visit sian ka'an on your own
visit sian ka'an on your own
But you do need to pass through Tulum to get there. As we cross from one lagoon to another, we go through a canal that was cut by the Ancient Mayans. 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. They are the only company I personally recommend doing this tour with. Ive arrived at Muyil by bus from Tulum and it turns out there are four other people on the bus who have come for the same reason. He admitted yes, but luckily, we could follow the track on google. The original Lazy River! The chemicals in average sunscreen that are designed to protect your skin can actually poison fish, coral and other delicate marine life over time. 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. Just keep driving into Muyil past the Archeological zone parking and the Oxxo, and take the second left (first left after the Oxxo). 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. After snorkeling, we were taken by boat to Punta Allen for lunch before returning to our transport. However, tour prices were upwards of $150 USD per person and we found the majority of the cost went toward transportation. The water in the lagoon is so clean and clear. The tour takes about 2 hours in total, with much of that time spent swimming/snorkeling in the ocean. About halfway through youll find an observation tower with a sign that says climb at your own risk. Head towards Las Boyas on Google Maps to find the docks. Be sure to make a stop at the Boca Paila Bridge where the lagoon and Caribbean Sea meet to check for wildlife like crocodiles and manatees. Two Wandering Soles Copyright 2022. We couldnt miss this place so we climbed up to see the views. Go on a boat ride, float a Mayan canal and after that, leave the Biosphere. Save this PIN for later. 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. 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. Its also a nice way to have company if you are travelling solo. 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. I realise that this is one of the reasons that the boat tours at Sian Kaan include this floating experience. 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. The boardwalk only takes about 20-30 minutes and leads you through the jungle, which is a pretty cool experience in itself. Your email address will not be published. Merida is quickly becoming one of Mexicos coolest cities. We had to walk on a beautiful boardwalk for a while until we reached the boat. Our self-guided day trip to Sian Kaan and Muyil Ruins: transport to/from Playa del Carmen, entry tickets, boat ride: $1.265 pesos (65US$, 59) per person. When it comes to visiting Sian Kaan, its unlikely youll be able to see all of these. If you alo go to the Muyil Mayan ruins, there is an extra entrance fee of $50 (US$2.60). 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. The most common way of transport in Mexico is the Colectivo. Ill give you the practical details at the end of this post. Tip: If you prefer to skip the boardwalk, you can also reach this area near the lagoon by car. They were swimming so close! When youre ready to head to the reserve, instead of exiting the ruins, make your way to El Castillo (the Castle) ruin. There arent really walking tracks, for instance. The easiest and fun way is getting to Sian Kaan from Muyil as we did. We get a boat together and head off in the hands of a local ranger. Youll see a small dock with boats lined up to take tours. In that way, they have created something that fits their desired legacy even if they could never have pictured this! They may put you with other people to fill up a boat if you are alone or in a small group. 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. The hotel features a pool, free Wifi and an onsite restaurant and bar. So the Mayans may not have intended to create a tourist attraction. 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. The guides grew up in the nearby villages and are able to share their innate knowledge of the unique ecosystem. The tour companies are the only ones who can get a special rate with the captains so actually most of the time it is cheaper to just book a spot on a tour than take the public bus and organize the tour yourself. 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 are also a few moderately-priced hotels in Punta Allen starting from $70 USD/night. With no plans to stop anytime soon Im always looking for my next adventure be it attempting to surf or climbing a volcano Ill try (almost) anything once! This page may contain affiliate links. Getting from Punta Allen to Sian Kaan is the heaviest way. In our opinion, absolutely! This is why its often referred to as the Tulum nature reserve, but this isnt strictly true as Sian Kaan National Park is past Tulum. From the boat docks, its about 5 minutes walk on a small path to the bus/ Colectivo station. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world. Muyil is further inland and provides access to the jungle, wetlands, and the freshwater lagoons, lined with mangrove forests, including Mayan-created canals you can actually float down. We asked an ADO driver for help and he had no idea where we could find this place. Of course, there are other companies you can book with, but this is a small group tour and so there really isnt much in the pricing between companies. And on that note, bring medication if you are prone to getting car sick! By Bus: The buses run between Tulum and Muyil about every 20-30 minutes daily, and there is no need to book a ticket ahead of time. Safety Wing goes the extra mile and covers quarantine outside your home for up to 10 days, they also have a really handy map on their website showing requirements and restrictions for each country. More info in our. Continue on the boardwalk past the observation tower and eventually pop out at the Sian Kaan Lagoon. Sian Kaan entrance fee of 50-pesos (2.50US$, 2.30) per person. 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. And flying above it are all sorts of resident and migratory bird species. Muyil entrance fee:45-pesos (2.30US$, 2) per person. But that didnt bother us too much. Dont wait for a year like I did. 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. 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. Leave your comment below and well do our best to find you the answers youre looking for! It has such a vibrant blue to it, with tones that changes as we go out deeper. 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. We have lots more resources on travel in Mexico and destinations throughout the country. 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. My final thought is if you are thinking about visiting Sian Kaan, do it, visit Sian Kaan. The bus will stop in Muyil about a 2 minute walk past the entrance to the Muyil ruins. 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. In the water, there are manatees, turtles, and fish. The roads are in good condition and you will always find a proper parking place. If you dont do the Sian Kaan boat tour, there really isnt much point in visiting. Historians believe it was occupied for more than a thousand years and was located on an important trading route. 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. For 8 months of the year, the road to Sian Kaan is extremely unreliable and you never know what kind of condition it will be in until you get there. Heres everything you need to know on how to visit Sian Kaan without a tour. If you do decide to visit Sian Kaan without a tour then you will need to get yourself to Punta Allen. I just wanted to go on my own, mostly to save money. It is safe, quick, and, as mentioned, affordable. If you want to explore Sian Kaan on your own without a tour, keep reading for everything you should know to plan your visit. 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. The information found on the internet was quite elusive, and we asked around how to get on a self-guided day trip to Sian Kaan. The town is just a few blocks by a few blocks, so there isnt much to see there. If you travel by car, make sure to save the GPS Coordinates:200444.1N 873649.2W. 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. 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. Off the coast, theres a large marine section that is also part of Sian Kaan, including a barrier reef. Instead, we recommend you bring UV protectant clothing like a long sleeved swim shirt. This colectivo will bring you to the pier, just beyond the Sian Kaan entrance and visitors center. Firstly its not really a bus, its actually a colectivo from Tulum to Punta Allen in Sian Kaan. By Colectivo & Boat: There is another option to get from Tulum to Punta Allen on public transportation (and avoid the treacherous road). Above me is the wide Mexican sky, which today is warmly beaming down but scattered with clouds. As soon as you finish your self-guided day trip to Sian Kaan and Muyil Ruins, proceed to the Nr. Simply head to the ADO bus terminal in Tulum Pueblo and purchase your ticket at the counter. In the forests, there are jaguars, pumas, ocelots and tapirs. I just paddle slightly to keep my head above water and avoid some overhanging branches. After that, we just followed the path until we reached the Chuanyxche lagoons. You could go on a tour that will take you there by boat or, going independently, youll need to do it as at least an overnight trip because it takes a long time to get there along a poor-quality road. Problem solved! 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. But I never stopped thinking about it. The Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve is teeming with wildlife, and makes for an unforgettable day trip adventure. So you need to find an insurer that covers travel disruption due to COVID-19, World Nomads, Safety Wing, or Travel Insurance Master are the ones to go for. Heres why. You may also want to consider taking a tour of Mexico, rather than organising everything on your own. Since they are over a 2-hour drive apart, it may be best to break up your visit into two separate days. Before traveling to the Yucatan Peninsula, we knew we had to visit this unique place. This is post is mostly about visiting the actual reserve, not just doing the river float from Muyil. Categories Cancun, Destinations, Mexico, North America, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Can I travel To Guatemala Right Now 2022 Guatemala Travel Update, 12 Travel apps to download before taking your trip [2022]. the boat will take you to the start of the float and pick you up at the end. A travel blog with stories beyond the brochure, October 4, 2019 | Michael Turtle | 1 Comment. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. The best thing to do is take a boat ride. Along the way, theres a lookout tower that you can climb to get a 360 degree vista of Sian Kaan. We arrived here by bus so, we just crossed the road, paid for the entrance fees and we were on our own. Here is everything you need to know about Sian Kaan tours and my recommendation on who to book with. The first thing youll notice at Muyil are the Mayan ruins by the roadside. The boatman was expecting us, looking not so happy, since weve spent too much time on the canal. The Colectivo will leave you just in front of the Muyil Archaeological Site. We never had to wait for more than 10 minutes for the Colectivo to leave the station. 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. I recommend you should use World Nomads for your trip. It may seem a bit daunting, but the views from the top are unparalleled! Its on the special ecosystem that nature has sculpted on the coast of Mexico. Then we saw a lot of birds on Bird Island before we were allowed to do some snorkeling on the reef, where we saw a nurse shark, bloody amazing!! 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. The rental prices are low compared to other places in the world, and the traffic is good. Soon after the entrance, we realized that everything changed, and we found ourselves in the middle of the jungle. Driving in Yucatan Peninsula is safe and easy. Driving to Sian Kaan is considered going off-road, so you will be breaking your contract going there. Logistically speaking, it is much easier to reach Muyil on your own. 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. Distances to Muyil Ruins from Riviera Maya: Cancun Muyil Ruins:153km, about 2 hours drive, Playa del Carmen Muyil: 83km, about 1h30 drive. A boardwalk, about 500 meters long, led us to an observation deck. The range of biodiversity in the reserve is seriously impressive and we would never pass up a chance to surround ourselves in nature. If you are a digital nomad or planning travel of at least 6 months then go for SafetyWing. Everyone told us to book a tour. After providing us with a lifejacket, he told us that we will wait for us at the end of our floating adventure, 15-20 minutes later. But surprise: we couldnt buy the tickets online. However, if you really want to go to Punta Allen and are on a backpackers budget then this might be your only option. With no one around, we had this place only to ourselves. Thank you! 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). The first way going to Punta Allen is much more difficult. Catch the daily colectivo from the iTour Mexico travel agency in Tulum Pueblo at 2 p.m. It could be a watercolour painting, a perfect composition of colours and lights that is simple in its arrangement but much more compelling than the sum of its parts. Each of these access points will provide entirely different experiences. Looking down into the shallow water, I can see hundreds of small fish swimming. Plus way more comfortable. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Two Wandering Soles are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Do you know if the colectivo is still currently running? After some more research, we realized that our final destination wasnt Muyil butChunyaxch,which is the name of the Lagoon near Muyil. If you want to do the Sian Kaan river float from Muyil its super easy! As I mentioned above there are three ways to get to Sian Kaan. Once again, no one around, and we felt a little bit lost. Follow State Highway 15 past Tulum. LIZYTRAVELSTHEWORLD | PRIVACY POLICY | THEME BYLOVELY CONFETTI. Turn around, take it in, and realise how large the protected biosphere here is. Living Dreams have now merged with Kay Tours as of 2021 same company and same amazing service. Punta Allen is the small fishing village on the coastal side at the south end of the biosphere reserve. The second is to go to Muyil and see some of the inland parts of Sian Kaan, including the forest, mangroves, and lagoons. There is a small parking lot, free of charge, in case you arrive here by car. 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. Again, the water is so clear that I can see fish swimming around my feet. Parking here is free and entrance to the ruins is 45 pesos per person. Then go snorkeling over the protected coral reef. In short, a biosphere reserve is a label given to an ecosystem of unusual scientific and natural interest by UNESCO. We waited no more than 5 minutes until a Colectivo approached the bus station. Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve is a vast region, lying across 5,280 km2 and home to thousands of flora and fauna species. Chichen Itza is the most famous Mayan ruin but is it the best? Required fields are marked *. Its not worth the risk, in case theres a medical emergency or another serious incident. So I put my tour of Sian Kaan on the back burner. It really was a magical day and as far as Im concerned its worth every dime! Most of Sian Kaan is protected land and not inhabited, so if you want to stay there you will need to visit Punta Allen which is a small town within the Biosphere. 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. Now here is the sticking point, and why I realized booking a tour was actually the best option. I really hope this post has been useful to you. 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. We spent 40 minutes into the canal, grabbing the mangroves, taking lots of photos, and enjoying the ride such a fabulous experience. The Palenque ruins in the jungle are not to be missed! Important Note:Due to the incredibly delicate ecosystem in the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve, it is asked that you not wear sunscreen when swimming in the lagoons there. There really isnt a lot to do there, but it would be a cool experience to spend a night there for sure. Thanks to the preservation it is still home to dolphins, manatees, turtles, and a lot of birds. The diverse jungle ecosystem reserve offers one of the most unique experiences in the region. especially right now in 2021 transport by collective to here is much more restricted than ever. 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. Two are tricky one is easy I chose the easy option haha. 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 rate probably wont be fixed (for a foreigner) but expect to pay about $30 (US$1.55). The Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve is the biggest protected area in the Caribbean and a unique place to visit! This is the largest protected area in all of Mexico and is home to a diverse population of speciesincluding some rare and endangered species like the black-handed spider monkey and the West Indian manatee. by | | DESTINATIONS, MEXICO | 0 comments. 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. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter.
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