Most visitors to the Riviera Maya never go further south than Tulum. National Geographic has just given them a reason to.
Here is the news. Maya Ka’an is on National Geographic’s Best of the World 2027 list, alongside destinations such as Luxor, Melbourne and Normandy, according to the magazine and regional coverage. National Geographic describes it as a sustainable alternative to the resort corridor, founded in 2014 by Maya families in Quintana Roo.
The detail that matters is who runs it. Maya Ka’an is a network of community tourism projects, and the experiences are led by people from the villages themselves. Crónica reports that the region includes 78 Maya communities.
Perception vs. reality
Many visitors think of the Maya as a civilization of the past, seen through ruins. Maya Ka’an is the counterpoint. The people who guide you down an ancient canal, cook your lunch or show you how they harvest honey are Maya, speak Maya and live there. It is not a show. It is a way for communities to earn a living from tourism while keeping their land and traditions.
What it means in the real world
A visitor who has already seen Tulum and Cobá gets something entirely different: a float through a canal in Sian Ka’an, a meal in a family home, a morning with a local guide. A long-term resident looking for a weekend away will find it quieter and less expensive than the coast. A family with older children gets an experience that is educational without feeling like a lesson. For the communities, international recognition can mean more visitors, which is the point, and also more pressure, which is the risk.
The numbers in context
The Best of the World 2027 list has 25 destinations on six continents. The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, at the heart of Maya Ka’an, covers about 1.3 million acres and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, according to National Geographic. Muyil, one of the main entry points, is roughly an hour and a quarter south of Playa del Carmen by road (approximate).
Fast facts
- The news: Maya Ka’an named to National Geographic’s Best of the World 2027 (published October 20, 2026).
- What it is: a community tourism region of Maya villages in southern Quintana Roo, founded in 2014.
- Communities: 78, according to Crónica.
- Highlights: Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Muyil, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Punta Allen, Tihosuco.
- Getting there: by road from Playa del Carmen via Tulum; the Tren Maya and Tulum’s airport also improve access.
A day in Maya Ka’an
Start early and drive south past Tulum to Muyil, where the archaeological site sits at the edge of the reserve. From there, local cooperatives take visitors by boat across the lagoons to the ancient Maya canals, where you can float with the current through mangroves in water so clear you can see the bottom. Lunch in a community restaurant, then either drive home or stay the night and continue to Felipe Carrillo Puerto or Tihosuco the next day for the history of the Caste War and village life.
Where this actually is
Maya Ka’an lies south and southwest of Tulum, in the municipalities of Felipe Carrillo Puerto and the surrounding area. Muyil is about 25 kilometers south of Tulum (approximate). Felipe Carrillo Puerto is roughly two hours from Playa del Carmen by road (approximate). Punta Allen, at the tip of the Sian Ka’an peninsula, is reached by a long, slow road and is best as an overnight trip.
What the headlines don’t have room for
List announcements naturally lead with the name of the place and the prestige of the recognition. What they cannot convey is the arrangement that makes it work: communities that decided to welcome visitors on their own terms, and a model that only stays healthy if visitors book through them and respect local rules. The recognition is good news; how it is used is up to everyone who goes.
How to think about your own decision
If you have a free day in Playa del Carmen, Muyil and the canals are an easy, rewarding trip. If you can, stay a night; the pace of the region rewards it. Book through community cooperatives so the money stays local, bring cash, and follow your guide’s rules in the reserve, including those on sunscreen in the water. If you are planning a 2027 trip, this is a good time to add a southern leg before the list brings more visitors.
Key terms
- Maya Ka’an — a community tourism region of Maya villages in southern Quintana Roo.
- Sian Ka’an — a UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve of jungle, wetlands and coast south of Tulum.
- Community tourism — tourism run by and for the benefit of local communities.
- Caste War — the 19th-century Maya uprising in the Yucatán Peninsula, remembered in towns such as Tihosuco.
Frequently asked questions
A community tourism region of Maya villages in southern Quintana Roo, centered on the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.
As a sustainable, community-led alternative to the resort corridor, according to the magazine.
Muyil is about an hour and a quarter by road and Felipe Carrillo Puerto about two hours (approximate).
Yes, Muyil and the canals work as a day trip. Further areas are better with an overnight stay.
Through community cooperatives and local guides in the region, so that the income stays in the villages.
Sources & further reading
Sources: Best of the World 2027 inclusion, founding year and Sian Ka’an — National Geographic, October 20, 2026; number of communities — Crónica; towns in the region — El Congresista. Distances and travel times are approximate.
More regional trips in our Playa del Carmen lifestyle guide.