Surrounded by the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Punta Allen is a coastal town at the end of Mexico’s Boca Paila Peninsula. It overlooks an idyllic Caribbean beach and is backed by a handful of sandy streets dotted with restaurants and grocery stores. Fishing is the most important economic activity in Punta Allen, with locally caught fish and lobsters readily available.
Things to do in Punta Allen
Spend your days relaxing on the white sands of Punta Allen Beach, which is lapped by the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea. Snorkelling excursions are available on the nearby reef, together with scuba diving trips to come face to face with sea turtles and tropical fish. Kayaks can be rented for exploring the coastline at your leisure.
Near the southern tip of the Boca Paila Peninsula is the Faro de Punta Allen, an abandoned concrete lighthouse. It offers magnificent views across the Caribbean Sea from the top of its spiral staircase and stunning scenery from its commanding wall. At the base of the lighthouse is a small beach perfect for a swim.
Punta Allen makes an excellent base for exploring the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, which is renowned for its abundant birdlife. Join a boat cruise through the nearby mangrove estuaries to spot roseate spoonbills and white-fronted parrots, as well as herons, frigate birds and jabiru storks. Central American tapirs, jaguars and howling monkeys also call the reserve “home”.
Getting around Punta Allen
Punta Allen is around two hours’ drive from Tulum and Tulum International Airport, which has flights to destinations across Mexico. The much larger Cancun International Airport is 3.5 hours away. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to Punta Allen and the town is compact enough to explore on foot.