Sian Ka'an, 'the place where the sky is born', or in other words: 'heaven on earth', that is how the ancient Mayans baptized this beautiful nature reserve. When we take a boat across the green lagoon that flows into the turquoise sea, and we see how the clouds seem to rise from the sea on the horizon, it's easy to understand why the Maya people chose this name.

The excursion starts with a drive in our van to Tulum, through the hotel zone with its beautiful 'eco-chic' hotels, boutiques, bars and restaurants. Where Tulum ends, the Sian Ka'an adventure begins: no paved roads, no telephone signal, just jungle and an occasional glimpse of the sea. Maybe we spot a crocodile along the way.

After a good 45 mins (or two hours, depending on the condition of the road) we get on our boat and tour across the lagoon. That's where our 'sea safari' begins, looking for dolphins and sea turtles. After we have taken plenty of time for photos and videos of these beautiful animals, we go to a coral reef for a short snorkeling trip. Then, it's relaxing time: we drop anchor in the 'natural swimming pool', a shallow stretch of sea with crystal clear water. After that we get to the village of Punta Allen for a buffet lunch and a short walking tour through the village. On the way back we'll pass a mangrove island where we can observe different species of birds.