Every visitor to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve pays a federal entry fee of roughly $225 MXN (US$14) per person, in cash, on arrival. It is not included in any tour price — ours included — and it is the best value in Quintana Roo. Here is exactly what it buys, plus the rules that come with it.
What You Pay and Where
The fee is collected at the cooperative’s palapa in Muyil before you board. Bring pesos in cash — there is no card terminal in the jungle and no ATM at the entrance. The amount is set by CONANP, Mexico’s national protected areas commission, not by tour operators, and it can be adjusted annually.
Why It Is Not Included in Tour Prices
Because it is not ours to charge. The fee is a federal conservation payment that goes to the reserve, and keeping it separate on your receipt is a transparency choice: you can see precisely what went to protection and what went to the people who guided you. Any operator quoting an “all-inclusive” price that hides it is blurring the line.
What the Money Does
Ranger patrols and surveillance against illegal fishing and clearing. Wildlife and water-quality monitoring. Dock, trail and signage maintenance. Enforcement of the management plan — including the carrying capacity that limits how many boats enter each day, which is the single reason the canal still feels like a secret rather than a queue.
The Rules, and the Reason Behind Each One
Biodegradable sunscreen only, or none. Oxybenzone and octinoxate damage coral and lagoon organisms. Best practice: rinse off, wear a long-sleeved shirt.
No touching or feeding wildlife. A fed animal changes behaviour permanently — the crocodile rule above all.
Everything you bring, you take out. Including fruit peels: not native, and they attract animals to boats.
Stay with an authorised guide on the water. The channels are a maze, and access is regulated.
No drones without permits. They disturb nesting birds; permits exist and are specific.
Small groups, fixed routes. Not a commercial preference — a legal condition of operating here.
Cancellations and Weather
Our policy: full refund or credit with at least 24 hours’ notice. If we cancel for weather or the reserve closes, you are refunded in full. The entry fee is only ever paid if you actually enter.
Meet the Community Behind the Tour
In just two minutes, discover who we are — the Maya families and cooperative members who make every experience authentic and regenerative:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Sian Ka’an entrance fee?
Approximately $225 MXN (US$14) per person, set by CONANP and paid in cash at the entrance. It is separate from tour prices.
Is the entrance fee included in tours?
No. No operator includes it because it is a federal conservation payment collected on site and passed directly to the reserve.
Do children pay the Sian Ka’an entrance fee?
Fee categories can vary by age and are set federally. Ask us when you book and we will confirm the current rates for your group.
Can I pay the entrance fee by card?
No. Bring Mexican pesos in cash — there is no card terminal or ATM at the entrance.
Fourteen Dollars That Keep a Biosphere Alive
Book your Sian Ka’an experience with the cooperative, bring cash for the fee, and know exactly where every peso went.
Questions? Contact us at reservacionesctsk@siankaantours.com.mx or WhatsApp +52 984 114 0750