Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

SIAN KA’AN BIOSPHERE RESERVE

Visitor Information

The original Mayan inhabitants thousands of years ago truly loved the beauty of the Sian Ka’an coastline. Meaning “Origin of the Sky”, visitors will experience one of Mexico’s largest protected areas just south of Tulum. Encompassing nearly 75 miles (120 kilometers) of coastline and approximately 1,000,000 acres (400,000 hectares), Sian Ka’an provides a diverse ecosystem to visit.

Visitors to this UNESCO Heritage Site will experience tropical forests, pristine wetlands, palm savannah, lagoons, mangroves, dunes and sandy beaches. In addition to these highlights, nearly 300,000 acres (120,000 hectares) of marine area is protected as a valuable area of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.

Highlights of Sian Ka’an Include:

Wildlife including Jaguar, Puma, Ocelot, Monkeys, Reptiles and Central American Tapir
Large number of migratory bird species
Diverse marine life including West Indian Manatee, 4 species of marine turtles and many fish species
Mangroves
Forested islands known as Petenes
Cenotes

VISITOR INFORMATION

Drive Yourself

For those that have rented a vehicle you can navigate to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere and explore as much as desired.

NOTE: The roads in and out of Sian Ka’an can be treacherous. When you rent a car, quite often the clerk will ask you where you are planning on taking the car. Some car rental agencies will not let you take a car to Sian Ka’an because of the possibility of damage being inflicted on the car due to the rough road conditions.