DK Travel : Cancún and the Yucatán : Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

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The empty jungle and vast wetlands of Sian Ka’an (Mayan for “where the sky is born”) contrast strikingly with the resorts of the Mayan Riviera. Extending south from Tulum around Ascensión Bay, the area encompasses lagoons, reefs, lakes, mangroves, and forests. It is virtually uninhabited and contains a dazzling variety of animal and plant life.
Note: the road to Punta Allen is extremely rough and should be negotiated only in a four-wheel drive vehicle (see Road from Boca Paila to Punta Allen)

Top 10 Sights

1. Ben-Ha Cenote

1. Ben-Ha Cenote

By the warden’s lodge at the reserve’s entrance, a path leads to a clear, cool cenote, where you can swim among reeds and forest trees.
2. Boca Paila

2. Boca Paila

Set on a glorious lagoon, the Boca Paila Fishing Lodge is a favorite among serious fishermen. This is also where Sian Ka’an tours switch from vans to boats.
3. Lake Chunyaxché

Sian Ka’an has many lakes that., like all those in the Yucatán, are fed not by rivers but by underground streams. In the channels into Lake Chunyaxché from the lagoon are extraordinary points where the sea and lake waters meet, bringing together a teeming mix of plant life and fish.
4. Muyil Ruins

4. Muyil Ruins

The ruined Mayan city of Muyil lies just outside the reserve. A very old city possibly allied to Cobá (see Cobá), it has an unusual great pyramid with a building at its top containing several rooms. Beside the ruins, a path leads to Lake Chunyaxché.
5. Lake Islands

There are at least 27 Mayan ruins within the reserve, many of them small temples sited on islands in the lakes. It is thought that these lake island temples were probably places of pilgrimage, visited in order to perform special rituals.
6. Punta Allen

6. Punta Allen

It is said that this sleepy lobster-fishing village, with its sand streets, big beach, and just a few restaurants and places to stay, was founded by Blackbeard the Pirate, whose ship was called The Allen.
7. Ascension Bay Bonefishing Flats

These shallows are one of the finest flyfishing areas in the world, above all for bonefish. Fishing lodges along the road and Punta Allen’s guest houses offer trips out to them.
8. Mangroves and Forest

8. Mangroves and Forest

A mix of salt and fresh water at Sian Ka’an provides the ideal conditions for mangroves, which are home to two kinds of crocodile. Further inland are large expanses of rain forest and grasslands.
9. Native and Migratory Birds

9. Native and Migratory Birds

Nearly 350 bird species have been logged as native to Sian Ka’an, and around a million migratory birds visit each year from North America. Among those easiest to see are ibises, egrets, orioles, storks, and the American heron.
10. Animals

Sian Ka’an is home to every kind of wild cat found in Mexico and Central America, including ocelots and pumas, as well as anteaters, manatees, and tapirs. However, you’re most likely to see raccoons, bush pigs, spider monkeys, gray foxes, and iguanas.

Practical Information

The operators listed below sometimes offer specialist tours, such as snorkeling, bird-watching, or looking for crocodiles at night. Tours tend to include refreshments of some kind (drinks and sandwiches usually), but if you’re traveling independently, eat or buy food at Punta Allen. Entry to the reserve is $20 per vehicle, but to see the best of the wildlife it is worth joining an eco-friendly tour Amigos de Sian Ka’an, Cancún: www.amigosdesiankaan.org Centro Ecológico Sian Ka’an(984) 871 2499 www.cesiak.org Sian Ka’an Tours, Tulum (984) 871 2363 Tours cost from around $90 per person