SIAN KAAN
Sian Ka’an, the largest marine natural protected area in Mexico, is a United Nations World Heritage site, designated to be protected for its rich biodiversity and unique Mayan cultures which have inhabited the peninsula for ages. It is also the most beautiful natural treasure of the Yucatan peninsula that is accessible to tourists. Community Tours Sian Ka’an, a local tourism alliance between four Mayan cooperatives, presents to you the Mayan Riviera as it once was and as it should be experienced: untouched by urbanization, undisturbed by mass tourism, and guided by local Mayan community members who know the reserve best.
Sian Ka’an Facts
- Largest protected area in the Mexican Caribbean (approximately 1.3 million acres)
- Established January 20th 1986 as part of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Unique for its geography and wetlands
- 23 known archeological sites (with relics dating up to 2,300 years old)
- 103 known mammal species
- 336 known bird species
- Nesting ground for many species of wading birds
- Annual rainfall between 44 and 48 inches
- Important nesting site for two endangered sea turtle species
- Believed to be inhabited in the Pre-Classic and Classic Periods in the chieftanships of Cohuah and Uaymil
- Currently home to over 2,000 inhabitants
Canal Tour
This tour is an educational, sight-seeing boat tour through the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Highlights of the Tour include:
- Following the Mayan trade route used 1200 years ago
- Seeing abundant flora and fauna unique to Sian Ka’an
- Visiting unexcavated Mayan ruins hidden within the Reserve
- Floating down a freshwater river
- Learning the natural and Mayan history of the Reserve with experienced guides
Tour Summary
The tour begins at the CESiaK ecological center where we have an introductory discussion and view the coastal flora and fauna. The tour continues by boat traversing the two northernmost, brackish lagoons. In this area, we pass a small Mayan ruin and view up-close the mangrove islands which are nesting areas for many of the birds found within Sian Ka’an.
The tour continues south along the peninsula to the lagoon of Boca Paila where we turn inland and enter the narrow 11 km natural canal which traverses the expansive mangrove swamp and savanna grassland which comprise much of the center of Sian Ka’an. Along the journey we are surrounded by birds, tall mangrove trees, orchids, bromeliads, termite mounds, fish and much more.
The canal ends at a Post Classic Mayan Temple hidden in the mangrove swamp with beautiful frescos and a well-preserved inner sanctum. After visiting the temple we continue by boat to the freshwater Lagoon of Chunyaxche where we see some examples of the thousands of small sink holes (cenotes) from which the lagoon is filled.
After a snack and refreshments we enter the canal once again to commence a half-hour relaxing float wearing lifejackets and being carried by the water’s current. After getting back in the boat we travel to the ocean edge passing wide sandy flats where rays, predatory birds, and many fish are found. Continuing under an antique wooden bridge we follow a waterway which allows us passage to the ocean to view the seemingly endless expanse of tree-lined, sandy beach. We end the tour following the peninsula back to CESiaK for a sit-down lunch (included in the price) in the center’s restaurant and for some relaxation on the beach.
For more information and tour bookings visit http://cesiak.org/