REVIEWS
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es war super
Wir sind wieder zurück in der Heimat und jetzt wollten wir uns nochmal herzlich bei euch bedanken, der Tagesausflug in Sian Kaan war der schoenste Tag unseres ganzen Mexico Urlaubes, Zum Glueck hat es doch noch geklappt, nachdem ich euch leider keine Bestaetigung mehr geschickt habe und Aldo gar nicht mehr mit uns gerechnet hat...Der Tag hat alle unsere Erwartungen übertroffen - so individuell, wir haben so viel gesehen und hatten das Gefuehl ganz alleine im ganzen Bioreservat zu sein. Alleine das Riff war einmalig. Und am besten hat uns das Schwimmen durch den Mangrovenkanal gefallen, es war herrlich, Aldo hat alles toll erklaert und hat wirklich ein Gespuer für diese Arbeit. Und dass eure Tochter eine ganz suesse Maus ist, wisst ihr ohnehin Wir haben uns so wohl gefuehlt, Vielen Dank nochmal für alles, es war super! Ich werde euch jedem der nach Yucatan faehrt weiterempfehlen! Ganz liebe Gruesse aus Oesterreich,
Visited on May 2012
By Julia & Christoph on May 14, 2012, 2:35 am
Login to post a reviewA unique and memorable experience
We spent the day with Aldo from " visitsiakaan". He was exceptional to say the least. This reserve holds a wealth of unique eco systems and with Aldo as our guide we were able to go deep inside the preserve and visit many varied eco areas and Aldo took great pride in sharing his knowledge and passion for the area. From spectacular hidden lagoons to magical Mayan ruins and canals, to listening to Aldo's many stories of the local flora and fauna. While many tours are available a tour with Aldo is a unique experience that will prove memorable and educational. This is a priceless area and is worth getting a private tour with a guide like Aldo who is dedicated to providing a quality experience. Highly recommended. From Tripadvisor.com
Visited on March 2012
By stonearc on March 27, 2012, 3:46 pm
Login to post a reviewMagical Experience!
I absolutely loved the tour with Aldo into the beautiful nature of the Sian Ka'an biosphere. I felt like immersing into a natural treasure. We got to see a variety of tropical birds living in the lagoon and a crocodile swimming near our boat. Aldo was amazing as our tour guide giving us a lot of insider knowledge about the Mayan history and the precious nature of the area. The Highlight for me was the free floating in the natural clear water Mayan canal where one is carried down the stream. I felt like being one with nature! It was an unforgettable experience! I can highly recommend these tours. From Tripadvisor.com
Visited on February 2012
By ClaudiaKinnaman on February 15, 2012, 9:53 pm
Login to post a reviewEnjoy the nature - a special place
We took a day trip with Visit Sian Ka'an. We easily booked online from the UK. There was just us and another couple with Aldo as the guide and it made all the difference to have such a knowledgable,enthusiastic and genuinely local guide . The weather was a bit perverse for the reef snorkelling ( tried and gave up ! ) so we concentrated on the lagoon and canals which were beautiful and fascinating. A great day out with nature. Yes it is relatively expensive if you have to add a taxi transfer from the Riviera Maya but for us well worth avoiding the larger group / jeep tours because of the extra information you gain from the experience. From Tripadvisor.com
Visited on December 2011
By jools58 on January 13, 2012, 5:06 pm
Login to post a reviewHighlight unseres Urlaubs
Ich suchte schon vor Abreise einen Ausflug in Internet in einer kleinen Gruppe. Gefunden habe ich Visit Sian Ka an. Buchte dann problemlos bei Katrin auf Deutsch. Die mir auch eine Tour vorschlug, die gut zu unserer Familie (2 Erwachsene und 4 Teens im Alter von 14-18 Jahren) passte. 6 Personen passen in ein Boot und so war unsere Gruppe voll. Katrin arrangierte uns auch den Transfer von Playa del Carmen ins Naturschutzgebiet. Hat alles hervorragend geklappt. In Sian Ka an wartete unser Guide Aldo auf uns. Auch Carlito, das kleine Krokodil zeigte sich uns. Mit dem Boot ging es durch die Lagune zum Riff. Dort schnorchelten wir durch die faszinierende Unterwasserlandschaft. Danach zurück zur Lagune, durch den Kanal zu einer ehemaligen Zollstation der Mayas. Wir fluteten auf Schwimmwesten im Wasser, hatten ein Maya-Mittagessen und es ging zurück zum Ausgangspunkt. Wir sahen so viele Tiere, bunteFische, Rochen, Seeadler, Seekühe, Krokodile usw. Dieser Ausflug war das absolute Highlight unseres Urlaubs, sogar unsere Kinder waren total begeistert. Aldo ist ein hervorragender Führer, der sein Gebiet bestens kennt, liebt und auch lebt. Seine Touren führt er auf Englisch, er kann aber auch ein bisschen Deutsch. Auf diesem Ausflug sieht man, was viele andere nicht sehen. Wir begegneten auf unserer Fahrt nur noch einem anderen Boot. Das hat doch was. Aldo, falls wir noch einmal nach Yukatan kommen, dann buchen wir bei Dir. From Tripadvisor.com
Visited on August 2011
By heidi g on December 23, 2011, 8:22 pm
Login to post a reviewFloating Serenely in a Mayan Diaper
If you have one day to spend in Playa del Carmen, you must choose this magnificent eco-tour led by Aldo. The lands of Sian Ka'an are still in the hands of the Mayans, who you will see gathering to talk quietly on their boats if you are lucky and respectful. Aldo has an uncanny ability to bring you into close contact not only with the Mayans, but with an abundance of birds and animals, whether "crocs," manatees, ospreys in their nests, or roseate spoonbills. Aldo is intensely knowledgeable about nature and patient in sharing what he knows with you. He is also a master at maneuvering his boat through small mangrove channels. The highlight of the day is cradling yourself in a life jacket and then floating peacefully with the current down a narrow channel. Aldo's clever assistant recommended that I wear the jacket as a "Mayan diaper," where you place your legs through the arm holes, then strap yourself in. Funny as it sounds and looks, it makes for a perfect flotation device. You will also visit the Muyil ruins, where the mosquitoes are deadly, so bring biodegradable lotion with you. And my favorite was a stop at a wedge of sand where the lagoon meets the sea, a pristine stretch of land that was staggering in its natural beauty and a lovely place for a swim. The day ends with delicious tamales that you eat right at the dock. Aldo is generous with his time, so if you are a curious and respectful visitor, he will extend the journey so that you enjoy every last moment of sunlight. There is truly no place closer to paradise or a person as warm-hearted and generous to take you there. From Tripadvisor.com
Visited on December 2011
By Mediterranean_Girl on December 22, 2011, 5:17 pm
Login to post a reviewExcellent small group tour with Aldo of vist sian ka'an
We easily booked online from the UK. There was just us and another couple with Aldo as the guide and it made all the difference to have such a knowledgable,enthusiastic and genuinely local guide . The weather was a bit perverse for the reef snorkelling ( tried and gave up ! ) so we concentrated on the lagoon and canals which were beautiful and fascinating. A great day out with nature. Yes it is relatively expensive if you have to add a taxi transfer from the Riviera Maya but for us well worth avoiding the larger group / jeep tours because of the extra information you gain from the experience. From Tripadvisor.com
Visited on December 2011
By Ost54 on December 01, 2011, 4:10 pm
Login to post a reviewMost awesome Eco-tour I have ever been on!
It was a 9 km bouncing, jouncing 45-minute car ride after leaving the pavement of the beach road in Tulum until we reached the visitor center at Sian Ka'an where we met Aldo for our private tour. He showed us around the center and oriented us as to what parts of the reserve we would see that day and what animals we might see, then we headed down to the boat. His was the only touring boat we saw that day that had a canopy, and we were very grateful for it. Aldo expertly guided the boat through the mangroves and across the bays, out onto the ocean for a snorkel tour of the reef. The visibility wasn't the best that day, but we did see a lot of fish and amazing coral and sponge formations. Then we headed to the beach for a little wandering, and when we came back to the boat there was fresh papaya waiting for us. Cool (non-alcoholic) drinks were available to us throughout the day as well. We headed back into the mangroves and threaded our way through to a small dock and boardwalk, where we walked back into the marshy grassland and seemingly through time to see a small Mayan ruin. It was also the point where we entered a narrow canal and floated back to the waiting skiff and Aldo. The float took about a half hour, and it was very pleasant, a lovely lazy float and no - there weren't any cocodrillos! A delicious lunch of tamales prepared by a local woman was waiting for us when we climbed out of the (fresh!) water. Eventually, the time arrived for us to head back to our starting point and we reluctantly climbed back into the boat for our final tour of the canals. That day we saw egrets, herons, sea eagles, vultures, and kingfishers, as well as pelicans and shore birds, and Aldo identified other birds that we couldn't see by their calls. We saw some crocodiles earlier in the day, and had hoped to see manatees that Aldo said were active in the area recently, but we never did see any. He knew where and what to look for and did his best to locate as much wildlife for us as he could. He did an amazing job. I highly recommend Aldo and Visit Sian Ka'an tour company. He is an ethical, experienced operator, which is apparently rare because we witnessed other tour boats that were running recklessly, even just passing our own boat, at unsafe speeds in the narrow canals. Aldo grew up in Punta Allen and so has lived in the area his entire life. He was so full of anecdotes about his life and the history of the area - his passion for the reserve is very apparent. From Tripadvisor.com
Visited on November 2011
By Marthajean on November 15, 2011, 7:53 pm
Login to post a reviewEs un mundo completamente por descubrir!!!
Reservamos la opción del snorquel y fue grandioso. Nos recogieron en el hotel y en todoterreno llegamos a la reserva de Sian Ka´an, donde a la entrada hay que registrarse y te explican en un mapa qué zonas vamos a visitar y cómo son... Llegamos a su base y tras equipar la lancha, nos adentramos a explorar la Biosfera. Vimos un montón de aves (águila, martin pescador, ibis, garzas, pelícanos, gaviotas...y nombres que aunque piense no me acuerdo). También vimos varios cocodrilos tomando el sol, a la orilla de las lagunas... tras un paseo explorando la zona y con continuas exxplicaciones de la flora, fauna.. etc Nos adentramos un poco en el mar para snorquelear en el arrecife. Estábamos completamente solos: el guia, mi marido y yo. Fue completamente una experiencia digna del recuerdo. Tan solo mi pareja y yo explorando aquel arrecife.. intentando buscar el manati, y las tortugas entre los corales.. pero no hubo suerte, demasiado turbia el agua.. pero igualmente ver semajante barrera de coral durante 1km, completamente a nuestro aire fue bestial.. increíbles formaciones.. peces a montones y gigantescas conchas en el fondo... Fue tan maravilloso!!!! Cuando nos cansamos (tras casi 1h30 chapoteando en el agua; porque alli no hay relojes, eres tu quien decide cuánto tiempo). Nos subimos a la lancha y rumbo a los canales en busca de más vida animal y dispuestos a prender más sobre aquellos paisajes. A los 10 km canal arriba, aproximadamente nos bajamosl, caminamos por un paseo de madera hasta unas ruinas.. Aldo nos dio más explicaciones de su construcción, utilidad...y nos metimos en el canal.. eso fue la mejor y al mismo tiempo la peor parte!!! Aldo me explico: Te metes en el agua, super cristalina y templadita.. con mucho calcio que te fa exfoliando la piel.. el silencio absoluto.. nada de ruidos. tan solo las aves cantando.. :-D pero con un "peligroso secreto" jejeje la zona está infectada de cocodrilos jajaja Pero tranquilos, no hay peligro.. por el dia estan 100% durmiendo y tomando el sol.. no hay peligro, eso dicen!! :-) La verdad que es un subidon de adrenalina impresionante!! 1 km flotando por el canal dejandose arrastrar por al corriente y escuchando sonidos del entorno y esperando no encontrarse con ningun cocodrilo!! :-Y Fue una pasada... una tensión y una calma al mismo tiempo!!! :-) Así que recomiendo al 100% que todo el mundo haga esta excursión, por cierto, que nos dieron una suculenta comida típica que tomamos en plena naturaleza, deliciosa!!! From Tripadvisor.com
Visited on November 2011
By Elena C on November 13, 2011, 8:30 pm
Login to post a reviewThoroughly recommended way to see this untouched natural reserve
We were recommended this tour by fellow guests at our hotel having expressed an interest in visiting Sian Ka'an. Their reasons were explicitly the small groups and the tour guide, Aldo. They offer a number of tours but we decided to plump for the canal and snorkelling trip. The cost of $129 plus transfers per person seemed a bit high, but we really weren't disappointed with our decision to take the proverbial plunge. Aldo was an amazing guide and we shared our trip with a really nice Dutch couple - and not a boat full of random unfriendly strangers. The trip started with a boat ride out to the lagoons and an up close view of a sleeping crocodile. We then headed out to sea for nearly 2 hours of snorkelling on some beautiful and in touched reef. Throughout the journey Aldo's knowledge an passion for both the area and its conservation shone through. After some fresh fruit and drinks we then headed inland up the canals an through mangrove swamp and grass wetlands. Having seen an assortment of wildlife including another croc we then visited a Mayan ruin before plunging into the refreshing freshwater canal an floating for around 20 minutes back to the boat. We had been reassured that crocs don't hunt during the day; and had it not been for Aldo's obvious expertise I may have been a little more nervous as we glided past rustling bushes, through this ancient waterway. A late lunch of tomatillo was followed by a boat ride back to our waiting transport back into the relative bustle of Tulum. Quite simply a stunning place to visit and I can imagine would have been less but for the experience of travelling with visitsiankaan.com. From Tripadvisor.com
Visited on December 2011
By nickwoollard on November 10, 2011, 4:14 pm
Login to post a reviewFun, educational, GORGEOUS
The main guide is this man named Aldo-- this guy seems to know everything about wildlife and conservation politics in the area. He is passionate about being a conservationist, but not in an off-putting professor kind of way. We had a damn lot of fun! Worth EVERY nickle and more, worth giving the majority of a day too. I promise you, it is a LOVELY experience. At no point did he try to jam us for cheesy extras, like some other companies do. If being with Aldo for a day doesn't inspire your love for nature, then something is really off. PS: I am not in super shape, and I did FINE. PPS: we are a middle aged gay couple, and we felt very comfortable and welcomed. Our day with Visit Sian Ka'an was probably the best day of our trip! From Tripadvisor.com
Visited on October 2011
By MarkBuster on October 27, 2011, 7:59 pm
Login to post a reviewBreathtaking- so surreal!!!
I've never heard of Sian Ka'an before until I started doing my research about possible activities to do while staying in Playa Del Carmen besides the obvious Mayan ruins. My husband & I usually like to find different stuff to do each trip we take. Since we were in Mexico at the height of spring break, we wanted to be as far away from the wild, partying bunch. Time was on our side as we had a free day to explore this beautiful area just south of Tulum. I read some reviews here on TA about the area & some of the reviewers had mentioned Aldo & Katrin Ancona of Visit Sian Ka'an company & commented on how great of a job they do in conducting their tours. I contacted them via email about doing the Sian Ka'an & Muyil tour & Katrin responded immediately. I also mentioned to her that we'll be needing round trip transportation (extra charge but we didn't want to drive) from our resort in PDC to their visitor center. This was no problem as she took care of the details. A driver from the transfer company Katrin hired met us at our resort. The ride took us past Tulum ruins & further passing the Tulum hotel zone. After that, it became one long bumpy ride since the road wasn't paved at all & the driver had to slow down to avoid hitting big rocks. Once we finally reached our destination, Aldo met us at the small visitor center, gave a short orientation to get us familiarized of the area we where in & led us to a waiting boat docked nearby. What great , sharp eyes he has! The moment we pulled out of the dock, he already had spotted a couple of alligators camouflaging by the mangroves. It was amazing to see these animals in the wild & not caged. Kudos to him, we also saw some beautiful birds like herons & egrets from a distance as not to bother these creatures in heir natural habitat. He also took us past the Boca Paila bridge to an almost deserted lagoon (except for a couple of kite boarders doing their thing) that opened to a spectacular & very pristine beach. He carefully navigated his boat through the narrow channels, each time the water getting clearer & at times, bluer. After our short sweaty hike to see the less popular Muyil ruins, he let us float down the canal. This was so refreshing & relaxing & very enjoyable. He also provided some homemade tamales & cervezas to complete this wonderful journey. This was definitely a unforgettable experience & considered this a highlight of our trip. We certainly were glad that we had this opportunity to visit this very remarkable place. Aldo was very knowledgeable not only about the area but also about the many animals that call this place home. His passion in preserving & protecting the Mayan culture & nature was very evident not only when he spoke but also in his expressions. From Tripadvisor.com
Visited on March 2011
By idsky on May 05, 2011, 8:04 pm
Login to post a reviewBreath taking nature and excellent tour! We felt like in Paradis
We just recently enjoyed a trip to Mexico - my husband and I along with two other friends. We booked a private Sian Ka’an Tour with the local company “Visit Sian Ka’an”. From the beginning they were very helpful. Their website is really nice and informative and the communication via email was very easy and quick. We booked a Private Tour to visit the Mayan Ruins of Muyil and to do the refreshing float in the Mayan Canal. We also saw many birds and wildlife, such as coatis (a small bear like animal with very long tails) crocodiles and we even got to see the beautiful manatees! This was so amazing and the whole day was just perfect! My husband and I do not enjoy being around large groups of tourists and we decided to go with “Visit Sian Ka’an”. We heard they are the only tour operator in Sian Ka’an offering private tours. The tour was exactly the type of small, off the beaten track tour we were looking for. I also recommend “Visit Sian Ka’an” tours for having us provided with a really educational, informative and FUN tour while maintaining a commitment to supporting low-impact tourism in Sian Ka’an. During our tour we have seen a caravan of three boats with 18 people in total and that was definitely not the kind of tour we would like to have. We are that we went with “Visit Sian Ka’an” and Aldo, our guide was knowledgeable and fun, highly professional, always looking out for our comfort and safety. We will definitely recommend Visit Sian Ka’an to our friends and we will be back for sure! From Tripadvisor.com
Visited on December 2010
By daliarobinson1 on February 11, 2011, 8:10 pm
Login to post a reviewReal Eco Tour - a Must Do!
My husband and I went on Sian Ka’an Nature Encounter tour with Aldo from visitsiankaan on February 2, 2011, and I can tell it was by far the best guided tour we have had in our four times in Rivera Maya. That was truly an eco adventure - so much better than visiting commercialized “eco parks” which are in abundance in this part of Mexico. Sian Ka’an is a huge nature reserve which consists of salt and fresh water lagoons and mangroves. It is a home to hundreds of species of birds and animals. It is really a piece of untouched nature - the way most of Mayan Rivera looked like before the development in Cancun has began. If you decide to go to Sian Ka’an, I highly recommend to do it with visitsiankaan. It is a small local tour company which provides unique service to tourists for a reasonable price. Aldo and his wife Katrin are passionate about conservation, and sustainable tourism is not only words for them, but the way of life. They work closely with local government to preserve the fragile ecosystem of Sian Ka’an, and they do their part by limiting group size to your party even if it consists of only two people. It allows them to provide really unique personalized service while minimizing impact on the environment. I think this kind of service is hard to find in Mexico. Another thing I have to mention is a high professionalism and excellent organization of the tour. There was no time wasted. We met with Aldo in Tulum where we got from Playa Del Carmen by colectivo van - a cheap and reliable way of public transportation (but if you prefer, the company can arrange private transportation for you). Short 20 minutes drive brought us to the visitor’s center where our boat trip has actually started. The boat was nice with canopy and comfortable seats. First, Aldo took us around the lagoon, where we saw few crocodiles - one was about 10 ft long!. He also showed us one very interesting spot - cenote in the middle of the lagoon where fresh water from underground river comes to the ocean. He explained us the geology of the Yucatan peninsula and how everything is interconnected by the underground waters. Then we went to the ancient fresh water canal where we saw many different kinds of birds and had wonderful, relaxing float down the canal. The canal is not deep, but the current is strong enough to gently carry you down. After the swim, we had delicious lunch consisted of tamales and fresh fruits. We ate it right in the boat - again, there was no time wasted on going back to the village for a restaurant meal, and it had given us feeling of being on a real wilderness expedition. All to all, we have had a great time at the reserve. From my first email to Katrin to a day full of fun and learning with Aldo who was eager to share with us all his knowledge of the ecology and flora and fauna of the reserve - we had a feeling of being treated as friends rather than paying customers. We will for sure go back if we have a chance. Thank you, Aldo and Katrin, for this nice tour and for all that you do to protect the unique ecosystem of Sian Ka'an. From Tripadvisor.com
Visited on February 2011
By zanudal on February 08, 2011, 8:16 pm
Login to post a reviewGreat Tour in a beautiful place!!
We have recently done a Private Boat Tour with Aldo from Visit Sian Ka'an and it was fabulous, we would always come back and do another tour with Visit Sian Ka'an. Aldo was our guide, he has grown up in Sian Ka'an, his grandfather was the first person to live in Punta Allen and he is full of knowledge about this amazing place. You can really feel his admiration and love for nature. By booking with Visit Sian Ka'an you can certainly be sure that you are helping the local community as you book directly with a small locally run tour provider from Sian Ka'an. We took the Sian Ka'an Tour and Muyil Ruins Tour, which was great fun. Aldo first took us through the different mangrove canals and lagoons to see various different types of water birds, such as herons, egrets, pelicans, cormoranes etc also we have seen a crocodile resting on a mangrove shore, which was great. Our journey was followed riding along the ancient mangrove canal which was once build by ancient Mayan about 1000 years ago. It was very interesting seeing the water color change from a brownish brackish water to the most beautiful clear water of soft blue tones. Aldo explained us, this is because the water gets fed from the Chunyaxche Lagoon, which carrries fresh water. We continued our journey crossing the chunyaxche lagoon, which is the most beautiful lagoon I have ever seen. We reached the shore and continued our way along a jungle path, where we could see all sorts of different ancient medicine trees and plants that were used by the Mayas to heal illnesses. We learned so much about the Mayan culture, it was really interesting. A big highlight was climbing the Castle of the Ruins. On the way back we got to float in the soft current of this beautiful fresh clear water canal. It was an amazing experience and just thinking about it makes me feel relaxed again. We were not rushed at any time of the day, Aldo let us our time to enjoy our float. We preferred being just with our small group (just another couple was with us during the tour) and not being rushed around in a big group of 10 or so people. On the way back we headed to a completely untouched beach were we had our lunch, consisting of a mayan dish, called Tamales and a freshly made fruit salad. Drinks like water and fruit juice are also provided. We had never tried Mayan food before and it was delicious. There were no unhealthy snacks during the tour, which we liked, just healthy good tasting food. Other tour providers give you a ham and cheese sandwich and a few cookies and coca cola, which always leaves us still hungry. All in all we have had a wonderful day with Aldo touring Sian Ka'an, which is such an amazing place!...Aldo was an amazing tour guide, so knowledgable and funny. We already decided to contact Katrin and Aldo from Visit Sian Ka'an again when we come back to Mexico the next time.From Tripadvisor.com
Visited on June 2010
By californiasun12 on June 03, 2010, 8:58 pm
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SIAN KA'AN REVIEWS
es war super
Wir sind wieder zurück in der Heimat und jetzt wollten wir uns nochmal herzlich bei euch bedanken, der Tagesausflug in Sian Kaan war der sc...[ Read More ]
By Julia & Christoph the May 14, 2012, 2:35 am
SIAN KA'AN FACTS
Learn facts about Sian Ka'an, read complete info about the flora and fauna and the history of Sian Ka'an.
SIAN KA'AN MAP
See all the interesting places of the reserve on our map of Sian Ka'an.
SIAN KA'AN TOURS
know more about our uniques tours to Sian Ka'an.
WEDDING TOURS
Discover our exclusives wedding tours to Sian Ka'an.
