The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve is one of the four existing in the Yucatan Peninsula. Sian Ka'an is located at the gates of the tourist Riviera Maya, a true escape to nature.
The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve It covers a space of 528,147.66 hectares. The Biosphere Reserves are the largest protected Natural Areas in Mexico. The Sian Ka'an Reserve is a Unesco Natural Heritage since 1987.
There are several access points to the Reserve: la entry more popular It's from Tulum. The diversion in Tulum towards Boca Paila leads you to the Entrance to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. From here there are about 50 kilometers of sandy road to the town of Punta Allen. A path that is going to be an adventure for you.
Get to known what to do in Punta Allen
Highway of the Sian Ka'an Tulum Biosphere Reserve - Punta Allen
The road of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve It borders the spectacular Caribbean coast meandering along a sandy track towards Punta Allen, a coastal fishing village that is at the end of this unmissable route.
What to see on the route Tulum-Punta Allen
During the journey you will be able to enjoy landscapes where the white earth tongue that you walk gets together almost touching the Caapechén lagoon y Caribbean, you can climb to a watchtower with magnificent views in the visitors Center (15 Km from the entrance), discover the lagoon by boat, rent a kayak, observe the different fauna of the place, from crocodiles, herons, coatis, gray pelican, frigates, discover the flora and the paths between mangroves, go through the bridge of Boca Paila, bathe in some of the desert beaches, visit the Mayan ruins that hides the Sian Ka'an jungle.
On the way you will see the few privileged hotels that we find inside the Reserve. Most high budget, they are a luxury. In Punta Allen town you find cheaper accommodation.
You can look at this link for hotel deals in Sian Ka'an.
Booking.com
Road conditions of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
You must bear in mind that the scarce 50 km of dirt road that separates Tulum from Punta Allen can be eternal in rainy season (May to October), arriving to take more than 5 hours to cover them, so look carefully road conditions, from your car and your time to get to Punta Allen. The road in good condition takes between an hour and a half and two hours.
You can know the Reserve by hiring a organized tour with an agency: it's the excursions tops of Riviera Maya, Most are made in 4 × 4 and are about 130 usd per person the tour. Then I leave you options to do it with agency.
If you have time and are adventurous, the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve it's a good place to go in private car and enjoy it at your leisure. You can spend the night in Punta Allen, in one of the little hotels of the Reserve or camping on the beach.
Going by bike I think it exceeds everything else: slow pace and your air, the most.
DO YOU THINK RENT A CAR IN RIVIERA MAYA?
Moving by rental car in Riviera Maya and surroundings is an excellent option for your vacation. We recommend you book your car online months before, especially if you travel in peak times such as Christmas, Easter or summer. They tend to increase prices as the date approaches, just as it happens with airline tickets.
The excursions that go through the reserve do all in 4 × 4 cars, it gives adventure and the environment favors it a lot. Honestly you do not need an 4 × 4 to travel the area, but it does give comfort and safety on a road that sometimes gets difficult because of the holes. Go to the little step and enjoy the road.
Book from Rentalcars, compare prices between companies and customer reviews. Free cancellation
ACCOMMODATION AND EXCURSIONS FROM PUNTA ALLEN:
If you want cheaper accommodation, you should get to Punta Allen, where you can eat wonderfully and take the opportunity to go on a boat trip with one of the town cooperatives. These excursions allow you to know the natural environment of mangrove, see dolphins and turtles, and know the natural pools of Blanquizal.
There are different cooperatives in the town, they handle similar prices: from 2 to 3 hours the boat ride for 6 people is about 3000 pesos, to be distributed between 6. There are other kayak excursions in the area and other local alternatives.
TOURS SIAN KA'AN FROM RIVIERA MAYA
The Biosphere Reserve is one of those places that we do not want to miss. For many visitors it becomes more comfortable and easy to visit the place in agency tour, where they will pick you up at your hotel and travel around the place by boat. You can book through the blog, it's safe and they allow you to cancel without cost.
It is worth staying close to this magnificent Caribbean coast and savoring the awakening on a wild beach. You will discover how good it feels to live such a beautiful place where nature still predominates.
The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1987
Sian Ka'an It will be one of the places you will remember of your trip, of the treasures of the Caribbean coast. If you have time, discover this jewel of a place at your own pace.
Reserve of Sian Ka'an
LOCATION: the Sian Ka'an Reserve is located between Tulum and Felipe Carrillo Puerto. It has 5 accesses being the most popular one in Tulum, Boca Paila road. The entrance arch to the Reserve is located about 15 kilometers from Tulum. From Felipe Carrillo Puerto there is 70 km, direction Vigía Chico or El Playón. From here there is a collective boat to Punta Allen, 10 minutes.PRICE ENTRY: 68 mxn per person.
HOW TO GET IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION? From Tulum to Punta Allen there is public transport, it leaves from (truck or van) daily to the 14 from the Tulum taxi station. From Punta Allen he returns to the 5 in the morning.
BOAT TRIPS FROM MUYIL BY THE RESERVE: from the archaeological zone of Muyil a interpretive path that cross the Sian Ka'an Reserve to the Muyil lagoon: boats leave that run through the Sian Ka'an canals between an hour and a half and two hours, they charge 700 pesos per person. You can bathe in the canal and visit a small archeological vestige. Good excursion
ACCOMMODATION: during the way you find lodges, they are not cheap (except the option of camping in a place of palm trees, near the entrance to the reserve). To find cheaper accommodation you should go to Punta Allen, where there is also place to camp. I advise you to book in high season like Christmas, and months of January and December.
PRECAUTIONS ON THE ROAD:with the road in good condition takes between an hour and a half and two hours from Tulum to Punta Allen. In bad condition, put 5 and a little more. There is no gas station in Punta Allen.
Good way,
- Offers on flights international and national ..
- Find the accommodation with the best offers from Booking.com.
- Stay with airbnb and get 25 € discount.
- Contract activities, tours and excursions organized.
- Rent a car with the indispensable and necessary best discounts.
- Secure your transfers of arrival or departure to the airport.
- Travel safely with IATI and take advantage of 5% off.
If you prefer, you tell us your idea of the trip and together we organize it.
Good day!! I have the concern of riding a mountain bike Felipe Carrillo by the gap to El Playón and then cross by boat to Punta Allen and continue pedaling to Tulum (the next day clear). I wanted to ask if the boats could cross us through the reserve with everything and bicycle?
Hello Eduardo, what a cool road, great!
Honestly I can not assure you that yes, but you know that the boatman can resolve to pass bikes without problems if he wants, so I do not think you have problems in crossing. I hope you explain the route, I already wanted to do it.
Good road Eduardo!
Sandra
Hello Sandra!, The idea is to start in Chetumal, go to the points of interest and beaches, Bacalar, Mahahual, Felipe Carrillo, cross the jungle of Sian Ka'an, Punta Allen, Tulum, Akumal, Playa del Carmen and ending in Cancún Without forgetting the cenotes and ruins. The route would be in several stages (6 days) to know a little the places we will visit, arriving at hotels or camping. Suggestions are accepted. Thanks for the info.
How cool Eduardo, I'm looking forward to making some bike trips around here.
In the area of Chetumal you have two important archaeological sites, Dzibanché and Kohunlich, you have to deviate, but both are the most significant in the Peninsula. In the area of the Ruta de los cenotes, Puerto Morelos-Leona Vicario road, there are several cenotes such as Kin Ha or 7 Bocas, where there are dirt tracks ideal for mountain biking that connect cenotes. It is a good area of cenotes. Camping you find place in many stops, including Sian Ka'an, where there is adequate an area. Things are happening to me, but I think you have a good route. If something happens to me important I write to you.
That you have a very good shot. Sorry I answered late, I disconnected the weekend.
Greetings, good trip!
Hello Sandra! Thanks for your post, they are very good, I would like to know in which sites you can camp in Sian Ka'an, besides Punta Allen, is it possible to camp preferably free (without paying) in another place in the reserve?
Hello, excuse the delay these days in answering. Yes there is camping place before Punta Allen, half way, they did not charge expensive and the place is conditioned. At the entrance they tell you exactly where it is located and ask about camping in another area of the route. In principle you can do free camping, but being a Reserva works with its rules.
Best regards
Hello, we want to go to know the reserve of sian Kan an and stop one night in Punta Allen, we will go from Chetumal by car, is it possible? Or should we go to Tulum and from there go the route to Punta Allen? Cheap accommodation in Punta allen there? Thank you
Hello Marcela,
From Chetumal there is a closer entrance from Mahahaual, following a dirt road to the north, you reach the southern end of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. There are two small communities to visit, such as Punta Allen on the north side: Punta Herrero and Maria Elena.
I've never been there Marcela, so I can not talk to you first-hand, nor do I know the conditions of the road or anything. It is a place that seems to me a lot, I have it pending.
If you want to go to Punta Allen you must go to Tulum, yes. I remember Posada Conchita as the average price in Punta Allen.
Best regards,
Hello Sandra,
I'm going to the Riviera Maya at the end of November for 15 days. I want to go to the reserve but I would like you to recommend me how many days to be and where to sleep, I travel alone and the idea is to do it by public transport. My idea is to go to Bacalar also, what would be the best route for these two places considering that I leave Playa del Carmen.
Thank you
Paola
Hello Paola, if you plan to go on your own, I would be two nights because you will not have time for anything. At least you have a whole day to do the activities and the rest of the time to rest. The trip is long, and if you go only one night does not give you the time to enjoy, it will be pure bus. So from Playa I would go to Tulum and from there to Punta Allen. Places to sleep can be found at Booking Villas Roseliz or Casa Pascale. This house is Conchita where you can camp and recommended to also look at AIRBNB. Hopefully if you find a good place you tell us to support other travelers.
From Punta Allen you must return to Tulum and from here you take the bus to Bacalar.
I hope the information will help you on your way. Best regards,