In the heart of the Quintana Roo jungle on the Riviera Maya in Mexico lies a protected wonder, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere, a World Heritage Site with a fragile ecosystem full of impressive plants and animals living and thriving in harmony in this tropical climate weather with abundant rainfall and moderate temperatures.
With a name reminiscing of the Mayans who once lived in this region, Sian Ka'an literally means 'Origin of the Sky' and it’s filled with tropical forests, mangroves and marshes, as well as a large marine section intersected by a barrier reef, providing the habitat for a remarkably rich flora and a fauna. Home to more than 300 species of birds, as well as a large number of the region's characteristic terrestrial vertebrates, which cohabit in the diverse environment formed by its complex hydrological system, Sian Ka’an is guaranteed to amaze you at every step.
Getting to the Sian Ka’an biosphere is not the easiest, but places like the Kasa Hotel Parota Tulum, the hotel we stayed at make it easier by not only providing a safe and luxurious refuge in the town of Tulum, but also taking take of all the logistics from Cancun Airport to Tulum and further on to the Sian Ka’an adventure. From the luxurious suites to the family-friendly atmosphere, Kasa Hotel Parota Tulum is guaranteed to offer you the perfect relaxation before diving into the Sian Ka’an Biosphere. Aiming to provide the upscale luxury that has been missing at times in bohemic Tulum, Kasa also features an infinity-edge pool and complimentary bicycles for those looking to explore the nearby shops, restaurants, bars and beaches, along with locally-made organic toiletries, and free WiFi on the premises.Kasa Hotel Parota Tulum is also a family-friendly hotel, welcoming guests with children of all ages and more importantly providing adequate entertainment for every age from a signature infinity-edge swimming pool with a swim-up bar and restaurant, a shallow “beach” area for sun loungers and a place for children to play.
There so much that can be explored and said about Sian Ka’an, which is why we decided the best way to do it was with an organized tour from Kasa Hotel Parota Tulumand armed with the GoPro Hero7 Silver, a camera that is guaranteed to not only take amazing photos, but also survive the humid jungle, the dives in the water to see the underwater life or a trip through the cenotes. And it connects everything to the phone that can stay tucked away and protected from the elements.
To the naked eye, it may seem like just an ordinary adventure camera that fits in the palm of your hand, but the Hero 7 Silver is far from that. Built to function perfectly both above and underwater, the Hero 7 Silver was the perfect companion for this rugged tropical trip that allowed us to jump in the water when needed or take a photo of one of the numerous species of plants and animals around. To make it even easier, it features voice control for those moments when your hands are busy paddling away. It automatically makes photos look amazing in any light, whether you’re out in bright sunshine or in the shade of the luxurious jungle, with HDR, local tone mapping and noise reduction. You can even do a super smooth, stabilized time-lapse video of your adventure in the Sian Ka’an.
The Cenotes, a unique part of this region are basically natural sinkholes that have been filled with water, creating underground caves that connect the freshwater resources and bring to life a wealth of eco-diversity, comprised of diverse coastline, mangroves and a fascinating marine area with noteworthy corals and seagrass beds.
We decided to go with the Sian Ka’an Muyil experience offered by Kasa Hotel Parota Tulum, as it offered the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation. One of the most visited sites in Sian Ka’an, apart from the cenotes that are peppered throughout the entire area is the archeological site of Muyil, an ancient Mayan trading post where visitors can see the ruins of ancient Mayan temples, such as “El Castillo” (“castle” in Spanish), that rises up to 57 ft.
The Muyil river float gives visitors the opportunity to dive into one of the most spectacular locations in Sian Ka’an and in the Riviera Maya. The boat trip takes visitors across two lagoons, Muyil and Chunyaaxche, only to end up at Xlapak, the building at the beginning of the lazy river and the start of an incredible floating experience in crystal clear rainwater on its way to the Caribbean Sea.
The canal was built over 1000 years ago by the Mayans to connect the lagoons and since then it has not been changed or enhanced in any way by the visitors, making it a natural wonder of groundwater flowing out towards the ocean.
Furthermore, the water gets filtered through the limestone, which makes it crystal clear. And with the canal only being about 4-6 feet deep, it resembles more of a lazy river where you can freely float, while taking in all the wildlife, admiring the mangroves and even spotting some rare birds.
As one of the largest protected areas in Mexico, the Sian Ka’an, measuring about 1.3 million acres, is filled with diverse tropical forests, palm savannah, one of the most pristine wetlands in the region, lagoons, extensive mangrove stands, as well as sandy beaches and dunes, hosting a huge part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which makes the underwater views just as spectacular as the above water ones. Another reason for which we needed the GoPro on this trip.
Once the floating relaxation is done, a fantastic meal awaits, a meal designed to satisfy your appetite and cap the day on an even more serene note and prepare you for the return to Kasa Hotel Parota Tulum. Back at the hotel, we had the choice of enjoying a delicious dinner at Kocina, the in-house restaurant or taking one of the complimentary bicycles to explore the area and all its culinary offerings.
