Get to know Sian Ka'an (Tulum)
Find your favorite destination and explore its charms
Sian Ka'an is one of the most important nature reserves in Mexico, due to the nine ecosystems contained within it (among them, forests, mangroves, wetlands, and reefs) and the four endangered species that live there: jaguars, tapirs, manatees, and peccaries. It is also home to 300 bird species and around 100 species of mammals. On account of this, UNESCO declared it a reserve in 1986 and granted it World Heritage status a year later.
Tulum is located within Sian Ka’an (which means “spell” or “gift from heaven” in the Maya language). The rest of Sian Ka’an is divided up into various municipalities, including Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Bacalar, and Othon P. Blanco. The Pueblo Mágico of Tulum is thus the entryway to the floating canals of Muyil, which also houses an archaeological site.
There are several Mayan communities on the outskirts of the reserve and they are often in charge of organizing expeditions to Sian Ka’an. These expeditions and excursions include a variety of activities, such as kayaking, hiking in search of jaguars, birdwatching, swimming in cenotes, and spending time with the locals, who often hold workshops and classes on honey production, medicinal herbs, and the Mayan language.
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Sian Ka'an (Tulum)
