Exploring Mexico"s Riviera Maya

Sian Ka án - a magical destination in Mexico's Riviera MayaIn Mayan, Sian Ka'an means 'Origin of the Sky'. Once you visit, you'll see why. Sian Ka'an is a small ecotourism and education center and serves as a model for sustainable development in sensitive tropical ecosystems. This biosphere reserve contains tropical forests, mangroves and marshes, as well as a large marine area intersected by a barrier reef, providing a habitat for a remarkably rich flora and a fauna comprising more than 300 species of birds. The unkempt beaches, blue-green sea, bird-filled wetlands and islets, and humble accommodations are manna for bird-watchers, artists, snorkelers, and kayakers. But most of the visitors come here for the fishing--Sian Ka'an is one of the best fly-fishing spots in the world, especially for the "big three" catches: bonefish, tarpon, and permit. Casual, tranquil, secluded and utterly laid back, there are beachfront cabanas along one of the last untouched corners of the Mayan Riviera. Explore the Mayan ruins dotting the jungle landscape, snorkel on the Barrier Reef that lies just beyond your sandy toes, kayak into the turquoise waters or the vast saltwater lagoon behind, gorge on seafood or just relax the day away. Getting there:Many of the hotels include airport pickup/drop-off but a rental car is useful if you'd like to do some exploring on your own.Xel Ha
Located south of Playa, Xel-Ha is an eco-archaeological site that dates back to when the Maya Civilization settled on the eastern coastline. The name is the combination of the roots xel that means "spring" and ha that means "water". Xel-Ha is nature as no one has ever felt it before, a place to share in celebrating the biological parade of the Riviera Maya. Fantastic snorkeling, dolphins, parrots, iguanas, and jump into rivers or cruise lazily down the rivers in a rubber ring. And...have you ever dreamed of stepping through the aquarium glass? That dream is a reality in Xel-Ha, the largest natural open sea aquarium in the world, offering a myriad of land and water activities, ecological attractions, world-class restaurants, and countless adventures only dreamers and doers ever experience.

Getting there:
Xel-Ha is only a short drive or bus ride from Tulum.