Tulum to Punta Allen

Introducing Tulum to Punta Allen

Punta Allen sits at the end of a narrow spit of land that stretches south nearly 40km from its start below Tulum. There are some charming beaches along the way, with plenty of privacy, and most of the spit is within the protected, wildlife-rich Reserva de la Biosfera Sian Ka’an. Hurricane Dean whipped the region pretty good in late 2007, and the beaches were still littered with ­debris when we passed through.

The road can be a real muffler-buster between gradings, especially when holes are filled with water from recent rains, making it impossible to gauge their depth. The southern half, south of the bridge at Boca Paila, is the worst stretch – some spots require experienced off-road handling or you’ll sink into several feet of sand. It is doable even in a non-4WD vehicle.

There’s an entrance gate to the reserve about 10km south of Tulum. Entrance is M$21. At the gate, there’s a short nature trail taking you to a rather nondescript cenote (Ben Ha).

This is where DIY adventure really takes off. Bring a couple hammocks, lots of water, a six-pack of cerveza and mosquito nets for remote coastal camping. Around 30km from the entrance gate is an excellent camping spot with the lagoon on one side and glorious blue ocean on the other.

At the time of research, one colectivo made the three-hour trip daily, leaving Tulum center at 2pm and arriving in Punta Allen about 5pm. Another leaves Punta Allen at 3pm. You may also be able to come on a launch via the mainland, though that is more expensive and less frequent.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009