World Travel GuidesThe World Heritage Sites Homepage Sian Ka'an, Mexico

  Compare Hotel Room Rates from different Booking Sites   Follow Me on Pinterest 
Seabirds at Boca Paila, Sian Ka'an, Mexico
Seabirds at Boca Paila, Sian Ka'an, Mexico
Author: Wolfgang Sauber (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)









Sian Ka'an, which means 'Origin of the Sky' in the ancient Mayan language, is a biosphere reserve on the east coast of the Yucatán peninsula, in Mexico. It was originally established by conservationists and made a Mexican national park in 1986. It is recognised as a World Heritage Site since 1987.

Sian Ka'an is recognised for its outstanding biodiversity and wealth of flora and fauna. The site is home to some 300 species of birds along with numerous species of mammals and reptiles.


Platform at the marshland of Sian Ka'an
Platform at the marshland of Sian Ka'an
Author: Tschips (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)


 Sian Ka'an is in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. It covers an area of 528,000 hectares bounded by the Caribbean Sea, which is laced with coral reefs. Within the site are marshland and semi-evergreen forest land. To the north and northeast of the park are borders to farming cooperatives. Within the reserve itself are some 23 known archaeological sites.

Sian Ka'an was inscribed as a World Heritage Site during the 11th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris, France, 7 - 11 December, 1987.


Mangrove trees at Sian Ka'an nature reserve
Mangrove trees at Sian Ka'an nature reserve
Author: Tschips (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)

World Heritage Site Inscription Details

Location: N19 22 59.988 W87 47 30.012 in Quintana Roo, Cozumel and Felipe Carrillo Puerto
Inscription Year: 1987
Type of Site: Natural
Inscription Criteria: VII, X


Return to Mexico's World Heritage Sites
Return to Mexico Travel & Hotel Guide
Return to World Heritage Sites






  • Tips to become a smart traveler: Useful tips to remember, to get the best out of your travels.
  • Preparing for a Trip: Systematic approach to help you prepare for your trip.
  • How to plan your travel itinerary: Step-by-step build to creating the itinerary for your trip.
  • How to compare hotel room rates: Learn to use a booking search engine to compare rates across all major booking sites.
  • How to pack your luggage: Useful steps to take when packing your luggage.
  • Packing List (PDF): Print out this free packing list to make sure you don't forget anything for your trip.
  • Voltage, Frequency, Plugs & Sockets of the World: Learn about the mains electricity supply in the world.
  • Travelers' List of Plugs and Sockets (PDF): Easy-to-use list of electricity and plugs for all countries.
  • Making International Direct Dail Calls: Learn to make IDD calls from anywhere in the world.
  • IDD Call Prefixes & Country Codes (PDF): Listing of Call Prefixes and Country Codes on one page for you to bring on your trip.
  • Safety Tips When Traveling Alone: Useful advice for when you travel on your own.
  • Guide to Health Matters related to Travel: Comprehensive coverage of different issues related to your health when traveling.
  • Getting Travel Insurance for your trip: Benefits of travel insurance, and advise on when you should signing up for one.
  • Improve your travel photography: Tips to improve your photography skills, especially when traveling.
  • Guide to Traveling Around the World: Useful tips for encircling the globe.


    • Find a hotel







    Follow Me on Pinterest

    Point - Click - Discover!

    Thanks for visiting this webpage. To continue exploring, choose another destination!


    My World Travel Guides - celebrating a beautiful world beautifully.

    Earning a living as a Happy Jobless Guy

    I am a Happy Jobless Guy! I am one of the few people who is fortunate enough to earn an income from my websites that I don't to go out to work. My sites get thousands of visitors every day. It has been a long process, but it is something everybody can achieve, and that means YOU. The following are some articles which you might want to read if you want to do what I do:
    1. Money Making Manual
    2. Create Your Own Money-Printing Machine
    3. Guide for earning a living without holding a job
    4. Generate a Sitemap for your website
    5. Complete Step-by-Step e-Business Building System