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It’s only been a few days since the southern leg of the Mayan Train left Cancun, and while the locomotive’s arrival in Tulum has received a lot of attention extensive cover, little to no attention all others have been paid incredible destinations that have that Also become more accessible to tourists.
It turns out that if you take the train past the busy beaches of southern Quintana Roo and the bustling resorts of Tulum, you’ll reach one of Mexico’s best-kept secrets, just south of the popular city, where you’ll find both beautiful , untouched nature and Mayan ruins.
This winter it’s time for you to discover it Sian Ka’anMexico’s ‘Gates of Heaven’:
This is where heaven begins
We’re not just being poetic.
It actually means ‘Gates of Heaven’ in the Yucatecan Mayan language, or ‘the place where heaven begins‘, and while you may dispute that claim if you have other religious beliefs, we’ll take the word of the ancient peoples.
Sian Ka’an is officially a biosphere reserve, one of the largest in Mexico, covering 3,000 square kilometers of undeveloped jungles, canal-crossed swamps, animal sanctuaries and a whopping 23 archaeological sites. more than 10% of the total landmass of Quintana Roo!
It includes both coastal and inland areas, and if you arrive from Tulum, that is also the case two major access points: Punta Allen, a spit of land jutting out into the Caribbean, and Muyil, the lagoon-dotted hinterland where most of the historical monuments are concentrated.
What you need to know about visiting Sian Ka’an from Tulum
Reaching Punta Allen is the trickiest part, as it can take as much as four hours to drive the 56 kilometers from Tulum to the isolated village – they call this winding, potholed road that connects both municipalities. the worst in Mexico for a reason.
Luckily, from Tulum you can book a day tour that takes you to all the hidden beach spots and traditional Mayan settlements, and also covers transportation, logistics, and even food, with a total duration of 10 hours.
On the other hand, Muyil is much more accessiblelocated just a 29-minute drive from the Mayan Train Station in central Tulum, and if it’s the ancient Mayan culture that gets your heart pumping, then this is where you’ll want to spend the day.
It is host to the Muyil Ruins, one of the oldest and longest inhabited Mayan cities from antiquity, including a monumental step pyramid and a series of other lavishly decorated temples in various states of preservation, which have yet to experience the spoils of overtourism.
Muyil is indisputably the most fascinating half of Sian Ka’an: in addition to historical sights, it offers a wide range of nature activities, from swimming in open-air cenotes to navigating Mayan canals and birdwatching.
This half day tour departing from Tulum costs only $133 can be booked, from 6 hours from pick-up to return.
With the Mayan train to Sian Ka’an
Sian Ka’an is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its status largely untouched by the staggering levels of mass tourism plaguing much of Quintana Roo’s coast it is an even more attractive destination.
Based on information on the Maya Train website, the southern service currently runs once a day from the Cancun airport.
The bus departs Cancun at 8:00 AM and stops in Playa Del Carmen, Tulum, Tulum Airport and Felipe Carrillo Puerto, the latter of which is just west of the reservation.
The bus stops at Tulum station, in the center of the city, at 9:36 AM.
Tickets at the ‘International Tourist’ rate, which applies to American tourists, start from 384.50 Mexican pesos, or about $20.
Tulum city center is a popular starting point for Sian Ka’an tours.
Stay overnight to visit the park
If you only visit the ruins in Tulum and do not add a trip to the reserve, you can return home later in the vending machine at 7:51 PM. a total of 5:30 hours in the city.
That is not possible if you also want to visit Sian Ka’an, as most day trips last between 6 and 10 hours.
Luckily for budget-conscious tourists, if you stay overnight to tour Sian Ka’an and catch the next train back to Cancun the next day, you don’t have to spend money on another all-inclusive hotel in Tulum:
For example, you can go glamping on the coast from $44book a cheaper one, boutique hotel that will cost you a still acceptable $90, or even opt for a cheap one Aparthotel at Valhalla Residence, will cost $52 this season, down from $179.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
