National Geographic. Oct 2026.

Tucked in the heart of Mexico’s Quintana Roo state, south of the resort-dense Riviera Maya, the Maya Ka’an region is home to 78 Indigenous Maya communities who have long watched over pristine jungles and turquoise lagoon systems. Visitors come to spot birds and wildlife in one of the most protected biospheres in Mexico, swim in secluded cenotes, and engage in deeply restorative tourism based on community-ownership and conservation-driven initiatives.