Sian Ka'an: Boat Tour, Snorkeling & Lagoon Lunch from Tulum

4.91

(217 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the silence. Not total silence—there were birds somewhere out in the green tangle, and you could hear the water lapping against the boat hull. But compared to Tulum’s usual noise, Sian Ka’an felt like someone had turned down the world’s volume. Our guide, Armando, handed me a life vest and grinned. “We might see manatees if we’re lucky,” he said. I didn’t want to jinx it by hoping too hard.

We drifted past mangroves so dense I wondered how anything could move in there. At Boca Paila, Armando pointed out a heron standing so still it looked fake—honestly, I almost missed it until he nudged my elbow. Then someone spotted a crocodile (small one), just its eyes above water. The air smelled kind of sweet and earthy, with a hint of salt that stuck on my skin. When we finally got out to open water for snorkeling, the wind picked up and I fumbled with my mask—Armando laughed and helped me adjust it (I probably looked ridiculous). The coral was brighter than I expected; schools of fish darted around like they owned the place.

Afterwards we stopped at this coconut grove where time seemed to slow down completely. Everyone just sort of flopped onto towels or wandered into the sea. Lunch showed up—grilled fish wrapped in banana leaves and some fruit that tasted like sunshine (I forgot the name). I remember thinking: this is what people mean when they talk about “getting away,” but without any big drama or Instagram moments. Just quiet water, sun on your arms, and maybe sand stuck between your toes for days after.