One of the most popular things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula is visit Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Located just outside of Tulum is one of Mexico’s largest protected areas. Sian Ka’an gets its name from the ancient Mayans who inhabited this beautiful coastline and marsh land. In addition to its rich history, what makes Sian Ka’an so unique is its diversity of ecosystems and wildlife. It is such a unique and amazing area that it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Because it’s so big, it can be difficult to find out the best way to visit this incredible biosphere. We did some research and found the company Community Tours Sian Ka’an. What really drew us to this company in particular is their commitment to protecting the environment and the local Mayan culture. Our tour guide Gilberto is Mayan and has a great respect for the area and its history. Although Gilberto grew up in a Mayan village where Mayan was the primary language, he is also fluent in Spanish, English, and French! We loved learning about the environment, history, and culture of the biosphere from a local Mayan guide.
The tour that we chose was the Ancient Canal Tour of Sian Ka’an. If you’re a fan of lazy rivers then this tour is for you. 😄 For 45 minutes we floated through mangroves, down an ancient canal that was used by the Mayans. The natural current of the canal was about the same speed as an amusement park’s lazy river. But instead of crowds of people and dirty water, we were surrounded by the peaceful backdrop of the biosphere. The whole float we could hear the chirping of birds and see fish swimming past us as we glided down the canal. It was one of the most peaceful experiences we’ve had in the Yucatan Peninsula.
After we were finished floating through the canal we loaded back into the small boat to explore more of the lagoon. Riding through the canal in the boat felt like we were in a video game. Drifting around the canal was so much fun and reminded us a lot of our airboat ride in the Florida everglades. In the lagoon we spotted a manatee and crocodile. 🐊 Our final stop was to the beach. Being one of Mexico’s largest reserves, it was really cool walking along the deserted beach away from all of the tourist crowds. Our guides explained that because it’s protected, this area looks the same as it did to the Mayans who lived here over 1,000 years before.
Community Tours Sian Ka’an took care of everything. They provided transportation from our home, snacks on the boat, and included lunch in Tulum. It was great to not have to worry about finding transportation, food or guides. Gilberto said that they have had tourists of all ages from around the world. Last year they hosted a group of blind people and helped describe to them the wildlife and plant life as they floated down the river. It’s easy to see that Community Tours Sian Ka’an takes great pride in their tours and does everything they can to make sure your trip is as special as possible.
If floating down a naturally made lazy river isn’t your thing, (although I’m not sure why it wouldn’t be!😉) Community Tours Sian Ka’an offers several other amazing tours around the Yucatan Peninsula. Check out their other options here!
