Profile of Community Tours Sian Ka'an

Community Tours Sian Ka'an is a Mayan-operated alliance of three tour operators that work together to provide sustainable tourism opportunities to visitors wishing to see the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve at Mexico's Riviera Maya.

Community Tours Sian Ka'an offers day-long small group and fly fishing tours to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve in Muyil and Punta Allen on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. These tours are designed to showcase the fragile ecosystems in Sian Ka'an, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to educate visitors about the flora, fauna and cultural heritage of the Riviera Maya and to minimize the impact of tourism on the Biosphere Reserve.

Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, Muyil, Punta Allen and Asencion Bay, Mexico.

Varies. Tours are suitable for people of all ages and can be adapted to meet the needs of participants.

N/A. Community Tours Sian Ka'an offers day tours only.

Varies by trip. Most day tours cost $70 - $99 per person, departing from Community Tours' office. The fly fishing tour is $550 for one or two people.

Up to eight hours.

• Community Tours Sian Ka'an was created from three local tour companies in Mexico's Riviera Maya area. Community Tours employs local guides and support staff from the local Mayan community.



• Community Tours Sian Ka'an works with nearby hotels committed to sustainable tourism and with groups such as the Friends of World Heritage, Rare Conservation and the UN Foundation to train staff and promote sustainable tourism opportunities in the Riviera Maya.



• Tour fees include transportation from Community Tours' office; you can arrange for hotel pickup for an extra charge.



• Tour choices include visiting Mayan ruins and floating on a canal within the Biosphere Reserve, birdwatching, and fly fishing.



• The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve has walking paths and boardwalks. Some of the paths are uneven because they pass through mangrove forests and limestone outcroppings.



• If you are concerned about long walks or accessibility issues, contact Community Tours before you book your trip.



• Tour groups are small, with a maximum of 12 guests. This minimizes the impact of tourism on the Biosphere Reserve.



• Community Tours' guides are Mayans who live near the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. They are happy to share information about plants, animals, Mayan history and local culture with you.



• Community Tours' guides are multilingual. Most guides speak Mayan, Spanish and English.



• Community Tours operates on a limited schedule to help preserve the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, so it's best to reserve your tour at least a week in advance.



• You can pay for your tour in U.S. dollars or Mexican pesos. An extra charge applies if you pay by credit card.

Contact Information:

+ (52) 984 871 22 02 from outside Mexico; 01 984 871 22 02 from within Mexico

Community Tours Sian Ka'an

Avenida Tulum s/n, entre Beta Norte y Orion

Tulúm, Quintana Roo

México

website

Email: info@siankaan tours.org

_{As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary tour for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.}