Floating the Muyil Canals “Lazy River” in Sian Ka’an (2024)

The Yucatan Peninsula hides ancient secrets in its dense jungles, but perhaps none is more interesting – and fun – than floating the Muyil “Lazy River”! 

Located inside the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, the Muyil River Float actually follows a series of ancient Maya canals that crisscross through mangrove forests and connect the nearby lagoons.

You’ll float down these ancient Maya canals, boating across incredible turquoise lagoons to get to the start.

If this sounds like your kind of adventure, head to the stunning Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, just south of Tulum, to get started! 

How to Do the Muyil River Float in Sian Ka’an, Tulum

What Is the Sian Ka’an Muyil River Float?

The Sian Ka’an Muyil River Float is an ancient trading route used by the Mayas to exchange provisions and goods. 

According to what our boat captain, Jesús, told us, “The Mayas would come from other Mayan cities to trade and use lagoon canals—even from Guatemala and Belize.”

While you’ll only float down a small portion of this dense network of canals and lagoons, it’s one of the best ways to spend an afternoon outside Tulum!

What to Expect Floating the Muyil Canals in Sian Ka’an 

Now, here comes the FUN part! 

What’s so unique about this experience is that you float down an ancient trading route used by the Mayas to exchange provisions and goods.

After skirting across the first cerulean lagoon of Muyil, your boat captain will veer off into the mangroves. It feels like you’re entering a secret passageway, and you might even have to duck your head and look out for the tangle of branches surrounding you.

Imagine the Mayas floating down in their canoes here over 1500+ years ago!

After crossing the second lagoon, you’ll arrive at the entrance of another canal and a small wooden dock. Hop off the boat and get some instructions from your guide. 

You’ll be asked to put your life jacket on through your legs like you’re wearing a diaper. It’s all in preparation for floating down the “lazy river”!

Tip: You won’t be able to wear sunscreen, so it’s best to bring a t-shirt, bandana, or hat if you’re worried about getting sunburnt. Also, don’t forget your snorkel mask and underwater action camera for taking cool shots as you float down the river. Both times I’ve gone, I used a waterproof phone pouch with a lanyard to take quick videos and pictures. Read more below for the packing list!

Leave your belongings in your backpack and give your shoes to one of the boat captains, who will drop them off at your destination. This allows you to walk back via the boardwalk after the float ride.

Now, all that’s left to do is JUMP IN! 

The current gradually picks up at a classic lazy river pace, and off you go through the shaded canal and mangroves. Once the giggling and chatting settle down, it can get really quiet. You’ll undoubtedly see a few birds and some nests in the mangroves. 

P.S. If you go earlier in the morning, you’ll likely have the canal all to yourself. It’s about a 30-45 minute float down the river. Once you exit, it’s another 20 to 25-minute walk on a wooden boardwalk that cuts through the wetlands and takes you back to the start, where you’ll take the boat across the lagoons to Muyil’s shores.

Can you do the Muyil float without a tour?

Yes and no! While you can visit the Muyil area alone, you’ll still need a local boat guide to reach the Muyil canal float. 

So, while you can visit Sian Ka’an on your own without a tour, the canal float experience requires a boat guide and costs 1,000 pesos per person (around $50), cash only.

Here are all the costs added up (per person) to do the Muyil River Float (if you were to organize the day on your own).

• Boat tour with canal float: $1,000 pesos (+ 10-20% tip for your guide/boat captain)
• Entrance fee to Muyil Ruins: $75 pesos
• Entrance fee to walk to the boardwalk, access the watchtower, and reach the shore to take the boat: $50 pesos
• Parking fee: $50 pesos (only at the second entry site to reach the boats)
• Total = $1,100-$1,500 pesos ($50-75 USD)

Parking Tip: If you park at the Muyil ruins site, parking is free, but this means you’ll need to walk through the Muyil ruins and beyond to reach the lagoon shore. It’s about a 20-30 minute walk to reach the boats after the ruins. 

If you want to do the boat tour first, then skip the ruins and drive further down the road to another entry site. There’s another $50 peso parking fee here, but it’s worth it if you don’t want a far trek. From this parking lot, it’s only a 5-minute walk to the boats.

Visiting Muyil with a tour

Compared to visiting Muyil without a tour, fully guided tours will typically cover all costs associated with this day trip, including:

• Transport to/from Tulum to Muyil
• Entrance fee to Muyil Ruins
• Tickets for the lagoon boat tour and lazy river float 

The top-rated Muyil float tours like these will also include lunch.

The cost for these tours per person is around $2600 MXN per person ($153). 

It’s up to you to decide whether you want an organized trip in advance or to head out there on your own to see how the day unfolds! 

Either way, you’ll have a blast exploring the natural beauty of Sian Ka’an and floating down the mangrove-framed Maya canals. 

Best Muyil Float Tours

While tons of tours take Tulum’s visitors to the Muyil River Float, we’ll compare two of the best. 

First up is the Sian Ka’an and Muyil Archaeological Site Tour From Tulum via Viator.

• From $153 per person
• Hotel pick-up/drop-off and picnic lunch included
• Muyil river float
• Sian Ka’an lagoon boat captain and guide
• Book here!

This option takes visitors through the Muyil archaeological site, on a boat ride through the Biosphere Reserve, and, of course, on a float down the Muyil canals.

You’ll have a private guide who knows this area and its storied past like the back of their hand. A picnic lunch is also provided.  

A second option is the From Riviera Maya: Mayan Ruins & Sian Kaan Reserve Tour via GetYourGuide.

• From $153 per person
• Same inclusions with a bonus stop-over at Chunyaxché

This tour takes slightly longer at 6 hours but features the same highlights, like a guided tour through the Muyil archaeological ruins and floating down the “lazy river.” 

Your guide will also teach you about the wildlife in Sian Ka’an! A pit stop in the tiny village of Chunyaxché is on the docket for lunch. 

Both tours include a hotel pick-up around noon and have small group sizes, which is great for learning more about the fascinating history!

What to Bring & Wear for the Muyil Canal Float

Expect to get wet on the Muyil canal float!

That said, while it may be tempting to wear a cute bikini, note that you cannot wear sunscreen (even biodegradable)—the same rule applies to Tulum’s cenotes. 

For the float, you’ll be given a lifejacket to wear like a diaper (no, really!) to help you float upright through the canals. 😅 Lifejackets are mandatory, but you don’t have to wear them this way as long as you have them with you.

To be comfortable before and after your lazy river float, I recommend:

Don’t forget to bring cash! You will pay the boat captain directly and all entry fees in cash. The tour for the canal float used to be $700-800 pesos, but now it’s a fixed, non-negotiable $1,000 MXN pesos fee. 

You are also expected to tip your boat guide(s). I spoke Spanish to our guide, Jesús, who told me about his job; he is paid only $300 pesos per day as a boat captain, so tips are the majority of his income and go a long way.

Is the Muyil Float Worth It?

Yes! The Muyil River Float is often a highlight of a trip to Tulum for those with an adventurous spirit. 

You’ll spend the day completely immersed in nature, relaxing as you swim and lazily glide downstream.

You’ll also get to admire the wild side of the Riviera Maya, which is getting increasingly difficult to find.

Even better, not only do you have the chance to float down an ancient Maya trading route, but you also get to check out the Muyil archaeological site! 

Overall, it’s a super fun and full-day trip from Tulum that will teach you more about local history and the incredible biodiversity. 

More Things to Do in Muyil

Aside from the amazing Muyil River Float, there are so many other activities and things to see nearby! 

No float trip would be complete without strolling around the Muyil Archaeological Ruins, built around 300 BC, or climbing to the Muyil Observation Tower for stunning views.

You’ll also be near cenotes and other lagoons that are well worth a stop.

Muyil Archaeological Ruins

When you drive south of Tulum and reach Muyil, you’ll first visit the Muyil Archaeological Ruins. 

You have a few options for the order in which you can visit the Muyil side of Sian Ka’an:

• Visit the Muyil Ruins first, climb the tower second, and then walk to the shore to take a boat tour third (and walk back).
• Boat tour and river float first (walk back), Muyil ruins second, and Watchtower third.

To avoid the crowds and to have the lazy river float practically all to yourself, you should do the boat tour first thing in the morning, around 8-9 am.

It also makes sense to avoid the hot sun later in the day because wearing sunscreen in the lagoon and on the river float is prohibited.

Theoretically, the Muyil Ruins area will have time to warm up with the sun, so there will be fewer mosquitoes. But in our experience, despite visiting the ruins later on, around noon, there were still hoards of mosquitos biting us. Needless to say, bring your biodegradable bug spray!

Muyil Observation Tower

Craving a bird’s eye view of Sian Ka’an’s lagoons, canals, and jungle?

If you aren’t afraid of heights, I’d recommend climbing to the top of the Muyil Observation Tower for awesome panoramic views. You’ll be right next to it to hop on your boat towards the Muyil River Float!

Beware that you’ll need to climb up a four-story wooden staircase to reach the top, but it’s well worth the dizzying heights! It’s up here that you’ll be able to take in all the vivid blue-green hues of the lagoons and surrounding lush terrestrial and aquatic landscapes.

You’ll also find a raised boardwalk nearby that winds through the jungle, giving you a glimpse of dense plant life, birds, and other animals.

Nearby cenotes & places to visit

On your way back from the Muyil River Float, stop to swim at Cenotes Cristal y Escondido. 

These are two open-air cenotes in the jungle that are less popular yet remain epic spots to swim, snorkel, and dive (you can dive in Escondido only). 

Another spot to visit nearby is the Laguna Kaan Luum, just a 10-minute drive north of Muyil. 

What makes Laguna Kaan Luum so special is that it’s actually a cenote inside a lagoon.

You can swim in the brilliant turquoise water, lounge on the docks, paddleboard, or laze the day away in one of the overwater hammocks.

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind experience that’s not just a fun adventure but also a unique history lesson, the Muyil “Lazy River” Float is the perfect day trip from Tulum!