Leading to Punta Allen in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, route 15 flows along the magnificent Caribbean Sea coastline. It is often described as one of the most memorable coastal roads on the planet. Surrounded by water all along, this road will enchant you with its wilderness.
Not very tourist, the road is a 54 kilometers (33 miles) track. Although you won’t need a 4×4 to get around, you might want one to enjoy the road to its most, as it has a lot of potholes, and driving in a 4×4 would be more comfortable.
Where is the road to Punta Allen located?
In the southwest of Mexico, route 15 is leading from the seaside city of Tulum to Punta Allen. Punta Allen used to be a small fishing village and is now a tourist destination on the bucket list of many travelers for its magnificent beaches.
Punta Allen is located in Si’an Ka’an biosphere, recognized as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO since 1986 and registered in 1987 on the world heritage list.
You can situate the road on the map below:
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Facts about the road to Punta Allen
Punta Allen description:
Punta Allen is a small community within the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. The name of the reserve translates to “Origin of the Sky” in the Maya language that used to live in the area.
In this reserve, there is no electricity supply nor asphalt roads. Thus, the accommodations resemble rustic palm cabins that run on solar or wind power.
In Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve you will find protected species in their natural environment: dolphins, turtles, pelicans, and lizards. The landscapes are unique as well: mangroves and small bays with turquoise water.
Road to Punta Allen:
Road to Punta Allen is a 54 kilometers (33 miles) track alternating from a smooth dust road to a more chaotic road. Be ready to slalom to avoid the potholes, but also the hundreds of iguanas enjoying the sun along the road. Punta Allen is not so far from Riviera Maya tourist area.
The tacks road will take you through the “Puente de Boca Paila”. It is a bridge with a view of the mangrove on one side and a view of the Caribbean Sea on the other. You can also spot huge crocodiles in the waters below the bridge, as well as pelicans.
The landscapes vary along the road. Indeed, sometimes you will be driving along the water sometimes it looks more like you are driving through the jungle, the change of scenery is guaranteed!
How to get to the road to Punta Allen?
You will need 30 minutes from the center of Tulum to get to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve entrance. From there follow road 15 (Ruta 15), which is a straight road that goes to Punta Allen.
Depending on the weather in the past few days there can be large puddles of water which can delay you a bit. You can get there in 2 hours if you have a high vehicle. If not, it can take twice as long.
Another scenic road in Mexico is the Espinazo del Diablo.
The speed limit on the road is 40 km/h (25 miles), but because of the condition of the road, you will drive much slower.
You can view the itinerary of the road on this map:
What to do in Punta Allen?
The main activity is not lazing around (or at least not only) but discovering the impressive fauna and flora of the region, by lancha (a small boat) for example via the mangrove.
You can come across majestic turtles, hundreds of birds, and the luckiest ones may even spot dolphins. An ideal destination for those who seek to combine adventure and postcard landscapes during their trip to Mexico.
Take a few days to fully sync with the nature of this wonderful place many tourists recall as “Paradise on Earth”.
Of course, you can also spend some time on the magnificent beaches and swim, for example in the natural swimming pool of Blanquizal where the turquoise water is waist height and the scenery is amazing.
If you enjoy water sports, there is a lot for you to do in Punta Allen. You can enjoy water sports such as snorkeling, kayaking, scuba diving, and boat rides, and if you like you can enjoy bird and animal watching in their natural habitat.
Also, Punta Allen is a very good spot for fishing
Is road to Punta Allen open?
The road to Punta Allen is usually open all year round. Although, the road can be closed in case of big storms that can make the road undrivable.
The road is known for its bad condition, so be ready!
Always check the weather to check if storms are announced.
A preview of Punta Allen road in Mexico :
To prepare for your road trip to Punta Allen, you can check a preview of the drive with this YouTube video:
If you are spending some time in the Southwest of Mexico and can take one or more days to discover Punta Allen you will never regret your decision, although the road can be a bit chaotic it is definitely worth the struggle. Punta Allen is a magical place you will never come to forget!
Credits: By MQ904 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65568542 / By Wasquewhat – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62210127
Discover our other roads in Mexico: click here or see our road map!
