Just under an hour south of Playa del Carmen by car, you will find the beautiful Caleta Tankah. This place is one of my favorites in nearby Playa and while it’s not free, it’s worth every penny.
An unmissable place where you will have the option of knowing three attractions of the Riviera Maya: a spectacular beach, a unique cove, and a cool cenote.
What is Caleta Tankah?
It is made up of three incredible attractions for a perfect getaway: a beautiful beach, a cenote in the jungle, and a crystalline cove.
The Caleta
Without a doubt, Caleta Tankah is one of the most beautiful places in the Riviera Maya and one of the most privileged. In this area of the coast, there are many underground rivers of freshwater that come from the more than 8000 cenotes of the Yucatan peninsula. Thus arises a spring of fresh water – and very fresh – that converges with the turquoise blue of the sea.
This incredible spectacle is known as halocline. Are you already imagining the landscape?
The water of this —not so— small freshwater spring stands out thanks to its cool temperature compared to the always warm waters of the Caribbean.
The exchange of waters between the cenote and the sea makes the currents inside are somewhat strong, so it is advisable to swim with caution inside the cove. If you are not an expert swimmer, you can stay on the shore, go out to the sea, or go to the other cenote. This is a little further from the sea, but only a few meters from the beach.
The Cenote
After a short walk through the beautiful corridor between mangroves, you will find a cenote in the jungle. This is more like the concept we all know.
Its setting is unique. It is surrounded by trees and vegetation. The bottom is full of rocks covered by completely crystalline water. There are no currents or complications. This cool natural pool will show you other types of beauty including fish, dragonflies, and butterflies everywhere.
With shallower and deeper areas, it becomes a pleasant and fun bath for all ages.
We recommend you snorkel to fully enjoy this magical corner and wear shoes for the road.
The beach
What I like the most about this beach is that it has a lot of vegetation, large sandy beaches, in addition to the wonderful waters of the Caribbean. When you need a break from swimming, walks along this beautiful long beach will recharge you with energy and peace.
How to get to Caleta Tankah?
It is very easy to find this wonderful place. You can go by car, by bus, or by van and even by bicycle! You must take highway 307 towards Tulum and go straight for about 62 kilometers.
Keep in mind that public transport will drop you on the road. It will be necessary to walk a kilometer to get there. However, on your way through the jungle, butterflies, iguanas, badgers, and even monkeys will come out to greet you.
If you go by car, Caleta Tankah has a large car park in the shade of the trees.
Price and Facilities
The entry price is $300 Mexican pesos. This includes some Beach Club services such as showers, toilets, and lounge chairs.
The place has a restaurant. Thus, you have the option of sitting down to eat some of their Mexican dishes or have a drink in their cafeteria. It has free WiFi so you can show off live and direct the wonderful place where you are.
If you don’t bring your snorkel gear, the Beach Club has visors and life jackets for rent. They also have towels and kayaks at a reasonable and accessible price.
Children are also guaranteed fun, as Caleta Tankah has games for all ages, including a volleyball net.
Open Hours
The hours of this amazing place are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. I recommend you arrive early to fully enjoy a real day in paradise.