Sian- Ka'an: Muyil

11-14-21

I didn't know very much about Tulum or the surrounding area. I had only heard a lot of people say to me that they loved it there. And as I started researching what there was to do, my excitement grew as I learned more and more. I had never heard of Sian-Ka'an before, and everything I read or heard about the area while researching sounded incredible. This biosphere reserve is the largest protected area in Mexico and is home to a remarkable amount of biodiversity. There are a couple of ways to enter the biosphere to take a tour, one point on the coast in Punta Allen and another that is inland called Muyil. From what I understand, the road to Punta Allen can be time-consuming and tricky, especially if there has been a lot of rain. When I was there in June, almost every day we had rain, so I decided to take the safer bet and see it from Muyil This way, I'd also be able to see more Mayan ruins.

Muyil was also a very short drive from my house in Tulum, making it very convenient to visit. It was almost a straight shot down one major road. I got there earlier in the day, and it wasn't busy. The guy at the ticket office explained the tour to me. I would do the floating canal tour first. Then I would go back by boat, walk the trails through the forest, and end with the Muyil temple ruins. I followed someone by car to another parking area down the road closer to the boat landing. I parked the car, and we followed a dirt path that butterflies were swarming. I saw these big groups of them collected on the ground, and as we would get closer, they would disperse into a giant cloud of butterflies. The guy I followed would also be the one who would take us in the boat to the canals. The Mayans created these canals, he explained, as routes for trade over a thousand years ago.

The boat ride took us through two lagoons and down some canals. Once we docked at the other landing, there was a small ruin there to see. My guide told me that the best way to enjoy the canals is to wear my life preserver like a diaper. I took mine off and then put my legs through the armholes. It will, without doubt, make anyone feel a little silly, but they aren't joking. It is a great way to be in the water and float as the current takes you along for a ride. Mangrove trees line the canals, and the water is almost crystal clear. The entire floating tour down the canal was about 45 minutes long and very relaxing. At the end of the floating trip, there was another small wooden pier where my guide was waiting for me. I walked along a boardwalk through the marsh and back to the spot where I had started the float. I got back in the boat and rode to the original landing. From there, I began walking the forest trail to the ruins.

I loved this trail, you walk along another boardwalk through the swamp, and there is so much to see. About halfway, there is a tower you can climb that takes you above the trees and gives you an incredible view of the entire reserve. At the end of the trail are the Muyil temple ruins. I walked around and spent some time admiring the structures here. No matter how many of these temples I see, they are always extraordinary.

Know Before You Go