Sian Ka'an, Maya for "Where the Sky is Born," is the genesis for the name of the spectacular Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. Located on the Yucatán Peninsula, world famous for beautiful beaches and Maya culture, the Reserve is a perfect destination for a quick trip to the tropics - blissfully removed from the mass development of the Cancun area.

This trip is nicely paced with a variety of activities. Our accommodations throughout the trip are located on the beach. Included in the mix of activities are kayaking, snorkeling, birding, visiting the Ancient Maya sites, with optional fly-fishing in the world famous Ascension Bay and a night-trip tagging crocodiles with local biologists. Our schedule of activities is extremely flexible and we can mix and match to your preferences.

NOTE: There are optional birding walks each morning from 6:00-7:30 AM.

Day 1: Hotel Los Lirios
You will be greeted at the Cancun airport and travel south along the Maya Riviera. Our hotel is about 1.5 hours from the airport past the mass tourism developments and nestled on the beach just outside the border of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. We should have time for a quick swim in the ocean before dinner. Night: Hotel Los Lirios.

Day 2: Muyil Archeology Site - Ancient Maya Canals
After an optional birding walk and breakfast, we will travel to the Ancient Maya site of Muyil. Keep the binoculars handy because archeology sites are generally great areas for wildlife viewing. You will learn about the Ancient Maya and then take an interpretive hike through the jungle on our way to meet our boats. We will explore the reserve by boat and have a chance to snorkel through canals dug by the Ancient Maya. You can look forward to a traditional Maya meal in the home village of our nature guides. Optional night trip tagging crocodiles. Night: Hotel Los Lirios.

Day 3: Pez Maya
Our day starts off a little bumpy, literally, as we travel the dirt road toward Punta Allen. Upon arrival, we will head out to the second longest barrier reef in the world for a half-day of snorkeling. You will have several stops to enjoy the incredible marine environment. Today you will have lunch on the beach with the bounty of the sea prepared in traditional manner. If there are any anglers in the group, there is an option to fish for permit, snook, bonefish and tarpon (additional fees apply). Night: Cuzan's.

Day 4: Punta Allen
After breakfast, you will have a half-day of exploring the area by sea kayak with our Mayan guides. For the more adventurous there will be a snuba option instead of kayaking. This is a mix between snorkeling and scuba, without the many inherent dangers of scuba diving. After a professional orientation and test dive in shallow water, you will be able to explore the reef, snorkeling 18 feet deep. A compressed airtank floating above you on the surface allows you a fantastic view of the reef. Late afternoon is open to relax. Night: Cuzan's.

Day 5: Depart for Cancun Airport
NOTE: Returning flights should not be booked until 1:00 PM or later. We will be approximately 4.5 hours from the airport.

Accommodations Listing
Los Lirios, 3 Star, modern beach front hotel with restaurant, AC and all the amenities of a modern resort. Yoga and massages available.
Cuzan's, 2 Star, beach front cabanas, with ceiling fans, no AC. Excellent restaurant.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
This trip will have a general interest interpretive component focusing on marine ecosystems, birds, butterflies, conservation efforts, mammals, and tropical plants and ecosystems. Culturally, we will be hosted by in-country partners.

While our accommodations are very good, all with air-conditioning and/or ceiling fans, hot water, and in spectacular locations; there will be limited access to international phone service, faxes and e-mails. Meal service is leisurely, arrival and departure times subject to change, and everything can be subject to an overall inefficiency we do not encounter in the US. It is, however, a wonderful, vibrant culture and people are extremely friendly and will go out of their way to make you feel welcome.

WEATHER:
The weather will vary from warm and sunny to cloudy and rainy. We can expect daytime temperature highs in the mid 80s to low 90s. Precipitation is one of the key factors in creating the rain forest ecosystem and we can expect heavy rain any day even in the dry season. The rainy season typically starts in June.

TOUR SIZE:
This tour will be limited to a maximum of 14 participants and a minimum of 6 participants.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS:
A US passport valid beyond your anticipated date of return to the US and tourist cards are required. Currently no visas or immunization certificates are required. Those with foreign passports should contact the Embassy of Honduras and El Salvador for details.

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS:
The fee for the tour is $1,350 per person based on double occupancy from Cancun. Single rates are an additional $300. This includes all food, three meals per day, from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 5; all lodging for 4 nights during the tour; ground transportation; and guide services provided by the tour leaders and local conservation professionals. It does not include international airfare, departure tax, alcoholic beverages, special gratuities, phone calls, passport fees, or items of a personal nature. Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the group does not have sufficient registration a small party supplement may have to be charged. An additional pick-up/drop-off fee may be charged for arrivals and departures from regularly scheduled international flights.

HEALTH PRECAUTIONS:
For comprehensive information please contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention on the Internet at www.cdc.gov or by phone at 404-332-4559. The CDC information is a comprehensive listing of any disease reported in a particular region or state. Please consult a health care professional with any questions.

STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL ADVISORIES:
Currently there are no travel advisories for traveling in Mexico. You will be updated on any significant developments that pertain to our trip. http://travel.state.gov

CANCELLATION POLICY:
Refunds are made according to the following schedule: If cancellation is made eighty days or more before departure date, the deposit less $150 is refundable. If cancellation is made between seventy-nine and sixty days before departure date, the deposit is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded. If cancellation is made fifty-nine days or less before departure date, no refund is available except for amounts recoverable through our agents. We recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance which you will receive upon registration.

If the Mesoamerican Ecotourism Alliance (MEA) cancels the tour or the tour must be postponed during a time period starting seven days before tour departure and /or through the duration of the tour, MEA will refund all money recoverable through our agents, not yet spent and/or all refundable deposits. MEA reserves the right to cancel, postpone or suspend any tour based on the judgment of MEA, its staff and representatives, in order to insure the safety of our guests.

RESPONSIBILITY:
MEA, and/or their Agents act only as agents for the passenger in regard to travel, whether by railroad, motorcar, motorcoach, boat, or airplane and assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or for any reason whatsoever, or through the acts or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour. They can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. The right is reserved to substitute hotels of similar category for those indicated and to make any changes in the itinerary where deemed necessary or caused by changes in air schedules. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour. The right is reserved to decline, to accept, or to retain any person as a member of the tour. Baggage is at owner's risk.