It’s only been a few days since the south section of the Maya Train launched from Cancun, and though the locomotive’s arrival to Tulum has received extensive coverage, little to no attention has been paid to all the other incredible destinations that have also become more accessible to tourists.
It turns out that if you ride the train past the crowded beaches of southern Quintana Roo and the bustling Tulum resorts, you’ll reach one of Mexico’s best-kept secrets, lying just south of the popular town, where you’ll find both beautiful, unspoiled nature and Mayan ruins.
This winter, it’s time you discover Sian Kaʼan, Mexico’s ‘Gates of Heaven’:
This Is Where Heaven Begins
We’re not merely being poetic.
It actually means ‘Gates of Heaven’ in the Yucatec Mayan language, or ‘the place where heaven begins‘, and while you may dispute that claim if you have other religious beliefs, we’ll be taking the ancient peoples’ word for it.
Sian Ka’an is officially a Biosphere Reserve, one of the largest in Mexico, covering an area of 2,039 square miles of undeveloped jungles canal-traversed marshlands, animal sanctuaries, and as many as 23 archeological sites––that’s over 10% of Quintana Roo’s total landmass!
It includes both coastal and inland areas, and if you’re arriving from Tulum, there are two main entry points: Punta Allen, a headland jutting out into the Caribbean, and Muyil, the lagoon-dotted hinterland where most of the historical monuments are concentrated.
What To Know About Visiting Sian Ka’an From Tulum
Getting to Punta Allen is the most tricky part, as it can take up a shocking 4 hours to drive the 35 miles from Tulum to the isolated village––they call this winding, potholed road linking both municipalities the worst in Mexico for a reason.
Luckily, you can book a day tour from Tulum that will take you to all the hidden beach spots and traditional Mayan settlements, as well as cover transportation, logistics and even food, at a total duration of 10 hours.
On the other hand, Muyil is far more accessible, located a short 29-minute drive from the Maya Train station in downtown Tulum, and if it’s the ancient Mayan culture that makes your heart pound faster, this is where you’ll want to spend the day.
It plays host to the Muyil Ruins, one of the oldest and longest-inhabited Mayan cities of Antiquity, including a monumental step pyramid, and a series of other richly-decorated temples in varying states of preservation, that are yet to know the spoils of overtourism.
Muyil is indisputably the most fascinating half of Sian Ka’an: other than historical landmarks, it offers a wide range of nature-based activities, from swimming in open-air cenotes, to navigating Mayan canals, to bird-watching.
This half-day tour leaving from Tulum costs only $133 to book, lasting 6 hours from pickup to drop-off.
Using The Maya Train To Get To Sian Ka’an
Sian Ka’an is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its largely untouched status by the staggering levels of mass tourism that plague much of the Quintana Roo coast makes it even more appealing a destination.
Based on information on the Maya Train website, the southbound service currently runs once a day from Cancun Airport.
It leaves Cancun at 8 a.m. and stops in Playa Del Carmen, Tulum, Tulum Airport, and Felipe Carrillo Puerto, the latter of which lies just west of the reserve.
It pulls up to Tulum Station, in the center of town, at 9:36.
Tickets at the ‘International Tourist’ fare, which applies to U.S. tourists, start from 384.50 Mexican pesos, or around $20.
The center of Tulum is a popular pick-up point for guided tours of Sian Ka’an.
Staying Overnight To Visit The Park
If you’re only visiting the ruins in Tulum, and you’re not adding a side trip to the reserve, you can return home later in the vending at 7:51 pm, totalizing 5h30 in town.
That’s not possible if you plan on visiting Sian Ka’an as well, as most day tours take between 6-10 hours.
Lucky for budget-conscious tourists, if you’re staying overnight to go on a tour of Sian Ka’an, and catch the next train back to Cancun the following day, there’s no need to splurge on another all-inclusive Tulum hotel:
For example, you can go glamping by the seaside from $44, book a cheaper, boutique hotel that will set you back by a still-acceptable $90, or even opt for an inexpensive Aparthotel at Valhalla Residence, costing $52 this season, down from $179.
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