The port that named a fiber
In 1810 the port of Sisal was opened to ships arriving from Havana, and on March 3, 1811, it was declared a minor port, according to the Yucatán government. For decades it was the peninsula's gateway to the world. The first shipments of henequen left from here, which is why in many countries the fiber is simply called sisal.
When the port of Progreso opened, Sisal lost its trading role and went back to being a fishing village. That pause explains why it still has old mansions and a slow pace. The state listing highlights the Fort of Santiago, the former Maritime Customs House, the lighthouse and the pier. A fun fact: Empress Carlota landed in Sisal on November 22, 1865.
Kayaking through the mangroves
Yucatán's tourism department lists kayaking in Sisal's mangroves and waterways as a nature-tourism activity. Next to the port is the El Palmar State Reserve, whose plant list includes red, black, white and buttonwood mangrove: all four mangrove species of the Yucatán coast.
On the Mary Tours trip, the morning is spent paddling (by kayak or flat-bottomed boat) through the mangroves, birdwatching and taking a dip in an ojo de agua, a freshwater spring welling up in the middle of the wetland.
Are there flamingos in Sisal?
You can spot pink flamingos among other birds in Sisal's wetlands, but there's no guaranteed season like at the big reserves of Celestún or Río Lagartos. What you see depends on the day. Much of the kayak's appeal is the silence, the mangroves and the calm water, none of which depend on flamingos.
An afternoon at the beach
After kayaking you get more than four free hours on Sisal's beach: white sand, turquoise water and very few people. There are seafood restaurants on the shore and you can rent a palapa for shade. On this tour, lunch and the palapa are extra; transportation and the kayak are included.
Tips
- Biodegradable sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses: there's no shade in a kayak.
- A waterproof phone pouch.
- Swimsuit on from the start.
- Insect repellent for the mangroves.
- Cash for lunch and the palapa.
- Paddle slowly near birds and stay away from nests.
Fun facts
- In many countries, henequen fiber is called "sisal" after this port.
- Sisal was declared a minor port in 1811.
- Empress Carlota landed in Sisal in 1865.
Related tours
Beach · 9.5 h
Sisal: kayak, flamingos and beach
A magic town that is still a fishing port
from $1,500 MXN per person
See itinerary
8:00 AM – 5:30 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour and a half on the road to the port.
- 10:00 AM Kayaking in the coastal wetland — A paddle by kayak or flat-bottomed boat through the mangrove, with birdwatching — pink flamingos included — and a dip in a freshwater spring.
- 11:45 AM Sisal beach — Over four hours free. There are seafood places along the shore and palapas you can rent for shade.
- 4:00 PM Back to Mérida — An hour and a half back.
Included: Transport, Kayaking in the coastal wetlands, Free time on the beach
Not included: Food, Drinks, Palapa rental
Nature · 9 h
Celestún and the pink flamingos
The largest flamingo colony in North America
from $1,600 MXN per person
See itinerary
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour and a half west, out to the port.
- 9:30 AM Boat ride — Flamingo and bird watching, the mangrove tunnel, the freshwater spring and the Maya bath on the sandbar.
- 11:00 AM Lunch by the beach — Fish, octopus or shrimp from the gulf, at a table facing the sea.
- 1:00 PM Free time on the beach — Almost three hours to swim, walk the shore or do nothing at all.
- 4:00 PM Back to Mérida — Arriving around five.
Included: Transport, Guide, Boat ride, Lunch from a set menu
Not included: Drinks
Beach · 8 h
North Coast and Isla Columpios
Wooden swings driven straight into the sea
from $1,250 MXN per person
See itinerary
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM · daily
- 10:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour and a quarter to the Chuburná harbour, where the boat leaves from.
- 11:30 AM Isla Columpios — Turquoise water barely past your knees, swings and hammocks over the sea, and mangrove all around full of birds.
- 1:00 PM Chuburná dunes — White sand mounds shaped by the wind, with nobody around. Good for walking and for photos.
- 2:30 PM Puerto Progreso — Free afternoon: eat on the seafront, walk the pier or stay on the beach.
- 5:30 PM Back to Mérida — Half an hour back, arriving around six.
Included: Transport, Certified guide, Boat and Isla Columpios entry
Not included: Food, Drinks
Frequently asked questions
How far is Sisal from Mérida?
About 49 kilometers via the Caucel–Hunucmá road, roughly an hour and a half on the tour.
Why is henequen fiber called sisal?
Because the first henequen exports were shipped from the port of Sisal.
Do I need kayaking experience?
No. It's a gentle paddle through wetlands, and you can also go by flat-bottomed boat.
Does the tour include lunch?
No. It includes transportation, the wetland kayak and free time at the beach. Lunch, drinks and palapa rental are extra.
Are there always flamingos?
It can't be guaranteed. Sisal doesn't have a fixed flamingo season like the big reserves.
