Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve

Sian Ka'an comes from Yucatec Maya and is usually translated as origin of the sky (the IUCN's rendering), though other translators give gate of heaven or a place where heaven begins. The reserve lies in Tulum Municipality, with its largest part in the east of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, and extends partly onto land and partly into the Caribbean Sea. Wikipedia gives its area as about 5,280 square kilometres. It was established in 1986 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, under natural criteria vii and x.

It was designated a Ramsar wetland on 27 November 2003 and is classified as IUCN category Ia, a strict nature reserve. It is administered by Mexico's National Commission of Natural Protected Areas.

Wikipedia lists a wide range of mammals: Yucatan black howler monkey, Geoffroy's spider monkey, Central American agouti, collared and white-lipped peccary, spotted paca, tayra, greater grison, white-nosed coati, kinkajou, tamandua and white-tailed deer. Five cat species are recorded: ocelot, margay, puma, jaguarundi and jaguar. Baird's tapir, a large forest herbivore, is also listed.

Birds include the great curassow, ocellated turkey, king vulture, crested caracara, keel-billed toucan and yellow-lored amazon. Wetland and coastal species include American flamingo, roseate spoonbill, jabiru, wood stork, great blue heron, magnificent frigatebird, brown pelican and neotropic cormorant. Reptiles listed include the American crocodile, Morelet's crocodile and the black iguana.

The reserve contains about 23 known archaeological sites of the Maya civilisation. Muyil is the one named on the Wikipedia page, and its location within a protected landscape makes the cultural and natural stories closely linked. Wikipedia's article on the Riviera Maya also lists Muyil among the region's Maya sites, alongside Tulum, Coba and Chichen Itza.

Remains of the Decauville railway between Vigia Chico and Santa Cruz, which operated from 1905 to 1932, can also be found in several places in the reserve.

Sian Ka'an lies at the southern end of the Riviera Maya, the tourism district that Wikipedia says follows Highway 307 from Playa del Carmen to Tulum and is now promoted as far as Felipe Carrillo Puerto. The Mesoamerican Reef runs offshore along this coast, and the region's limestone landscape is dotted with cenotes. The reserve is therefore a counterpoint to the resort development farther north.

Conservation efforts connected with the reserve cover eight protected natural areas totalling about 320,000 hectares, spanning all seven Caribbean coastal municipalities of the state and including Banco Chinchorro, Xcalak, Cozumel and Isla Contoy. More than 200 conservation projects have been carried out with scientists, fishermen, farmers and other partners. The Amigos de Sian Ka'an project aims to identify and protect additional high-biodiversity areas, provide environmental education and train Maya communities in ecotourism.

Because the reserve is large and remote, access is usually arranged through guides or tour operators familiar with the area. A private tour with a driver and local guide can give a general introduction to the landscape and its wildlife, with details such as routes and activities depending on the arrangements made.