THE CARIBBEAN MEETS THE MAYAN JUNGLE AT SIAN KA’AN BIOSPHERE RESERVE

Literally translated from the Mayan language as “the gateway to heaven” or “the place where the sky is born”, Sian Ka’an –a UNESCO World Heritage Site—contains a hidden treasure of barely explored Mayan pyramids and temples in a paradisical setting where the crystal-blue Caribbean meets the thick, dense and wet Mayan forest, separated by a delicate fringe of white sands, coastal lagoons, and lush mangroves. A “hotspot” for wildlife watching, Sian Ka’an offers one of the best chances to observe the manatees in the shallow waters that are protected by the Mesoamerican Reef, the world’s second longest coral reef, which teems in all sorts of marine life. The pristine beaches are the nesting spot for four species of endangered marine turtles, while the marshes, coastal lagoons, and the interior forests are an ideal habitat for over 300 species of birds, including the rare jabiru stork, roseate spoonbills, or the beautiful ornate hawk-eagle. Five species of wild felines and a wide array of other mammals, like the charming tree-loving kinkajous or the tayra, a mustelid locally known as viejo de monte (old man of the forest, for its grayish fur), make of Sian Ka’an a wonderful place to get a taste of a coastal Mayan wilderness.