Guide To Punta Nizuc And The Great Mayan Reefs In Cancun

Last Updated 3 years ago

Punta Nizuc is the closest place to Cancun, where you can enjoy the dream beauty that encloses the underwater world of the Great Mayan Reef. Here is a guide to explore Punta Nizuc and its many attractions.

What is Punta Nizuc?

Punta Nizuc is a land strip located at the southern tip of the town of Cancun and the point that marks the end of the exclusive Hotel Zone on the Caribbean side, in the state of Quintana Roo. It’s also the beginning of the impressive and beautiful barrier reef that runs parallel to the Quintana Roo coast, housing one of the largest, most varied, and beautiful aquatic habitats on the planet.

The Great Barrier Reef of Mesoamerica is the second largest on the planet after the Coral Sea, off the Australian coast.  The Great Mesoamerican Reef is a paradise for snorkeling and deep diving. It has a diversity of aquatic flora and fauna among the most beautiful and diverse in the world.

How to get to Punta Nizuc

Buses on routes 1 and 2 that run through the Cancun Hotel Zone arrive in Punta Nizuc. Playa del Carmen is located 37 miles south of Punta Nizuc on Federal Highway 307. Cancun is located 15 miles from Punta Nizuc. Likewise, you can contact a tour operator in Cancun to take you on a tour of the attractions of Punta Nizuc. Most tours include a boat ride from Cancun, a stop at a beach with crystal clear waters, a tour of mangroves and jungle landscapes, and snorkeling on the Punta Nizuc reef.

Diving on the Reef

Tour operators take you from Cancun and Playa del Carmen to explore the wonderful underwater world of the Mayan reef in front of Punta Nizuc. More than 500 species of fish, 350 mollusks, and 60 hard corals live in this extraordinary ecosystem. On your excursion, you can admire turtles, shells, manatees, black corals, elkhorn corals, and fish of all colors and sizes. You can bring your equipment or rent it.

Enjoy Nizuc Beach

This beach is located less than 2 miles from Punta Nizuc, at km 25 of  Kukulkan Boulevard, near the junction of Cancun International Airport. It offers a quiet atmosphere, away from the hustle and bustle of the most frequented beaches of the Cancun Hotel Zone. It’s a cozy beach, calm, shallow, and shaded with coconut trees. In the parking lot to Nizuc Beach, there’s a Chac Mool, the mysterious pre-Hispanic sculpture of a reclining person that has been found in some Mesoamerican archaeological locations.

Take a Walking Tour of Punta Nizuc

You can also explore the Punta Nizuc land strip along the coastline by taking a short walking tour. On this tour, you’ll be able to admire gray herons, pelicans, and other seabirds, as well as lizards, iguanas, and the typical flora in these predominantly rocky formations. You will also enjoy the view of the mighty sea crashing against the cliffs of the coastline. The areas near the tip are popular for snorkeling tours because they house a small reef where it’s possible to see turtles, corals, rays, and other fish.

Admire Underwater Art

The underwater space between Cancun, Punta Nizuc, and Isla Mujeres was converted into an Underwater Museum of Art (MUSA) and is one of the most original underwater attractions worldwide. Almost 500 works of art are made with ecological materials, which constitute an aesthetic attraction and make artificial reefs that help regenerate natural ones. Among the most popular works are the famous figure of a Volkswagen Beetle, The Last Supper, Bankers, The Silent Evolution, and The Collector’s Dream. The pieces are visible from the glass-bottom boats, although the best appreciation is achieved by diving. The closest work to Punta Nizuc is The Gardener of Hope, representing a young man lying in a coral garden.

Things to do in Punta Nizuc

Another activity you can do in Punta Nizuc is to visit the Mayan Museum of Cancun and the Archaeological Zone of San Miguelito. The museum operates in an avant-garde building located at km 16.5 of Kukulkán Boulevard, 4 miles from Punta Nizuc, and is next to the archaeological site of San Miguelito. The exhibition houses works of the Mayan culture rescued from well-known archaeological sites, such as Chichén Itza, Palenque, and Comalcalco. In San Miguelito, visit the ruins of a temple, public buildings, and community residential complexes that have been preserved.

If you haven’t visited Punta Nizuc yet, get your diving equipment or rent it in Cancun and enjoy the most beautiful underwater world in Mexico. Discover some of the wonders of Quintana Roo’s dazzling Caribbean Sea.

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