☰Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve

The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve — the name means "where the sky is born" in Maya — covers more than 600,000 hectares of tropical forest, mangroves, marshes, and coral reef stretching south of Tulum. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest protected areas in Mexico. Half-day boat tours from the beach road take visitors into the lagoon system where manatees, crocodiles, and over 300 species of birds can be spotted. The canals threading through the mangroves were built by the ancient Maya and still function today as navigable waterways. Arrange a tour through any of the established operators in the Tulum beach zone; avoid the informal touts at the reserve entrance.