Punta Allen
Encyclopedia
Punta Allen is the largest village in the Sian Ka'an
Biosphere Reserve
at the end of the Boca Paila peninsula in Tulum Municipality in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo
. It is a small Mayan fishing village with a 2010 census population of 469 inhabitants, and the only land access is by a rough 50 kilometre track.
The state government ordered the evacuation of the village during Hurricane Dolly
in 2008. It lies at an elevation of 2 meters above sea level, according to INEGI.
The village has only about 4-5 blocks of sandy streets going inland from the sea and is only about 6-7 streets wide. Punta Allen has 2 generators that run electricity to the village during two periods daily; 11am - 2pm and from 5pm - midnight. It is wise to bring a flashlight along so you can find your way to the bathroom at night, without stepping on a scorpion, crab or any other creature of the night.
For nutrition, the village has 4 mini markets, a frozen seafood store/house, a fresh seafood store/house, a produce store/house, a lobster co-op that makes ice, and a number of restaurants along the beachfront and scattered around town. On some days you can pre-order tamales to be delivered around 6pm, a local goes around in the morning to take orders.
The beach is not groomed, and is littered with garbage brought in by the waves. Most of this garbage is said to come from cruise ships and other Caribbean countries with open land fills. Every time a hurricane passes it picks up the garbage and deposits it in the sea, to be left till it makes its way to one of the beaches.
There is a dock on the lagoon with a palapa roof. This is a good spot for watching the sunset and perhaps a feeding dolphin or crocodile. Punta Allen is a perfect base for bird-watchers; Pelicans, Pink spoonbills, Frigates, mockingbirds, vultures and White Ibis nest nearby.
The Sian Ka’an Biosphere and Punta Allen draw bone fishermen from all over the world who enjoy the saltwater flats and fly-fishing.
Sian Ka'an
Sian Ka'an is a non profit and non governmental organization biosphere reserve formed by a group of conservationists in the municipality of Tulum in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, whose mission is the conservation of the biodiversity...
Biosphere Reserve
Biosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
at the end of the Boca Paila peninsula in Tulum Municipality in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 10 municipalities and its capital city is Chetumal....
. It is a small Mayan fishing village with a 2010 census population of 469 inhabitants, and the only land access is by a rough 50 kilometre track.
The state government ordered the evacuation of the village during Hurricane Dolly
Hurricane Dolly (2008)
Hurricane Dolly was a tropical cyclone that made landfall in extreme southern Texas in July 2008. Dolly was the fourth tropical cyclone and second hurricane to form during the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the first U.S. landfalling hurricane of the 2008 season. Dolly developed on July 20...
in 2008. It lies at an elevation of 2 meters above sea level, according to INEGI.
The village has only about 4-5 blocks of sandy streets going inland from the sea and is only about 6-7 streets wide. Punta Allen has 2 generators that run electricity to the village during two periods daily; 11am - 2pm and from 5pm - midnight. It is wise to bring a flashlight along so you can find your way to the bathroom at night, without stepping on a scorpion, crab or any other creature of the night.
For nutrition, the village has 4 mini markets, a frozen seafood store/house, a fresh seafood store/house, a produce store/house, a lobster co-op that makes ice, and a number of restaurants along the beachfront and scattered around town. On some days you can pre-order tamales to be delivered around 6pm, a local goes around in the morning to take orders.
The beach is not groomed, and is littered with garbage brought in by the waves. Most of this garbage is said to come from cruise ships and other Caribbean countries with open land fills. Every time a hurricane passes it picks up the garbage and deposits it in the sea, to be left till it makes its way to one of the beaches.
There is a dock on the lagoon with a palapa roof. This is a good spot for watching the sunset and perhaps a feeding dolphin or crocodile. Punta Allen is a perfect base for bird-watchers; Pelicans, Pink spoonbills, Frigates, mockingbirds, vultures and White Ibis nest nearby.
The Sian Ka’an Biosphere and Punta Allen draw bone fishermen from all over the world who enjoy the saltwater flats and fly-fishing.