Overview
In the Yucatec Mayan language, Sian Ka’an means "where the sky is born". Sian Ka’an is one of the largest protected areas in México at 6520 km² and with an enormous amount of biodiversity. The UNESCO Man and Biosphere programme has three aims: conservation, research, and education. Therefore, people can live within these protected areas and participate in economic activities such as fishing, seasonal agriculture and tourism as long it is done sustainably.
Community support
What you will be doing
Once we enter the reserve, we will drive 40 minutes through the coastal jungle until we reach the boat dock. Please be aware that the road is unpaved and bumpy.
Explore mangrove forests, freshwater springs & the famous Boca Paila where the wetlands meet the sea. With a population of 800 people, the town of Punta Allen is located at the end of a 56km road strip covered with coastal vegetation, the Caribbean Sea on one side and Ascension Bay on the other side. Fishing for lobster is the main source of income in Punta Allen, but tourism has become as important for the local economy because Punta Allen offers an excellent opportunity to experience Caribbean culture and nature. This is a great tour to explore different marine ecosystems where it is possible to see reptiles such as crocodiles and sea turtles, birds like frigates, pelicans, boobies, cormorants, herons, egrets, ospreys and many more. Dolphins are a common sight, and with luck, a manatee can also be seen
If the weather allows it, we will snorkel in the Mesoamerican reef to enjoy sights of its incredible diversity of fish and coral. When it is time to relax, we will visit a beautiful sandbar that the locals refer to as the world's largest swimming pool.
Delicious Caribbean lunch in Punta Allen pueblo
Subject to traffic and hotel location
Where we'll meet
🧭 Meeting/pick-up point: Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
🗺️ Instructions: Please be aware that we will communicate your pick up time via a personalised email and it will vary from the automatic pick up time sent by the booking platform as we have to calculate it manually depending on your hotel/airbnb location.
Things to know
Accessibility:
Children friendly
Fitness requirement
Any fitness level
Tour Language
English
License requirement
None
Additional information:
Most of our group tours require a minimum of 6 people to run the tour. If we do not hit this minimum, we reserve the right to cancel the tour, in which case we will contact you to offer an alternative tour or send a refund.
Credit card payments have a fee up to 7% depending on Credit Cards. We recommend bringing cash.
Inclusion ✅
Snorkelling equipment
Lunch
Refreshments
Air-conditioned vehicle
Entrance ticket
Tour guide
Pick up and drop off transport
Exclusion ❌
Alcoholic beverages
About your host
Mexico Kan ToursSustainability is important to us. We have a zero waste programme: we do not use plastics in our tours - instead, we use refillable water bottles and bring homemade snacks in Tupperware boxes. We also have a recycling and composting programme. We select small, locally owned providers (Cenotes, Sian Kaan, food, restaurants, accommodation) to support local communities, and our team participates in beach/town clean-ups each year We financially support local organisations such as Movida Maya (empowering Mayan kids), Alma Animal (shelter for cats and dogs) and a local kids’ football team (Titanes).
For every trip booked, Kodama Travel donates £1 to Just One Tree to restore our forests and the ocean.