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Sian Ka’an

The Sian Ka’an (meaning “where the sky is born” in Mayan) Biosphere Reserve is a national park covering about 1.3 million acres. It was founded and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 to protect and preserve a variety of natural habitats. Sian Ka’an is also home to many exotic creatures including 103 known mammal species and 336 known bird species. These include jaguars, ocelots, crocodiles, manatees and hundreds of exotic birds.

Sian Ka’an spans 120 km of Caribbean Sea coastline. It is located just south of Tulum, at the end of the Mayan Riviera. The wild road along Sian Ka’an snakes from Tulum through Boca Paila, ending up at Punta Allen at land’s end. It is a road for adventure-seekers, boasting fantastic views of the sea, sky, sand and jungle. Development in Sian Ka’an is strictly regulated and there are few inhabitants. Sian Ka’an’s amazing variety of habitats is home to a spectacular array of animals and birds. Beaches, lagoons, cenotes (sinkholes), coastal dunes, low tropical forest, savannahs and wetlands are all found here. Sian Ka’an contains the Meso-American Reef - the largest coral reef system in the Western Hemisphere. Finally, Sian Ka’an is an important nesting site for endangered sea turtles.

Visitors to Sian Ka’an can also explore the Meso-American Reef. This reef covers more than 724 kilometers and runs from the northern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, along the coasts of Belize and Guatemala and down to the Bay Islands off the Honduran coast. It has some of the world’s most highly-developed coral formations. It also contains an amazing variety of marine creatures, like the more than 500 species of fish along the reef. Many of these fish support the livelihoods of local fishermen living along the Caribbean coast. Dolphins and sea turtles can often be seen. Sian Ka’an and especially Punta Allen attract light-tackle anglers from all over the world who enjoy the saltwater flats and fly-fishing. Lobster fishing (allowed only by locals) supports many locals’ livelihoods and is done from July to January. Most of the lobster enjoyed in the Mayan Riviera is fished from Punta Allen.

The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is a pristine natural area that offers fishing, bird watching and eco tourism – the ideal place to enjoy unspoiled nature at its finest!