Earthly paradises still exist and are within our reach. It is true that every day the media inform us about the devastation of ecosystems and generate the idea that we have less and less pristine and overflowing places of nature. Fortunately, Tulum has the great Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve, which in Mayan means, where the sky is born. The perfect definition for a natural sanctuary of immeasurable beauty. Without a doubt, one of the most important in Mexico.
It is an area of land and bodies of water of 528 thousand 147 hectares, declared a World Heritage Site in 1987 by UNESCO. It is located three hours from the Cancun airport and approximately 40 kilometers from downtown Tulum. An authentic natural sanctuary with beaches, dunes, cenotes, coral reefs and a rainforest, where more than 300 species of birds, more than 1000 plants and about 100 species of animals inhabit.
There are 23 archaeological sites in the reserve. The oldest date from the 5th century A.D. The eldest is Muyil, which was an important point of the Mayan trade route. It has a spectacular lagoon of the same name and a viewpoint from where you can photograph the lagoon and the Caribbean Sea.
There are several options to enjoy the reserve, undoubtedly one of the natural attractions that attract more travelers are the old freshwater canals, built by the Mayas, such as the Chunyaxché Canal, which constitutes a water access to the Sian Ka’an reserve. On the boat tour you can admire hundreds of birds, Mayan ruins surrounded by water, swampy lands, coastal lagoons and formations known as petenes. On the coast, it is still possible to see herds of dolphins enjoying the crystal clear waters of the Mexican Caribbean. Needless to say, at night the sky full of stars is a true luxury.
To get there you have several options. From the city of Cancun you must take the federal road to Tulum and take the deviation by av. Coba in the direction of the hotel zone. The most advisable thing is to hire a tour agency that organizes expeditions to the reserve with different activities, so you only have to worry about enjoying your visit. You can also rent a car, preferably a jeep, because, once crossing the arch towards the reserve, 40 km of rugged dirt awaits you.
The key to enjoying your visit is a good planning, because since it is a protected natural area, it lacks basic services such as gas stations, self-service stores, and so on. You can get to Punta Allen, which is the town embedded in the furthest part of the reserve, where you can also stay.
Remember that traveling to protected areas represents a big responsibility, since they are fragile and invaluable ecosystems. Seeking conservation and causing minimal impact is our duty as conscious travelers.