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Private Sian Ka’an Tour
A private full-day expedition in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve by jeep, boat, and ocean snorkel, for your group only, with your own certified bilingual guide
- Duration: 9 to 10 hours, door to door
- Tour type: Private, just your group
- Guide: Bilingual, English and Spanish
- Physical level: Medium
An all-included private Sian Ka’an boat tour with Xaman-Ha Connections®
At Xaman-Ha Connections®, we run the Sian Ka’an Tour as a private day for your group only, with your own certified bilingual guide. The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of 1.3 million acres of tropical jungle, freshwater lagoons, and Caribbean coastline. The day covers a private jeep expedition, a small-boat journey through ancient Mayan canals, and ocean snorkeling. Manatees, dolphins, and sea turtles are common sightings.
Everything is covered: hotel pickup at 7:00 AM from your hotel or condo in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum, a private air-conditioned vehicle, the jeep, the boat, life jackets and safety equipment, a cooler with water, soda, and snacks, and a traditional regional lunch. From the Riviera Maya, you are back at your hotel between about 4:00 and 5:00 PM, depending on where you stay. The tour runs with a minimum of two people.
9 to 10 hours, door to door
Private, just your group
Bilingual, English and Spanish
Medium
No hidden fees. Here’s exactly what’s included:
- Door-to-door pickup from your hotel or condo in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum
- Private round-trip in air-conditioned transport, just your group
- Certified bilingual guide for the full day
- Private jeep expedition through the Sian Ka’an Reserve, into protected areas no commercial bus reaches
- Small-boat tour through the ancient Mayan canals, a UNESCO-protected waterway
- Open-ocean snorkeling with life jackets and safety equipment included
- Cooler with bottled water, soda, and snacks
- Traditional regional lunch, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options on request
What’s not included:
- Gratuities for your guide and driver, optional and at your discretion.
- Personal extras and purchases.
Daily Itinerary
These times are an estimate. Because your tour is private, the real schedule is flexible: it depends on how long you want to spend at each stop and on road conditions. Pickup times are just suggestions.
Hotel or condo pickup
Private van to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
Private jeep and Mayan canals by boat
Ocean snorkeling and lunch
Back at your hotel
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Frequently Asked Questions
Private means just your group for the entire day. One vehicle, one guide, one boat, all yours. No strangers, no fixed group schedule. On a commercial tour, you share a bus with 20 to 40 others on a fixed timetable. Your guide here adapts the day: more time at the canals, a slower snorkel, or longer in the jungle.
Sian Ka’an translates to Origin of the Sky in Maya. This 1.3-million-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site in Quintana Roo holds 23 Maya archaeological sites and ancient navigational canals. Freshwater lagoons connect directly to a Caribbean coral reef. This is why the same tour reaches both jungle and marine wildlife: manatees, dolphins, and sea turtles in the same day.
We pick up directly from your hotel, resort, or condo in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum, including:
- Playa del Carmen: Fifth Avenue, the downtown area, and all hotel zones.
- Riviera Maya resorts: all properties between Playa del Carmen and Akumal, including Playacar, Puerto Aventuras, and Puerto Morelos.
For pickups outside these areas, message us with the WhatsApp button on this page or through our Contact Us page before booking and we will confirm availability.
Common sightings inside the reserve include manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, herons, egrets, crocodiles, and tropical fish in the reef zone. Wildlife is observed from the boat and during snorkeling. Interaction is not permitted. Sightings depend on season and conditions; a guide who knows the reserve well increases the likelihood of meaningful encounters.
The tour involves a private jeep, a small boat, and open-ocean snorkeling, each with its own physical requirements.
- Must be comfortable in open water (life jackets are provided throughout).
- Closed, grippy shoes required (the jungle terrain is uneven; no flip-flops).
- Not recommended for guests with serious heart, respiratory, or vertigo conditions.
- Disclose any medical concerns at booking.
- Avoid alcohol the morning of the tour.
Yes. Xaman-Ha Connections® is SECTUR-certified (Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism) and all guides are INAH-certified in Mexican history and culture. The company has been featured in Forbes and Kayak. For full team credentials and our story, visit our About page.
Pack light. The day covers a jeep expedition, a boat, and ocean snorkeling.
- Swimsuit and towel (for snorkeling in the ocean).
- Closed, grippy shoes (required; the terrain includes uneven jungle ground).
- Sunglasses and a light hat.
- Biodegradable sunscreen (required; regular sunscreen is prohibited inside the biosphere).
- A light change of clothes (the reserve can be warm and humid).
- Small cash for any personal extras.
Yes. We arrange the meal around your dietary needs. Let us know at booking if anyone in your group requires vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or allergy-specific options. All adjustments are made at no additional charge.
Yes. Because this tour includes a private boat, cancellations require at least 7 days advance notice for a full refund. Only cancellation requests submitted by email are accepted. See our Cancellation Policy for full details.
For next-day reservations we do our best to accommodate, though availability is not guaranteed during peak season. Please message us with the WhatsApp button on this page or through our Contact Us page for the fastest response.
100% free cancellation up to 7 days prior to tour
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