Go Backpacking

  • About
  • Travel Tips
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Travel Insurance
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Advertise
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Travel Tips
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Travel Insurance
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Advertise
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Travel Tips
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Travel Insurance
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Advertise
×
Home » Features

Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve Day Trip

Modified: Nov 3, 2021 · Published: Dec 10, 2013 by Dave Lee |

The clock was ticking on my time along Mexico's Riviera Maya. After my day trip to Cozumel, I headed south to Tulum and the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve.

While it's only an hour south of Playa del Carmen by bus, there was too much to see and do down there for me to squeeze it into a single day.

Boat dock in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
Boat dock in Sian Ka'an

Upon arriving and checking into the cheapest bungalow I could find ($32/night), I hopped a local bus thirty minutes further south to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. 

It was little more than a gravel road leading off the highway.

Sian Ka'an was the last of the 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites I'd visit during my five-week journey across Mexico.

UNESCO's website describes it as follows:

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.

There wasn't a lot of time. The sun was already heading toward the western horizon, and I was committed to seeing the reserve before heading back to Tulum for the night.

It was a ten-minute walk from the highway to the little pier where boatmen hang out, waiting to give rides to tourists like me.

Navigating the waterways of the biosphere reserve by boat.
Navigating the waterways

I negotiated a one-hour boat ride for $48. I don't know if that's a good deal or not, but I was by myself and didn't have any other options.

We took off across the lagoon. My eyes were wide open with excitement.

The protected reserve is massive, encompassing 120 kilometers of coastline and 5,280 square kilometers.

It would deserve its protected status if it were all as beautiful as what we saw on the boat ride.

The scenery at Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve reminded me of the Okavango Delta in Botswana
The scenery reminded me of the Okavango Delta in Botswana

Once we reached the opposite end of the first lagoon, we entered a shallow channel bordered by tall grasses.

Navigating through these waters was a delicate task with such a big motorized boat, yet it still reminded me of the human-powered mokoro rides in Botswana's Okavango Delta.

Along the way, we passed mangrove trees. The water was so clear I could see fish swimming around.

The reserve is also home to the West Indian Manatee.

Beautiful blue lagoon
Lagoon

Upon emerging from the narrow canal, we entered another lagoon, even more beautiful than the first.

A few local men were swimming from their boat near the coast, but otherwise, it felt like I had the whole reserve to myself. There wasn't another tourist in sight.

There would've been group tours if I'd arrived earlier in the day, but my decision to squeeze in a late, independent trip had paid off.

I was a little rushed to get there, but time slowed down once we were on the boat, and I allowed myself to breathe the fresh air and enjoy the scenery.

Mangroves in Sian Ka'an
The waterways are lined by mangroves.

Further away from these waters, the tropical forests of Sian Ka'an are home to some big cats, including the jaguar, puma, and ocelot.

With all the attention on the natural beauty, one might forget the Mayans once lived here too.

Old Mayan temple in the Sian Ka'an Reserve
Old Mayan temple

The climax of the boat ride was a stop at a small Mayan temple, one of 23 Mayan sites in the reserve.

I got out of the boat at a little pier and took a quick walk around the temple. Engravings could still be seen on the building.

My time-limited, I returned to the boat, and we wasted no time getting back to the main pier just before the reserve closed.

Whether you go solo or feel more comfortable taking an organized group tour, I highly recommend allowing yourself the time to spend a few hours in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve.

___

UNESCO

Sian Ka'an became a World Heritage Site in 1987.

Click here for the complete list of UNESCO sites Dave has visited during his travels.

Related Stories

  • Trekking in Romania (photo: Andrei Tanase).
    10 Life Lessons You Can Learn From Traveling
  • Cala del Moraig beach in Spain (photo: Eduardo Kenji Amorim).
    Traveling to Spain? Here Are Some Things To Keep In Mind
  • Sailing Casco Bay, Maine (photo: Kristel Hayes).
    Choosing the Right Boat for Your Sailing Adventure
  • Sphinx and Great Pyramid in Giza (photo by Dilip Poddar, Unsplash).
    Kind Tourists Are Staying Away From Camel Rides in Egypt
73 shares
  • Share
  • Email

About Dave Lee

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 68 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.

Comments

  1. Thomas says

    December 24, 2013 at 7:45 am

    mayan temple and canal water looks so natural and gives me feeling of native village, nice post david and nice pics.

  2. Marek says

    December 27, 2013 at 3:06 pm

    Was in Tulum just a few weeks ago but missed out on Sian Ka’an. Didn't do my research and just stayed on the beach (doh!). Seems like it's a nice relaxing trip away from the tourist crowds.

    • Dave says

      December 27, 2013 at 3:13 pm

      Hard to blame you, the beaches in Tulum are beautiful and the comparatively high cost of lodging keeps the crowds from Cancun and Playa del Carmen at bay.

Dave at Ahu Ko Te Riku on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile.

Hi, I'm Dave

Editor in Chief

I've been writing about adventure travel on Go Backpacking since 2007. I've visited 68 countries.

Read more about Dave.

Footer

back to top

About

  • About
  • Archive
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Follow Us

Contact

  • Contact
  • Work With Us
  • Submissions

Copyright © 2025 Go Backpacking

73 shares
  • 57