At the far end of Laguna Chunyaxche is a Maya temple, as if it were a guard station for trading canoes going into the lake. It is on the banks of a natural stream and the swimming there is fine. You can make the arrangements to see this area by asking the villagers. Another possibility is to find a tour agency in Tulum and ask them to take you on a wetland boat tour of the lakes and the Xamach Lagoon of the Sian Ka an Reserve. Kayak tours are an even better way to really enjoy the quiet of the wetlands.
Tours are the only legal way of seeing the reserve.
The once tiny Cruzob village of Tulum is now growing into city-status rapidly. However, it is well situated for forays to the many worthwhile places nearby. It is still a Maya town, although they may already be a minority. A motel or hotel room in Tulum is a good alternative to the pricy beach hotels on the nearby coast. The Tulum ruins are situated in a spectacular cliff and beach setting but are already the most visited archaeological site in the Americas.