Source: www.infoproductreview.org

When people think of Tulum they have a mental image of large, white sand beaches, cool places to stay, ecclectic community and a night sky that has more stars than most people have ever seen. This is picture is true, all of it, but what many don’t know is that the landscape is much more diverse than this. The beach is large, and beautiful and wonderful. But if you walk across the street to the jungle, a whole other world awaits. If you take  crusie to the south, an even larger and more diverse world awaits that offers a whole other side to your Tulum vacation. Envision fresh water lagoons, dense jungle, over 1.5 million acres of protected land that is full of completely different activities.

Sian Kaan biosphere south of Casa de las Olas – our eco neighbours

Facts – Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve – a 1.5 million acre protected Unesco World Heritage site, the largest protected area in the state of Quintana Roo and the Mayan Riviera. Building is limited and the area is dense. The only way to see the biosphere is by water, in the ocean and the hundreds of lagoons that are inland.

Activity options – Guided boat tours in the lagoon, guided ocean tours in small boats. Kayak through the Caapechen Lagoon and learn about the various flora, fauna, and ecosystems of the Reserve.

Kayaking can be guided or unguided, take your pick

Sometimes it is nice to discover new places on your own. Seasoned kayakers are wired to this type of adventure. Kayakers work hard at their education and skills to ensure independance and discovery. Different tour operators offer guided and unguided tours of the Sian Kaan, and our preference is both! Just to make things interesting we do support both options and hope that guests have time for both.

The guided tour brings a wealth of knowledge and know-how from local guides who know the area, the birds, the interesting places and cool details. They are fun to hang with, give you a great overview and will fill you in on some of their experiences in the Sian Kaan.

The unguided tour after your overview, will bring you to areas of the lagoon that you want to explore. The surprises can be fun, the adventure always a thrill and time on the water with a kayaking partner, pricelesss! the difference between these two experiences rounds out anyone’s Tulum experience.

Cool thing is kayaking and bird watching is best done first thing in the morning. Take a cruise, discover something new and then head to the beach and stay cool for the rest of the day. Your kayaking excursion does not have to be an entire day so it leaves you open to other experiences that Tulum has to offer, and that is many!

Diversity is what we love about Tulum and our eco neighbor the Sian Kaan.

Take a walk, kayak, take a drive or a bike into the protected area of our neighbor the Sian Kaan. It is almost like saying that Yellowstone Park is out neighbor or the grand canyon, or for you Canadians out there Alconquin Park or the Rockies. All of these areas offer activities close by that challenge you physically and mentally.

Check out more activities that you can do on your Tulum vacation!

Elkhorn coral and staghorn coral has been placed on the threatened species list. This coral species is located thoughout the Caribbean and Southern United States but is a threatened species in areas close to Florida and the US Virgin islands. Off the shore in Tulum, snorkelers and divers will see both elkhorn and staghorn coral alive and well and in large colonies!

Mesoamerican reef off the beaches of Tulum

The mesoamerican reef is located off the shores of Tulum, creating a barrier that can be seen on a windy day. Look out at the ocean and you will see where the waves break. This is where the reef starts in Tulum and stretches for kilometers beyond this point. If you take a dive or snorkel trip to this area you will see large colonies of stagorn and elkhorn coral.

The coral was named after these animals as it does look like the antlers on these animals.

What is elkhorn and staghorn coral?

Both of these coral species are part of the Acropora coral family. They are large, branching coral with thick and sturdy antler-like branches. Colonies are fast growing: branches increase in length by 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) per year when in ideal living conditions, with colonies reaching their maximum size in approximately 10-12 years. Over the last 10,000 years, elkhorn coral has been one of the three most important Caribbean corals contributing to reef growth and development and providing essential fish habitat.

If you are looking for fish while in the ocean, look out for elkhorn and staghor coral where fish hangout. Both of these species survive well in shallow water so snorkelers are in luck! Parrot fish, lobsters and damsel fish are known to hang out with the this coral species.

Enjoy an ocean adventure while in Tulum

Tulum is a special area for an ocean adventure. There has been little damage to this part of the Mesoamerican reef so enthusiasts will find fish and coral species not found in other areas. Diving and snorkeling is popular with daily tours available to guests and visitors of Tulum.  The reef starts just meters off the beaches of Tulum, making snorkeling easy for beginners and interesting for seasoned snorkelers. If you want to snorkel within the reef break, your snorkel trip will feel like a treasure hunt as you search for independent colonies of coral that are separate from the barrier of the Mesoamerican reef just 100 to 200 meters from shore.

Looking for a local guide to show your the treasures of the Mesoamerican reef? Let us know so we can introduce you to some of our friends and local guides that are oce