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A place of alternate energy and raw natural beauty
Up for an adventure? Here's a trip off the beaten path. A drive down the Riviera Maya coast on a sandy coconut road just 50 kilometers long (±30 miles) through the NE Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve past incredible beaches, pristine mangrove estuaries, finally to arrive in the little fishing village of Punta Allen (about a 2½ hour drive).
For this trip you will need durable transportation (jeep recommended), plenty of drinking water and snacks, your beach stuff, camera, binoculars and anything else you like to take on day trips.
Very few people make the drive all the way to Punta Allen because the road is very rutted in places after the Boca Paila bridge, and sometimes before. You can test your own tolerance but know that if you do make it to the stone archway that marks the entrance to the Sian Kaan you are only 3 kilometers (±2 miles) from a nice beach that's quite evident on your left.
Below are photos from our trip, points of interest and travel distances. To get an overview of the coast click the link» Riviera Maya road map.
*Please note: approximate distances are calculated from the Coba road, highway 307 intersection (Cancun-Tulum hwy.). ±10mph within Sian Kaan. |
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typical mangrove area for saltwater flats fishing - Mayan ruin along the road 40km |
 
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Birds we saw along the way.....
Because we get so many inquiries from birders we decided to make a log of the birds we sighted on this trip.
They are:
 A Yellow Tailed Oriole (Icterus mesomelas)
Brown pelicans (Pelicanus occidentalis)
Gray-Headed Kite (Leptodon cayanensis)
Yucatan Jay (Cissilopha yucatanica)
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)
Boat-Billed Fly Catcher (Megarynchus pitangua)
Red-Vented (Yucatan) Woodpecker (Centurus pygmaeus)
Yellow-Lored (Yucatan) Parrot (Amazona xantholora)
We used Peterson's "A Field Guide to Mexican Birds" for identification. Since we are not experienced birders we may be off on a couple species. If so, sorry about that. |
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one of the deep powdery beaches of fine sand along the way, this one was exceptional |
 
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Rancho Sol Caribe
This wonderful mini-resort was far and away the best we found on our trip, paradise found. Located within the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve, 8km before you get to Punta Allen town. |
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Sol Caribe's beach front restaurant - the front porch of an oceanfront room |
 
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their excellent beach with some shade palapa umbrellas and a great snorkeling reef nearby |
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Coming into Punta Allen
As you come into Punta Allen you'll notice this Sian Kaan sign on the left. Punta Allen is not part of the reserve but is surrounded by it on all sides.
—Sian Kaan rules—
Allowed are: birdwatching, low-impact tourism, fishing, snorkeling, kayaking
Prohibited are: touching the reef, open fires, non-biodegradable suntan lotion, spear fishing or gaffing, hunting, wave runners
 » Sian Kaan services
» Punta Allen services |
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the first thing you'll see in Punta Allen is Los Gaytones, a litte restaurant, fishing & boat rides offered |
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then there's Xoken restaurant, 2 locations - next up, Muelle Viejo restaurant where we ate lunch |
 
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another photo of Muelle Viejo restaurant, delicious seafood - the beach next to them |
 
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around the corner is Vigia Grande restaurant/bar - Vigia Grande offers eco-tours, fly fishing, snorkeling |
 
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next up is Cuzan: restaurant, cabañas, eco-tours, fly fishing & snorkeling trips |
 
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Continuing on you'll pass back into the Sian Kaan reserve, through Serenidad Shardon (sorry no photo) and on to the lighthouse, the old one (photo left) and the new one (photo right). There is a trail that goes to a "Miradoor" look-out tower. This is the land's end. The body of water to the south is the tremendous Bahía de la Ascensión, known for unpredictable seas, great fly-fishing and birdwatching. |
 
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