Community Tours, Sian Kaan — Hotel in Quintana Roo

It was one of the best experiences in Tulum by far. We had a wonderful and charming tour guide he really made the difference a good guide always does, we had been on 8 guided tours during our 17day stay at the Grand Bahia Principe Tulum. Nearly one day on one off!

I found prices not that different with transport included, so this time booked through Tui! We rarely use them! I paid $375 for two people (I paid in MXN as it was just over 22 to the pound at the time of exchange online Jan 2023)

We were collected from the hotel at 9am and returned 4pm, so a good day but we have done trips 9am past sundown, so it's not what I'd call a full day, maybe for some!

It's an hours drive into Sian Kaan, was a little bumpy, but nothing compared to some of the Cenote we had visited brain rattling roads to some! Lunch is included on Punta Alan (beautiful fishing island). The boat held six plus captain and guide.

They provided water and snacks as most tour's do and lunch was decent and you do work up an appetite but things did run out after we had seconds so fill up first time round and only hibiscus water is included so bring a little cash for tips and beers

It was a brilliant experience I would recommend for all the family. A few things It's hot, and you're not always shaded. I sat in front, and my wife sat behind me for better shade. you are over water it gets really windy and loud. The boat ride can get a little bumpy when at full speed to travel across the vast waters, its safe and fairly smooth depending on the wind and chop. No cushions so my butt bones and more got a little sore. I had to sit on a life jacket to dampen it, but if your sat at thr back be fine.

Over the tour, we had seen many animals and birds It is not always guaranteed, but wow, were we lucky. Two big crocodiles, dolphins with a baby now that was magical as we slowlycruisd along watching them hunt the baby was a highlight, pelicans, ducks, herons, frigate birds, birds of prey.. birds I can't tell. We did see a large loggerhead turtle, but only for the brief moments when it was close to the waters surface and taking breaths, not a great view!

Towards the end we stopped to snorkel in deeper water on the world's "second largest coral reef", that was ok most the people enjoyed it but I worked in Egypt on a dive boat so most peoppe enjoyed it but for me was a little bland not so many colourful fish etc may have been the visibility was choppy as well at that time I was mostly helping my wife enjoy it.

We also stopped in shoulder deep water for a swim, and that was just fantastic as the water here was crystal clear and super clam real instagram pic moment.

Then we stopped for a late lunch at the beautiful island. Great for photos. Then headed straight back to the beginning, which is a long and bumpy ride! I also used a spare life jacked to put my bag on so not to get wet instead of holding it or leaving it on the damp floor.

On the way back we stopped by a big hammerhead shark I was told it was a real rarity and even the captains were taking selfies. If you have a gropro on a extendable stick your in for a real treat

Apply a strong sunscreen before you get on the boat and after you arrive for lunch from swimming. There are toilets and showers if they have enough water. Only towels and change of shorts we took you will dry off fast. A powerbank, gopro, well fitted hat, and sunglasses as it gets windy, a rash guard top is ideal, but my wife had a light scarf over her shoulders when on the boat I also had my professional camera. The tour guide let me sit up front on the boat actually allowed me a few liberties, but I am experienced and they may be stricter on your tour for safety!

Hope this helps you choose this tour. I'm glad we did this other the land tour I heard the jeep safari is a little hot and bumpy although it's a different tour and cheaper! So proceeds from your ticket as with most tours will go towards local causes in this case help keep the biospare national...

Thoroughly disappointing experience - don't waste your money

I have done a lot of touristy type tours all around the world and this (Sian Kaan Punta Allen trip) was by far the worst I have done (for the money paid, over £170!, PER PERSON)

The majority of the tour (over 6 hours there and back) is along a VERY bumpy road, driving alongside the actual biosphere, which you can't see because of the trees.

The boat / biosphere part of the tour is actually only about 2 hours and consists of heading out to sea (so not really the main lagoon) to look at a very dead coral reef, and then swimming in shallow water, before heading back and having a lunch.

Admittedly we did see a few dolphins and a sea turtle, but we came to spend time in the biosphere and see the actual environment, not just for a few fleeting minutes.

The tour guide was generally ok, if a bit disinterested - he wasn't on our boat during the boat portion of the tour so we had no guide or explanation at all for the actual animals part.

The majority of other tours make the journey to Punta Allen by boat, spending the whole travel time IN THE ACTUAL BIOSPHERE LOOKING AT STUFF and not suffering the appalling road.

For the price we paid, this tour should have been absolutely perfect and it was well below average at best.

Don't book this tour and save your money for an alternative company, it was very disappointing

To community tours - you are ripping people off with this experience compared to other tours and preying on people's love of spotting a few animals in the wild to make up for the...

Firstly, the positives. We saw a turtle, some dolphins and an alligator in beautiful turquoise water. We also saw an Osprey and some other large birds. The very large negative is that for the approx 2 hours of boat trip there was almost 7 hours of extremely uncomfortable road travel. Sadly, this company, without warning, chose the cheapest, least comfortable way to transport us to Punta Allen, along the very poor road in a minibus that was completely unsuitable for the terrain, charging us approx £180 per person for the privilege. Our guide seemed defeated/uninterested in our very poor experience. There was no English speaking guide on the boat so we missed the opportunity to really understand what we were seeing of the biosphere, and then only saw the ocean side of it. Regrettably we have now had to raise a PayPal dispute to try to reclaim some of the cost (I have proposed that we pay for the parts of the trip that were fit for purpose, such a lunch, boat trip and access to the national park but this has been refused). I see there are some really positive reviews for their other trips, but I'd advise others to avoid this company if you are intending to visit Punta Allen, other companies offer much more comfortable and faster ways to get there for a similar or reduced price, which means you see much more of the biosphere. Really...