Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Sian Ka'an (click image for detail)

Down the peninsula, a few miles south of the Tulum ruins, you'll pass the guardhouse of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve in Mexico.
 
The Punta Allen peninsula lies on the edge and within the confines the 1.3 million acre Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.  The Reserve is a large protected swath of natural land and sea habitats. Sian Ka'an, "Where The Sky Is Born", is the name the Maya of the 5th century A.D. gave to the southern part of what is now the state of Quintana Roo
 
Three hundred and thirty six species of birds are found in Sian Ka'an including the ocellated turkey, great currasow, parrots, toucans, and trogons. Aquatic birds includes species such as white ibis, roseate spoonbill, the rare jabiru stork, wood stork, flamingo and 15 species of herons, egrets and bitterns.
 
The great variety of habitats are home to jaguar, puma, ocelot, margay, jaguarundi, spider and howler monkeys, tapir, white- lipped and collared peccary, manatee, brocket and white-tailed deer as well as crocodiles, and green, loggerhead,  hawksbill and leatherack sea turtles.
 
In addition to the road to Punta Allen there is another dirt road runs from the southern boarder to Punta Herrero. This section of the reserve is even more isolated than the northern section, and access requires driving south of Carillo Puerto and then driving east to the reserve.