The service is 5* and the guides are extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife you will see there. The town is just a few blocks by a few blocks, so there isnt much to see there. A self-guided day trip is hard to do as requires an extra amount of time, money, and a 4WD rented car. There arent really walking tracks, for instance. Required fields are marked *. Theres an exit at the far end of the Muyil ruins that will take you to a path that leads down to the edge of a lake. You may also want to consider taking a tour of Mexico, rather than organising everything on your own. Punta Allen is on the coastal side of Sian Kaan and more challenging to reach. The drive will take you just 15 minutes from Tulum, or about an hour from Playa del Carmen to get to the entrance of the reserve. And flying above it are all sorts of resident and migratory bird species. The second is to go to Muyil and see some of the inland parts of Sian Kaan, including the forest, mangroves, and lagoons. There are also lots of colectivos driving past that will give you a lift. Youll need to pay the entrance fee of just 50 pesos and receive your wristbands before you can continue. It has such a vibrant blue to it, with tones that changes as we go out deeper. 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. There is a small parking lot, free of charge, in case you arrive here by car. Follow State Highway 15 past Tulum. Im pretty sure we have all had travel plans messed up because of COVID and not all insurers covered this. We had to walk on a beautiful boardwalk for a while until we reached the boat. Ever since a friend told me about a magical tour they took in the Riviera Maya I knew I needed to tour Sian Kaan for myself. And your final, and most sensible option is to do a Sian Kaan excursion with a reputable tour company like Living Dreams Mexico. Dont worry, you wont have to wait long for a Colectivo to show up. If you do decide to visit Sian Kaan without a tour then you will need to get yourself to Punta Allen. I started Claires Itchy Feet to inspire women to pack their bags and travel more. This is one of the largest reserves in Mexico and the green stretches out in every direction until it reaches the ocean or the horizon. 
Distances to Muyil Ruins from Riviera Maya: Cancun Muyil Ruins:153km, about 2 hours drive, Playa del Carmen Muyil: 83km, about 1h30 drive. He began to stress out and search for Infos on his display. Are you on Pinterest? If 2020 taught us anything, its that you need to be prepared for anything! In our opinion, absolutely! If you alo go to the Muyil Mayan ruins, there is an extra entrance fee of $50 (US$2.60). The bus will stop in Muyil about a 2 minute walk past the entrance to the Muyil ruins. By Bus: The buses run between Tulum and Muyil about every 20-30 minutes daily, and there is no need to book a ticket ahead of time. But know this, its the best place in the Riviera Maya to see wildlife where it should be, in the wild. Tickets to Muyil are 28 pesos one way. As soon as you finish your self-guided day trip to Sian Kaan and Muyil Ruins, proceed to the Nr. The tour takes about 2 hours in total, with much of that time spent swimming/snorkeling in the ocean. Glad i enjoyed your post So many great things.
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 Kaan. Any guidance on this would be helpful! There are also some notable Mayan ruins here that arent technically part of Sian Kaan, but worth a visit, especially since they provide a secret entrance to the reserve (more on that below). It really was a magical day and as far as Im concerned its worth every dime! Travel insurance has always been high on the list of things to get before you travel but now more than ever it should be at the top of your list! We asked an ADO driver for help and he had no idea where we could find this place. A must-d, Welcome to Taboga Island, PANAMA And secondly, do not tell the rental car company where you are going. You should expect to pay around 400 pesos for the colectivo + boat fare, one way. I just paddle slightly to keep my head above water and avoid some overhanging branches. On this ocean-side boat tour youll have the opportunity to spot dolphins and sea turtles in the wild. The hotel features a pool, free Wifi and an onsite restaurant and bar. I opt for the second option, to Muyil, which is also much easier and possible as a day (or even half day) trip from Tulum. For the boat ride, there is a fixed fee of $700 (US$36) per person. Are you planning a visit to Sian Kaan and still have questions? If youre planning a self-guided day trip to Sian Kaan from Muyil, read the entire article! Its not just for a bit of a lark although I admit it is the most enjoyable part but its also so we can get up close to the nature. If you are not swimming in the lagoons or plan to only visit the ocean, it is important that you wear only 100% biodegradable natural sunscreen. In the water, there are manatees, turtles, and fish. Tip: If you prefer to skip the boardwalk, you can also reach this area near the lagoon by car. With no one around, we had this place only to ourselves. Because they know how bad the road is and that its very likely you will either get the car filthy driving through the mud, or you will have a flat tire. Behind the ruins of the Castle (El Castillo), after only 4 minutes walk, we came across a gate, which is the entrance gate into Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve.
In that way, they have created something that fits their desired legacy even if they could never have pictured this! 307 is a frequented road and Colectivos are running quite oft here. They may put you with other people to fill up a boat if you are alone or in a small group. There is a small parking lot for the ruins which you can easily locate on Google Maps. The roads are in good condition and you will always find a proper parking place. Once weve reached a narrow and beautiful canal, the boat slowed down and navigated like this until we reached thesecond lagoon. Some birds jump between trees and bushes. Along the way, theres a lookout tower that you can climb to get a 360 degree vista of Sian Kaan. Usually, the float takes about 20 minutes, for the 1-kilometer ride. Safety Wing goes the extra mile and covers quarantine outside your home for up to 10 days, they also have a really handy map on their website showing requirements and restrictions for each country. By Rental Car: Take Highway 307 through Tulum and continue south towards the Muyil ruins. The first way going to Punta Allen is much more difficult. Visiting Sian Kaan was one of the highlights of our time spent in the Riviera Maya. The water moves relatively fast and I dont need to do too much to keep moving down the canal. Lover of new destinations. I recommend you should use World Nomads for your trip. Muyil is further inland and provides access to the jungle, wetlands, and the freshwater lagoons, lined with mangrove forests, including Mayan-created canals you can actually float down. For full information, please see my disclaimerhere. Because youre an adult and if you really want to do it who am I to stop you. Just keep driving into Muyil past the Archeological zone parking and the Oxxo, and take the second left (first left after the Oxxo). Dont rent a car until you have read this post, some of the biggest scammers in Playa del Carmen are the car rental companies! To get back to Tulum from Muyil, you can wait for the Mayab bus on the opposite side of the road from where you were dropped off. Playa del Carmen to Muyil/Chunyaxch with ADO bus: 95-pesos (4.86US$, 4.31) per person.
We were met by our boat captain and taken straight out of the tour, which was magical. The name Sian Kaan comes from the indigenous Maya people, meaning origin of the sky or the gate of heaven. It is surmised that the name is a reference to the incredible beauty that can be found there. Firstly dont just rent any old car, get a 44. But, if you do have a small group and want to stay over in Punta Allen I would recommend getting there in the afternoon, then booking the tour for the next morning because you have a better chance of seeing dolphins and other wildlife in the morning. Watching the dolphins swimming in the wild like that was just incredible. There are also a few moderately-priced hotels in Punta Allen starting from $70 USD/night. 
Head towards Las Boyas on Google Maps to find the docks. The boardwalk only takes about 20-30 minutes and leads you through the jungle, which is a pretty cool experience in itself. We left the second lagoon behind and our boatmen stopped the boat at a narrow canal. But you do need to pass through Tulum to get there. But, with almost no development within the boundaries, theres a good chance of seeing something of interest.
So the Mayans may not have intended to create a tourist attraction. World Nomads is great for incidents that happen prior to your trip, so if you get sick or are unable to travel due to travel restrictions some of their policies will cover that as cancellation cover. 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. Sian Kaan Bio Reserve: How to Visit Without a Tour. They are the only company I personally recommend doing this tour with. But I can also see a lot more birds now, circling overhead or resting in the flora on either side of the canal. Now comes the highlight of this trip: floating down an ancient Mayan canal, through mangroves, in crystal clear water. To our excitement, there were more boats waiting for tourists. UNESCO World Heritage Sites Ive visited here. But that didnt bother us too much. Sadly my research hit a wall as it just seemed way too complicated to get there solo, and at the time I wasnt sure if it was really worth the money for a guided tour. Community tours Sian Kaan have fixed prices for renting a boat for the tour, there is no negotiation, and the price is per boat, not per person. Your email address will not be published. The bus station at Muyil is just in front of the Archaeological Site entrance.
Tip: Dont forget to bring bug spray on your trip, especially if you are walking through the jungle near Muyil. We were on our own, taking time to indulge the beauty of this place and floating! I was invited on this tour by Living Dreams Mexico along with two of my good friends Viva La Travelista and Tofu Traveler. Best Things to Do in Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula, Fun Things to Do in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. COPYRIGHT 2022. The next morning, we were sitting on a bus leaving to Chetumal, eager to start the self-guided day trip but we soon realized our driver had no idea where the Chunyaxch station was. Sian Kaan is a biosphere reserve Mexico, but what exactly is a biosphere reserve anyway? By Colectivo: If you are up for spending a few nights in Sian Kaan, there is an option to take a colectivo (shared minibus taxi) from Tulum down to Punta Allen. There are quite a few tours you can do from Tulum that will take you to Sian Kaan. Its this canal that I was talking about at the beginning of this story. Required fields are marked *. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. At one point youll have the opportunity to get out of the boat and float with the currents, making your way through the channels lined with mangroves. After snorkeling, we were taken by boat to Punta Allen for lunch before returning to our transport. The rate probably wont be fixed (for a foreigner) but expect to pay about $30 (US$1.55). So now hopefully Ive convinced you to visit Sian Kaan you might be wondering where it is, so heres a map. From there, youll hop in a boat to Punta Allen. After some research, we realized it was easy to organize a self-guided day trip to Sian Kaan and Muyil, not to mention affordable. And on that note, bring medication if you are prone to getting car sick! The Palenque ruins in the jungle are not to be missed! I assume not. Chichen Itza is the most famous Mayan ruin but is it the best? Walk through the jungle for about 5 minutes until you reach the official entrance to the park and the start of the boardwalk.
If you want to do the Sian Kaan river float from Muyil its super easy! Without the noise of the boats engine and at a meandering pace, you can see so much more of the nature here in the protected area. I can see the mangroves close-up, the way they interact with the water, and the other plants. The biosphere reserve has a few different elements and its the way that they interact that makes it particularly interesting. If you are traveling from Cancun to Sian Kaan you need to embark on a bus departing to Playa del Carmen or Tulum and from here take another bus with the destination Chetumal. It leaves every hour or so and costs $28 (US$1.45). After some more research, we realized that our final destination wasnt Muyil butChunyaxch,which is the name of the Lagoon near Muyil. When researching the Sian Kaan Bio Reserve, we had a hard time finding a lot of information on how to get there and what to do. The reason that Sian Kaan is a Biosphere Reserve is because it is such a complex environment and a unique place of natural beauty in Mexico. Its relaxing and its fun. Blessed with Mayan ruins, freshwater lagoons, dense jungle, mangroves forests, and many Mayan canals reaching the Caribbean Sea, this place is a must for every traveler to this part of the world. Logistically speaking, it is much easier to reach Muyil on your own. Boat ride: 1.000-pesos (51US$, 46) per person, Colectivo from Muyil to Tulum: 35-pesos (1.79US$, 1.63) per person & Colectivo from Tulum to Playa del Carmen: 40-pesos (2US$, 1.86) per person. So I put my tour of Sian Kaan on the back burner. It may seem a bit daunting, but the views from the top are unparalleled! Plus, they keep the group sizes small so youll have less of an impact on the reserve than the larger 20 person groups that come through. The price was per person and, not negotiable, but we already knew that. My favourite tour to see the Mayan sites of Mexico. Getting from Punta Allen to Sian Kaan is the heaviest way. If you are doing shorter trips or a longer backpacking trip then WorldNomads or Travel Insurance Master are the best option. A boat tour of the lagoons and channels is the highlight of this trip and comes at a fixed price of 1000 pesos per person. 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. Well there are only 4 restaurants and they have no electricity from 2 pm until 7 pm each day, then again from 2 am until 7 am, so you will need to bring a book! For nature lovers, Sian Kaan is a Riviera Maya excursion you really shouldnt miss. Itll take you roughly 15 minutes once youve passed through Tulum town. (Each boat has a maximum of 6 passengers.). Its also a nice way to have company if you are travelling solo. Youll need to check with the captain to see what time the boats return from Punta Allen in the morning to catch the colectivo back to Tulum. If you want to explore Sian Kaan on your own without a tour, keep reading for everything you should know to plan your visit. A sublime area of unspoiled natural beauty just south of Tulum, the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve is recognized as an UNESCO World Heritage Site covering 1.3 million acres of land and sea. The easiest and fun way is getting to Sian Kaan from Muyil as we did.
At 34 I sold all my worldly possessions that wouldnt fit into 3 boxes or my backpack and hit the road. Now here is the sticking point, and why I realized booking a tour was actually the best option. 307 main road, a 5 minutes walk to the bus station.
When it comes to Sian Kaan, the focus is not actually on what humans have created, though. But surprise: we couldnt buy the tickets online. So we went once again to the ADO bus station and asked the lady at the front desk for two ticketstoChunyaxch. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. The Solo Girls Guide To Traveling Without Fear, The Solo Girls Guide To Becoming A Digital Nomad, ecosystem of unusual scientific and natural interest by UNESCO, Take a colectivo to Punta Allen, stay overnight and do one of the community tours to Sian Kaan. But, even though it was probably not intentional, I would like to give thanks to the Ancient Mayans for what they have left us at Sian Kaan near Tulum here in Mexico. The boat ride takes just over 2 hours, passes through two lagoons (Muyil and Chunyaxch) and the natural channels as well as the Mayan-built canals between. He admitted yes, but luckily, we could follow the track on google. The lady at the counter whom we asked seemed helpless. However, tour prices were upwards of $150 USD per person and we found the majority of the cost went toward transportation. If youre ready to get right into the action, make your way to the docks where you can find a driver to take you on a boat tour. At the top, we were over the jungle canopy, and weve been rewarded with gorgeous views of the jungle and the lagoons in the distance. The Muyil archaeological site has not been rebuilt, but it is still well kept. From Punta Allen, you will be able to book a Sian Kaan boat tour for the next day so you can see the reserve. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This page may contain affiliate links. Complete the form below and someone will get back to you with the tour details within 24 hours. I also use Travel Insurance Master for some short vacation type trips as they are cheaper than World Nomads a lot of the time. The best thing to do is take a boat ride. It was hot and we were happy! For me, it's becaus, Take a walk with me through one of Romania's mo, Nature is my happy place! Instead, we recommend you bring UV protectant clothing like a long sleeved swim shirt. Again, the water is so clear that I can see fish swimming around my feet. Located near Tulum, the Biosphere is still far away from the crowds and doesnt attract masses of tourists. If youre having trouble, ask one of the local restaurants where you can find a boat tour. If you dont do the Sian Kaan boat tour, there really isnt much point in visiting. If you are traveling from Playa del Carmen or Tulum, embark on a bus with the final destination Chetumal. There isnt a lot of options, but there three places are where I would recommend staying are: Okay so now Ive told you all the reasons why I decided to book a Sian Kaan tour, and why I think you should too. The Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve is teeming with wildlife, and makes for an unforgettable day trip adventure. There are two main areas of the massive reserve that are best for exploring: Muyil and Punta Allen. We arrived here by bus so, we just crossed the road, paid for the entrance fees and we were on our own. We cross another lagoon and, at the other side, reach the canal where we all get out of the boat and begin to float down ourselves. We crossed the first lagoon at high speed, quite exciting in my opinion. Ive been making an effort to visit all of the World Heritage Sites in the Mexican Riviera as I travel through this region. This is why its often referred to as the Tulum nature reserve, but this isnt strictly true as Sian Kaan National Park is past Tulum. Its not worth the risk, in case theres a medical emergency or another serious incident.
The easiest way to get to Muyil from Tulum is to get the Mayab bus from the main ADO station in Tulum. We spent 40 minutes into the canal, grabbing the mangroves, taking lots of photos, and enjoying the ride such a fabulous experience. I just wanted to go on my own, mostly to save money. I am a Wanderer with G Adventures and they have great tours in Mexico. After that, we just followed the path until we reached the Chuanyxche lagoons. We knew he was in a big dilemma as we were the only tourists on this bus and we asked him if this was his problem. The first is to go to Punta Allen, which is on the coast and offers the opportunity to see the marine elements of the biosphere. especially right now in 2021 transport by collective to here is much more restricted than ever. When youre ready to head to the reserve, instead of exiting the ruins, make your way to El Castillo (the Castle) ruin. The most common way of transport in Mexico is the Colectivo. Although Muyil is one of the best (and only) places from which to explore Sian Kaan, theres only so much you can do on your own. Then go snorkeling over the protected coral reef. By Colectivo & Boat: There is another option to get from Tulum to Punta Allen on public transportation (and avoid the treacherous road). Sharing travel tips, road trip itineraries, kayaking & ski destinations. Turn around, take it in, and realise how large the protected biosphere here is. LIZYTRAVELSTHEWORLD | PRIVACY POLICY | THEME BYLOVELY CONFETTI. As I mentioned above there are three ways to get to Sian Kaan. Our SELF-GUIDED Day Trip To SIAN KAAN & MUYIL was a great and funny experience, once in a lifetime, easier to do than expected so I strongly recommend doing one when in Mexico! Why I think Uxmal is actually a better alternative to Chichen Itza. Firstly its not really a bus, its actually a colectivo from Tulum to Punta Allen in Sian Kaan. There will be plenty of pull-offs along the way where you can stop and enjoy a pristine beach all to yourself. Off the coast, theres a large marine section that is also part of Sian Kaan, including a barrier reef. Its an effort to get to them, but Calakmul is my favourite Mayan site! But I never stopped thinking about it. We wanted to book tickets online, on the ADO website, but we couldnt find the destination: Muyil. The chemicals in average sunscreen that are designed to protect your skin can actually poison fish, coral and other delicate marine life over time. I was picked up bright and early and welcomed with some fruit and a cup of hot fresh coffee. Exploring the world as often as possible. There are lakes that have formed inland and rivers that lead to the coast, with long beaches and sandy dunes. The area became a Biosphere Reserve in 1986, and one year later, Sian Kaan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Two are tricky one is easy I chose the easy option haha. The protected area is vast and the different types of animals and landscapes are quite spread out. Seriously. Everyone told us to book a tour. On the backside of this ruin is where youll find the path leading to the boardwalk into the Bio Reserve. My final thought is if you are thinking about visiting Sian Kaan, do it, visit Sian Kaan. More info in our. If you dont know much about the biosphere close to Tulum then take a look at this video I made with Kay Tours Mexico to see what its all about. The rental prices are low compared to other places in the world, and the traffic is good. Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve is a vast region, lying across 5,280 km2 and home to thousands of flora and fauna species. Weve waited for this adventure for so long and we couldnt believe we actually reached this place so easily, with no group and time pressure. I wonder if the Mayans planned to build such a fun tourist experience. Claires Itchy Feet is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. It makes a trip to Sian Kaan pretty special if you are an animal lover. However, if you really want to go to Punta Allen and are on a backpackers budget then this might be your only option. maps and as soon as we approach Muyil we let our driver know. Two Wandering Soles Copyright 2022. Carved out by the Ancient Mayans more than a thousand years ago, it was used by them to transport goods and move around the area. by | | DESTINATIONS, MEXICO | 0 comments. Its unlikely they ever envisaged their ancient creation would effectively become a water slide, that one day I would be floating along with a huge smile on my face, thanking them for their clever engineering. 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. Driving in Yucatan Peninsula is safe and easy. This is post is mostly about visiting the actual reserve, not just doing the river float from Muyil. For either access point, you will have to pay an entrance fee to the park, which according to our wristbands was only 90 pesos (though our tour company charged us an extra 200 pesos). We get a boat together and head off in the hands of a local ranger. The Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve is the biggest protected area in the Caribbean and a unique place to visit! It certainly makes the trip much easier and takes all the hassle out of organising things yourself and having to wait for public transport. The original Lazy River! Your email address will not be published.
Distances to Muyil Ruins from Riviera Maya: Cancun Muyil Ruins:153km, about 2 hours drive, Playa del Carmen Muyil: 83km, about 1h30 drive. He began to stress out and search for Infos on his display. Are you on Pinterest? If 2020 taught us anything, its that you need to be prepared for anything! In our opinion, absolutely! If you alo go to the Muyil Mayan ruins, there is an extra entrance fee of $50 (US$2.60). The bus will stop in Muyil about a 2 minute walk past the entrance to the Muyil ruins. By Bus: The buses run between Tulum and Muyil about every 20-30 minutes daily, and there is no need to book a ticket ahead of time. But know this, its the best place in the Riviera Maya to see wildlife where it should be, in the wild. Tickets to Muyil are 28 pesos one way. As soon as you finish your self-guided day trip to Sian Kaan and Muyil Ruins, proceed to the Nr. The tour takes about 2 hours in total, with much of that time spent swimming/snorkeling in the ocean. Glad i enjoyed your post So many great things. 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 Kaan. Any guidance on this would be helpful! There are also some notable Mayan ruins here that arent technically part of Sian Kaan, but worth a visit, especially since they provide a secret entrance to the reserve (more on that below). It really was a magical day and as far as Im concerned its worth every dime! Travel insurance has always been high on the list of things to get before you travel but now more than ever it should be at the top of your list! We asked an ADO driver for help and he had no idea where we could find this place. A must-d, Welcome to Taboga Island, PANAMA And secondly, do not tell the rental car company where you are going. You should expect to pay around 400 pesos for the colectivo + boat fare, one way. I just paddle slightly to keep my head above water and avoid some overhanging branches. On this ocean-side boat tour youll have the opportunity to spot dolphins and sea turtles in the wild. The hotel features a pool, free Wifi and an onsite restaurant and bar. I opt for the second option, to Muyil, which is also much easier and possible as a day (or even half day) trip from Tulum. For the boat ride, there is a fixed fee of $700 (US$36) per person. Are you planning a visit to Sian Kaan and still have questions? If youre planning a self-guided day trip to Sian Kaan from Muyil, read the entire article! Its not just for a bit of a lark although I admit it is the most enjoyable part but its also so we can get up close to the nature. If you are not swimming in the lagoons or plan to only visit the ocean, it is important that you wear only 100% biodegradable natural sunscreen. In the water, there are manatees, turtles, and fish. Tip: If you prefer to skip the boardwalk, you can also reach this area near the lagoon by car. With no one around, we had this place only to ourselves. Because they know how bad the road is and that its very likely you will either get the car filthy driving through the mud, or you will have a flat tire. Behind the ruins of the Castle (El Castillo), after only 4 minutes walk, we came across a gate, which is the entrance gate into Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve.
In that way, they have created something that fits their desired legacy even if they could never have pictured this! 307 is a frequented road and Colectivos are running quite oft here. They may put you with other people to fill up a boat if you are alone or in a small group. There is a small parking lot for the ruins which you can easily locate on Google Maps. The roads are in good condition and you will always find a proper parking place. Once weve reached a narrow and beautiful canal, the boat slowed down and navigated like this until we reached thesecond lagoon. Some birds jump between trees and bushes. Along the way, theres a lookout tower that you can climb to get a 360 degree vista of Sian Kaan. Usually, the float takes about 20 minutes, for the 1-kilometer ride. Safety Wing goes the extra mile and covers quarantine outside your home for up to 10 days, they also have a really handy map on their website showing requirements and restrictions for each country. By Rental Car: Take Highway 307 through Tulum and continue south towards the Muyil ruins. The first way going to Punta Allen is much more difficult. Visiting Sian Kaan was one of the highlights of our time spent in the Riviera Maya. The water moves relatively fast and I dont need to do too much to keep moving down the canal. Lover of new destinations. I recommend you should use World Nomads for your trip. Muyil is further inland and provides access to the jungle, wetlands, and the freshwater lagoons, lined with mangrove forests, including Mayan-created canals you can actually float down. For full information, please see my disclaimerhere. Because youre an adult and if you really want to do it who am I to stop you. Just keep driving into Muyil past the Archeological zone parking and the Oxxo, and take the second left (first left after the Oxxo). Dont rent a car until you have read this post, some of the biggest scammers in Playa del Carmen are the car rental companies! To get back to Tulum from Muyil, you can wait for the Mayab bus on the opposite side of the road from where you were dropped off. Playa del Carmen to Muyil/Chunyaxch with ADO bus: 95-pesos (4.86US$, 4.31) per person.
We were met by our boat captain and taken straight out of the tour, which was magical. The name Sian Kaan comes from the indigenous Maya people, meaning origin of the sky or the gate of heaven. It is surmised that the name is a reference to the incredible beauty that can be found there. Firstly dont just rent any old car, get a 44. But, if you do have a small group and want to stay over in Punta Allen I would recommend getting there in the afternoon, then booking the tour for the next morning because you have a better chance of seeing dolphins and other wildlife in the morning. Watching the dolphins swimming in the wild like that was just incredible. There are also a few moderately-priced hotels in Punta Allen starting from $70 USD/night. Head towards Las Boyas on Google Maps to find the docks. The boardwalk only takes about 20-30 minutes and leads you through the jungle, which is a pretty cool experience in itself. We left the second lagoon behind and our boatmen stopped the boat at a narrow canal. But you do need to pass through Tulum to get there. But, with almost no development within the boundaries, theres a good chance of seeing something of interest. So the Mayans may not have intended to create a tourist attraction. World Nomads is great for incidents that happen prior to your trip, so if you get sick or are unable to travel due to travel restrictions some of their policies will cover that as cancellation cover. 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. Sian Kaan Bio Reserve: How to Visit Without a Tour. They are the only company I personally recommend doing this tour with. But I can also see a lot more birds now, circling overhead or resting in the flora on either side of the canal. Now comes the highlight of this trip: floating down an ancient Mayan canal, through mangroves, in crystal clear water. To our excitement, there were more boats waiting for tourists. UNESCO World Heritage Sites Ive visited here. But that didnt bother us too much. Sadly my research hit a wall as it just seemed way too complicated to get there solo, and at the time I wasnt sure if it was really worth the money for a guided tour. Community tours Sian Kaan have fixed prices for renting a boat for the tour, there is no negotiation, and the price is per boat, not per person. Your email address will not be published. The bus station at Muyil is just in front of the Archaeological Site entrance.
Tip: Dont forget to bring bug spray on your trip, especially if you are walking through the jungle near Muyil. We were on our own, taking time to indulge the beauty of this place and floating! I was invited on this tour by Living Dreams Mexico along with two of my good friends Viva La Travelista and Tofu Traveler. Best Things to Do in Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula, Fun Things to Do in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. COPYRIGHT 2022. The next morning, we were sitting on a bus leaving to Chetumal, eager to start the self-guided day trip but we soon realized our driver had no idea where the Chunyaxch station was. Sian Kaan is a biosphere reserve Mexico, but what exactly is a biosphere reserve anyway? By Colectivo: If you are up for spending a few nights in Sian Kaan, there is an option to take a colectivo (shared minibus taxi) from Tulum down to Punta Allen. There are quite a few tours you can do from Tulum that will take you to Sian Kaan. Its this canal that I was talking about at the beginning of this story. Required fields are marked *. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. At one point youll have the opportunity to get out of the boat and float with the currents, making your way through the channels lined with mangroves. After snorkeling, we were taken by boat to Punta Allen for lunch before returning to our transport. The rate probably wont be fixed (for a foreigner) but expect to pay about $30 (US$1.55). So now hopefully Ive convinced you to visit Sian Kaan you might be wondering where it is, so heres a map. From there, youll hop in a boat to Punta Allen. After some research, we realized it was easy to organize a self-guided day trip to Sian Kaan and Muyil, not to mention affordable. And on that note, bring medication if you are prone to getting car sick! The Palenque ruins in the jungle are not to be missed! I assume not. Chichen Itza is the most famous Mayan ruin but is it the best? Walk through the jungle for about 5 minutes until you reach the official entrance to the park and the start of the boardwalk.
If you want to do the Sian Kaan river float from Muyil its super easy! Without the noise of the boats engine and at a meandering pace, you can see so much more of the nature here in the protected area. I can see the mangroves close-up, the way they interact with the water, and the other plants. The biosphere reserve has a few different elements and its the way that they interact that makes it particularly interesting. If you are traveling from Cancun to Sian Kaan you need to embark on a bus departing to Playa del Carmen or Tulum and from here take another bus with the destination Chetumal. It leaves every hour or so and costs $28 (US$1.45). After some more research, we realized that our final destination wasnt Muyil butChunyaxch,which is the name of the Lagoon near Muyil. When researching the Sian Kaan Bio Reserve, we had a hard time finding a lot of information on how to get there and what to do. The reason that Sian Kaan is a Biosphere Reserve is because it is such a complex environment and a unique place of natural beauty in Mexico. Its relaxing and its fun. Blessed with Mayan ruins, freshwater lagoons, dense jungle, mangroves forests, and many Mayan canals reaching the Caribbean Sea, this place is a must for every traveler to this part of the world. Logistically speaking, it is much easier to reach Muyil on your own. Boat ride: 1.000-pesos (51US$, 46) per person, Colectivo from Muyil to Tulum: 35-pesos (1.79US$, 1.63) per person & Colectivo from Tulum to Playa del Carmen: 40-pesos (2US$, 1.86) per person. So I put my tour of Sian Kaan on the back burner. It may seem a bit daunting, but the views from the top are unparalleled! Plus, they keep the group sizes small so youll have less of an impact on the reserve than the larger 20 person groups that come through. The price was per person and, not negotiable, but we already knew that. My favourite tour to see the Mayan sites of Mexico. Getting from Punta Allen to Sian Kaan is the heaviest way. If you are doing shorter trips or a longer backpacking trip then WorldNomads or Travel Insurance Master are the best option. A boat tour of the lagoons and channels is the highlight of this trip and comes at a fixed price of 1000 pesos per person. 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. Well there are only 4 restaurants and they have no electricity from 2 pm until 7 pm each day, then again from 2 am until 7 am, so you will need to bring a book! For nature lovers, Sian Kaan is a Riviera Maya excursion you really shouldnt miss. Itll take you roughly 15 minutes once youve passed through Tulum town. (Each boat has a maximum of 6 passengers.). Its also a nice way to have company if you are travelling solo. Youll need to check with the captain to see what time the boats return from Punta Allen in the morning to catch the colectivo back to Tulum. If you want to explore Sian Kaan on your own without a tour, keep reading for everything you should know to plan your visit. A sublime area of unspoiled natural beauty just south of Tulum, the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve is recognized as an UNESCO World Heritage Site covering 1.3 million acres of land and sea. The easiest and fun way is getting to Sian Kaan from Muyil as we did.
At 34 I sold all my worldly possessions that wouldnt fit into 3 boxes or my backpack and hit the road. Now here is the sticking point, and why I realized booking a tour was actually the best option. 307 main road, a 5 minutes walk to the bus station.
When it comes to Sian Kaan, the focus is not actually on what humans have created, though. But surprise: we couldnt buy the tickets online. So we went once again to the ADO bus station and asked the lady at the front desk for two ticketstoChunyaxch. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. The Solo Girls Guide To Traveling Without Fear, The Solo Girls Guide To Becoming A Digital Nomad, ecosystem of unusual scientific and natural interest by UNESCO, Take a colectivo to Punta Allen, stay overnight and do one of the community tours to Sian Kaan. But, even though it was probably not intentional, I would like to give thanks to the Ancient Mayans for what they have left us at Sian Kaan near Tulum here in Mexico. The boat ride takes just over 2 hours, passes through two lagoons (Muyil and Chunyaxch) and the natural channels as well as the Mayan-built canals between. He admitted yes, but luckily, we could follow the track on google. The lady at the counter whom we asked seemed helpless. However, tour prices were upwards of $150 USD per person and we found the majority of the cost went toward transportation. If youre ready to get right into the action, make your way to the docks where you can find a driver to take you on a boat tour. At the top, we were over the jungle canopy, and weve been rewarded with gorgeous views of the jungle and the lagoons in the distance. The Muyil archaeological site has not been rebuilt, but it is still well kept. From Punta Allen, you will be able to book a Sian Kaan boat tour for the next day so you can see the reserve. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This page may contain affiliate links. Complete the form below and someone will get back to you with the tour details within 24 hours. I also use Travel Insurance Master for some short vacation type trips as they are cheaper than World Nomads a lot of the time. The best thing to do is take a boat ride. It was hot and we were happy! For me, it's becaus, Take a walk with me through one of Romania's mo, Nature is my happy place! Instead, we recommend you bring UV protectant clothing like a long sleeved swim shirt. Again, the water is so clear that I can see fish swimming around my feet. Located near Tulum, the Biosphere is still far away from the crowds and doesnt attract masses of tourists. If youre having trouble, ask one of the local restaurants where you can find a boat tour. If you dont do the Sian Kaan boat tour, there really isnt much point in visiting. If you are traveling from Playa del Carmen or Tulum, embark on a bus with the final destination Chetumal. There isnt a lot of options, but there three places are where I would recommend staying are: Okay so now Ive told you all the reasons why I decided to book a Sian Kaan tour, and why I think you should too. The Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve is teeming with wildlife, and makes for an unforgettable day trip adventure. There are two main areas of the massive reserve that are best for exploring: Muyil and Punta Allen. We arrived here by bus so, we just crossed the road, paid for the entrance fees and we were on our own. We cross another lagoon and, at the other side, reach the canal where we all get out of the boat and begin to float down ourselves. We crossed the first lagoon at high speed, quite exciting in my opinion. Ive been making an effort to visit all of the World Heritage Sites in the Mexican Riviera as I travel through this region. This is why its often referred to as the Tulum nature reserve, but this isnt strictly true as Sian Kaan National Park is past Tulum. Its not worth the risk, in case theres a medical emergency or another serious incident.
The easiest way to get to Muyil from Tulum is to get the Mayab bus from the main ADO station in Tulum. We spent 40 minutes into the canal, grabbing the mangroves, taking lots of photos, and enjoying the ride such a fabulous experience. I just wanted to go on my own, mostly to save money. I am a Wanderer with G Adventures and they have great tours in Mexico. After that, we just followed the path until we reached the Chuanyxche lagoons. We knew he was in a big dilemma as we were the only tourists on this bus and we asked him if this was his problem. The first is to go to Punta Allen, which is on the coast and offers the opportunity to see the marine elements of the biosphere. especially right now in 2021 transport by collective to here is much more restricted than ever. When youre ready to head to the reserve, instead of exiting the ruins, make your way to El Castillo (the Castle) ruin. The most common way of transport in Mexico is the Colectivo. Although Muyil is one of the best (and only) places from which to explore Sian Kaan, theres only so much you can do on your own. Then go snorkeling over the protected coral reef. By Colectivo & Boat: There is another option to get from Tulum to Punta Allen on public transportation (and avoid the treacherous road). Sharing travel tips, road trip itineraries, kayaking & ski destinations. Turn around, take it in, and realise how large the protected biosphere here is. LIZYTRAVELSTHEWORLD | PRIVACY POLICY | THEME BYLOVELY CONFETTI. As I mentioned above there are three ways to get to Sian Kaan. Our SELF-GUIDED Day Trip To SIAN KAAN & MUYIL was a great and funny experience, once in a lifetime, easier to do than expected so I strongly recommend doing one when in Mexico! Why I think Uxmal is actually a better alternative to Chichen Itza. Firstly its not really a bus, its actually a colectivo from Tulum to Punta Allen in Sian Kaan. There will be plenty of pull-offs along the way where you can stop and enjoy a pristine beach all to yourself. Off the coast, theres a large marine section that is also part of Sian Kaan, including a barrier reef. Its an effort to get to them, but Calakmul is my favourite Mayan site! But I never stopped thinking about it. We wanted to book tickets online, on the ADO website, but we couldnt find the destination: Muyil. The chemicals in average sunscreen that are designed to protect your skin can actually poison fish, coral and other delicate marine life over time. I was picked up bright and early and welcomed with some fruit and a cup of hot fresh coffee. Exploring the world as often as possible. There are lakes that have formed inland and rivers that lead to the coast, with long beaches and sandy dunes. The area became a Biosphere Reserve in 1986, and one year later, Sian Kaan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Two are tricky one is easy I chose the easy option haha. The protected area is vast and the different types of animals and landscapes are quite spread out. Seriously. Everyone told us to book a tour. On the backside of this ruin is where youll find the path leading to the boardwalk into the Bio Reserve. My final thought is if you are thinking about visiting Sian Kaan, do it, visit Sian Kaan. More info in our. If you dont know much about the biosphere close to Tulum then take a look at this video I made with Kay Tours Mexico to see what its all about. The rental prices are low compared to other places in the world, and the traffic is good. Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve is a vast region, lying across 5,280 km2 and home to thousands of flora and fauna species. Weve waited for this adventure for so long and we couldnt believe we actually reached this place so easily, with no group and time pressure. I wonder if the Mayans planned to build such a fun tourist experience. Claires Itchy Feet is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. It makes a trip to Sian Kaan pretty special if you are an animal lover. However, if you really want to go to Punta Allen and are on a backpackers budget then this might be your only option. maps and as soon as we approach Muyil we let our driver know. Two Wandering Soles Copyright 2022. Carved out by the Ancient Mayans more than a thousand years ago, it was used by them to transport goods and move around the area. by | | DESTINATIONS, MEXICO | 0 comments. Its unlikely they ever envisaged their ancient creation would effectively become a water slide, that one day I would be floating along with a huge smile on my face, thanking them for their clever engineering. 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. Driving in Yucatan Peninsula is safe and easy. This is post is mostly about visiting the actual reserve, not just doing the river float from Muyil. For either access point, you will have to pay an entrance fee to the park, which according to our wristbands was only 90 pesos (though our tour company charged us an extra 200 pesos). We get a boat together and head off in the hands of a local ranger. The Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve is the biggest protected area in the Caribbean and a unique place to visit! It certainly makes the trip much easier and takes all the hassle out of organising things yourself and having to wait for public transport. The original Lazy River! Your email address will not be published.