SIAN KA'AN
This is a wonderful and almost virgin place. In the
Mayan language its name means, “Where heaven is born”.
It was decreed a natural reserve in 1986 and is located
only 10 minutes from Tulum’s hotel zone.
Enclaves in the marvelous Sian
Ka’an Biosphere Reserve are Punta Allen and Boca Paila,
two perfect places for those seeking contact with nature
in its purest state; two marvelous places where you can
watch colonies of herons, crocodiles and manatees. Punta
Allen has only a few lodging facilities, which are
ecological cabins, built of wood and guano, in a very
rustic, ecological and natural style.
The reserve encompasses all
the main ecosystems in the Central America and the
Caribbean and its flora boasts 800 classified vegetable
species. A total of 2,161 different animal species have
been registered to date, including 339 types of birds,
103 mammal types. Reptiles in the area include the
green, loggerhead and hawksbill sea turtles.
Its coast boasts 120 km of coral-reef barrier, which
belongs to the second most important reef system in the
world, the Great Mayan Reef. The fresh, clear waters
offer an unparalleled coral formations 84 types of
coral, more than 450 fish species and countless other
life forms.
Within the boundaries of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere
Reserve is Bocapaila on a 20-meter-wide peninsula, which
then stretches for another 25 km towards Punta Allen at
Ascension Bay.
There are five entrances to the reserve, located in
Pulticub, Santa Teresa, Chumpon, Chunyaxche and Chac
Mool. Guard parks, working by governmental organization
SEMARNAT, are in each one of the entrances to make sure
the fulfillment of the regulations within the reserve. |
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