Spectacular Sights at Sian Ka’an: Off the Beaten Path in the Riviera Maya

If you’re looking for an unspoiled, natural paradise, then look no further than Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, this reserve is almost 1.3 million acres of pristine mangroves, forest, savannas, and lagoons. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, Sian Ka’an is home to a huge variety of flora and fauna, including 315 species of birds, 48 species of mammals, and over 1000 species of plants. In this article, we will explore the magic of Sian Ka’an, looking at its history, unique wildlife, and conservation efforts. Get ready to be transported to an extraordinary world of natural beauty!

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What is a Biosphere reserve?

Before we visited Tulum, I had never heard of a biosphere. But the moment I found out that the Sian Ka’an  Biosphere Reserve was close by and there would be birds, of course I was hooked.

It turns out that UNESCO launched the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MABP) in 1971. It aims to establish a scientific basis for the improvement of relationships between people and their environments.an and the Biosphere Programme. Nowadays there are 686 sites in 122 countries! And Tulum is right next to one. 

In addition to being a biosphere, Sian Ka’an got selected to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Do not miss out on visiting this breath taking biosphere when you are in the Riviera Maya!

What’s in a Name? Sian Ka’an

First let us dive into the name.  The name Sian Ka’an is a Mayan phrase, meaning The sky’s birthplace. It is on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, on the eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula. This biosphere contains a partially emerged coastal limestone plain, and includes part of the extensive barrier reef system. 

It is covered by lots of forest, has palm savannah formations, freshwater and saltwater marshes, mangroves and dunes. There are 4,000 plant and 28 mammal species, including jaguars and pumas. 

Due to all the aquatic habitats, there are many marine and wading birds. Also, there are  twenty-three Mayan sites in the reserve. Sian Ka’an  is a nesting area for turtles, sea and marshland birds.  As an added bonus, they have 84 species of coral in their coral reef!

How To  Visit Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

Since you should visit this amazing place, look for tours out of Tulum, and other places like Playa Del Carmen and even Cancun. Here are some top ways to experience Sian Ka’an. Or follow this detailed guide for doing it on your own. When we visited, we took a tour out of Tulum. In preparation for the tour, Tom checked the weather forecast on his iPhone while I went with the low-tech, trusted method of the weather rock. So much more reliable!

Jeep tour through the jungle

We booked our tour at a small tourist place in Tulum. Early in the morning, they bussed us to a place close to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, where we changed to jeeps. When we arrived, there was an option of driving our own jeep or having a driver. Since the driving looked iffy, we opted for the driver. There was another option of taking a boat to Sian Ka’an which in hindsight we would have taken, since the jeep ride was super bumpy.

However bumpy it was, it also was exhilarating to drive through the jungle. While we were driving, our driver entertained us by telling us many facts about the Sian Ka’an Biosphere. We enjoyed listening to his stories about life in the jungle. Disappointedly, we didn’t see birds while driving. I have to admit that I had hoped for parrots or monkeys. In retrospect, I suspect the jeeps were too loud and scared away any birds or wild life. 

Lunch at the Water

When we arrived at a small building , we had lunch with fruit and quesadillas. It was nice to stretch our legs after being in the jeep for a long time and look forward to exploring the Sian Ka’an waters. 

Our Boat Trip

After having a good lunch, it was time to board the boat. One thing I didn’t expect is how windy it was. I never imagined I would be COLD when we were in Mexico. Turns out I was wrong. I highly recommend bringing some extra layers if you do this tour. 

It did not take long before we saw our first dolphins. Wow! I had never seen dolphins in the wild, so that was a huge treat! While they did their playful jumping and swimming, I took many pictures of the water where a dolphin just disappeared. I clearly have a lot of room for improvement in my dolphin photography skills,

After hanging out with the dolphins for a while, they took us to a nice sandy beach where we could swim and snorkel. We noticed that the sand in Sian Ka’an is very white. We were half fascinated and half horrified when our guide shared the interesting tidbit that these white sand beaches here are mostly made out of fish poop. It turns out that parrot fish eat pieces of reef, which they grind up and then poop out as  white sand… Sometimes it is nice not to know too much!

Birding

Naturally we had to do some bird watching. When we went around one of the islands, there were many birds. For example, we saw egrets, herons, roseate spoonbills, magnificent frigate birds and of course the ubiquitous pelicans. This was my first time seeing a white pelican! 

I wish the birding part of the trip had been longer, but I thoroughly enjoyed all the birds that we did see. This island has a huge variety of birds using it as a rest stop during migration. I would love to go back there!

Our captain tried to find a crocodile for us, but he was unable to do so on this trip. As always, nature is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get. 

Back to the Village

After admiring the birds for a while, we went back to the dock. They served a nice snack and we walked around town for a bit. Even although there was no Starbucks, Tom found good coffee. 

And Back Home to Enjoy a Flaming Coffee!

Sadly enough, all good things must come to an end, so we got into our Jeep and drove out of Sian Ka’an, this time with birds showing up. We were happy to see a blue heron gracefully taking off over the water. We celebrated our awesome day with a Flaming Mexican Coffee, always fun!

Other Biospheres Reserves

After reading about Sian Ka’an, I am sure you wonder where you can find other biospheres. The UNESCO website has a good overview, but I also will summarize a few USA and Mexico ones. 

Mexico

Apart from the Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve, Mexico has a large number of  biosphere reserves. In fact they now have more biospheres than the USA. A complete list of the 42 Mexican Biosphere Reserves can by found here. The ones that are on my bucket list for sure are 

• Isla Cozumel. This island is close to Playa Del Carmen. It is part of the second largest reef system in the world, the Mesoamerican Reef, which is home to more than a thousand marine species. In addition, there are close to 40 Mayan archaeological sites.
• Mariposa Monarca. After I read the book Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver, I knew I wanted to visit the winter migration place of the Monarch butterflies. Every year millions of Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) complete their migratory cycle here, migrating from Canada and the United States.

Actually, I would love to visit any of these biospheres reserves. Looking forward to exploring at least some of them. Stay tuned for a post about Isla Cozumel.

USA

When I started researching UNESCO biosphere reserved in the USA, I was dismayed to find out that we used to have 47 biospheres, but 18 of them got quietly withdrawn in 2017 and 2018. So at this point we have only 28 biospheres reserves left. Many of them  you would recognize as part of our National Park System, such as

• Everglades & Dry Tortugas.  This reserve also includes Fort Jefferson National Monument, which consists of a group of seven coral reefs called the Dry Tortugas National Park. In addition, the reserve contains some 200 known archaeological sites. Lots of historic Native American use for settlement, farming and fishing activities.
• Hawaiian Islands. This biosphere reserve comprises Haleakala and Hawaii Volcanoes National Parks. The Hawaiian ecosystems are very diverse, from rain forest to desert scrub and coastal strand to alpine. Enjoy Hawai’i by snorkeling!
• Yellowstone – Grand Teton. In 1872, Yellowstone was the first national park in the world. Later, in 1976, it became one of the first biosphere reserves. The area is part of the most seismically active region of the Rocky Mountains and lies on a volcanic ‘hot spot’.

Sian Ka’an Biosphere Conclusion

1. Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a variety of ecological landscapes;
2. It provides refuge for endangered species and offers activities such as wildlife watching, kayaking and snorkeling;
3. It is the largest protected area in the state of Quintana Roo.

When you are in the Riviera Maya, you love nature and are tired of too many tourists, take a break by going to Sian Ka’an. Go see marine wild life and tons of birds. Have you ever been to Sian Ka’an? What about other biosphere reserves? Did you even know about biospheres at all?

The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present.

Alice Morse Earle

Other Must-See UNESCO World Heritage Sites

World Heritage Sites in the Americas

• Sian Ka’an Biosphere in Mexico: where the sun was born;
• The Everglades: both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve;
• The Statue of Liberty in New York City, USA;
• Take an Alaska cruise and visit Glacier Bay National Park;
• Go watch whales in Quebec City;
• Puerto Rico Does it Better! Old San Juan and fun facts about Puerto Rico

World Heritage Sites in Europe

• Paris around the Seine;
• Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam: right in the middle of the historic Canals District;
• Passau, Germany, often the start or end of a Danube river cruise;
• Matera, Italy: the oldest continually habituated place in the world, also called the City of Caves;

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