Kayak Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

Posted By : Pdxorlisa
We had an AMAZING afternoon paddling with our guide Rick - and I highly recommend this tour for anyone who loves to see and learn about wildlife and the Sian Ka'an Biosphere. Always from distances that respected the wildlife, we saw my favorite pink bird - the roseate spoonbill, plus a great horned owl and its baby, pelicans, frigate bird, osprey, many species of heron including green and double breasted and so much more. And in the water we saw puffer fish and actually floated over a crocodile! Watching the sunset surrounded by birds coming in to nest was wonderful. In addition to being extremely knowledgeable, Rick gave us options about how much we wanted to paddle. Because we were all experienced paddlers, he took us on an extended adventure that led us to the owl nest. This was the second time we toured with Yucatan Outdoors - and we'll be back!
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Posted On : 2024-02-10

Posted By : MRK54321
Excellent experience. Ricardo was so hospitable and knowledgeable. We saw so many different birds and fish. I would go on this tour again in a heartbeat
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Posted On : 2024-01-30

Posted By : Erica_S
Absolutely stunning sunset in the kayaks in such pristine waters. Very peaceful with beautiful birds, a puffer fish and a tiny crocodile. Guide was patient with the kids, very accommodating, and had a wealth of knowledge about the area and wildlife. Fruit and burrito were good as well! It was amazing and even though it was expensive it was worth it. A definite highlight!
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Posted On : 2023-12-27

Posted By : natalielT2446JI
A fantastic way to truly appreciate the savage beauty of Sian Ka'an. We met at the entrance of the reserve and first went for a snorkel in the local Senote - with the guides free-diving down. We then drove (our car) into the reserve for about 5km to a spot in the jungle where we had fresh guacamole prepared for us and other veggie salads whilst chatting and waiting for the sun to be lower. Actually a great way to soak into the atmosphere of the mangroves. One hour before sunset we were on the kayaks with our guides, Ulyses and Ricardo and headed off into the mangroves. Guides were super knowledgeable about the ecology and very respectful of the wildlife. Initially stayed in the shallows (50cm) listening to the call of the herons then as sun set moved into the wider lagoon to watch huge flocks of birds coming into roost: American White Ibis, Brown Pelican, Cormorants, Magnificent Frigate birds...... a truly magical experience and felt at one with the natural environment. (bring natural mosquito repellent for the picnic and hat and sunglasses for the first bit of the kayak).
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Posted On : 2023-07-16

Posted By : JohnB186225
Really memorable trip, kicking off with snorkelling in an open mangrove cenote followed by some snacks (and an excellent guacamole, made right before our eyes!) and then the main event; an afternoon kayaking through the peaceful and scenic mangroves. Our guide, Richard, was so incredibly knowledgeable about the whole ecosystem & was able to point out and identify the huge amount of bird life that we were lucky enough to see. The pace was just right for us; we travelled far enough to see the sights, but at no point did it feel like a "route march". Safety briefing was included, equipment was well maintained ... felt like we were in good hands the whole time. Thanks Yucatan Outdoors! Hope to see you again when we're next in the area!
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Posted On : 2023-05-18

Posted By : Nicole_F
This tour was one of my favorite activities in Tulum and one of my favorite kayaking activities ever. We arranged our own transport to meet the tour at the cenote first, then followed the guide into the reserve. The time at the cenote was pretty quick but definitely enough time to refresh yourself and explore the cenote. Ric was our tour guide and he was amazing- he was so passionate and enthusiastic about the natural environment of the Tulum and it really showed. I learned a LOT from him and gained a greater understanding and appreciation for the importance of the reserve. We started out with a late lunch and delicious homemade guacamole with other guys from the tour company and it was so casual and fun. Then we headed out. It's one of the longer distances I've had to kayak but the pace made it manageable and the frequent breaks for birdwatching and enjoying the surroundings made it feel more relaxing. There was literally no other group in the water: this place is so calming, and so beautiful, you can see why this is a protected haven for so many bird species. The view of the sunset from the water is like nothing else I've ever seen. While this tour itself was fantastic, the experience was made even better by the Ric and the guides with Yucatan Outdoors. They're doing an amazing job spreading awareness and appreciation for this beautiful place. I highly recommend you support them and go on this tour!
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Posted On : 2023-04-15

Posted By : cashley0318
This was a great experience. The guides are extremely knowledgeable about the area and the wild life within the reserve. It's clear they have to dedicate a tremendous amount of time and effort to pulling these tours off. It requires the guides to take weeks of traveling as a team to learn the routes through the wetlands, which are essentially a giant maze, if you are not familiar with them! They are prepared to help get you back to the docking station in the event you are unable to finish the kayaking yourself. It requires sacrifice and dedication to this lifestyle, so that the participants in the tours enjoy themselves and are safe, which is so much appreciated as someone who has done this tour. Exploring the cenote was a great way to start the experience and work up an appetite for the amazing forest lunch. We had a falafel wrap which was delicious, alongside fresh made guacamole, coffee, and two different types of trail mix. The spicy version was irresistible. The kayaking portion of the tour was much longer than I expected, but such a nice way to explore the wetlands. Watching the sunset was a beautiful experience, and getting to observe all the birds flock back to a massive mangrove at the end of the trip was really cool. The guides take pictures along the way, which is really nice, because it's hard to have access to your phone when you are kayaking. I am still waiting to receive the pictures that were taken at our tour, but they did mention it could take some time to get them out, as they are doing tours most days of the week. Overall I would highly recommend the experience.
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Posted On : 2023-03-19

Posted By : B3030TYlaurat
Of course, the preserve! Spectacular. And, next watching our guacamole made from scratch before taking off on our expedition. Only downside - not having time to bird watch or stop and enjoy the views. Focus seemed more on covering as much territory in 3 hours vs absorbing the sights and sounds. How about a venue for birdwatchers!
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Posted On : 2023-03-12

Posted By : Caryl1991
We had a wonderful day with unforgettable moments and with such lovely people. In a very beautiful cenote we were allowed to explore the undergrounds and enjoy the all around. It does not have too many people and you can really enjoy it and experience a lot. Before kayaking we had a nice snack in the middle of palms. There were exotic fruits, self-roasted nuts, homemade guacamole and a burrito. It was so delicious. The moments on the kayak respectively this peace and beauty of this place are hard to put into words. Simply breathtaking and unique. Also a big thank you to the guides Ricardo and olisses, who gave us a wonderful day with their knowledge and their warm way.
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Posted On : 2023-02-25

Posted By : ocean45north
Awesome afternoon tour. Kayaking through the reserve was so peaceful, and the scenery was stunning. We didn’t see any other people or man-made structures the entire time on the water. Our guides were so knowledgeable and fun. Delicious lunch. Highly recommend!
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Posted On : 2023-02-15