The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve protects more than 500,000 hectares of tropical forests, wetlands, mangroves, lagoons, beaches and coral reef.

It lies immediately south of Tulum and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

In the Mayan language, the name Sian Ka’an means ‘the place where the sky is born’ or ‘the origin of the sky’. The reserve is one of Mexico’s most valuable natural areas, but also one of the least straightforward places for the average visitor to navigate.

This is because Sian Ka’an is not a single specific attraction with a single entrance. You can visit two very different parts.

The inland route leads via Muyil to the lagoons and Mayan canals. The coastal route continues through the mangroves and across the sea to the fishing village of Punta Allen.

Compare trips to Sian Ka’an

Muyil or Punta Allen?

Your choice of route depends mainly on whether you’re more interested in the Mayan canals or wildlife watching at sea.

	Muyil	Punta Allen
Type of landscape	jungle, freshwater lagoons and canals	mangroves, sea, beaches and coral reef
Main attraction	swimming through a natural canal	boat trip to see dolphins, turtles and birds
Duration of the trip	half a day	Full day
Journey from Tulum	Straightforward along the main road	a long and very bumpy journey
Suitable for	a more peaceful trip combining nature and history	wildlife and marine life spotting
Price	Lower	significantly higher

If you want to choose just one part, Muyil is easier for most visitors.

The trip is shorter, the transport is much more comfortable, and swimming through the Mayan Canal offers an experience you won’t find anywhere else on the Riviera Maya.

We particularly recommend Punta Allen to those who want to spend the whole day on a boat and for whom wildlife spotting is the main attraction.

Inland section: Muyil and the Mayan canals

The inland part of the reserve is accessible via the Muyil archaeological site, which lies approximately 25 km south of Tulum.

The trip usually begins with a tour of the smaller Mayan ruins. You then continue through the jungle to the Muyil and Chunyaxché lagoons, where you’ll board a boat.

👉 Muyil: ruins, lagoons and a swim through the Mayan canal

The coastal section: Punta Allen

Punta Allen is a small fishing village within the Sian Ka’an reserve. It lies at the end of the coastal road, approximately 50 km from the Arco Maya entrance gate.

The main activity here is boat trips through the mangroves, lagoons and the Bahía de la Ascensión marine area. During the trip, you can spot dolphins, sea turtles, crocodiles, stingrays, manatees and many species of birds.

👉 Punta Allen: boat trips and a journey through the Sian Ka’an reserve

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