The Ultimate Guide for What to do in Sian Ka’an

IF YOU WANT TO VISIT SIAN KA’AN IN MEXICO THEN YOU HAVE 3 OPTIONS

1. Book an organized tour
2. Take a colectivo to Punta Allen, stay overnight and do one of the community tours to Sian Ka’an
3. 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.

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 What to do in 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, What to do in 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 What to do in 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!

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. 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!