Sian Ka'an is the paradise of the Mexican Caribbean, a place of exceptional beauty with pristine white sand beaches, lagoons, mangroves and cenotes.
It is reached by road driving from Cancun to Tulum and then taking the Tulum ruins- Boca paila road.
The word means in Maya Sian Kaan place where the sky was born and is located two hours south of Cancun, Quintana Roo.
From the classic Maya period the people used canoes to market products from the beach to the jungle.
Sian kaan covers an area of over 528,000 hectares and was declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987.
It is the site of an enormous biodiversity of flora and fauna, has over 110 miles of protected coral reefs, has over 20 Mayan temples submerged in the waters of the lagoons, extensive canals among the mangroves, and is a natural sanctuary for manatees, sea turtles, crocodiles, dolphins, fish and many species of birds, over 300
It has 108 species of mammals, 95 species of reptiles, more than 1,000 species of plants, 12 ecosystems, bays, and many open cenotes.
In sian kaan are offered many ecotourism tours for those who want to watch birds, lagoons, reefs and marine species in their natural habitat.
The lagoons are shallow with salt and fresh water, are interconnected with the Caribbean Sea and are protected by coastal dunes.
The cenotes are below the laggoons too and there are some open.
A lot of birds nest and raise their youngs and the crocodiles can be reached in the shores of the lakes taking a sun bath
In sian kaan there are some trees that can measure up to 30 meters high, among the swamps and are unique species in the world.
One of the most beautiful areas to photograph is the area of Boca Paila and the bridge. from this point you can admire the beautiful mangroves and lagoons. Boca Paila is 30 minutes from the Sian Kaan arc that is the main entrance.
Sian Kaan exist in some small hotels and houses, and there are few hotels in the area of Punta Allen where depart fishing trips and expeditions to admire the nature.
The main recommendations for visitors to this area are:
No campfires, follow the recommendations of the authorities and guides, use biodegradable sunscreen and drive slow on the road if you are driving your car.
Do not leave garbage on the road.
Don´t take plants with you.
Your gateway to the Paradise !