Biosphere ReserveUNESCO World HeritageBiosphere ReserveInternational conservation network
Sian Ka'an
Yucatán Peninsula (Mexican Caribbean)Designated in 19865,280 km²
The largest protected area in the Mexican Caribbean; its Maya name means "where the sky is born"
Area
5,280 km²
Designated in
1986
Region
Yucatán Peninsula (Mexican Caribbean)
Made a Biosphere Reserve in 1986 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, Sian Ka'an — "where the sky is born" in Maya — is the largest protected natural area in the Mexican Caribbean. It combines rainforest, mangroves, wetlands and a stretch of the second largest barrier reef in the world (the Mesoamerican Reef System), on land the Maya lived on and moved through for centuries, with more than twenty minor archaeological sites scattered within its boundaries. Its management combines strictly protected core zones with local fishing communities that depend on using its resources sustainably.
Location
Loading map…
4 dive sites within 300 km are also shown.
Sian Ka'an: 107 documented species
Mammals22Birds28Reptiles9Amphibians
Flora and ecosystems
Ecosystems found in Mexico, where Sian Ka'an lies.
Tropical rainforestDesertMarine / coastal
Experiences in this park
Diving and snorkellingBirdwatching
Nearby dive sites
Where can I dive near here?
39 km away
44 km away
44 km away
46 km away
Wildlife you can see now
What is worth looking out for this month in Mexico?
Now is a good time: Veracruz River of Raptors (20 August to 20 November (peak in the first two weeks of October))
Now is a good time: Great white shark aggregation at Guadalupe Island (July to November (some years into January))
Similar parks
Which other parks are like this one?
Same country: Mexico
Same country: Mexico
Same country: Mexico
Same country: Mexico
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about this park.
Mexico
