Punta Allen is a fishing village that is located in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, one of the wildest and most natural areas near the Riviera Maya. Only the most adventurous arrive here.
Few travelers stay in Punta Allen, most arrive on a day trip from the Riviera Maya. When tourists leave, Punta Allen returns to his usual weird calm. This luxury can only be enjoyed by those who decide to sleep in Punta Allen.
How to explore for free the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
How to go to Punta Allen?
Punta Allen is the fishing village that is at the end of the road that crosses the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. The entrance is located in Boca Paila, Tulum. After traveling a dirt road of more than 50 kilometers you arrive at the fishing village of Punta Allen.
Technical sheet of the CONANP of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve.
The walk to Punta Allen seems simple but road conditions make that sometimes it takes about 4 hours to get here. If the road is good, an hour and a half will suffice.
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT de Tulum to Punta Allen There are combi from Tuesday to Saturday that leave at 4 in the afternoon of the Tulum shark trade union. From Punta Allen they leave towards Tulum at 7 in the morning. The price of the ticket is 200 pesos per person and route. Another way to go is with the van de easy tour that leaves in front of the super Aki of Tulum at 1: 45 in the afternoon. It takes you to the visitor center of the Sian Ka'an Reserve, and from there by boat to Punta Allen.
The bad thing about these options is that you miss stopping along the way. Anyway stay in Punta Allen is worth it for lovers of authentic and peaceful places of nature.
What is special about the Sian Ka'an and Punta Allen Biosphere Reserve?
Punta Allen is a small and strange paradise where to discover and appreciate what the Riviera Maya coast was years ago, before tourism will mark its current development and dynamics. This quiet fishing village is the most authentic thing you'll find on the coast near tourism.
The lower tourist impact has allowed them to conserve a much more alive reef than the battered coast of the Riviera Maya, which still has a liveliness that surprises us many, but nothing comparable to what the foreigners tell you about 30 years ago or more.
In Punta Allen it is easy to see turtles, dolphins, stingrays and even manatees in their natural habitat, a luxury of space that I hope to continue preserving, at least its magnificent reef.
During your trip through the Biosphere Reserve you will see that the beaches are very dirty with plastic, it is the footprint that we are all leaving on the planet. I wish there was a global awareness to be able to improve together by changing the use of plastics for natural and biodegradable products.
Sleep in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
In Punta Allen there are no big hotels, but you do find several lodgings to choose from. If you go with a tent you can also find where to install it. Do not worry about the theme of meals, there are places to have lunch, breakfast and dinner.
It is not easy to pay by card, the signal just reaches Punta Allen, and obviously do not expect a cashier to get money. So Bring cash to ensure you can pay.
I recommend you look at Booking options for sleeping in Punta Allen, just as they have more Airbnb.com offer. In peak seasons like Christmas, Easter and summer holiday periods, book in advance.
Booking.comWhat to do in Punta Allen?
There are several excursions offered by fishermen's cooperatives that have faced their businesses for tourism. The cooperatives, some 7 currently, are found in the town. It will not cost you much to find them and ask for information, it is a town of about 500 inhabitants.
The great thing is that you can dodge the schedules of the tours that arrive daily from the Riviera Maya, you will have the luxury opportunity to get to know this paradise calmly.
Salen boat rides daily through the Black lagoon, the Island of the Birds, the reef and the well-known natural pools of Blanquizal. The most striking thing is to go to see dolphins and turtles in their natural habitat. There are also boat rides through the interior of the lagoon, its Mayan vestiges and the mangrove channels. They also do kayak trips through the mangrove and open sea, and by bicycle.
EXCURSIONS PRICE: The payment of the excursions is by boat of 6 people, so you can share with other travelers to save. The price for an excursion from 2 to 3 hours by boat from 6 people is about the 3000 pesos.
Another thing you can do is enjoy fabulous sunsets and sunrises and breathe calm, at no extra cost, that easy.
And if you have not tried a hammock on your trip through the Caribbean, you are already taking time: put yourself in a hammock and let time pass. Enjoy the Caribbean spirit, have many good things 🙂
I hope you enjoy this corner of nature. Leave your minimum human mark, respecting nature as much as possible. Follow the code of ethics not touching neither the flora nor the fauna, take your trash and respect the marked roads.
I think that taking care of the little big things starts in each one of us and belongs to everyone. Awareness of care is paramount in our way of understanding life and traveling. Trying to improve our own behaviors is basic. Together we can be a more responsible society with the environment.
Punta Allen, Sian Kaan
LOCATION: Punta Allen It is located at 50 km from the entrance of Boca Paila to la Reserve of Sian Ka'an, near Tulum. It is a dirt road.PRICE ENTRY TO THE SIAN KA'AN RESERVE: 68 mxn
HOW TO GET IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION? From Tulum to Punta Allen there is public transport, it leaves VAN (truck or van) daily to the 14 from the Tulum taxi station. From Punta Allen he returns to the 5 in the morning.
ACCOMMODATION: en Punta Allen there are cheap lodgings and place to camp. On the way to Punta Allen you find lodgings.
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.
Excellent report Sandra! I have been very useful, in March I will be visiting Punta Allen. Greetings from Argentina!
Thank you for the comment Gustavo, enjoy the trip very much.
hello good day I want to know about the mangrove I want to spend a night and a day there with 13 friends how much is the entrance?
Hi Gehovana, if I did not understand you wrong you want to camp inside the Sian Ka'an Reserve, right? You must pay the entrance of 35 pesos to the Reserve, and the camping per person must be in 100 pesos. There is a space indicated for camping, ask at the entrance.
Good road band!
Hello Sandra, you are fantastic giving details, it is very helpful.
I am planning a trip for 9 nights, three of them in Tulum. Do you recommend taking a trip to Punta Allen returning the same day or staying there?
Thank you very much really.
Hello Sandra, I appreciate your comment, always encourage tocaya 🙂
If the plan is to be in Tulum, it would leave early and go back and forth, give you time to stop along the way, have lunch in Punta Allen and do some excursions. So you save the packing and unpacking, the check in and the out, at least I'm a little lazy about these things. Right now the road is good, it has not rained, if you told me in the month of August I would tell you to stay in Punta Allen because of the road theme.
Very good way, enjoy a lot!
Of all the information I was looking for, yours was the best, thank you very much. I only have some doubts, in what seasons do you recommend to go for the theme of the road? And if you know the cost of the van that goes from tulum to tip allen (public transport)? Beforehand thank you very much.
Hello Betzy, I am really happy that you solve doubts to improve your trip.
I do not know the price until Punta Allen, but you do not pay more than 100 pesos. In the rainy season, like from June to November, it is when the road is worse, because holes are made. Anyway, the truck has the will to arrive daily, with more or less holes.
Best regards, to enjoy!
Hello Sandra: I congratulate you on the information of your block and better the recommendations to the comments. I also have a question that I would like to know your comment. I'll go in September and plan to rent a car and my option is a medium one (jetta). Do you recommend this type of car to go to Punta Allen? . Thank you! 🙂
Hello Carlos, if you can get in this type of car. Surely in September because of the rains the road will be heavy because of the holes, so patience. But you do arrive with a Jetta.
Good way,
Thank you for your very clear information, I plan to go soon, and it has been very useful, a question you do not need a reservation to stay at Punta Allen?
Hello Katy, I'm glad it's useful for your trip.
According to dates such as for Easter, bridges and other vacation peaks, better reserve. There is not much variety, look at Airbnb or Booking. They are the ones who have more options in the area. The cheapest thing is the campaign shed, she expects to pay about 1000 pesos a room.
Good way,
Hello Sandra, your blog is great. Congratulations, you are helping us a lot in preparing our trip for this summer. Seeing your comments about Punta Allen we would like very much to spend a night there with a local family or economic lodging but I can not find anything to make the reservation before going. We would like to know if you have any contact where to direct us. Thank you!!!!
Hi Alba, I'm glad to know what is helping you, moltes gràcies pel comentari 😉
I remember that we slept in Posada la Conchita, one of the economic inns in Punta Allen. Another is Cabañas Costa del Sol Sian Kaan, they are not luxury places, but they are the cheapest. Some have lands to plant the tent. You can find them on pages such as Tripadvidor.com or Booking.com to make a reservation or search for your direct contact, and you can look at comments and see which one interests you the most. There are other hotels along the way, such as the Fishing Lodge, where I have also been, where to enjoy magnificent beaches in solitude.
Us desitjo a great viatge, Punta Allen great encant tea,
Hello Sandra:
Thank you very much for your previous answers. I annoy you again!
I would like to know if there is any way to go through the reservation by my own means or if I resign myself and rent a one day tour. My idea was to know mainly the Kaan Luum lagoon and to spend the night in Punta Allen. What recommendations do you make?
Thank you very much!
Hello Natalia, no hassle, on the contrary.
There are ways to go free. From Tulum to Punta Allen there is a daily bus, to the 14 hours it leaves the taxi station of Tulum. From Punta Allen he returns to the 5 in the morning. You can stay in Punta Allen a couple of days, one day is not worth it in public transport. To lagoon Kaan Luum you arrive in collective or taxi from Tulum, it is not far. According to your availability of days: if you only have one day to sleep in Punta Allen, by public transport it is complicated.
The other is to rent a car a couple of days and do it on your own. I leave an article that can help you: https://www.elcaminomascorto.es/visitar-libre-la-reserva-la-biosfera-sian-kaan/
Any doubt you write to me that I try to support you.
Best regards,
Many thanks! I should not worry about hosting, right? When I get there I estimate that something will be achieved ... I go in February, I do not know if there is a lot of movement.
Regards!
Hello Natalia, what a win you must have already go on a trip 🙂
February is high season in this area, but I believe in Punta Allen you find something, there is always a place, at least with my experience. There are houses that offer camping ground, in case there are no rooms. The offer in Punta Allen is not very broad because few stay to sleep.
You'll explain how it is over there.
Best regards,
Hello, we wanted to plan a trip to Punta Allen as a family for June, July of the 2018 and we would be between 10 and 14 people and we would like to stay with locals that could rent us house or similar for those dates, could you help us with some information about it?
Hello Jose Luis, in the area of Sian Ka'an-Punta Allen several houses are rented, I was looking http://www.airbnb.mx and has several options. Hopefully this idea will help you find what you are looking for.
Best regards,
Sandra, good day I would like to know if for Easter there is a lot of demand in the camping area, I have a program to arrive at the end of March.
regards
Hello Christian, yes there is a lot of demand during Holy Week, everything is quite full. Not only Sian Ka'an, the camping areas in XpuHá or Soliman are very crowded as well. In Tulum there are also camping areas, some cabins offer these services. I do not have the contact d eninguna, but I passed it to you.
Best regards,
Hello, Sandra, I would like to know if there is a need to pay and how much to get to Punta Allen? Since I want to go this weekend with my family but I want to know info to go prepared I would be back and forth as how much is paid x person if I want to give a tour x person
Hello Stephanie, the payment you make when entering the Biosphere Reserve, are about 40 pesos per person.
The price for an 2 excursion to 3 hours by 6 people boat is about the 2500 pesos. Try to contact this women's cooperative in Punta Allen: Orquideas de Sian Ka an
María de la Cruz Mendoza Mendoza
Tel: + 521 (984) 136 25 58
I hope you enjoy it a lot.
A hug,
Do you know how I can get from Playa del Carmen? What bus or where can I take a transport?
Thank you!
Hi Claudia,
From the terminal of Playa del Carmen, is located on 2 street between 15 and 20, you must go to Tulum. And from Tulum: HOW TO GET IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION? From Tulum to Punta Allen there is public transport, daily van (van or van) to the 14 from the taxi station of Tulum. From Punta Allen he returns to the 5 in the morning. You can also go by taxi, I do not know what price they give.
Best regards,
How about Sandra,
Is allen point dangerous for children (2-4 years), or your recommendation is not to take them? We go in August to Playa del Carmen and we want to visit Punta Allen
Hello, Enrique,
The road is quite heavy, really. I would not recommend going on a day trip, I would choose other options for the family.
Any doubt you tell me.
Today I discovered your page and I am really surprised with the quality of your information. There is nothing similar or comparable on the web. I love you !! On the sidelines, I comment that I will soon go to live in Mérida and I plan to travel around the peninsula although I will not It will be with many resources. 30 years ago I started to know a lot about that area. Now, I love the jungle, the sea and the Mayan culture. I have in mind a trip to the Danta del Mirador del Petén in Guatemala. I understand that the option is to leave Las Flores on a journey of 4 days through the jungle with specialized guides but it seems expensive, risky and dangerous (It seems that there is also an old Mayan road Sacbe from Cobá de 40 kms) I request your authorized comments, suggestions and your guidance In this regard.Other option is the helicopter rental with a cost of US $ 400 but with a short stay of 4 hrs there and flight of 30 minutes from Las Flores.The adventure of the jungle tour attracts me more, but I am a city dweller without proper training and age does not help me much anymore. Thank you very much for your support.
Hi Carlos, I welcome our meeting in this virtual world 🙂
Good thing you move to Merida, it is a wonderful city full of culture, entertainment and incredible surroundings. You will be sooooo entertained with your desire to know, what good. El Mirador is also one of my dreams, I hope to go there in the next few years. We have almost the same information: 4 days of walking with local services to the great Mayan city, and then back. The best if you dare to go in the dry season, from December to February is less heat, the Petén is very hot and humid.
In Cobá as you say, there is a sacbé that travels 100 kilometers until reaching Yaxunah and Chichen Itza. Unfortunately, it is not enabled. We are living the tendency to enable the old sacbés for hiking, hopefully little by little we can recover these old roads in the Peninsula. From Merida there are groups that come together to go out on weekends, and I will pass your contact if you want to make group outings. In what can support you, count on it. It will be a pleasure to help you.
I send you a friendly salutation,
Hello Sandra. Very good your blog. I have read your comments and I have only had one or another doubt, to camp in Punta Allen you have to pay where you are going to stay camping? I plan to go with my family this Friday until Sunday ... is the road very heavy?
Hello Ana, the road is really heavy, but as the saying "mange with pleasure, it does not itch", it's worth it. I do not remember how much they make you pay per person and campaign booth, I'm sorry. Before reaching Punta Allen, near the visitor center, about 15 km from the entrance, there is a great campsite facing the sea. Sure there are more places before reaching Punta Allen where camping, they all make you pay a bit for the services they give you, yes.
I hope you can explain your experience to help the next traveler.
I wish you a great weekend 🙂
hello Sandra, your information is very useful; I will travel this weekend to Cancun, my intention is to go to the reserve of Sian kán, I do not know if I could camp there or in Punta Allen and what would be the means of public transport to get to Sian Kaán
Hello Karen, I answer the same for here in case someone does well the answer, that you find in this post. Yes you can camp: https://www.elcaminomascorto.es/visitar-libre-la-reserva-la-biosfera-sian-kaan/
Greetings Karen