into the Muyil ruins and spend some time exploring them. The Muyil Ruins, also known as Chunyaxché, are smaller than the famous Tulum ruins but they are worth a visit as you’ll hardly find any tourist here. 

The Muyil archaeological site dates back to the Preclassic period (around 300 BC to 250 AD) and was inhabited by the ancient Mayans for centuries. The site includes various structures, plazas, and ceremonial platforms, showcasing Mayan architectural and cultural elements.

Highlights of the Muyil Ruins:

• Pyramid El Castillo: This prominent structure stands as the tallest at the site and it’s the most well-preserved one.
• Casa de los Pájaros (House of the Birds): This building exhibits intricate stone carvings depicting birds and other animals, reflecting the Mayan reverence for nature.
• Sacbe (White Road): Muyil boasts a well-preserved sacbe , a raised limestone causeway that once connected various Mayan cities and settlements.
• Observation Tower: There’s an observation tower near the ruins, providing an excellent vantage point to appreciate the lush landscape and nearby lagoons.

It’s easy to identify El Castillo (the Castle) in Muyil since it is the largest pyramid structure on the site. It’s important to locate this particular ruin because it is behind El Castillo where you find the boardwalk to Sian Ka’an Biosphere.

First you’ll come across a white plaque on the ground with an explanation of what a Sacbe is: a pathway constructed by the Mayans. After the short stroll down the sacbe , you’ll eventually reach a sign about the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

Behind that Sian Ka’an sign (pictured), you’ll see a palapa ticket booth. This is where you pay a Sian Ka’an entrance fee of 50 MXN (US$2.5) per person, to enter the boardwalk, known as “El Sendero Canan-Ha,” or “the Canan-Ha trail.”

The scenic hike on the boardwalk takes approximately 1 to 2 hours, if you go leisurely. Halfway through the 500-meter boardwalk stands an observation tower. This somewhat precarious tower offers a bird’s eye view above the jungle canopy, but please be cautious when climbing it. Continuing on the trail, you’ll eventually reach the docks when you can catch the boat into the Sian Ka’an canals.

The boat tour through the Sian Ka’an Lagoon is a highlight for many people who venture here and it’s undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Tulum . The boat journey navigates through two picturesque lagoons and ventures into a narrow canal, where the gentle current allows you to float along crystal-clear and stunning turquoise waters.

Your voyage will first lead you to a small Mayan ruin that served as a hub for commerce centuries ago. You’ll then be dropped off to drift along an ancient Mayan canal, flanked by flourishing mangroves, and graced with remarkably clear waters. This experience is relaxing and refreshing, especially after a brief yet perspiration-inducing trek through the hot and humid jungle.

Please note that this boat excursion through Sian Ka’an is not a guided tour, don’t expect the boatman to talk to you about the sites along the way. You can of course ask questions and they’re usually to answer them. We highly recommend bringing your own mask and snorkel to see the fish and crabs living among the mangroves.

If you don’t want to worry about the logistics, then it’s certainly worth booking a day tour to Sian Ka’an from Tulum . Small group tours include the convenience of hotel pickup, meals, drinks, entrance fees, etc. This all can help to justify the higher price.

I recommend booking through trusted sites like Viator and GetYourGuide. They are always reliable, have an up-to-date calendar, verified reviews, good prices, and generous cancelation policies. I recommend this Sian Ka’an & Muyil Tour with great reviews. It’s the best-priced Sian Ka’an tour I’ve found online. 

Option 2: Punta Allen

For those interested in experiencing the oceanic side of Sian Ka’an and spotting wild dolphins and manatees, the Punta Allen route is more tedious and time-consuming. But it also allows you to delve deeper into the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, experience rustic island life, and to completely disconnect with no phone signal (and sometimes electricity). 

Punta Allen is a mere 45 km (35 miles) south of Tulum’s hotel zone, but the only road there is a potholed, unpaved road that is notoriously known as “Mexico’s worst road.” Even though Google Maps shows it as a 2-hour journey, it takes over 4 hours to cover the potholed path.

After driving the road ourselves, we can only confirm that the rumor is true – because the road is filled with so many potholes which can get muddy and slippery during rainy season, it can take up to 4 hours to cover the 35-mile distance from Tulum! Most people warn against driving this road on a normal sedan and strongly encourage using a 4×4.

That said, there is an alternative route to take to Punta Allen from Tulum, one that sidesteps the road’s perils. It’s particularly suitable for those who don’t drive and prefer someone to handle all the logistics. Or you can simply book a day tour from Tulum , and that will cover all your transport, logistics and food.

Here are the three options:

A. Brave the bumpy 4-hour drive along what Mexico’s most pockmarked road.

B. Book a transfer with an agency which includes van transport and boat.

C. Book a day tour to bring you here and back to Tulum.

First and foremost, it is highly recommended to drive what is one of Mexico’s most pockmarked roads on an SUV, 4X4 or on a motorcycle . It’s no joke – the potholes come one after another; you hardly get any break between the bumps. Opting for an SUV will provide a slower yet less vehicle-damaging experience along the often rugged and bumpy road.

After speaking to friends who drove the road in a normal sedan, we decided to be stubborn and drive our Volkswagen Beetle to Punta Allen. Our car made it the whole way, but did we regret bringing our car? Yes we did!

It was an exhausting 4-hour drive of non-stop bumping, grinding and cursing – plus our car (with a very low bottom) has been giving us a lot of problems since the trip. We have had to fix the entire bottom and switch out the tyre flaps and front bumper, in part because of this treacherous journey!

To clarify, we have driven in many parts of the world with god-awful roads, such as Tanzania, South Africa, Ecuador and Costa Rica. My husband is an extremely experienced driver, and even he got tired of navigating those back-breaking bumps and trenches.

NOTE: We always book car rental on DiscoverCars.com as they’ve consistently given us the best rates and customer support. They offer the option of SUV cars in Tulum.

Opting for the van + boat journey to Punta Allen will relieve you of the horrible driving and offer a more comfortable, slightly faster route. If you can’t drive, then this is the ONLY way to get to Punta Allen as there is no public transport. 

This transfer is organized by a company called Fisher Natours and they run daily transfers to Punta Allen at 3 pm and leave for Tulum at 7am. The transfer costs 650 MXN (US$32.5) each way. You can book with them directly on Whatsapp (Yessi: +52 998 190 0123).

First, you’ll meet the van at Hostal Pueblo Mágico . It’s then an hour’s drive south along the Tulum beach road to the Sian Ka’an Visitor Center . After you pay your park entrance fee (104 MXN or US$5), it’s a just a short drive to a rustic resort, el Ultimo Maya. There you’ll catch your boat to Punta Allen. 

I’ve heard that it can be disorganized and there might be some waiting involved. But Yessi is helpful and she can answer any question you may have. 

Lastly, you can actually go on a day tour to Punta Allen from Tulum , where your transport, logistics and meals are all taken care of. Prices aren’t cheap but t least you won’t have to worry about anything. It’s great for those who are short on time but really want to see a pristine and untouristy part of Tulum.These small group tours will drive you on the bumpy road for 15 km to the Boca Paila Lagoon, where you’re transferred to a small boat to sail across the Sian Ka’an. You’ll stop to watch dolphins, spot manatees, and snorkel at a coral reef. Then you’ll visit a sandback before finally reaching Punta Allen for some time to relax and the included lunch. These Punta Allen boat tours are priced around US$200 . Given all that’s included, these small group tours can be worth the splurge for the convenience of being able to experience this all on a day trip from Tulum . Check out this Full Day Adventure to Punta Allen that has raving reviews.

Before heading to Punta Allen , it’s essential to be aware of the daily electricity schedule, which includes power interruptions from 2 to 7 pm and 2 to 7 am . If you’re not staying overnight in Punta Allen, this should not affect your visit, but it’s a detail worth keeping in mind. 

Also, for those who are driving to Punta Allen, it’s important to note that there are no gas stations en route to Punta Allen or within the town itself . So make sure that you start your journey with a full tank of fuel.

As it takes awhile to get to Punta Allen, you should definitely stay overnight and experience the rustic, small fishing village vibes. There are some modest guest houses in Punta Allen, but you can also find glamping spots and higher-end fishing lodges dotted around the village.

Budget: Las Palapas de Punta Allen

Las Palapas is one of the best budget-friendly places to stay in Punta Allen. It’s a basic, simple place but the hosts are very nice people and prices are good. Check rates here.

Mid Range: Cielo y Selva

We stayed in a glamping tent at Cielo y Selva (pictured) and loved our time there! This ecolodge has a series of comfortable and photogenic bell tents and bungalows right on the beach, within a few minutes’ walk from the village. Check rates here. 

Luxury: Grand Slam Fishing Lodge Tulum 

The most upscale option in Punta Allen is a fishing lodge with gorgeous beachfront rooms, nice lounging areas and hot tubs. It’s a short walk from the village and suits those traveling in groups. Check rates here.

The best time to visit Sian Ka’an is during the shoulder season: May to June and September to October, when there are fewer crowds and lower prices. While these months can be slightly warmer and more humid, they still offer enjoyable conditions for beach lovers. 

We visited the Muyil side in May and Punta Allen in September and it was absolutely quiet and empty both times. The weather was perfect and we definitely enjoyed having the place to ourselves.

Generally, the peak tourist season aligns with the dry winter months, from November to April. During this period, the weather is pleasant and warm and the sea remains calm, perfect for snorkeling and boat tours. 

As Sian Ka’an is mostly wilderness, internet connectivity is quite limited and unreliable. While some accommodations in Punta Allen offer Wi-Fi to their guests, the quality of the connection can vary significantly. Expect slow speeds and potential interruptions.

I recommend getting a SIM card with internet data to make sure you stay connected while in Tulum. Either buy an eSIM before traveling or a get SIM card at the airport upon arrival. Even then, expect to have limited 4G while in Punta Allen.

Read my guide on how to get a SIM card in Mexico .

The cost of travel in Sian Ka’an varies depending on whether you’re visiting independently or on a tour. If you visit the Muyil side on your own like we did, expect to spend around 1400 MXN (US$70) per person including the return bus fare, entrance fees to ruins and boat fare.

We also visited Punta Allen on our own and drove there with our car. We stayed in a glamping tent at Cielo y Selva that cost us around 1600 MXN (US$80) per night for the three of us. For our weekend in Punta Allen, we spent around 3,000 MXN (US$150) per person, including 2 nights of accommodation, gasoline, food and boat trip.

Comparatively, half-day day tours to Muyil from Tulum cost around US$150 per person; while day tours to Punta Allen from Tulum cost around US$200 per person. They might be a bit pricey but they’re definitely an easy solution for those tight on time and don’t want to worry about logistics.

Overall, Sian Ka’an is a tranquil and safe destination where you go to get away from it all. Due to its remote location, Sian Ka’an has limited access to services and medical facilities . It’s advisable to ensure your vehicle is in good working condition, carry essential supplies (such as water and snacks), and have a full tank of gas before embarking on the journey. If you have specific medical needs, it’s a good idea to bring necessary medications and first-aid supplies.

As I mentioned many times, the road to Punta Allen is one of the worst roads in Mexico, and it can get flooded or dangerously muddy during the rainy season. Keep an eye on weather conditions, especially during hurricane season (June to November).  Be sure to check the conditions of the road with your hotel before driving. 

Regardless of whether you’re traveling Mexico for a week or a year, I always recommend travelers to buy travel insurance, whether you’re traveling for a year or a week. It is particularly important to have travel insurance that covers COVID-19.

Safety Wing is the most popular travel insurance company for COVID19-coverage. I use their Nomad Insurance plan , which covers COVID-19 as any other illness as long as it was not contracted before your coverage start date. Refer to my travel insurance guide for more details.

For this trip to Sian Ka’an, you’ll be spending most of your time in the sea, so definitely pack lots of sun-proof gear. KEEN footwear or normal sandals are also really useful to walk on beaches strewn with seashells or corals.

Snorkel mask and fins will come in useful as you’ll be using them alot here. We were glad we brought our snorkel masks!

• SPF 70 Sunscreen
• Mosquito repellent
• Snorkel mask and fins
• UPF50+ rash guard swim shirt
• Quick-dry towels
• KEEN covered sandals
• GoPro for waterproof photos/videos
• Quick-dry t-shirts

Having lived in the Yucatan Peninsula for the past two years, I’ve seen my fair share of touristy beaches and commercialised zones – and Sian Ka’an is one of the very few remaining spots that have been protected immaculately and escaped mass tourism.

Despite the lack of facilities and infrastructure, the charm of Sian Ka’an lies in its remote location and well-preserved flora and fauna. If you’re looking to veer off the trodden trail and get away from it all, Sian Ka’an is the place for you.

I hope you’ve found this guide to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve useful. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions. For those who are planning to travel more of Mexico, check out other articles I’ve written on Mexico:

• The Ultimate Tulum Travel Guide
• 20 Best Day Trips from Tulum
• Where to Stay in Tulum
• Best Time to Visit Tulum
• How to Get from Cancun to Tulum
• My Guide to Punta Allen
• 10-Day Yucatan Road Trip Itinerary
• 35 Fun Things to Do in the Yucatan Peninsula

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Reserva de la Biosfera Sian Ka'an

While floating down a canal that Mayans dug by hand centuries ago, you see tall grasses on either side and colorful birds flying overhead. You hear the haunting call of a howler monkey in the distance, like you’re a thousand miles from civilization. This is Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, the largest protected area on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, and home to endangered creatures and some of the Yucatán’s most sublime landscapes. A visit here, just south of Tulum, offers a window into the world beyond all-inclusive resorts and glittery nightclubs. 

The name Sian Ka’an – Yucatec Maya for "where the sky is born" – perfectly captures the magnificence of this 1.3 million acre reserve. Sian Ka’an is one of the most biodiverse places in the world, composed of a delicate balance of ecosystems : tropical forests and coral reefs, mangroves and savannahs, impossibly blue lagoons and miles and miles of untouched beaches. It is also one of the few places in the world where petenes (tree islands that form in swamps) thrive and cenotes (freshwater sinkholes) are found. Sian Ka’an is home to a brilliant diversity of fauna too: spider monkeys, howler monkeys, American crocodiles, jaguars, pumas, Central American tapirs, four sea turtle species, giant land crabs, more than 330 bird species (including roseate spoonbills and flamingos), manatees, dolphins and some 400 fish species.

Sian Ka’an was inhabited by ancient Maya peoples for over 1200 years, its waterways forming an important trade route between the coastal city of Tulum and the interior. Twenty-three known archaeological sites exist in the reserve, the earliest dating to 350 BC. By the mid-1500s, the Maya abandoned Sian Ka’an for reasons unknown. The region remained largely untouched until the early 1900s when a railway line was built through the southern end of Sian Ka’an, connecting the port of Vigía Chico to present-day Felipe Carrillo Puerto. The train was initially built to support the Mexican military during the Caste War; later it was used to transport chicle harvested in the region. (It was used for just 27 years; vestiges of the original tracks can still be seen today.)  Sian Ka’an was protected as a biosphere reserve  in 1986, when the Mexican government recognized that uncontrolled development – mostly land clearing for cattle pastures and timber extraction – would have a devastating effect on the region.  A year later, it was named a  UNESCO World Heritage site for its exceptional biodiversity and its vast wetlands. Today, more than half of Sian Ka’an is off limits except for scientific research. The rest is reserved for sustainable development and low-impact activities like ecotourism. Only 2000 people live in Sian Ka’an, mostly in fishing villages.

Sian Ka’an is best explored with a guide, as there are few trails and navigating the waterways on your own can be difficult. Several regional tour operators offer excursions into the reserve including birdwatching tours and kayaking through lagoons, visiting Maya ruins, swimming in ancient canals and snorkeling along the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.

Full-service excursions typically include door-to-door transportation and snacks but can be pricey, running around $85-$165 per person for a half-day trip from Tulum. Maya-run Community Tours Sian Ka'an is a good option that directly benefits the local community.

If you’re on a budget, local boatmen offer lagoon and canal tours from Laguna Muyil near Hwy 307. Tours (8am-4pm daily) last 2½ hours and cost $35-$50 per person, depending on the number of people in the boat. The dock is at the end of a short dirt road, just south of the Muyil Ruins (aka Chunyaxché Ruins). Alternatively, visit the ruins (M$45 or about $2) and take a 500-meter boardwalk trail (M$50 or about $2.50) from the east side of the site to the lagoon.

If you have a rental car, you also can make the trek to Punta Allen – a fishing village at the end of Sian Ka’an’s coastal road. From here, Cooperativa Punta Allen runs various excursions ($150 per boat) including dolphin- and turtle-watching tours and snorkeling. Fly-fishing tours ($300 per boat) also offered. While possible to do as a day trip, an overnight stay makes the trip easier and more enjoyable.

Eating and lodging

Most people visit Sian Ka’an as a day trip from Tulum, which has a variety of accommodations and restaurants. Inside the reserve, Punta Allen has a handful of simple hotels and restaurants (note: there’s no cell service, and electricity runs only a few hours each day); a few higher-end fishing lodges and rental homes also are along the coastal road.

Getting there and other practicalities

There are two main entrances to Sian Ka’an. The most popular follows the coastline, south from Tulum’s beach road. A huge arch marks the reserve’s entrance where admission (M$37 or about $1.80) is collected and registration required. From the arch, a rutted dirt road runs through the reserve, occasional openings in the palm forest leading to gloriously empty beaches and peeks of turquoise lagoons. The road ends at the village of Punta Allen – a bumpy 35-mile ride that takes about 2 to 3 hours, longer after a heavy rain. Public transportation along this road is sporadic, so joining a tour or driving a rental (four-wheel drive is helpful) are your best options. 

A second, lesser known, entrance to Sian Ka’an is next to Muyil Ruins (aka Chunyaxché Ruins). Several buses (M$28 or about $1.40) make the 20-minute trip from Tulum to Muyil each day. From there, you can either enter the reserve via the archaeological site or walk down a short dirt road less than a quarter mile (250m) south of the ruins (look for it near an Oxxo minimart). Both lead to Muyil lagoon where you can take boat trips through the northwestern tip of the reserve.    

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Life On The Roam

I love OATs: Outdoors, Art & Travel

How to Visit the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve: the Complete Guide

Sian Ka’an (pronounced see-AHN KHAN ), a nature-lover paradise in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, made me feel a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of the Mayan Riviera, despite being relatively close to its popular hotspots.

The reserve spreads across 528,000 hectares (1,304,716 acres) of marine and freshwater environment (beach side and lagoon side). It’s home to hundreds of species of birds and big cats like jaguars and pumas, and to a rich marine life.

Thanks to its biodiversity and natural beauty, Sian Ka’an (meaning “Where the sky was born” in Mayan) is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through those links I will earn a commission at no additional cost to you (zero, nada). To check the full disclaimer, click here .

This is how you can explore this natural wonder, whether as a half day trip on your own, an overnight stay, or with a tour.

Table of Contents

Visiting Sian Ka’an Beach Side (at Punta Allen)

On the beach side of Sian Ka’an you’ll have the chance to spot sea turtles and dolphins, swim in crystal clear sandbars, and relax at the beach in the sleepy fishing village of Punta Allen.

You can either book a tour (cheapest, easiest and fastest option) or you can visit Sian Ka’an on your own (at your own pace but more expensive). 

Option 1: Take a Boat Tour to Sian Ka’an (Beach Side)

This is the way to go if you don’t want to rent a 4X4, stay overnight, and then go on a boat to explore the reserve. 

It was the option that worked best for us so we decided to book a Sian Ka’an Biosphere tour. It included a boat ride on the sea side of the reserve with swimming stops and lunch at the small town of Punta Allen.

Early in the morning a tour bus picked us up from Playa del Carmen and in downtown Tulum we transferred to a tall amphibious-looking vehicle with giant wheels ( Why so big?, I thought). Once we crossed the Arco Maya (Mayan Arch) at the end of Tulum’s waterfront hotel strip and went further down the dirt road I understood why.

The craters were the size of the moon. And they’re all over.

However, the government is currently working on improving the road. Can’t tell how long the improvement will last, but it should make it better.

After a 40-minute ride crossing the tropical forest we started seeing clusters of mangroves anchored in shallow water, sheltering a large population of birds.

We spotted many pelicans at the Boca Paila bridge stop, where the canals connecting to the Chunyaxche lagoon meet the sea, and where you may be lucky and see crocodiles and even a manatee.

Next stop was at the dock where we boarded a small boat and saw even more birds as we navigated through marshes and mangroves, before going full speed into the sea.

Shortly after, the captain approached a pod of dolphins he spotted in the distance, which to me was the highlight of the trip.

From there, the boat stopped for a relaxed swim at Blanquizal , a sandbar forming a natural pool with waist-deep calm waters reflecting turquoise and aquamarine shades. The background? A tropical forest with tall palm trees in the distance. 

Weather permitting, you’ll be able to snorkel.

The last stop was at the village of Punta Allen , where we walked around the town and checked out the beach after a tasty lunch before jumping back in the boat to return to civilization.

Taking a tour to this side of Sian Ka’an is the most cost effective (and easier) option to explore the marine side of this natural wonder.

I also loved that the guide was knowledgeable about wildlife and the local flora, he cared about the site, and pointed out interesting things during the trip.

To enjoy this experience check out this highly-rated tour to the marine side of Sian Ka’an:

FULL-DAY TOUR TO SIAN KA’AN: including guided boat ride to explore the marine ecosystem of the reserve and lunch at Punta Allen. Book this tour here , with more than 740 (92%) 5-star reviews 

Option 2: Drive to Punta Allen

If you have time, prefer to go at your own pace and have some sense of adventure, you can get to Punta Allen on your own. But you’ll eventually need to pay for a boat tour to explore the reserve (or rent a kayak), so you’ll have to add that to your budget.

Punta Allen is the largest (take that with a grain of salt) and most remote of all the tiny towns in Sian Ka’an, located at the end of the peninsula.

You’ll drive on Route 15, which connects Tulum with Punta Allen. At the end of Tulum’s hotel strip you’ll see the Mayan Arch marking the entrance to the reserve, where you’ll pay MXN$105 per person, per day. If you go on a tour this is included in the price.

From this point you’ll drive around 43 Kms (26 miles) until you reach Punta Allen. 

Looks like a short trip, right?

Well, it should be. The problem is that, as you go further away from the arch, you’ll encounter giant potholes all over the dirt road and they’re impossible to miss. So the trip takes at least three hours on a regular 4×4 (don’t even think about attempting this with a car), which is why you have to stay overnight. 

However, the government has started repairing the road which should shorten the trip and make it less, ahem, “exciting”.

Renting a 4WD SUV is still the way to go if you visit during the rainy season as the repairs don’t include paving the road.

Once you get there, you’ll have to take a boat tour if you want to see the wildlife in the mangroves, swim in the beautiful sandbar, or try your luck at spotting dolphins. You can also rent kayaks.

Make sure your tank is full as there are no gas stations inside the reserve!

Option 3: Explore the Campechen Lagoon (No Boat)

The Campechen lagoon is on the north boundary of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. This is a great alternative to visit the reserve if you don’t want to jump on a boat.

KAYAK AND SNORKEL TOUR:   kayak and snorkel the Campechen lagoon with this tour that includes light snacks and a boxed lunch. Book this tour here , with nearly 260 (98%) 5-star reviews.

Can you stay at Sian Ka’an?

Yes, there are a few small guesthouses (some offering glamping and camping options) inside the Sian Ka’an reserve. Most of them are in Punta Allen, which is the perfect place to enjoy nature away from the crowds.

Here you’ll hang out at the beach, go on a boat trip to explore the reserve, or walk or bike along sandy paths. And sometimes that’s all you need and nothing else.

Punta Allen can be a good fit for you if you’re the adventurous type.

Spotty internet and intermittent power outages during the day and after midnight force you to unplug and look at the stars, but also means that you may not have AC in the room at all times and it can get hot, especially during the summer.

If you want to explore a different side of the Riviera Maya check out these highly-rated accommodations in Punta Allen:

Las Palapas de Punta Allen: clean rooms located within minutes from the beach, with private bathrooms, hot showers, and AC while there’s electricity in town. They have solar panels, which means you’ll be able to rely on a fan during power outages. Rating: 9.0, with more than 120 reviews

Hotel Cielo y Selva: you prefer glamping with an ocean view? Their spacious glamping tents may be for you, as they’re right on the beach. They also have rooms, but no private bathrooms or AC. You can relax at the hammocks, at the pool, or rent their bicycles to explore the area. Rating: 8.6, with more than 720 reviews

Punta Allen also has a few eateries and small stores, and most places only take cash (there’s no ATM).

And there’s the beach.

Unfortunately, you may also find lots of sargassum (I saw tons during my visit), which may or may not be a problem depending on the unpredictable season.

Since everything here revolves around the beach the foul smell can ruin your experience.  I would check out first how the sargassum situation is before booking a stay here.

Note: some big resorts in the Tulum hotel strip add the words “Sian Ka’an” to their name, but they’re not inside the reserve. You won’t get that unique slow pace vibe if you stay north of the Campechen lagoon.

Getting travel insurance and planning your adventure go hand in hand. Get a quick quote from SafetyWing

Visiting Sian Ka’an Lagoon Side (at Muyil)

The Sian Ka’an lagoon is a freshwater wetland surrounding the Muyil and Chunyaxche Lagoons, bordering the archeological site that bears the same name.

You can combine a visit to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve with a visit to the Muyil Mayan ruins, or you can come just to explore the waterways.

If you go for the first option you have to pay the entrance fee to Muyil (MXN$75) and the fee to enter the boardwalk that cuts through the jungle, ending at the dock of the reserve (MXN$50). As an added bonus, you can enjoy an aerial view if you climb the observation tower.

Once you reach the shore (either from the Mayan ruins or from the nearby entrance- read the next section) you can jump on a boat that will take you through the lagoon and through narrow canals dug by early Mayans where you can see birds, manatees, and other freshwater creatures. The boat ride is not guided tour and it costs MXN$1,000 p/p.

At some point you’ll be able to jump in the crystal clear water and do a river float so don’t forget to bring a mask to spot the underwater life and a towel.

If you’re planning to visit the Muyil ruins at some point keep in mind that it closes at 3PM.

How to Get to Sian Ka’an Lagoon Side

If you’re coming from Tulum or further north, head south on the Chetumal-Cancun road (Route 307) until you see the sign for the Muyil Archaeological Zone. Turn left if you want to visit the ruins and the lagoon.

If you’re not interested in visiting the archaeological site you can drive a few metres past the entrance and take the next left (right past the Oxxo) and drive straight to the dock (the parking fee is MXN$50).

The main road (307)  is in good condition, you don’t need a 4×4. You can check rental car options here . 

By Public Transit

To get to Muyil and access Sian Ka’an go to the main road of downtown Tulum, near the ADO bus station, where you’ll find the colectivos (shared minivans) that go to Felipe Carrillo Puerto. Ask the driver to drop you off at Muyil ruinas , which is on the way. You pay the fare directly to the driver, you don’t need to buy a ticket before.

Tours to the Sian Ka’an Lagoon

You can book a tour to the lagoon if you don’t want to deal with all the planning and you prefer to have a guide with you who points out stuff during the journey.

The lagoon tours normally last half a day, unless you want the option of exploring the seaside as well.

Check out these highly rated options:

TOUR TO SIAN KA’AN LAGOON + VISIT TO MUYIL RUINS: this tour departs from Tulum but pickup is available from other locations along the Riviera. Combine a guided visit to the archaeological site of Muyil and the nature trail and a guided boat tour to the lagoon before floating down the canals. Book this tour here , with more than 540 (95%) 5-star reviews.

BIRDWATCHING TOUR (MUYIL AND LAGOON BOARDWALK): some birders have spotted more than 70 bird species on a single trip.  You’ll go through the village of Muyil, the archaeological site and the boardwalk that ends in the lagoon. Boat ride and canal float are extra. Book this tour here , with 75 (100%) 5-star reviews.

A visit to Sian Ka’an is an unforgettable experience, where you’ll unplug from the commotion of busy tourist spots to connect with nature. If you’re looking for another quiet spot in the Yucatan Peninsula, check out the tiny island of Holbox .

YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO READ

How to Visit the Tulum Mayan Ruins in Mexico

How to Visit the Coba Mayan Ruins in Mexico

7 Reasons Why You Need to Book A Trip to the Delightful Island of Holbox, Mexico

BOOKING FLIGHTS AND ACCOMMODATIONS

Book your flight without losing your shirt

We check Momondo to find great deals to book our flights. Also, check Great Escape : it combines the listings from Expedia, Kiwi, Kayak, (and Skyscanner on the premium service) to find the best airfares.

To find a place to stay for less

Booking.com : you’ll find any type of property you can think of in their massive listing, with one of the most comprehensive filters. We’ve found great deals on boutique hotels, apartments, and private rooms in hostels.

Hotwire : the first site I check when we plan to stay at a hotel for a few nights. You can save anything from 20% to 60%.  Use the search filter to find what you want and you’ll end up with three listings that match your criteria. You’ll know which one you’ll get after you book. If you can handle a little bit of uncertainty you can score big savings.

House Sitting : you take care of people’s pets and house for free while staying for free. It’s the closest thing to experiencing a place “like a local”. But it comes with responsibilities… Are you an animal lover? It may become your new way to travel.

To get travel insurance

SafetyWing : travel medical insurance that gives us peace of mind knowing that we’re covered in case of emergency. It’s convenient, affordable, and suitable for digital nomads who spend a long time outside their home country.

Check the full list of travel resources on my Resource Page for more options and savings

About Mayra Carvajal

Hi, I’m Mayra. A full-time nomad with an appetite for travelling. Art and design are my salt and pepper, with a side order of nature and outdoors. When I’m not gazing at architecture or any other form of art, you’ll see me on a hiking trail, at the top of an ancient ruin, or under a beach umbrella. Here you’ll find practical tips for independent trips, travel stories, and images that may inspire you to explore a new place or high-five your creative muse. Read my About page if you want to learn more about how this site can help you travel more.

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• Description

In the language of the Mayan peoples who once inhabited this region, Sian Ka'an means 'Origin of the Sky'. Located on the east coast of the Yucatán peninsula, this biosphere reserve contains tropical forests, mangroves and marshes, as well as a large marine section intersected by a barrier reef. It provides a habitat for a remarkably rich flora and a fauna comprising more than 300 species of birds, as well as a large number of the region's characteristic terrestrial vertebrates, which cohabit in the diverse environment formed by its complex hydrological system.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Dans la langue des Indiens Mayas qui peuplaient autrefois la région, Sian Ka'an signifie « origine du ciel ». Située sur la côte est du Yucatán, cette réserve de la biosphère comprend des forêts tropicales, des mangroves et des marais, ainsi qu'une vaste étendue marine traversée par une barrière de récifs. Elle abrite une flore remarquablement riche et une faune qui comprend plus de 300 espèces d'oiseaux, ainsi qu'une grande partie des vertébrés terrestres caractéristiques de la région, qui cohabitent dans la diversité des milieux formés par son système hydrologique complexe.

في لغة هنود المايا الذين كانوا يسكنون المنطقة في الماضي، سيان كعان تعني "أصل السماء". فمحمية المحيط الحيوي هذه التي تقع على الساحل الشرقي ليوكاتان، تضمّ غابات مدارية وأشجار المنغروف ومستنقعات، بالاضافة الى مساحةٍ بحريةٍ واسعةٍ يجتازها حاجزٌ من الشُعب المرجانية. كما تحتوي على تشكيلة نباتات غنيّة للغاية وعلى مجموعة من الحيوانات تتألّف من أكثر من 300 نوع من العصافير، بالاضافة إلى جزءٍ كبيرٍ من الفقاريات الأرضية الخاصّة بتلك المنطقة والتي تتعايش مع تنوّع البيئات الذي يبتكره نظام المياه المعقّد فيها.

source: UNESCO/CPE Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

古代玛雅人曾在这个地区居住过，在他们的语言里，圣卡安是“天之源”的意思。这一生物保护区位于尤卡坦半岛东岸，内有热带森林、红树林和沼泽地，还有被礁石分割开的海产区。这个自然保护区为大量的动物和植物提供了生活场所，其中包括300多种鸟类，以及大量当地特有的陆地脊椎动物，这些动物在这个多样性的环境里共同生活，形成了一个复杂的水文学系统。

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief Synthesis

Thousands of years ago the original Maya inhabitants appreciated the exceptional natural beauty of this stretch of coastline, naming it Sian Ka´an, or “Origin of the Sky". Located on the Eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in the State of Quintana Roo, Sian Ka´an is one of Mexico's largest protected areas, established to manage 528,148 hectares of intricately linked marine, coastal and terrestrial ecosystems. Along its roughly 120 kilometres of coastline, the property covers over 400,000 hectares of land ranging from sea level to only ten m.a.s.l. The property boasts diverse tropical forests, palm savannah, one of the most pristine wetlands in the region, lagoons, extensive mangrove stands, as well as sandy beaches and dunes. The 120,000 hectares of marine area protect a valuable part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and seagrass beds in the shallow bays. The lush green of the forests and the many shades of blue of the lagoons and the Caribbean Sea under a wide sky offer fascinating visual impressions.                  

The diversity of life in Sian Ka'an is exceptional. The tropical forests are home to charismatic mammals such as Jaguar, Puma, Ocelot and Central American Tapir. The property also provides habitat for a large number of resident and migratory bird species. There is a great diversity of marine life, including the West Indian Manatee, four species of nesting marine turtles and hundreds of fish species. About a third of the property is comprised of highly diverse and productive mangrove communities, of vital importance to fisheries in the broader region. Hundreds of forested islands, locally known as "Petenes", emerge from the flooded marshes, some reaching over a kilometre in diameter. A geological, biological and cultural particularity are the "Cenotes", deep natural sinkholes harbouring fascinating life forms, many of them endemic. This karst phenomenon results from collapsing limestone exposing groundwater.                             

Criterion (vii): The aesthetics and beauty of Sian Ka´an derive from the relatively undisturbed interface of sea and land along a well-conserved coastline. The mosaic of landscape elements is diverse in shapes, forms and colours allowing intriguing views and impressions. Noteworthy and rare natural phenomena include the "Cenotes", water-filled natural sinkholes hosting specialised communities of life and the "Petenes", tree islands emerging from the swamps. Both are connected by underground freshwater systems, jointly forming an invaluable and fragile treasure for future generations.

Criterion (x): The scale and conservation status of Sian Ka'an and its ecosystem diversity support a fascinating range of life forms. Over 850 vascular plants, including 120 woody species, have been confirmed in what is assumed to be a still incomplete inventory. In terms of fauna, noteworthy representatives among the more than 100 documented mammals include endangered species like Black-handed Spider Monkey, Yucatan Black Howler Monkey and the Central American Tapir. A small population of the vulnerable West Indian Manatee occurs in the coastal waters. Some 330 bird species have been recorded, 219 of them breeding in Sian Ka'an. Amphibians and reptiles are represented by more than 40 recorded species, among them the vulnerable American Crocodile and four of the six turtle species found along the Mexican coast, all reproducing within the property. The isolation of some of the "Cenotes" led to the evolution of several species which are locally endemic to single sinkholes. With some 80 recorded species of reef-building coral the portion of the Mesoamerican Reef within the property is one of the richest in Mexico. Jointly with the many other aquatic habitats it harbours more than 400 species of fish and a wealth of other marine life.

The extensive property covers a large wetland complex, tropical forests, a diverse coastline, mangroves and a fascinating marine area with noteworthy corals and seagrass beds, all in a good overall state of conservation. Large tracts of the dense forests, mangroves and marshland are difficult to access and the poor soils and the vulnerability to storms and flooding have contributed to maintaining the mosaic of ecosystems. Many of the boundaries coincide with landscape features, such as the natural edge of the marshes in the South-East or the limits of the Espiritu Santo Bay catchment in the South. In the ocean, a depth of 50 metres has been defined as the Eastern boundary of Sian Ka'an. The property is of great importance to support the continuity of the intricate connections between terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems and their rich flora and fauna. Sian Ka'an embraces a self-protecting system that is characteristic of the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula: the Mesoamerican Reef shelters the landward mangroves and seagrass beds, while the mangroves trap sediments, filter pollution and serve as nurseries for many vertebrates and invertebrates in the reef. In other words, these major landscape and seascape features are of vital importance to each other. It is therefore indispensable to consider them jointly in management and conservation, as is the case in Sian Ka'an. The contiguity with the almost 90,000 hectares protected as Uaymil Flora and Fauna Protection Area to the South and other important marine and terrestrial protected areas nearby likewise contribute to the integrity of Sian Ka'an.

Requirements for protection and management

After the historic abandonment of the area, inaccessibility, frequent flooding and poor soils allowed for centuries of natural regeneration, until governmental schemes encouraged timber extraction and land clearing for cattle pastures in the 20th Century. The undesired effects of uncontrolled development led to the creation of a nature reserve in 1982, consolidated in 1986 when the area was categorized a national biosphere reserve by Presidential Decree and also internationally recognised. More recently, Sian Ka'an was also recognised as part of a vast Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The large property is federally owned with the exception of a small patch of private land of around one percent of the total area on the Northern coast. Today, Mexico's National Protected Areas Agency (CONANP) under the Ministry of the Environment (SEMARNAT) is in charge of management, cooperating with partners at all levels of government. A management programme is to guide all activities and zoning. The involvement of local communities, governmental representatives, Academia and non-governmental organisations in management is promoted through an Advisory Council.

Sian Ka'an is susceptible to frequent and heavy tropical storms. The barrier reef provides natural protection for the coast, a telling example of conservation contributing to disaster preparedness. As for human impacts, the inaccessibility protects large tracts of the property. Besides the coastal fishing villages of Punta Allen and Punta Herrero, there are few permanent residents in the property. Hunting, fishing and collection of forest products, however, are widespread. Sport fishing and commercial fishing to supply nearby tourism centres has resulted in marked declines of some species, notably the Spiny Lobster. Management responses are needed. Agriculture north of the property bears pollution risks pollution and fires set to clear land have repeatedly spread into the property. Alien invasive species are reported, mostly along the dirt tracks on land but also in the ocean. The main economic sector directly and indirectly impacting on the property, however, is tourism. Fishing lodges and clubs, small hotels, cabins and trailer parks are the visible manifestations within the property. Tourism has reached proportions of mass tourism along parts of the Yucatan Coast and the property is in the vicinity of Tulum and Cancun, two of Yucatan’s major tourist attractions. Associated coastal urbanisation with, for example, well-documented garbage and sewage problems, require monitoring and management responses. Attempts to encourage low impact forms of tourism in the property to promote public awareness and visitor education but also as a source of conservation funding deserves consolidation.

• Protectedplanet.net

State of Conservation (SOC)

Protections by other conservation instruments.

2 protections / 2 elements

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Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve

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Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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• Region: Latin America and the Caribbean
• Year of Nomination: 1986
• Network: IberoMAB
• Transboundary reserves: No
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Essential guide to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere to read before booking your tour

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Visiting Mexico is on many people’s bucket lists. And one of the main reasons why people want to come to Mexico, besides food and tequila, is definitely because of its beaches and its abundant nature, including extraordinary places such as the Sian Kaan Biosphere .

In this guide, I will tell you all about it and all the many ways you can visit this protected region of Mexico.

Obviously, there are many places that are advertised, like the beaches of Cancun or Tulum or the “eco-parks” that are “pretty” and “fun”, but not so much “eco” as they may want you to believe.

Then there is this magnificent protected nature spot that thankfully has not yet become people’s #1 choice and yet, it’s going to offer THE BEST experience during your time in the Mexican Caribbean. But please don’t tell anyone! 😉

We are talking about Sian Ka’an , “ the place where the sky is born” in the Mayan language.

BEST SIAN KA’AN TOUR: EDITOR PICK! 👉 Kayaking and Snorkeling Experience through Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve – 5⭐ 230 Reviews

Located on the eastern shore of the Yucatan Peninsula , 20 minutes away from Tulum, Quintana Roo, Sian Ka’an is a biosphere reserve declared as such on January 20th, 1986.

In 1987 it was then proclaimed by UNESCO as a world heritage. Its extension is of more than 600 thousand protected hectares of land, ocean, sinkholes, lagoons, mangroves, and wetlands.

It is the 3rd largest natural protected area in Mexico. 

Sian Ka’an has also been declared a Ramsar site. Ramsar is the list where we find the wetlands of international importance because of their uniqueness and biodiversity. 

Sian Ka’an biosphere overview

Sian Ka’an is home to 9 different ecosystems, a wealth of flora and fauna, including 320 bird species, around 100 mammals, 90 species of native bees, 47 species of dragonflies, 74 species of beetles, 310 species of mosquitos (no, you can’t bring mosquito spray, sorry!), 318 species of butterflies, 84 species of coral, and 5 neotropical felines (to mention some).

It is also home to many archeological sites like Muyil, and, 120 kilometers of the Mesoamerican reef are included in it, which provides the area with a double heritage UNESCO designation. 

Sian Ka’an, as a tourist destination, is also part of Maya Ka’an , a very rich region that offers very unique experiences in natural environments combined with the historical and cultural elements of the Mayan communities of today. 

Historically it is said that the channels of the biosphere reserve were used by the Mayan people (and other indigenous groups) used as commercial trade routes to reach the site of Muyil.

It is said that the canoes (transportation mode of those times) would enter from the Boca Paila side of the Caribbean Sea. (Boca Paila is another attractive spot in the Biosphere reserve) 

The main natural importance of Sian Ka’an lies in the “PETENES”. Peten is the name given to the mangroves that are formed in several islets within the reserve that can grow up to 30 meters tall, and of course, they are home and hosts of endless biodiversity. 

But, what is a biosphere reserve? 

According to the National Geographic Society , the biosphere is made up of the parts of the earth where life exists. It extends from the deepest root systems of the trees to the dark environment of ocean trenches, to lush rainforests and high mountaintops. 

The biosphere is also sometimes thought of as one large ecosystem that hosts a complex community of living and nonliving things functioning as a single unit. 

So, a biosphere reserve is a portion of the biospher e where efforts are made to promote its sustainable development and to establish a working, balanced relationship between humans and nature. 

According to the mentioned source, there are 536 biosphere reserves all over the world. 

How to get to Sian Ka’an 

The best way to explain how to get to Sian Ka’an is to tell you to first make your way to Tulum , Quintana Roo. Tulum is not only an archeological site but also as many of you know, one of the most important tourism destinations in the area. 

In Tulum, we have the downtown area and the beach and hotel zone area . In order to get to Sian Ka’an you need to head by car, shared transportation, or a tour towards the end of the hotel zone (Tulum coastal road) until you reach the “Mayan arch” that marks the entrance to the reserve. 

Sian Ka’an reserve collects an entrance fee of 100 pesos (September 2021), and, if you go on your own you have to pay it. If you go on a tour you need to check if the fee is included in the cost.

Going to Sian Ka’an by Public transportation:

This is information that interests the most adventurous or the budget travelers. The information is very hard to find and although it’s not very reliable (mind, don’t say I haven’t warned you) there is one shared van that leaves every evening between 4 and 5 pm from downtown Tulum.

Whoever decides to use this service must be aware of the fact that there is no way back until the next day in the early morning, and, that the road of the reserve is in very bad conditions, which means that most probably a journey that you expect to be of 1-hour ends of taking 4 hours (if you go all the way to Punta Allen). So, please, if you decide to take this option, do proper research.

In Punta Allen, you can find modest accommodation where to spend the night or you can camp.

Going to Sian Ka’an by Rental car

Renting a car in the Yucatan Peninsula , including Tulum, is an easy venture, but, when it comes to driving into the reserve, I would consider a couple of things.

You definitely need to rent a 4×4 car in order to navigate the unpaved road and you have to be super patient with all the potholes that you will find on your path.

If you are a responsible driver, even if with a 4×4, you have to keep in mind that you must go slow in order to protect the fauna that lives there and crosses the roads.

Of course, the reserve’s path is full of 4×4 vehicles and jeeps that don’t respect the speed limit, but, we know you are not that type, right?

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Please note that most areas of Sian Ka’an are closed to the public. So, unless you are heading all the way to Boca Paila (watch out for the crocodiles), or Punta Allen , you will have to drive for several kilometers before finding public access to the beach. 

Once you get to Punta Allen you can look out for some boat tours with local fishermen to look for dolphins.

Mind that these dolphins live freely in the area, they are not kept in captivity which is the only kind of dolphin tour we promote! On the other hand, you are not 100% sure to see them. But that’s how we like it.

Organized tours to Sian Ka’an

The easiest way to get to Sian Ka’an, to its beaches, and to all that the destination has to offer is by far by joining an organized tour.

The great thing about taking an organized tour is that the drive is not as long and as strenuous as if you were to go on your own. 

There are many types of tours in Sian Ka’an, but, to put it simply, some that depart from Muyil only involve the lagoons and the channels, where you can float in the river and navigate all the way to Punta Allen and, the ones that depart from the main entrance of the reserve or from Punta Allen, include the snorkeling and the manatee and the dolphin spotting. 

Organized tours will depart all the way from Playa del Carmen and Tulum , or, will have meeting points in Muyil and the Mayan arch. 

Getting to Sian Ka’an by bicycle

I am adding this option for the very sporty, the very adventurous, the very fit, and the mountain bike lovers. Venturing into Sian Ka’an with a mountain bike offers you a wonderful and exciting day!

Of course, consider the road conditions, the fact that there is nothing around for you to buy water or food, so you have to stock up on supplies (take back your garbage) and you have to have everything you need in case of a flat tire.

Where to book your tours to Sian Ka’an

Sian Ka’an is a destination for nature and animal lovers, silence seekers, born explorers, and hopefully, responsible and sustainable travelers. 

There are many different activities that one can do that involve all the elements of the region: culture, nature, gastronomy, and adventure. 

I am going to talk to you about 2 different local cooperatives that work in the reserve and that if you chose to visit the reserve with them, you would be contributing to fantastic projects and would be benefiting many families of the communities of Muyil, Chumpon, and Punta Allen. 

Community tours Sian Ka’an 

We have mentioned the many ways to visit Sian Ka’an, but, we want to make sure we talk about what we believe is the best option to do it in the most sustainable way. 

Community tours was founded officially in 2004 as part of an initiative to train local people of the Mayan communities as nature guides and in entrepreneurship, to build an eco touristic project that would provide the necessary income for the families and to replace fishing and tree felling as the main economic activities of the area. 

Presently, they are a social enterprise that offers a combination of eco touristic experiences that are based on the principles of low environmental impact, education on the challenges for the conservation of the reserve, and the promotion of true cultural exchange.

Community tours is an enterprise that is committed as well to 0 carbon emissions, and so, much of their revenue goes into that project. 30% of the income of the site goes directly to the families of the communities that are involved in it. 

Something that Community tours pays a lot of attention to as well, is to respect the load capacity of the site, and so, they only have small groups and few journeys a day. 

Community tours have alliances with other communities and cooperatives that are dedicated to other eco touristic projects like Punta Allen (that is also found in the biosphere reserve), and with others located in the states of Quintana Roo, Yucatan and Campeche . 

Additionally, Community tours have developed educational projects for kids to protect the flora and the fauna of the area through birding tours and workshops, art classes, music classes, etcetera. 

In terms of the tourism experiences that one can enjoy, among others, we can find: 

• The visit to the archeological site of Muyil 
• Learning about the flora and the fauna guided by a local Mayan community member 
• Hiking through the jungle trails and interpretative trails 
• Boat rides through the Muyil lagoon, Chunyaxche, and ancient canals
• Water channels flotation
• Local gastronomy and lunch in the community

• Learning about the organic chewing gum ancestral extraction practice 
• Kayaking and paddleboarding 
• Bird watching 
• Reef snorkeling
• Spotting dolphins, crocodiles, and manatees. 
• Learning all about the “petenes”
• History and culture connection 

In conclusion, and in the words of Don Roman Camaal, one of the leaders of this project, visiting Sian Ka’an with Community tours means that the traveler will live an authentic experience in a natural protected area while at the same time, will contribute to the economy of the Mayan people of the area. 

More tour options

Punta allen & orquídeas de sian ka’an .

Punta Allen remains as a secluded fisherman’s village now dedicated to eco touristic activities mainly and also to the sustainable fishing of lobster. All the streets are of white sand and palm trees are found all over the town. 

Punta Allen offers the opportunity to completely disconnect from the normal world. 

To get there by car you need to drive for at least 4 hours through the mentioned unpaved road starting from the Mayan Arch. 

In Punta Allen, you can find a couple of tiny hotels in the form of cabins as accommodation and a few local food restaurants to enjoy the region’s gastronomy. The infrastructure is limited, and, for part of the day, there is no electricity. 

You can take boat tours from Punta Allen, but, because it is so secluded, it is very hard for people to go on their own, so, if there is no one on the day you chose to go, the cost of the boat might not be very affordable for just one person. 

Orquídeas de Sian Ka’an is a cooperative initiative led and managed by 15 admirable women from the fishing village. Similar to Community tours, the women get together to create work and benefit the economy of their people. 

These women have been trained as nature guides to offer kayak, bicycle, or hiking tours of the area. They do birding and mangroves tours as well. Of course, in every one of the experiences, people get to connect with nature, learn about people’s everyday life, experience gastronomy, learn about the flora, the ecosystems, and the best thing, spot a lot of the magnificent fauna there. 

Final thoughts about visiting the Sian Ka’an Biosphere

Are you ready to include Sian Ka’an in your plans during your visit to the Mexican Caribbean? 

Be sure to do so, but, remember. Coming to Sian Ka’an means entering into the habitat of pristine flora and fauna, and so, we must enter with respect and value at every moment the fact that we can still enjoy this paradise. 

Book your tours with the local communities and the better practices tour operators, if you bring food or drinks, make sure you take your garbage with you.

Please use a rash vest and a hat instead of sunscreens and try to avoid the use of bug sprays. Use citronella or other natural elements instead. 

As the famous phrase says: “ Kill only time, take only memories and leave only footprints” when you come to Sian Ka’an. “

Bianca is a Mexican, a traveler, an ally, a dreamer, a creative, 100% human and so much more. Bianca has +20 years of experience in personal travel throughout 3 continents, and many countries, cities, towns, and communities. A passionate advocate of her country (despite it all), an amateur writer & blogger, an art lover, a certified yoga teacher, an entrepreneur, a neophyte researcher, a philosophy fan, and knowledge-obsessed. And, even if in baby steps, she is making the dream, come true through her brand: Mexico4Real Journeys

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The Ultimate Guide to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

Sian Ka’an is a protected biosphere reserve located just south of Tulum, Mexico on the Yucatan peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo.  

On my first visit to Tulum in 2015, I completely fell in love with the natural beauty of the area.  After exploring a couple of cenotes and Mayan ruins, I was hooked and knew I would be back soon to explore more of the area. I was lucky enough to stay at a house in Sian Ka’an two years later and have been back to stay in the reserve two more times in 2020 and 2021.

Sian Ka’an is not only a great day trip option from Tulum, Playa del Carmen and the surrounding areas but it’s also a vacation destination in itself.

Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Mexico’s Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve!

About the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

Located on the Eastern coast of the Yucatan peninsula, Sian Ka’an is one of Mexico’s largest protected areas with roughly 75 miles of coastline and just under one million acres of land (about the size of Rhode Island!). 

Thousands of years ago, the ancient Mayans who lived there recognized the area’s extraordinary uniqueness and natural beauty and named it Sian Ka’an which translates to “origin of the sky.”  Sounds pretty incredible, right?

Sian Ka’an is made up of tropical forests, lagoons, mangroves, islands, cenotes (or natural sinkholes), sandy beaches and the Caribbean Sea.

The unique landscapes of Sian Ka’an are home to a wide variety of animals and sea life.  Jaguars, crocodiles, toucans, turtles, manatees, dolphins, tapirs, flamingos, monkeys and hundreds more species all call this region home!

How to Get to Sian Ka’an

There are two main ways to get into Sian Ka’an and the route you choose depends on what areas of the reserve you want to explore, what kind of things you want to see and how much time you have.

Route 1: Muyil Ruins & Freshwater Lagoons

One of the most popular routes is via the Muyil ruins.  This route is the easiest to access and requires less time overall making it a good half day trip option. From the center of Tulum, the drive to the starting point at the Muyil Ruins is about 40 minutes.

On this route, you can see the Mayan ruins at Muyil, climb the observation tower and hop on a boat tour to see some freshwater lagoons (Laguna Muyil and Laguna Chunyaxché) and swim in the ancient Mayan canals.

Route 2: Coastal Sian Ka’an via the road to Punta Allen

The other entrance option can be accessed by following the main beach road in Tulum.  Located at the very end is the entrance to the coastal Sian Ka’an road to Punta Allen. There is a small entrance fee to enter if you decide to travel there independently (without a tour group).

Punta Allen is a small fishing village and is Sian Ka’an’s only town with less than 500 inhabitants.  The town is at the very end of the coastal road and, while it’s only about 30 miles away, it can take roughly 1.5 – 2.5 hours to drive there depending on road conditions.

Because it’s so large, I’ve divided up the coastal route of Sian Ka’an into two main areas to explore.   

Route 2A: Northern Coastal Sian Ka’an

The northern coastal area which lies just after the entrance to Sian Ka’an is the easiest to access and minimizes driving along the rough road.  The road is on a strip of land between the Caribbean Sea and Laguna Campechen so you can explore both the the beach side and the freshwater lagoon.

After driving down the road for a few miles, there are several tour operators that are located alongside the road with docks to take you on a boat tour through the Campechen lagoon.  Along this route, you can see some very small Mayan ruins, as well as swim in some freshwater canals.

Since it’s a freshwater lagoon that connects with the sea, some of the animals you’ll may be able to spot here are crocodiles, manatees and flamingos.

Route 2B: Southern Coastal Sian Ka’an / Punta Allen

Many of the Sian Ka’an tours leaving from Tulum go through Punta Allen.  To reach the town, there are two ways: driving down the Sian Ka’an road (the most popular option, which takes approximately two hours depending on road conditions) or by boat through Laguna Campechen (this will also take about an hour and a half).

Once you reach Punta Allen, the boat tour will take you along the coast of the peninsula up to the southern lagoon which connects with the sea.  This is a popular option because here you can see dolphins, sea turtles and snorkel at coral reefs.

Both of the coastal Sian Ka’an routes are generally offered through day trip tours touted around Tulum — with the Punta Allen route being the most popular since there is more sea life to see.  You can also rent your own car (I’d recommend a four-wheel SUV like a Jeep!) and do the drive yourself and look for boat tour operators along the coast.

Since Punta Allen is quite remote, you may want to stay overnight at a hotel so you can spend plenty of time exploring the area and enjoy the secluded beaches.

My Experience Driving to Punta Allen

Since I’ve stayed inside the Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve a few times, I’ve been able to explore it by car quite a bit.

The first time visiting Sian Ka’an, we drove all the way down to Punta Allen in our rental car.  We enjoyed driving through the jungle and stopping at some of the beaches along the way. We even spotted a huge crocodile at the Boca Paila bridge!

Arriving in the sleepy town of Punta Allen, we checked out some of the sandy, palm tree lined beaches and watched the sunset over the lagoon.  On my next visit, I’d love to take a boat tour around the southern lagoon to try to see some dolphins, manatees and turtles!

So, would I recommend driving to Punta Allen?  If the road conditions are good (no recent rain) and the weather is nice, I think this would be a great day trip through a tour group (so you don’t have to drive yourself!).  Especially if you are an animal and nature lover!   However, if you don’t like long distances in the car, I would probably skip the Punta Allen route.

And I wouldn’t recommend driving yourself all the way to Punta Allen unless you plan on spending a few nights in Sian Ka’an.  There are a number of hotels and house rentals in the area where you can really unplug and immerse yourself in nature… which could be a nice break from busy Tulum!

My Experience in Laguna Campechen

On another trip to Sian Ka’an, we found a boat operator alongside Laguna Campechen who took our group on a private boat tour for a few hours. 

We were able to see some small Mayan ruins, beautiful scenery as well as flamingos and eagles.  We were hoping to spot some manatees but we didn’t have the best luck with the weather so the visibility wasn’t great. But we still enjoyed our time, and our guide was very knowledgable on the area and brought us to some freshwater canals where we could swim.

Overall, I think visiting Laguna Campechen is a great option if you’re staying along the Tulum beach road and want to get a taste of Sian Ka’an without too much driving or hassle!

Tips for Visiting Sian Ka’an

• There is only one main road in Sian Ka’an and it is unpaved.  If it has recently rained, the road will be filled with more potholes than usual and the ride will be very bumpy.  Because of this, it’s important to drive slowly and carefully.  If you’re renting a car to drive in Sian Ka’an, a 4-wheel SUV like a Jeep would be preferable!
• Unless you’re staying at a hotel or villa in Sian Ka’an or visiting with a tour group, you’ll need to pay a small entrance fee (about $2 USD) so make sure to bring cash.  Also, if you plan to find a boat tour operator within the reserve, make sure you bring some cash for payment and tips as well.
• Sian Ka’an mostly has no cell service so make sure you download maps and anything else you need in advance.
• Pack bug spray and sunscreen but note that you shouldn’t wear these while swimming in the lagoon.  So be sure to rinse off beforehand or apply them after your swim!
• Be careful and respectful of wildlife and make sure to follow all instructions given by your guide.  They are knowledgeable about the reserve and its wildlife… for example, you wouldn’t want to jump into the crocodile infested waters!
• Bring your sense of adventure as well as a camera (I’d recommend a GoPro !) to capture some memories!

Because of its rugged landscapes and large size, Sian Ka’an is best suited to nature lovers and those with a sense of adventure!

Where to Stay in Sian Kaan

There are a few hotel options in Sian Ka’an and Punta Allen, as well as some more luxurious villas dotted along the coast.

• Hotel Cielo y Selva : Located in Punta Allen, this highly rated property offers glamping experiences so you can listen to the sound of the waves as you drift to sleep.
• Sol Caribe : This small, secluded hotel is located on a remote beach and is the perfect place to unwind solo or as a couple.
• Casa Godi : If you’re traveling with a group, this 5-bedroom villa could be a great option. Located right on the beach, what more could you ask for?
• Beachfront Jungle Villa : Another 5-bedroom villa that looks out-of-this-world stunning with multiples pools (including one on the roof!) and a private beach.
• Villa Katy : Another luxury house option, Villa Katy has 3-bedrooms, is located on the beach, and has a beautiful private pool.
• Casa Maya Kaan : This large property would be great for hosting a retreat or a family reunion!

→ Read Next: Staying at Casa Mam in Sian Ka’an

The Ultimate Guide to Tulum, Mexico

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Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve

• 1.1 History
• 1.2 Landscape
• 1.3 Flora and fauna
• 1.4 Archaeology
• 1.5 Climate
• 3 Fees and permits
• 4 Get around
• 8.1 Punta Allen
• 8.2 Chunyaxché
• 10.1 Punta Allen
• 10.2 Chunyaxché
• 11 Stay safe

Understand [ edit ]

Sian Ka'an is one of the largest protected areas in Mexico comprising more than 528,000 hectares of surface area.

History [ edit ]

Landscape [ edit ].

The biosphere is a low-lying coastal area that comprises 400,000 hectares of tropical forest, mangrove swamp, and marshes plus more than 120 hectares of marine area, including a section of the Great Mesoamerican Reef, which protects the entire 120 km long coastal beach. The area is known for its complex hydrological system that includes the wetlands as well as underground rivers and subterranean pools known as cenotes . Inland lagoons are lined with salt marshes full of tall seagrass and criss-crossed with navigable channels. Lagoons and marshes have forested islands in them called petenes' . Most petenes are small, but larger ones can be more than a km in width.

Flora and fauna [ edit ]

The biosphere reserve provides habitat for an astounding variety of flora and fauna, including well over 300 identified bird species, 400 fish species, and more than 100 mammals, including several kinds of big cats such as jaguar, puma, and ocelots. One of the more interesting mammals that live in the Sian Ka'an is the Central American tapir. These large animals can be recognized by their long, curved noses. They are classified as an endangered species due to the constant threats of deforestation coupled with their slow reproductive cycle. The Maya refer to tapirs as tzemen . The tropical forests are home to several kinds of monkeys, including endangered species like the Black-handed Spider Monkey and the Yucatan Black Howler Monkey. Other mammals include peccaries, jaguarundi and coatis.

The lagoons and marshes are home to the West Indian Manatee. If you're lucky, you may see one or more in the salt marshes during a boat tour. You're more likely though to spot one of the many American crocodiles sunning himself on the banks; there's also another type of crocodile that's common here called the Mexican crocodile ( Crocodylus moreletii ), which is slightly smaller than the American crocodile. More than 40 species of snake are found in the reserve as well as innumerable iguanas.

On the Caribbean side of the reserve, the beaches are important nesting areas for four types of sea turtle and the off-shore reef is home to dozens of species of coral as well as more than 400 species of fish and mollusks. Scuba divers enjoy exploring the entire length of the Mesoamerican reef, from the tip of Cancun all the way south through Honduras. Although there are dozens of great dive sites in the waters of Sian Ka'an, they remain less popular than those around Cozumel , which is much more accessible to tourists.

Archaeology [ edit ]

Mayan archaeological sites can be found everywhere in the Yucatan Peninsula, there are thousands of them everywhere, and Sian Ka'an is no exception. 23 Maya sites have been identified within the biosphere reserve, but most are small, largely unmapped and unexplored. The only significant site of touristic value is Muyil, located close to highway MEX 307 just outside the village of Chunyaxche. The site is located 23 km south of Tulum and costs M$70 to enter.

Muyil is one of the oldest and longest inhabited Mayan sites and its structures are emblematic of Peten architecture. Artifacts found at the site have been dated back to 350 BC and it was known to have still been inhabited at the time of the Spanish conquest, with some artifacts dated from the early 1500s. It is thought that the town was a port city for the Maya, with easy access to the Caribbean sea via passages through the salt marshes, and an extensive highway system ( sacbeob ) connecting it inland to Coba and other Maya cities. It is known that the Maya traded with people throughout Central America.

A boardwalk goes from the ruins to the Muyil Lagoon. It costs an extra M$50 to do the boardwalk, but the views and the nature are worth it.

Climate [ edit ]

Hot and humid, except at night, when it's dark, hot and humid. June through November is hurricane season.

Get in [ edit ]

The nearest airports to Sian Ka'an are Tulum International Airport ( TQO  IATA ), Cancún International Airport ( CUN  IATA ), or Chetumal International Airport ( CTM  IATA ).

The nearest Tren Maya train station to Sian Ka'an is Tulum (not Tulum International Airport).

From anywhere along the Quintana Roo coast, you can take an ADO bus to Tulum . In Tulum, you can find tours going to Sian Ka'an. You can take a tour, or do it on your own.

If you choose to strike out on your own, there are two points from which you can enter Sian Ka'an: Chunyaxche and Punta Allen.

• Chunyaxche is the easy way. It is a village on highway MEX 307, 23 km south of Tulum. There are combis going from Tulum to Muyil-Chunyaxche (look for the combi that says "Felipe Carrillo Puerto" on the windshield). Combis run from 07:00-00:00. The combi costs M$80 and take about an hour. Once you get to there, you can either tour the ruins at Muyil or you can take one of the tour boats. Tours from Chunyaxche typically take you through the "Mayan Canal", a wide passage from the Muyil Lagoon to the Caribbean. These typically include an opportunity to float in the canal and (depending on the tour) an opportunity to snorkel along the Great Mesoamerican Reef. Expect to pay about M$1000 for the tour, plus tips for the guide and add-ons.
• Punta Allen is the hard way, but the fun and adventurous way. From Tulum, you could go via a rental car, a motorcycle, or even a sturdy mountain bike (but only if you're a die-hard biker). Just be sure you fill up with gas and fill the wallet with cash because it's unlikely anybody takes credit cards for anything (definitely not Apple or Google Pay). Follow the beach road south until you pass through the Mayan Arch, which is the formal entrance to Sian Ka'an. You will be required to pay your entry fee and obtain a bracelet. From there, it's 45 km to the small village of Punta Allen (population 468). The road is dirt and usually full of potholes, but its straight and there are no intersections, so you can't get lost. It's only 45 km as the crow flies, but the trip will likely take 3 hours. The road is rough but most rental cars can make it in the dry season, in the rainy season, there will be many places with water covering the road (and sometimes hiding deep potholes)---most travel guides recommend a 4WD truck. Once you're in Punta Allen you can hire a boat to take you into the swamps or to take you to the reefs for some snorkling or fishing.

Fees and permits [ edit ]

There is a fee of M$100 to enter the biosphere reserve, you will be given a colored bracelet showing you paid the fee. If you are with a tour group, the tour operator often pays the fee for you and provides you with a bracelet.

Get around [ edit ]

You'll need to hire a boat in either Punta Allen or Chunyaxche.

See [ edit ]

Do [ edit ].

• Observe nature

Be aware that the beaches throughout the Sian Ka'an are natural. No local government comes through to clear away plastic bottles, seaweed or driftwood. You may find spectacular stretches of pristine white powder, or you may have timed your visit to coincide with the latest arrival of a sargassum carpet.

Buy [ edit ]

There are four convenience stores in Punta Allen and a couple along MEX 307 near Chunyaxché, which also has an Oxxo and a hardware store. Anything else you want to buy, you'll have to get in Tulum.

Eat [ edit ]

Punta allen [ edit ].

• 19.800776 -87.476213 1 Muelle Viejo , Punta Allen . F-Su 12:30 - 21:00, closed M-Th . Fish, shrimp and octopus dishes, cold beer and drinks. ( updated Jun 2023 )
• 19.802346 -87.477078 2 Xoken , Punta Allen . 09:00 - 16:00 . Seafood restaurant with beachfront location and outstanding ocean views. ( updated Jun 2023 )
• 19.802841 -87.476815 3 Los Gaytanes , Punta Allen . Seafood restaurant with on-the-beach tables as well as a beachfront dining room. Accepts credit cards. ( updated Jun 2023 )

Chunyaxché [ edit ]

• 20.071122 -87.619262 4 Palapa del Flaco , MEX 307, KM 204 . 24 hours . Popular stop between Cancun and Chetumal with all-night service. Food is typical Mexican with local seafood dishes. M$100 . ( updated Jun 2023 )
• 20.083686 -87.61181 5 Restaurante Muyil , MEX 307, Chunyaxche ( 250 meters from entrance to Archaeological Zone Muyil ). 09:00 - 20:30 . Regional Yucatan cuisine, everything is homemade including the tortillas. Cash only. M$100 . ( updated Jun 2023 )

Drink [ edit ]

All restaurants serve alcohol. Bars are part of restaurants or hotels, there are no stand-alone bars.

Sleep [ edit ]

Punta Allen is 50 km from the nearest human settlement. The town is off the grid. Do not expect cell phones to work there and be aware that electricity comes from a community generator that shuts down several hours each day, including all night, so there is nothing to hear but the sound of waves slapping on the beach or jaguars screaming in the jungle. Also, cash only almost everywhere for everything. If you must have phones, TVs and air conditioning, you should stay in Tulum.

• 19.798838 -87.47587 1 Fishermen Lodge , 1 Beachside Road , ☏ +52 999 351 5328 . Check-in: 15:00 , check-out: 12:00 . Friendly casual place close to the beach. More restaurant than hotel, though rooms are indeed available, as well as fishing tours, bike rentals, etc. ( updated Jun 2023 )
• 19.797839 -87.477222 2 Punta Allen Fishing Club ( Pascales ), Punta Allen Road 4 , ☏ +52 984 131 2422 . Check-in: 15:00 , check-out: 12:00 . Very comfortable, clean property with spacious rooms, bar and restaurant on-site. M$2000 . ( updated Jun 2023 )
• 19.79901 -87.476621 3 Casa Viejo Chac , Punta Allen Road 4 . Check-in: 15:00 , check-out: 12:00 . Clean rooms with hammocks available by request. On-site restaurant and offers fly fishing and tour guide services. ( updated Jun 2023 )
• 19.799847 -87.475741 4 Villas Roseliz , Punta Allen Road 4 , ☏ +52 984 806 6837 . Check-in: 15:00 , check-out: 12:00 . Friendly, clean, comfortable hotel. On-site restaurant. M$2500 . ( updated Jun 2023 )
• 19.813188 -87.477775 5 Hotel Cielo y Selva , Punta Allen , ☏ +52 999 503 6240 . Check-in: 15:00 , check-out: 12:00 . Bungalows and glamping tents on the beach. M$1600 . ( updated Oct 2023 )
• 20.062645 -87.624899 6 Nido del Viento , MEX 307 , ☏ +52 155 2265 9909 . Check-in: 15:00 , check-out: 12:00 . Barebones rustic. ( updated Jun 2023 )

Stay safe [ edit ]

• Sunblock - you will want to protect yourself from the sun, but be aware that most commercial sunblock lotions are banned throughout the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. Sunblocks contain chemicals that kill coral and destroy reefs. If you are on a tour, ask the guide if you are allowed to bring "reef safe" sunblock products, which are sold in Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and most resort areas along the Quintana Roo coast.

Go next [ edit ]

• Punta Allen

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• UNESCO tag to be fixed
• Has custom banner
• Has map markers
• Quintana Roo
• All destination articles
• Usable parks
• Usable articles
• Park articles
• Has Geo parameter
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A Guide to Exploring Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

Posted on Last updated: 28/07/2022

Categories Things To Do

Looking to explore the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve near Tulum? Here’s why you need to visit this nature-filled wonderland.

An area abundant in natural beauty, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is a National Park that lies just south of Tulum on the coast of the Caribbean Sea. 

It’s one of our favourite spots in Tulum and an absolute gem if you love perfect beaches and abundant wildlife. 

This 1.3 million-acre haven contains tropical forests, marshes, mangroves, and some of Tulum’s best beaches – and is a must-do if you’re visiting Quintana Roo. 

Ready to explore?

What is the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve?

Boasting thousands of different species of flora and fauna, the park became a Biosphere Reserve in 1986, and shortly after was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Today, the park is filled with plenty of adventurous opportunities, from kayaking and snorkeling to paddleboarding and bird-spotting. Whether you want to get involved in an activity or admire the pretty views from the comfort of a boat, there are so many things to do in Sian Ka’an.

How to Visit the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

Visiting the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve might sound like a bit of a faff, but it couldn’t be easier. You’ve got two main options by car; either follow the coastal road from Tulum or via the Muyil Ruins. It takes around two hours to get from Tulum to Punta Allen.

Of course, booking a tour makes this even easier . Not to mention that it lets you get involved with some of the very many activities the biosphere is famous for. 

This half-day tour from Tulum includes a boat ride through the park, as well as a detour to the Muyil Ruins. While this full-day tour allows you to get up close and personal with the area’s wildlife by snorkeling and swimming in the crystal clear waters.

Where to Stay in Sian Ka’an

If you’re looking to stay in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere, your best bet is to book a hotel in Punta Allen, the largest village in the area. Though, remember that this sleepy village switches off electricity at midnight, which is something to consider if you enjoy late-night TikTok scrolling sessions.

Our top recommendations for hotels in Sian Ka’an are:

• Sol Caribe : A secluded beachfront resort that serves up freshly-caught seafood in its charming restaurants. Rooms are spacious and well equipped with everything you need for a comfortable stay.
• Hotel Cielo y Selva : If you fancy glamping in Tulum , there’s no spot as indulgent (and beautiful) as this. The tents are stylish and the outdoor bathrooms make the experience extra magical.

Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve Map

Discover More Things to do in Tulum

• Unmissable Things to do in Tulum
• The Best Cenotes in Tulum
• Beautiful Beaches in Tulum

The Natural Wonders of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is one of Mexico’s most impressive natural wonders. Interested to know how to get there? Read this article for all you need to know about Sian Ka’an and beyond! 

Part of the 34 UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Mexico, the Sian Ka’an Biological Reserve consist of 5,280 square kilometers of pure nature and yes, it is truly wonderful my friends.

After all, what other place in Mexico allows you to see dolphins, crocodiles, turtles, rays and manatees in the wild?

Enjoy this article and remember that Mother Nature is always the best when it comes to designing the wonders of this world.

The Sian Ka’an Biosphere, a Perfect Day Trip from Tulum

When you think of the Riviera Maya, you probably think of a mixture of culture and nature. 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.

And out of all of those natural sights, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere is the one that tops them all in terms of its immense diversity and flora and fauna.

Can you imagine snorkeling in these waters? Stop imagining, you can actually do it!

Luckily, mass tourism has not reached Sian Ka’an yet and thanks to its status as a preserved area, this is one of the few places where you can get up close with the wonderful wildlife of the Riviera Maya (please avoid places in the area that have animals in captivity) and more.

Tour groups to Sian Ka’an are limited and often require you to book a few days in advance to secure a spot. 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.

It kind of reminded me of the bumpy ride to reach the Palenque Mayan Ruins a few weeks ago! Luckily this time nobody puked on top of my luggage!

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.

Be sure to bring biodegradable sun-screen since the sunlight is extremely strong and the boat provides with minimum cover for it (that’s why our wildlife spotter guide is dressed like a Pirate Ninja in the photo above).

Yo-Ho! Ready for sailing the Caribbean my fellow buccaneer brothers?

The Wonderful Wildlife of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

It is said that its diverse wildlife is the main reason why the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site  and it isn’t hard to see why: Sian Ka’an is home to over 300 species of birds, 400 species of fish, 100 mammals and 40 amphibians.

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?

Also, did I mention how crystal clear the water is? Visibility is beyond incredible in the Sian Ka’an and you’re guaranteed to see at least most of the Riviera Maya’s big five: crocodiles (in the mangroves), dolphins, turtles, rays and manatees !

In our tour, we saw all of them with the exception of the ultra-rare manatee (for guaranteed manatee sighting, I recommend Caye Caulker in Belize ) but we did end up seeing hundreds of exotic birds whose names are extremely hard to pronounce.

Boat safari for the win!!!

In the end, I would say that if you’re in the Riviera Maya already, a visit to the wonderful Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is a total Must-Do.

By far, it is the best place in all of the Riviera Maya for wildlife watching and also for snorkeling in preserved coral reefs.

The best part? No crowds at all!!! 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-Itza’s tickets can sometimes take more than 20 minutes you will see how 50 people is nothing in comparison.

See you in Sian Ka’an my wonder friends!!!

The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve: All You Need to Know to Visit

The easiest and most convenient way to explore the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is to hire a tour from any point of the Riviera Maya.

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 Ka’an boat departure area for about 90 minutes.

Prices of the tour start at 130 USD per person including transport, lunch, guided boat tour, and snorkel gear rental. This is a full-day tour so bear in mind that you’ll end up returning to your hotel at around 16:00.

Because of its status as a Biosphere Reserve, there are some restrictions regarding the use of drones in Sian Ka’an. As a rule of thumb, drone use is only allowed in Punta Allen and in the reef area.

This is done to ensure the protection of the fauna of birds that might be disturbed in their migratory and mating habits by the presence of drones.

Also, swimming is forbidden in most wildlife watching areas except for the designated ones. When in doubt, always ask your guide in order to avoid problems.

Where to Stay in Tulum Beach, Mexico

When it comes to impressive beach-front settings, Zamas Hotel in Tulum Beach definitely wins the prize: have you ever imagined waking up to the sounds of the waves in your wonderful private cabin? It even came with a net over the bed so there was no need to worry about mosquitos!

Zamas Hotel is located a few KM away from Tulum Town so be ready to haggle for taxi prices or just rent some bicycles for easy movement. Trust me when I say that it is totally worth it: white sand beaches with pristine Caribbean water? Count me in!

You can make a booking for this and more properties via our  Booking.com Affiliate Link of Wonders !

Same price for you and a small pocket money commission for this website of yours.

Sweet deal, uh?

I hope you have enjoyed this article about the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Don’t forget to subscribe in order to get more awesome updates and tips straight to your e-mail!

Have you ever been to Sian Ka’an? Would you like to? What were some of your favorite activities? Share your thoughts and let me know what you think!

Until next time, my friends!

Disclaimer: This article was brought to you in collaboration with Karma Trails and Zamas Hotel. All opinions are my own.

An adventure in Sian Ka’an

This biosphere is one of Mexico’s few natural World Heritage Sites and a perfect escape for tourists in Tulum.

Written by Michael Turtle

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle. A journalist for more than 20 years, he's been travelling the world since 2011.

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle and has been travelling full time for a decade.

Updated: February 14, 2024

Visiting Sian Ka'an from Tulum

With picturesque landscapes full of animals like jaguars, manatees, and vultures, the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve is a stunning World Heritage Site close to Tulum.

A tour of Sian Ka'an will take you through different parts of this natural wonder, as well as down the historic canals carved by the Mayans.

• What is the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve?
• The best things to do at Sian Ka'an
• Tours to Sian Ka'an from Tulum
• Visiting Sian Ka'an from Tulum independently

I wonder if the Mayans planned to build such a fun tourist experience.

I assume not. It’s unlikely they ever envisaged their ancient creation would effectively become a water slide, that one day I would be floating along with a huge smile on my face, thanking them for their clever engineering.

But, even though it was probably not intentional, I would like to give thanks to the Ancient Mayans for what they have left us at the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve near Tulum here in Mexico.

When it comes to Sian Ka’an, the focus is not actually on what humans have created, though. It’s on the unique ecosystem that nature has sculpted on the coast of Mexico.

Even the Mayans acknowledged how special this place is, with Sian Ka’an meaning ‘Origin of the Sky’ in their language.

Why is the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve important?

It’s the range of the biodiversity that makes Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve so significant, with tropical forests, mangroves, marshes, and even a barrier reef. Sian Ka’an is home to more than 300 bird species, as well as animals including jaguars, pumas, ocelots, and tapirs.

Is it worth visiting Sian Ka’an?

It is well worth visiting Sian Ka’an to see both the landscapes and the wildlife within the reserve (as well as the Mayan ruins at Muyil). Although the protected area is vast, there are a few ways to easily access Sian Ka’an as a tourist.

Are there tours to Sian Ka’an?

The easiest way to visit Sian Ka’an is by tour and there are two main options from the riviera towns – either by boat to the marine area around Punta Allen, or by road to the lake area around Muyil (the more popular choice).

I’ve been making an effort to visit all of the World Heritage Sites in the Mexican Riviera as I travel through this region. So far, they have all been related to the Mayan civilisation or the Spanish colonial period, but this is the first one I’ve been to that is about the nature.

It’s one of the reasons why Sian Ka’an has become such a popular day trip from Tulum.

If you’re interested in visiting, I think this tour from Tulum is the most convenient and affordable guided option.

It takes a lot for UNESCO to add a natural site to the World Heritage List – but that just goes to show how special Sian Ka’an is. Let’s have a quick look at why.

What is the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve?

The biosphere reserve has a few different elements and it’s the way that they interact that makes it particularly interesting.

In some parts there are tropical forests and palm savannahs that then merge into mangroves and marshes. There are lakes that have formed inland and rivers that lead to the coast, with long beaches and sandy dunes. Off the coast, there’s a large marine section that is also part of Sian Ka’an, including a barrier reef.

And, with such a diverse environment, you’ll find a lot of different plants and animals.

In the forests, there are jaguars, pumas, ocelots and tapirs. In the water, there are manatees, turtles, and fish. And flying above it are all sorts of resident and migratory bird species.

When it comes to visiting Sian Ka’an, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to see all of these because they’re spread out across the vast reserve that is one of the largest protected areas in Mexico.

In fact, the whole Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve includes 120 kilometres of coastline and covers about 400,000 hectares on land and 120,000 at sea. (To give that some context, it’s about the same size as the US state of Delaware.)

But, with almost no development within the boundaries, there’s a good chance of seeing something of interest, whichever part of Sian Ka’an you end up visiting.

Things to do at Sian Ka’an

For people wanting to visit Sian Ka’an, there are only really two areas that are easily accessible.

The first is to go to Punta Allen, which is on the coast and offers the opportunity to see the marine elements of the biosphere.

The second is to go to Muyil and see some of the inland parts of Sian Ka’an, including the forest, mangroves, and lagoons.

The first way – going to Punta Allen – is more difficult. To do it as a day trip, the only option is to go on a tour that will take you there by boat. Going independently, you’ll need to do it as at least an overnight trip because it takes a long time to get there along a poor-quality road.

If you want to visit the Punta Allen part of Sian Ka’an, I would recommend this day tour from Tulum . I’ll discuss some other options shortly.

The much more popular option is to head to the Muyil part of Sian Ka’an. It’s cheaper, easier, and possible to do independently from Tulum. It’s the way that I choose to visit Sian Ka’an.

Once you’re at the Muyil section, there are a few different things to see in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

Muyil Ruins

The first thing you’ll notice at Muyil is the Mayan ruins by the roadside. The old city of Muyil is quite small, especially compared to the Mayan ruins in Tulum or the epic structures you’ll see when you visit Chichen Itza .

Still, there are a couple of nicely-restored temples and pyramids to see at Muyil.

Historians believe it was occupied for more than a thousand years and was located on an important trading route. They’re not the kind of ruins that are worth going out of your way to see, but I think it’s definitely worth popping in while you’re here.

There’s an exit at the far end of the Muyil ruins that will take you to a path that leads down to the edge of a lake. Along the way, there’s a lookout tower that you can climb to get a 360-degree vista of Sian Ka’an.

Turn around, take it in, and realise how large the protected biosphere here is. This is one of the largest reserves in Mexico and the green stretches out in every direction until it reaches the ocean or the horizon.

Although Muyil is one of the best (and only) places from which to explore Sian Ka’an, there’s only so much you can do on your own. There aren’t really any long walking tracks, for instance. The best thing to do is take a boat ride.

Sian Ka’an boat trip

I’ve arrived at Muyil by bus from Tulum and it turns out there are four other people on the bus who have come for the same reason. We get a boat together and head off in the hands of a local ranger.

The water in the lagoon is so clean… and clear. It has such a vibrant blue to it, with tones that change as we go out deeper.

Along the shoreline are the thriving mangroves and behind them the forest or savannahs. Above me is the wide Mexican sky, which today is warmly beaming down but scattered with clouds.

It could be a watercolour painting, a perfect composition of colours and lights that is simple in its arrangement but much more compelling than the sum of its parts.

As we cross from one lagoon to another, we go through a canal that was cut by the Ancient Mayans. Looking down into the shallow water, I can see hundreds of small fish swimming. Some birds jump between trees and bushes.

We cross another lagoon and, on the other side, reach the canal where we all get out of the boat and begin to float down ourselves.

Floating in a Sian Ka’an canal

It’s this canal that I was talking about at the beginning of this story. Carved out by the Ancient Mayans more than a thousand years ago, it was used by them to transport goods and move around the area.

Now here I am, with a lifejacket tied around my waist, floating along its length.

It’s relaxing – and it’s fun. But it also puts me in a good position to look more closely at the scenery. I can see the mangroves close-up, the way they interact with the water and the other plants.

The water moves relatively fast and I don’t need to do too much to keep moving down the canal. I just paddle slightly to keep my head above water and avoid some overhanging branches.

Again, the water is so clear that I can see fish swimming around my feet. But I can also see a lot more birds now, circling overhead or resting in the flora on either side of the canal.

I realise that this is one of the reasons that the boat tours at Sian Ka’an include this floating experience. It’s not just for a bit of a lark – although I admit it is the most enjoyable part – but it’s also so we can get up close to nature.

Without the noise of the boat’s engine and at a meandering pace, you can see so much more of nature here in the protected area.

So the Mayans may not have intended to create a tourist attraction. They presumably dug this canal for practical reasons. But I like to think they would have wanted future generations to protect and admire it.

Tours to Sian Ka’an from Tulum

So, it’s possible to see all of these things yourself, but it does take a bit of time and planning to do it independently.

If you want to visit the marine part of Sian Ka’an around Punta Allen, where you can head out on a boat to the reef to possibly see animals like manatees and turtles, then I think a tour is really your only option.

To get to Punta Allen, I would recommend this day trip , although there are a few other options here:

The easier (and cheaper) tour option is to Muyil, and I think this is also where you’ll find a more interesting variety of things to see. If you’re unsure which part of Sian Ka’an to visit, this is the one I would recommend.

There are quite a few tours from Tulum to Sian Ka’an and it certainly makes the trip much easier and takes all the hassle out of organising things yourself and having to wait for public transport.

Most of them will include the boat ride, but there are a few tours that offer slightly different experiences if that’s not what you’re interested in.

If you want a general tour that covers all the highlights, I would recommend this popular trip from Tulum , which is a really good overview.

Alternatively, there’s this one that focuses on birdwatching or there’s this one that does yoga on a stand-up paddle board !

You can see some of the great options here:

None of the tours is particularly cheap, and that’s partly because you’re paying for comfortably private transfers and a guide. If you are trying to travel on a budget, you will save money by visiting Sian Ka’an independently.

Visiting Sian Ka’an from Tulum independently

It is possible to get to Sian Ka’an from Tulum by public transport, and there is a direct route to the small township at Muyil.

The easiest way to get to Muyil from Tulum is to get the Mayab bus from the main ADO station in Tulum. It leaves every hour or so and costs $31 (US$1.80).

When you get to Muyil, you’ll need to pay an entrance fee of $50 (US$2.90) for the park.

If you also go to the Muyil Mayan ruins, there is an extra entrance fee of $65 (US$3.80).

For the boat ride, there is a fixed fee of $1000 (US$58.20) per person. They may put you with other people to fill up a boat if you are alone or in a small group. (Each boat has a maximum of 6 passengers.)

To get back to Tulum from Muyil, you can wait for the Mayab bus on the opposite side of the road from where you were dropped off.

There are also lots of colectivos driving past that will give you a lift. The rate probably won’t be fixed (for a foreigner) but expect to pay about $40 (US$2.35).

If you’re not in a hurry, there are some good restaurants opposite the entrance where you can get a meal before you head back.

As you can see, it’s not too hard to visit the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve by yourself. It’ll take longer if you’re doing it by public transport because you have to wait for the bus or colectivo at either end. But you will save a fair bit of money.

This site is on the UNESCO World Heritage List ! I'm on a mission to visit as many World Heritage Sites as I can. Only about 800 more to go... eek!

More stories about Mexico

• A tour through the Mayan Empire
• How to visit Chichen Itza
• The best things to do in Merida
• Visiting Sian Ka'an from Tulum
• The amazing ruins of Palenque
• Finding the lost city of Calakmul
• What to see in Campeche

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How To Visit Sian Ka’an Biosphere And What You Should Know About It

Sian Ka’an reserve is definitely a must to visit during your trip to Tulum . This great biosphere in Mexico, close to Muyil and Punta Allen, can be reached by boat or by bus and will make you discover plenty of wildlife and an incredible nature. Sian Ka’an is also close to many Maya’s ruins and the whole area has many things to do . If you like snorkeling and swimming, you will fall in love with the coastal reef and the marine sea life. It will be a once in a lifetime experience and you will not regret your day trip or your tour at all. But let’s go further, give a read at our guide to discover which is the best way to visit the biosphere and all the tips you should know!

If you want to upgrade your experience in Sian Ka’an, our friend Virginia can help you with transportation and the best hotels around – not to mention the nights she organize in Tulum – take advantage of her free service below!

Which kind of tour of Sian Ka'an you should book

There are many tours heading to Sian Ka’an, but which one should you book? There are two ways to reach Sian Ka’an natural reserve: the first one is by bus and boat and it’s definitely the most scenic arriving to Punta Allen; the second way is by bus or car from Tulum to Muyil. Check out below which is the best way to reach Sian Ka’an natural biosphere and organize the perfect day trip during your time in Mexico.

Boat day tours in the biosphere

Reaching Sian Ka’an areas is definitely a bit complicated, but don’t get discouraged: your trip to this local heritage will be worth it! So, if you want to reach Punta Allen by boat and discover the lagoon, you can definitely rent a tour here, even if it can be pricey if you are in Mexico on a budget. Calculate a full day to go there and come back, both by land and boat. Usually these tours include a small number of people, so don’t worry about the crowd and enjoy the natural side of Tulum. If you decide to adventure by yourself to the site, it can be pretty difficult if you don’t have a 4WD because the road can be blocked or in bad conditions. If you have a lot of time and you slow travel, then you can take colectivos (Mexican shared buses), but calculate a full day of travel to reach it from Tulum.

“Moonrise In Sian Ka'an Lagoon”

“Eddy Enjoying Sian Ka'an”

Day tours in the Reserve from Tulum

If you decide to reach Sian Kaan biosphere from the Muyil access, you will have for sure less marine life, but a lot more to see: Mayan ruins site , the great Mexican jungle, freshwater lagoon, mangrove forests, a Mayan-carved canal and float down said canals. This way to join Sian Kaan will definitely save a few hours and you will be able to enjoy more on site, since it can take you even only half a day. It’s also less expensive than reaching it by boat from Punta Allen. So yeah, if you are asking yourself, this is definitely the best way to reach Sian Kaan!

What makes the Biosphere of Sian Ka'an so great?

Sian Kaan Biosphere is among the best day trips from Tulum , especially if you love natural areas and you don’t mind a bit of adventure. Seeing people fishing on the coastal road, leaving the chaos of the Riviera Maya and enjoying the noises of the jungle can be really a unique experience. Check out below our reviews about Sian Ka’an hotspots!

The proximity to Maya's Ruins

Yeah, you read well! If you have already visited Mayan ruins like Chichen Itza and Coba, or the Tulum site, be ready to experience something different. Maya’s ruins in Sian Kaan are located in Muyil, one of the places we mentioned above to enter the reserve. The cool thing is that from the ruins you can reach, after one hour walking on a path in the jungle, the dock where the boats leave for tours in the lagoon. So why not combine some sightseeing with a boat tour? The site is open from 8am to 5pm and the cost is 45 Mexican pesos. It will take you approximately 30 minutes to tour the site and then you will be ready to reach the lagoon. 

The clearness of the water

The lagoon of Sian Ka’an has an incredible transparent water and it will be really easy to spot dolphins, turtles and much more marine wildlife. You will be able to choose between two boat tours: one long and expensive, and another shorter but affordable if you are traveling in Mexico on a budget. If you really want to enjoy the clear water, the first one is definitely the best choice! Keep in mind that you will hardly see such a well preserved habitat, so make exploring the lagoon one of your priorities. 

“Simple Food Is The Best”

“The Jungle In Sian Ka'an Biosphere”

The protected marine and non species living in the Reserve

When we first arrived from Europe, we weren’t used to such different animals, both in nature and in the house. Here in this natural area, the protected species are hundreds and you will see animals you will rarely be able to spot anywhere else. Our favorite local animal in the nature of Sian Kaan? The bottlenose dolphin! 

The Coral reef in Sian Ka'an

Diving in Sian Kaan water and admiring the marine life and the coral reef is something unique. The diving in the natural reserve are ecological in order to respect the environment and this local heritage. Diving here is pretty different from diving in Riviera Maya, because of how the seabed is protected. If diving is one of your passions, you should save this area in your favorites. Check out ecological diving here! 

“Colectivos To Reach Sian Ka'an”

“The Peace Of The Beach”

Take Advantage Of Free Concierge Service

As excellent to explore Tulum and its surroundings alone, you may need help figuring out where to start . To make the most of your money and time, contact Virginia and Kelly - two incredible Mexican girls living in Tulum for more than 15 years. They're familiar with the ins & outs of the Tulum town and hotel zone like the back of their hand! 

Since we arrived in Tulum 2 years ago, many adventures wouldn’t have been possible without their help - they know literally everybody in Tulum and can perfectly organize every moment of your stay. Get the best tables, skip queues and get on the guest list of the coolest places in Tulum - this’s only the beginning! 

They are ready to offer you guys FREE concierge service in Tulum for the time of your stay : take advantage of it, contact them on Whatsapp and live the best experience!

“Virginia Will Transform You In A Tulum Insider”

We hope our guide to Sian Ka’an helped you choose the right tour or encouraged you to explore the area by yourself! In any case, don’t forget to share with us and other travelers your experience: we’ll be happy to read your story! 

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Sian Ka'an Tours

Why choose pixan ka'an .

CERTIFIED GUIDES

Our knowledgeable guides will lead you through the Sian Ka’an biosphere revealing its impressive wildlife and natural fauna.

SMALL GROUPS

Intimate tours in small groups in the Sian Ka’an biosphere, away from mass tourism!

SUPPORT LOCAL ECONOMY

Pixan Ka’an is committed to work with local guides and captains.

Our Sian Ka'an Tours

Sian Ka’an Tour

Sian Ka’an Tour – PRIVATE

Why choose pixan ka'an.

Authentic tours exploring the Sian Ka’an biosphere, its wildlife and its natural treasures.

Fair and equitable compensation for the guides, drivers, and captains at your service.

EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

Pixan Ka’an creates its own experiences, without intermediaries. We are the tour operator!

Visits filled with cheer, off the beaten path on the Sian Ka’an biosphere, and far from mass tourism.

Explore a wonderful biosphere reserve with our Sian Ka'an tours!

Transport from your hotel.

We leave early in the morning to avoid the crowds. Our driver will pick you up at your hotel in Playa Del Carmen, Tulum, Puerto Aventuras or Akumal. Pickups are from 5:20am to 6:40am.

Boarding the boat

Our first stop will be the Boca Paila bridge to observe the crocodiles. We promise they won’t bite. Then we will board the boat. The ride is wonderful, you can observe many species of birds (more than 300 have been recorded in the reserve) and if you’re lucky even manatees!

Dolphin and Turtle observation

Next, we will go to two different places to meet dolphins and turtles living together in total freedom in the wild. This is the HIGHLIGHT of our day, get ready to be mesmerized and amazed!

Snorkeling on the coral reef

After that, if the sea conditions allow it, we will cool off and jump into crystal clear water with our snorkeling gear on. We will have fun exploring all of the colorful fish on the reef. Snorkeling gear will be provided.

Swimming in natural pools

Then, we will head to the natural swimming pools in Punta Allen for well-deserved downtime and picture taking moments. You can walk hundreds of meters in the crystal clear waters and soak in all of the magnificent beauty.

Lunch at Punta Allen

Enjoy a delicious lunch in Punta Allen. Lunch includes meat, fish, vegetarian, gluten- free and vegan options. Drinks included with your meal are water, soft drinks, and a typical Mexican drink called Agua de Jamaica.

Our last tours

Sian Ka’an has breathtaking wildlife!

When you are in the hustle and bustle of Tulum, it’s hard to believe that there is such an impressive nature reserve with stunning wildlife just a few kilometers away. But yes, this is true! The Sian Ka’an nature reserve hosts more than 300 species of birds and animals such as dolphins, turtles and crocodiles, that fascinate young and old alike. Also present in the biosphere, are jaguars, manatees, panthers, hammerhead sharks, and stingrays.  All of these species are living in their natural habitat and appear much to the delight of our visitors.  Enjoy a great experience with Pixan Ka’an. 💚

Reviews about our Sian Ka'an tours

Our travel guide to sian ka'an, what to do in sian ka’an .

Most visitors who visit the reserve come for the iconic animals like the dolphins and turtles. Watching them is definitely an unforgettable experience. There are many other activities to do in Sian Ka’an . You can spend a peaceful night in Punta Allen, snorkel on the reef, visit the archaeological site of Muyil, practice sport fishing, explore the mangroves, walk in the jungle… 

How to get to Sian Ka'an?

The Sian Ka’an Biosphere has two parts to explore: Muyil and Punta Allen. In Muyil you can visit the ancient archaeological site, watch birds, and float down the turquoise lagoon channels. In Punta Allen, you can observe many animals such as dolphins, go snorkeling, and visit an authentic fishing village. Muyil and Punta Allen have a completely different access point. So, if you are looking to understand how to get to Sian Ka’an , you should first decide which area you want to visit first. Muyil is easy to reach while Punta Allen is a bit more complicated because of the long road.

Is Sian Ka’an worth it?

Sian Ka’an is a natural reserve classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Sian Ka’an is a remote area south of Tulum, and is the only spot in the Riviera Maya, where you can see an abundance of animals living in their natural habitat. Visiting Sian Ka’an offers you the opportunity to remove yourself from the busy everyday world and step off the beaten path to discover an undisturbed and tranquil location. So is Sian Ka’an worth it ? Of course it is! Come be amazed and explore this stunning place through our Sian Ka’an tours.

Where can you see turtles in Mexico?

Where to see dolphins in Tulum?

What to Do in Tulum? My Ultimate Guide

Contact us.

The Ultimate Guide to Sian Ka’an Biosphere in 2024

Posted on Last updated: December 26, 2023

Ever since a friend told me about a magical tour they took in the Riviera Maya I knew I needed to tour Sian Ka’an for myself. So I did what any good adventure travel blogger would do, I did a lot of research on Sian Ka’an biosphere tours , but mostly so I could figure out how to get there without doing an organized tour of Sian Ka’an. I just wanted to go on my own, mostly to save money.

Sadly my research hit a wall as it just seemed way too complicated to get there solo, and at the time I wasn’t sure if it was really worth the money for a guided tour. So I put my tour of Sian Ka’an on the back burner. But I never stopped thinking about it.

If you are looking for all kinds of excursions and car rentals in Riviera Maya , take a look at what my friends from Turismo Channel have! You can check out their tours by clicking here and using the following discount codes for the best prices clairecaroff (car rental), claire10off (for 10% off group tours), claireprivate (for a discount on private tours). You can also send her a WhatsApp message quoting the codes above if you need more information.

If you want to visit Sian Ka’an in Mexico then you have 3 options:

• Book an organized tour
• Take a colectivo to Punta Allen, stay overnight and do one of the community tours to Sian Ka’an
• Hire a jeep and drive yourself

In this post, I’m going to cover everything you need to know about Sian Ka’an so you can decide which option is best for you. 

Did You Get Travel Insurance Yet? The Insurance companies I recommend are  Hey Mondo and Safety Wing Hey Mondo  is great if you are looking for a great value flexible policy. They offer single-trip cover, annual multi-trip cover, and long-term travel cover. Safety Wing  is great value, with monthly coverage starting at $45.08. It’s super easy to use, and it just renews each month. I currently use them as they offer me free cover for my son as part of my policy. Read my full  travel insurance post  here, where I go into detail about all companies. 

Sian Ka’an River Float

This is post is mostly about visiting the actual reserve, not just doing the river float from Muyil .

If you want to do the Sian Ka’an river float from Muyil it’s super easy! Just drive or bus to the ruins, walk through the jungle and you will see the boats. The price is fixed ie non-negotiable. the boat will take you to the start of the float and pick you up at the end. You need 3-4 hours max for this.  

Why visit Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserves Mexico

If you don’t know much about the biosphere close to Tulum then take a look at this video I made with Kay Tours Mexico to see what it’s all about. But know this, it’s the best place in the Riviera Maya to see wildlife where it should be, in the wild.

For nature lovers, Sian Ka’an is a Riviera Maya excursion you really shouldn’t miss.

What is a Biosphere Reserve?

Sian Ka’an is a biosphere reserve Mexico, but what exactly is a biosphere reserve anyway?

In short, a biosphere reserve is a label given to an ecosystem of unusual scientific and natural interest by UNESCO. This label is important as it helps to protect the site and its fragile ecosystem from things that could damage it, like fishing, pollution, over-tourism, etc.

The reason that Sian Ka’an is a Biosphere Reserve is because it is such a complex environment and a unique place of natural beauty in Mexico. Thanks to the preservation it is still home to dolphins, manatees, turtles, and a lot of birds. It makes a trip to Sian Ka’an pretty special if you are an animal lover.

Where is Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

So now hopefully I’ve convinced you to visit Sian Ka’an you might be wondering where it is, so here’s a map.

Sian Ka’an, Quintana Roo, is just south of Tulum . This is why it’s often referred to as the Tulum nature reserve, but this isn’t strictly true as Sian Ka’an National Park is past Tulum.

But you do need to pass through Tulum to get there. Most of Sian Ka’an 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.

How to Get to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

Now for the tricky part, how to get to Sian Ka’an . As I mentioned above there are three ways to get to Sian Ka’an. Two are tricky one is easy… I chose the easy option haha.

Option 1 – Take the bus to Sian Ka’an

Firstly it’s not really a bus, it’s actually a colectivo from Tulum to Punta Allen in Sian Ka’an . You catch it close to the ADO station in Tulum and unless you are planning on staying over in Punta Allen for a night or two I really wouldn’t recommend this option. I also would absolutely not recommend this option during the rainy season as the road between Tulum and Punta Allen is extremely unreliable and often gets totally washed out.

So, unless you fancy spending hours of your life squished in a collective that has broken down, or is unable to pass a washed-out road, give this a miss. especially right now in 2021 transport by collective to here is much more restricted than ever.

However, if you really want to go to Punta Allen and are on a backpackers budget then this might be your only option. From Punta Allen, you will be able to book a Sian Ka’an boat tour for the next day so you can see the reserve.

Option 2 – Rent a car and drive to Sian Ka’an

Now I have this as an option, as I know some crazy people might think it is a good idea to rent a car and drive to Sian Ka’an. I am here to tell you it is a terrible idea, just for the record, but I will still tell you how to do this. Because you’re an adult and if you really want to do it who am I to stop you.

Firstly don’t just rent any old car, get a 4×4. For 8 months of the year, the road to Sian Ka’an is extremely unreliable and you never know what kind of condition it will be in until you get there. And secondly, do not tell the rental car company where you are going. Why? Because they know how bad the road is and that it’s very likely you will either get the car filthy driving through the mud, or you will have a flat tire.

Before you rent the car , please read the small print and make sure they have no clause in the contract telling you that you can’t go off-road in the car. Driving to Sian Ka’an is considered going off-road, so you will be breaking your contract going there. 

Drive slow, take your time, and make sure you have a spare tire and know how to change it!

Don’t rent a car until you have read this post, some of the biggest scammers in Playa del Carmen are the car rental companies!

Need to rent a car in Playa del Carmen?

Whenever I’m in Playa or Tulum, I always rent a car through the Turismo Channel, as they include everything in the quoted price. Car rental companies in Mexico are notoriously tricky to deal with, and nine times out of 10, they will quote you a low cost, but then when you get there, they add on all kinds of insurance and won’t give the car to you unless you pay up. It can also take weeks or even months to refund your deposit. I wrote a blog post here, which you can read for more information. If you want a quote to rent a car with the Turismo Channel, click here to complete the form .

Option 3 – Book one of the biosphere tours to the reserva Sian Ka’an

And your final, and most sensible option is to do a Sian Ka’an excursion with a reputable tour company like Living Dreams Mexico and Turismo Channel . They are the only company I personally recommend doing this tour with. The service is 5* and the guides are extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife you will see there.

Interested in a Sian Ka’an Tour?

Complete the form below and someone will get back to you with the tour details within 24 hours.

QUICK TIP: Book your tours, rental cars, and transfers through my local contacts I’ve been working with Living Dreams Mexico for years and they are who I send all my family and friends to when they visit the Riviera Maya. I really can recommend them enough for private tours and experiences. They have solid 5* reviews on Trip Advisor and Google from almost 4000 reviewers! You can view all their tours here. If you’re looking for private airport transfers and rental cars then Vanessa and Oliver from Turismo Channel are personal friends of mine and I can 100% recommend them to make an inquiry click here and complete the form . Someone will be in touch within 24 hours.

Things to do in Punta Allen

If you do decide to visit Sian Ka’an without a tour then you will need to get yourself to Punta Allen. Sian Ka’an boat tours only go from Punta Allen, so you must go here and speak to the boat captains directly to organize your boat tour. If you don’t do the Sian Ka’an boat tour , there really isn’t much point in visiting.

Now here is the sticking point, and why I realized booking a tour was actually the best option.

Community tours Sian Ka’an have fixed prices for renting a boat for the tour, there is no negotiation, and the price is per boat, not per person. What this means is that as a solo traveler in Mexico I would need to pay $300 to do the tour, unless I can find some friends to go with me. The maximum number of people you can have on the boat is 6, So unless you have 5 friends with whom you can split the cost, by the time you add it all up it’s cheaper to just book an organized tour.

The tour companies are the only ones who can get a special rate with the captains so actually 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. Plus way more comfortable.

But, if you do have a small group and want to stay over in Punta Allen I would recommend getting there in the afternoon, then booking the tour for the next morning because you have a better chance of seeing dolphins and other wildlife in the morning. Then spend the afternoon and evening chilling in Punta Alen.

So what is there to do in Punta Allen? Well there are 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! There really isn’t a lot to do there, but it would be a cool experience to spend a night there for sure.

Looking for a place to stay in Punta Allen?

There aren’t a lot of options, but there three places are where I would recommend staying are:

Casa Pascale

Villas Roseliz

Hotel Cielo y Selva 

Booking a Sian Ka’an Tour

Okay so now I’ve told you all the reasons why I decided to book a Sian Ka’an tour , and why I think you should too. Here is everything you need to know about Sian Ka’an tours and my recommendation on who to book with.

I pretty much do all of my Riviera Maya tours with Living Dreams Mexico , why? Because they are the best tour operators in Playa del Carmen where I live and after doing a tour with them you will understand why it’s hard to book with anyone else. Of course, there are other companies you can book with, but this is a small group tour and so there really isn’t much in the pricing between companies.

Living Dreams have now merged with Kay Tours as of 2021 same company and same amazing service

I was picked up bright and early and welcomed with some fruit and a cup of hot fresh coffee. We were then driven to Sian Ka’an in a well-maintained air-conditioned minibus by a driver and tour guide who knows the road well in case of any issues.

We were met by our boat captain and taken straight out of the tour, which was magical. Seriously. Watching the dolphins swimming in the wild like that was just incredible. They were swimming so close!

Then we saw a lot of birds on Bird Island before we were allowed to do some snorkeling on the reef, where we saw a nurse shark, bloody amazing!!

After snorkeling, we were taken by boat to Punta Allen for lunch before returning to our transport. It really was a magical day and as far as I’m concerned it’s worth every dime!

Final Thoughts

My final thought is if you are thinking about visiting Sian Ka’an, do it, visit Sian Ka’an. Don’t wait for a year like I did. I really hope this post has been useful to you. Please share it with others and help spread the word about this hidden gem in the Riviera Maya!

I was invited on this tour by Living Dreams Mexico along with two of my good friends Viva La Travelista and Tofu Traveler . However, my opinions are 100% my own and I have received no money in exchange for this post.

Thursday 5th of August 2021

I love this post, it so usefully!!!!

Claire Summers

Hi I’m Claire!

At 34 I sold all my worldly possessions that wouldn’t fit into 3 boxes or my backpack and hit the road.

I started Claire’s Itchy Feet to inspire women to pack their bags and travel more. With no plans to stop anytime soon I’m always looking for my next adventure be it attempting to surf or climbing a volcano I’ll try (almost) anything once!

© 2023 Claire’s Itchy Feet  

Every weekend is an adventure

Sian ka’an tours: how to explore the best natural spot in tulum.

• Post published: 7 June 2016
• Post category: Mexico / North America

Good luck in finding a quiet and natural spot on the Riviera Maya. It is a busy place with resorts and tourist attractions all the way from Cancun to Tulum. Well, I guess I was lucky to find Sian Ka’an reserve then! I finally felt a relief to leave the buildings behind for a pristine biosphere reserve. You’ll find here more info on how to explore the reserve and find Sian Ka’an tours.

Yes, I found Sian Ka’an Reserve by luck. I had a few hours to kill in Tulum. I did not like all these busy beaches and resorts everywhere.

I saw a green patch on the map and decided to drive towards it. I didn’t know it would lead me to Sian Ka’an Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

It was easy to reach: I followed the road with all the resorts, all the way to the reserve gate. I paid a small fee – that supports the conservation of the park – and left the car a few kilometres further, at Bambi’s camping.

The first time I went there, I was by myself. I talked to Bambi to learn more about the park and the excursions he was offering. It sounded fantastic, but it was too expensive for a single person. So I enjoyed the beach, cleaned it a bit and decided to come back the week after with my friends.

We had a fabulous time exploring Sian Ka’an Reserve. We appreciated a lot the change of atmosphere. The resorts seemed so far away!  We were in pure and endless nature. There is no other place like this one on the Riviera Maya. Nature lovers will love Sian Ka’an for its natural beauty and the thousands of species of flora and fauna that are protected in this biosphere reserve. There are Mayan Ruins here and there to add a nice local touch. In Maya, Sian Ka’an means “Origin of the Sky”. The place deserves such a beautiful poetic name.

Only 80,000 people a year visit Sian Ka’an Reserve. Will you be one of them? I think you should!

How to visit sian ka’an reserve, sian ka’an tours.

Sian Ka’an reserve covers a big area. It is the largest coastal protected area in Mexico . You can book a tour from Tulum, or drive and directly deal with the guides/boat drivers in the park. As we had a car and I had met Bambi before, it was easier for us to go directly with him. 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.

As you leave Tulum behind you, Bambi’s camping is on the left (fee), and the lagoon/pontoon is on the right just after the campsite. But honestly, you would only have a sneak peek of the beauty of Sian Ka’an.

It is when you get on the water for a tour that Sian Ka’an Reserve becomes a lot more interesting.

Full-day tours leaving from Tulum takes you through the jungle in a Jeep convoy or by boat all the way to Punta Allen. There, you can watch wildlife and snorkel on the reef. In Punta Allen, you will experience the ocean side of Sian Ka’an. I did not go there so I won’t write more about it.

I also saw a full-day kayak tour around Sian Ka’an which could have been a good option to get closer to nature and spot more wildlife. However, the boat tour I found with Bambi lasted half a day, which perfectly fit our timetables. If you want to do the tour I did, go and meet Bambi at the campground in Sian Ka’an. The tour was leaving from the pontoon opposite to his campsite which was very easy and quick to access from Tulum.

Sian Ka’an Tours can be booked once you are in the Riviera Maya. But -unless you’re in the area for a long time, it’s recommended to book ahead to avoid any disappointment or miscommunication issues. If you wish to book your Sian Ka’an tour online before starting your trip, have a look at this full-day tour * and this half-day tour * from Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum. The tour I did with Bambi is similar to the Visit Sian Ka’an tours, but you cannot directly book online with them.

DIY Sian Ka’an Tour

If you do not plan to join a tour to visit Sian Ka’an, then driving to Punta Allen may not be the best option for you . I have read a few reviews on the road conditions to reach it. They described it as a long and not very enjoyable drive: three to four hours for 35 miles! Most of the reviews I read would not recommend going that far if it is not on a tour. The better option would be to visit from Muyil or, as we did, by catching a boat just near Tulum’s entrance . This part of the park attracted me more with the wetlands, the mangrove forest, and the canals. I was happy to see something different from the ocean side.

We did not put  Muyil ruins  on our itinerary as we already visited several Mayan ruins ( Coba , Chichen Itza and Tulum). But when I read on Cassie’s guide of the Mexican Ruins that it’s a well-kept secret and a magical place, I think that maybe we should have included it in the itinerary.

We would first explore the lagoon by boat to search for wildlife. Then, we had two options for our Sian Ka’an tour: floating down the Mayan Canal amongst the mangrove or snorkelling . As we already had a lot of snorkelling (in the cenotes) and diving plans for this trip, we picked the Mayan Canal for its originality and the opportunity to relax.

Do you like snorkeling? You’ll be interested in this article about the best snorkeling in Tulum !

What we did during our Sian Ka’an Tour

During the boat tour on the Sian Ka’an lagoon, we spent most of our time watching the birds . We saw pink spatulas, pelicans, cormorants, eagles, herons, aigrets, white ibis… A paradise for bird lovers.

We were lucky also to see manatees and even a crocodile during our Sian Ka’an Tour!

Although we only saw their noses going out of the water, I was very excited to see manatees. One even made a special effort to show us quickly his body and tail. They are fascinating animals. They also live in Australia, but they are hard to spot. Bambi knows a lot about the species in the reserve. I enjoyed his company. He even did a bilingual tour so we could improve our Spanish a bit!

The lagoon had incredible shades of blue . These variations of blue may be my highlight of the trip. In June and July, Bambi told us the scenery is even better with the orchid flowers going out of the mangrove.

We all loved the boat trip in the mangrove labyrinth to get to the Mayan canal. Bambi was a fantastic captain managing to speed up and take narrow turns to add some sensations and great fun to this beautiful trip.

We left our boat near a boardwalk that took us through the mangrove to reach another pontoon. There, we quickly  visited a Mayan temple . In this remote location, it was a simple building, not as complex as the other ruins we saw during the trip. I loved the authenticity . We could get close and even go inside. Bambi had many stories to tell about Mayan history.

Our floating adventure started at the pontoon. We sat on our life jacket and… that’s it. 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. Sometimes, people spot crocodiles during their cruise. I guess to be that “lucky”, you need to go there early in the day as crocodiles are active at night. We spotted some birds and appreciated the calm and the refreshing feeling.

Note that you’ll have to leave your bag in the boat when you float down the river during your Sian Ka’an tour. Make sure you select the belongings you’ll travel with to Sia Ka’an so you’re not stressed about leaving them alone for a few minutes.

On the way back, we went to Boca Paila, where the lagoon and the ocean meet. Again, the colours were amazing.

Sian Ka’an Tours are not cheap . The Jeep or kayak tours I have found go from USD$130 to USD$185. I read they would charge $600 pesos per person at Muyil boat dock for a couple of hours on the ship. We paid $5,500 pesos for five people for our half-day tour with Bambi.

But this money is very well spent. Not only does it give you access to a stunning place, but it also helps its conservation and locals.

Indeed, Sian Ka’an is protected from mass tourism to benefit the ecosystem and the local economy.

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. 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 Ka’an! When you buy our tour, you can be sure that your money helps not only preserving the rich ecosystems but also the local economy of Sian Ka’an.

Visit Sian Ka’an – Commitment

Planning a trip to Tulum?   Check out my article on the best accommodation in Tulum and Playa del Carmen.

Have you visited Sian Ka’an Reserve? Did you join a tour? Share your experience in the comments below!

Where is sian ka’an reserve.

 Sian Ka’an Reserve is in Tulum, on the Mexican Riviera Maya, approximately 2 hours south of Cancun . We spent a few days in Tulum when we visited the Yucatan Peninsula for two weeks .

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This Post Has 3 Comments

Hi Eloise loving your Yucatán articles! I started with the Cenote dive article before I arrived at Siân Ka’an. The 1/2 day trip with Bambi looks amazing. What time of day does the tour leave the pontoon? And is the boat ride suitable to an easy going two year old who loves the water and birds?

Hi, Mandy! Thank you for your kind words. It’s always a pleasure to read that the articles are helpful. I cannot remember at what time we left, it was a little while ago. I know it was in the morning, maybe somewhere around 9 am but that’s a rough guess. For your question regarding your kid, first let me tell you that I’m not a parent. I know things sometimes look easier than they actually are for parents. But from my point of view, the boat ride shouldn’t be a problem for a kid who loves being outside and who behaves. 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. The lagoon and the river are calm and flat. From my point of view, the biggest danger is the sun! But you’ll need to double check with the organiser if they have an age limit as they may not have life jackets for small kids. Have fun in Tulum! 😀

Thanks so much Eloise!! We’ll keep that in mind 🙂

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Where to See Wild Animals in Mexico (And Which Ones You'll See There)

Want to see Mexico’s national animals in the wild?

You’re in the right place! I’ve been living in Mexico since 2018 , and have been fortunate enough to see MANY wild animals in Mexico firsthand.

From the tropical jungles and deserts to Mexico’s beaches and forests, each area offers a window into the lives of some truly captivating wild animals.

In this guide, I’ll show you the top places I’ve found where these wild encounters not only become possible but are almost guaranteed.

Join me as we explore the best spots to see wild animals in Mexico in a sustainable and ethical way.

1. Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

📍 Where to Stay: Tulum

Located just south of Tulum, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve offers an escape into one of Mexico’s most pristine natural environments.

It is one of the most popular places to see wild animals in Mexico due to its proximity to Tulum, which makes it easy to get to.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site spans more than a million acres (404,685 hectares), featuring a rich mosaic of tropical forests, mangroves, marshes, and a barrier reef bustling with marine life.

The reserve’s network of waterways is perfect for kayaking or floating tours , where silence is only broken by the splash of water and the call of distant birds from Mexico.

Visitors can enjoy activities like bird watching , snorkeling , and even fly fishing in this vast, protected area.

The beauty of Sian Ka’an lies not just in its biodiversity, but also in its profound tranquility and isolation, providing a genuine wilderness experience.

🐬 Animals to See in Sian Kaan Biosphere

The reserve is a critical habitat for a variety of Mexican wildlife and native plants.

It’s home to elusive jaguars that roam the dense forests, and manatees and dolphins that gently glide through the clear waters.

There’s also crocodiles sunning on the banks, and numerous species of tropical birds , like toucans and parrots, that add a vivid splash of color to the green canopy.

2. Baja California Sur

📍 Where to Stay: La Paz

Baja California Sur state is one of two states that make up Mexico’s Baja Peninsula on the country’s west coast; the other is Baja California state (without the “Sur”).

Baja Sur is a paradise for marine wildlife enthusiasts, and another touristy location where it’s easy to both find a nice hotel and see wild animals in Mexico .

The region’s waters are famously clear, making it an ideal spot for snorkeling and diving.

La Paz Mexico , located on the Sea of Cortez, has been called the “Aquarium of the World” by diver Jacques Cousteau due to its vibrant marine life and biodiversity.

Here, visitors can swim with the friendly sea lions of Espiritu Santo Island , join eco-friendly tours to see whales, or snorkel with whale sharks in the nutrient-rich waters.

The coast also offers stunning beaches where relaxation and wildlife observation can go hand in hand.

🐋 Animals to See in La Paz

This region is best known for its aquatic residents, so expect to see majestic whales , playful dolphins , and curious sea lions , and large fish like marlin .

During certain times of the year, the waters around La Paz become a gathering spot for whale sharks , the largest fish in the sea, offering an unforgettable snorkeling experience.

3. Calakmul Biosphere Reserve

📍 Where to Stay: Campeche

Deep in the heart of Campeche state in the Yucatan Peninsula, the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve is one of the most significant and biodiverse areas in Mexico.

This ancient site is not only a critical conservation area, but also houses one of the largest and most powerful ancient Maya cities.

The vast rainforest surrounding some of Mexico’s best Mayan Ruins teems with wildlife, and is an excellent spot for those who want to combine historical exploration while spotting wild animals in Mexico.

Hiking through this dense jungle, visitors often feel as though they’ve stepped back in time, surrounded by the calls of the wild and the mystique of ancient civilizations.

🐆 Animals to See in Calakmul Biosphere

Calakmul is a sanctuary for a variety of jungle dwellers. It’s one of the best places in Mexico to spot jaguars in their natural habitat.

The reserve also hosts large populations of monkeys and vibrant toucans , which are often seen flitting through the canopy.

Keep an eye out for the occasional puma , as well as numerous other species that call this dense forest home.

4. Copper Canyon

📍 Where to Stay: Creel

Mexico’s Copper Canyon is a network of canyons several times larger than the Grand Canyon. It offers a dramatic and rugged landscape in the northern state of Chihuahua.

The area around Creel, a Mexico pueblo magico (magic town) nestled at the edge of the canyons, serves as the perfect base for exploring this vast region.

Here, adventurers can embark on hikes, horseback rides, or thrilling train rides along the famous El Chepe Train (Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico), which provides spectacular views of the deep gorges and towering cliffs.

The natural beauty of Copper Canyon is both awe-inspiring and humbling, with its vast, open spaces and deep silence punctuated only by the echoes of wildlife.

🐏 Animals to See in Copper Canyon

The diverse ecosystems of Copper Canyon support a range of wildlife adapted to its varied climates.

Sightings may include bighorn sheep navigating the rocky terrain, pumas lurking in the shadows, and even black bears .

Birdwatchers will also be delighted by the presence of eagles and hawks soaring overhead, utilizing the canyon’s updrafts for effortless flight.

5. El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve

📍 Where to Stay: San Cristóbal de las Casas

Tucked away in the highlands of Chiapas state , El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve is one of the most important cloud forest habitats in Mexico.

This reserve is a haven for biodiversity, largely due to its elevation and the unique climatic conditions it creates. 

Visitors to El Triunfo can explore winding trails that lead through dense mists and lush vegetation, offering a surreal experience akin to walking through the clouds.

The area is renowned for its birdwatching opportunities , featuring some of the most exotic and rare bird species in the region, including the elusive Horned Guan.

It is also one of the cheapest places in Mexico to enjoy a vacation while you’re searching for wildlife.

🦜 Animals to See in El Triunfo

The star of El Triunfo is undoubtedly the resplendent quetzal , a bird revered by ancient Maya and Aztec peoples.

This bright bird can sometimes be seen flitting through the canopy, its brilliant plumage a splash of color against the green.

The reserve is also home to a variety of other bird species , as well as crocodiles , and other reptiles lurking in its rivers and lakes.

6. Islas Marietas National Park

📍 Where to Stay: Puerto Vallarta

Off the coast of Puerto Vallarta , the Islas Marietas National Park is a hidden jewel in the crown of Mexico’s Pacific coast.

Formed by volcanic activity, these small uninhabited islands have become famous for their unique landscapes and their secluded beaches, such as the renowned Hidden Beach in Mexico (Playa del Amor).

Being uninhabited islands, they’re a great place to find Mexico’s animals in the wild.

Accessible only by boat, the islands are located about two-hours from Puerto Vallarta by boat, and about one hour by boat from the town of Sayulita Mexico .

You can boat near the islands, but you can only access the Marietas Islands Hidden Beach by swimming through a water tunnel — which I’ve done!

The surrounding waters are crystal clear, perfect for snorkeling and discovering the rich marine life beneath the waves.

The Marietas Islands offer BOTH exceptional land and sea exploration, and their isolation makes them one of the best islands in Mexico to see wild animals.

🐢 Animals to See in the Marietas Islands

During the winter months, the waters become a prime viewing spot for humpback whales that migrate to the area to breed and nurse their young, providing an awe-inspiring spectacle for all who visit.

The marine environment around Islas Marietas is bustling with activity, and visitors can expect encounters with playful dolphins and graceful sea turtles .

I visited the Marietas Islands on a tour, and we were also able to see blue-footed boobies , as well as red-footed boobies and yellow-footed boobies.

7. Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve

📍 Where to Stay: Morelia

The Mexico Monarch Butterfly Reserve (Reserva de Biosfera de la Mariposa Monarca) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that spans 139,000 acres (56,250 hectares) between two states.

Nestled in the mountains of Michoacán state and Estado de Mexico (Mexico state), the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve offers one of nature’s most spectacular displays.

Each year, millions of monarch butterflies migrate from Canada to this specific area in Mexico, covering the fir trees in blankets of orange and black butterflies.

The sight is breathtaking, especially when the sun warms the butterflies’ wings, prompting them to take flight in swirling masses.

The reserve not only provides a crucial habitat for these butterflies, but also offers visitors a profound connection with the natural cycle of life and migration.

🦋 Animals to See in the Reserve

The main attraction here is undoubtedly the monarch butterflies in Mexico .

The reserve becomes a living tapestry of color from November to March, as the butterflies congregate in the Oyamel fir trees to hibernate for the winter.

This phenomenon creates an enchanting atmosphere that makes the reserve a must-visit destination for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers alike.

Fun Fact: The monarch butterflies arrive in Mexico around the time of Día de Muertos, which is why they’re one of the most important Day of the Dead symbols .

8. Sumidero Canyon National Park, Chiapas

Marvel at the dramatic vertical canyon walls, spot crocodiles basking along the riverbanks, and watch various monkeys and birds in their natural settings.

9. Yum Balam Protection Area, Quintana Roo

Visit this coastal reserve north of Holbox Island , a refuge for flamingos, sea turtles, and whale sharks amid beaches, dunes, and lush wetlands.

It is a touristy location to see wild animals in Mexico because there are so many great Holbox Island hotels where you can stay.

10. Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, Querétaro

Discover a rugged landscape teeming with biodiversity, including several endangered species, in one of Mexico’s most ecologically diverse zones.

11. Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas

Explore deep rainforests and rivers in the heart of the Lacandon Jungle , home to vibrant bird species and the elusive jaguar.

12. La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas

Wander through some of the world’s tallest mangrove forests, which serve as crucial habitats for migratory birds, American crocodiles , and diverse marine life.

13. La Escobilla Sanctuary, Oaxaca

One of the best places to see turtles in Mexico, Playa La Escobilla Beach near Huatulco sees up to 90,000 turtles come ashore over 3-5 days each month, from July to March.

This event is known as La Arribada , which means “the arrival,” and this area is protected by military guards so you can only visit with a tour .