Glamping at Hotel Cielo y Selva in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

This post shares our experience glamping on the beach at Hotel Cielo y Selva, a laidback, eco-friendly property located in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

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About Hotel Cielo y Selva

Hotel Cielo y Selva is a laidback, beachfront property in the heart of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Located in the tiny beach town of Punta Allen in Mexico’s Quintana Roo state. Removed from the busy and overcrowded Tulum by a 40-kilometre dirt road, arriving at Hotel Cielo y Selva is like stepping into another world.

Meaning sky and jungle in Spanish, Hotel Cielo y Selva is designed to help guests disconnect from everyday life, and reconnect with nature. Their location right on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, under the shade of a palm grove in the state’s largest protected area certainly promotes this mission.

Operating within the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Hotel Cielo y Selva has been developed in harmony with the land it sits on. The property was created with nature at its heart, and there are many eco-initiatives in place to ensure the conservation of this precious part of Mexico.

If you’re looking to experience the true spirit of the Mexican Caribbean, in a place that respects and upholds this environment, Hotel Cielo y Selva is for you. Wake up to the sun rising over the ocean from your glamping tent, cabaña or tent and spend your days barefoot in one of Mexico’s most pristine natural environments. Hidden far, far away from the all-inclusive resorts and overcrowded beaches.

Getting to Hotel Cielo y Selva

Getting to Hotel Cielo y Selva is half the fun, and the remote nature of the hotel is what makes it so special. There is a sign hanging on one of the palm trees on the property, ‘difficult roads often lead to pretty places’ and that could not be more true here.

The hotel, and the town of Punta Allen, are a straight shot down a long dirt road from the end of Tulum Beach. No map is required, you just follow one road the entire way, as it twists and turns through tropical jungle, with the Caribbean Sea on one side, and lagoons on the other. You will need your own rental car to get here, and as I will explain below, a 4WD vehicle would be ideal but is absolutely not required.

The road has developed somewhat of a bad reputation, scaring away even the bravest of travellers with talk of suspension shattering potholes, rental car insurance-voiding bumps, and soft sand and thick mud guaranteed to get you stuck. Most people suggest avoiding the drive entirely, although some concede it’s possible in a 4WD high-clearance vehicle.

Well, we had a very small sedan rental car and despite all the information saying the contrary, we decided to give it a go. Most of this off-putting information online was out of date, and I couldn’t find any reliable recent sources to confirm the condition of the road. Hotel Cielo y Selva put us at ease, reassuring us the road had recently been graded, and they were completely right.

The road is about 40 kilometres from Tulum to Punta Allen, and I’ll admit it is slow going. It took us around 3 hours to make the journey, with plenty of stops to admire the views and take a ton of photos. But the condition of the road was completely fine. It is unpaved the whole way, but at the time of our visit (June 2022), it was graded gravel. There were some potholes, but nothing to even come close to damaging our rental car.

If you decide to make the trip for yourself (and I really, really hope that you do!), be sure to check in with the hotel about the condition of the road beforehand. Our visit was at the beginning of the rainy season, so I imagine it does deteriorate after heavy rain. However it is starting from a pretty good base, so I hazard a guess that even after the wet season it will not revert to the condition it was once in, that had so many travellers scared away from the area! Our return journey was after a day of relatively heavy rain, and whilst some of the potholes had filled with water, it was still completely fine, just a little slower.

The rooms at Hotel Cielo y Selva

There are three main types of accommodation offerings at Hotel Cielo y Selva – camping, glamping and cabañas. No matter which option you choose, you will go to sleep to the sound of the waves crashing and wake up to the sun rising on the horizon.

Glamping at Cielo y Selva

Glamping has rapidly grown in popularity all over the world, but there aren’t too many glamping options that can claim beachfront status in the Caribbean! This unique experience is the best on offer at Hotel Cielo y Selva in our opinion, and what we stayed in when we visited. The tents are very large and fully equipped with everything you need for a comfortable stay.

Each tent has two comfortable double beds (no air mattresses here!), with high-quality bedding, and towels provided. There are handmade wooden benches at the foot of each bed, and a bedside table in between which is so handy for storage, and makes it easy to unpack a little and navigate a small space. They also provide a large basket to store your things, which did not go unnoticed. Our usual frustrations of camping are living out of a bag in a very tiny space, not being able to find anything, and having sand everywhere are completely solved here!

The glamping tents are equipped with power outlets and a fan. And combined with the ocean breeze, our tent was never hot during our stay. Despite being a tent, Hotel Cielo y Selva has managed to include small details and tasteful touches, to put the glamour in glamping. From the vase of locally grown flowers to the arrangement of colourful cushions and blankets and the cute wooden sign labelling the tents, we really felt the elevation from standard camping to glamping.

The shared bathrooms and showers were always clean, and the water in the showers was hot at all times of the day. This is so much more than we have had in the nicest of hotels in Mexico, and we were thoroughly impressed with how comfortable everything was.

Camping at Cielo y Selva

If you’re on a budget and want to enjoy the location and laidback experience, without any of the extras you can opt to camp at Hotel Cielo y Selva. They have simple tents and bedding they can set up for you if you don’t have your own equipment. Or if you do, they have a number of sites available for you to set yourself up, including some for vans or campers. You still get the same beautiful beachfront view, access to shared bathrooms, and use of all the communal amenities.

Cabañas and rooms at Cielo y Selva

If you prefer your rooms with solid walls, there are both hotel-style rooms, and individual cabañas available at Hotel Cielo y Selva. Rooms can accommodate two people in a double bed and have a private bathroom, housed in a block with one other room.

The cabañas are individual cabin-style rooms with palm-thatched palapa roofs. They feature one double bed and one single bed, catering for up to three guests with a private bathroom. Both options feature simple, boho styling drawing from the seaside location. All rooms feature ocean views, and outdoor seating spaces, and offer the perfect option for guests who prefer a bit more privacy.

Communal amenities at Hotel Cielo y Selva

Life is lived outside at Hotel Cielo y Selva, and the emphasis on disconnecting from everyday life and reconnecting with nature is seen through the design of the property. The sandy palm grove is filled with hammocks, sun loungers, floor cushions, and tables and chairs to encourage guests to spend their time in nature. There is also a small pool which is perfect for a quick dip to cool down and is a great alternative to the beach in sargazo season.

As you wander barefoot around the property, you will notice charming colourful signs hanging from the palms, buoys strung up in trees, and swings roped up on branches. These small decor details have such an impact in creating the perfect tropical vibe. At night, the place is just as magical as the fairy lights come on and illuminate the space. We loved eating dinner outside under the fairy lights and listening to the sounds of the waves crashing.

All orientated towards the stunning beachfront, and under the shade of swaying palms, it’s very easy to pass the hours by. We admit it was hard to do anything but read our books in the hammocks as we were so relaxed!

🪸 Hotel Cielo y Selva and Punta Allen, along with the rest of the Quintana Roo coast, suffer from the seasonal presence of sargazo (sargassum) seaweed. This naturally occurring phenomenon generally appears from around April – October every year. We visited during sargazo season, and whilst it is sad to see on the beaches, we didn’t feel it ruined our experience. The pool at Hotel Cielo y Selva and the huge palm grove meant there were plenty of places to hang out. And the water just off the shore in the biosphere was still as sparkly and clear as ever!

There is wifi available throughout the property. It can be sporadic, but around the restaurant it was actually quite strong and we were able to work for a few hours. We have local sim cards with Telcel, and there was no reception anywhere in Punta Allen.

Dining at Hotel Cielo y Selva

There is an on-site restaurant at Hotel Cielo y Selva, open from 8 am – 1:30 pm, and then 2:30 pm – 9:00 pm daily. We were absolutely blown away at the quality of the food, considering the remote and difficult-to-reach location. And the prices are very affordable too taking this into account.

We ate numerous meals at the property throughout our stay. Although there are a handful of other local restaurants in the town of Punta Allen, I would highly suggest eating at Cielo y Selva. The food was of much higher quality, for a similar (if not cheaper) price than other restaurants we tried.

For breakfast, I can highly recommend their coconut hotcakes, made with coconuts just fallen from palms above the restaurant. It doesn’t get much fresher than that! Lunch and dinner share a menu, with a variety of vegetarian, seafood and Mexican-style dishes with an emphasis on fresh, healthy food. I loved the coco shrimp with mango salsa, and Brayden really enjoyed their satay chicken skewers with pineapple.

Coffee is hot in the morning, and beers are cold during the day. They even have their own craft beer ‘Tropical Allen’, which is the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon lazing in a hammock. Happy hour is plural here, with 2 for 1 cocktails running for three hours in the afternoon every day.

Tours and activities at Hotel Cielo y Selva

Hotel Cielo y Selva works with the local community and their tourism cooperative to help guests organise tours in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. There are two main tour options to choose from – one that visits the marine area of the reserve, and one that focuses on the inland lagoon area. Both tours are run by locals, and you pay directly to the captain of the boat. The tours are priced per boat, but Hotel Cielo y Selva does a wonderful job of coordinating guests and allocating boats, to help keep costs down.

We opted for a tour in the marine area of the reserve, and it was absolutely fantastic. We chose this tour for the chance to see dolphins and sea turtles, and within 10 minutes of leaving the dock, we had seen both! The tour lasted for around 3 hours, and after spending some time seeing the dolphins and turtles in their natural habitat, we stopped for a guided snorkel on the reef and then visited a naturally occurring pool in the ocean, where we could stand in clear shallow waters.

We didn’t do the other tour in the lagoon, but I know this option showcases the mangrove ecosystem, and guests have a chance of spotting a number of unique birds, and possibly crocodiles.

Hotel Cielo y Selva also has bicycles for rent, and we spent a lovely morning cycling around the sandy streets of Punta Allen, and up to the small lighthouse at the end of the peninsula.

Sustainability at Hotel Cielo y Selva

The main reason we decided to visit Hotel Cielo y Selva (besides the obvious remote location, unique glamping experience, and beautiful setting!) was because of their eco-friendly practices. We spent some time chatting with their lovely staff and learning more about the initiatives they have in place to protect the fragile environment they are located in. Being inside a biosphere reserve, it’s important that any establishments are having as minimal impact as possible, to protect the flora and fauna of the area.

The design and concept of Hotel Cielo y Selva in itself is more sustainable than your traditional hotel or resort. Much of the property is made up of temporary dwellings, that could be removed at any time with minimal disturbance to the environment.

The small and remote town of Punta Allen does not have access to the electricity supply available up north in Tulum, and the town is powered by a large generator. The hotels in the area don’t have access to this power and must produce their own electricity. At Hotel Cielo y Selva, most of their power is generated via solar panels situated on the roofs of the rooms. During the wintertime, when it is sunny with minimal rain and clouds, this natural power source is sufficient to power the whole property. It is wonderful to see the hotel utilising this clean and free energy!

Water is also difficult to come by in this remote area, and potable water is only available within Punta Allen for two hours per day. This is not enough for Hotel Cielo y Selva, and instead has a small water desalination system, taking water from the sea and cleansing it for use in showers. The next step in their sustainable water management system is installing water tanks to capture rainwater, which doesn’t require desalination.

Hotel Cielo y Selva does a wonderful job of managing their waste. Firstly, they have taken steps to minimise the amount of plastic waste generated. You won’t find any plastic water bottles on-site. Rather, there are large refillable water dispensers available for guests to refill their own bottles or cups with clean drinking water. There are no single-use plastic items like straws or cutlery used in the kitchen either. And my favourite thing to see, both for guests and the environment, is large refillable bottles of shampoo and body wash in the showers.

Generating waste is unavoidable, but Hotel Cielo y Selva has great systems in place to ensure as much of this waste is reused as possible. There are labelled bins around the property, directing guests to categorise their waste as organic, inorganic or PET. The same waste separation process is used by kitchen and cleaning staff, and the hotel has a large waste storage area hidden away from the view of guests. Aluminium cans, plastic bottles and PET waste, cardboard and other inorganic waste are all separated and categorised. Periodically, this waste is then taken to Merida (where the hotel’s head office is located), to be disposed of correctly at a recycling centre. Unfortunately, the local waste collection service in Punta Allen does not recycle, and if Hotel Cielo y Selva utilised this service, all their efforts to separate waste would be for nothing.

Organic food waste is composted on-site and used as fertiliser in their garden. The hotel has recently started a garden to grow some of their own produce on-site, to be used in the restaurant. Their herb garden is growing well (despite some unwanted attention from the local iguanas and racoons!), and they have built a large greenhouse, ready for fruits and vegetables to be planted.

Nature is at the heart of Hotel Cielo y Selva, and not just as a marketing appeal. There are so many hotels these days claiming green and eco, without anything in their operations to back this up. Many travellers seem to forget that just because you are in nature, doesn’t mean you are being kind to nature. The physical environment of Hotel Cielo y Selva is stunning, but I can confidently say they are also taking steps, and have initiatives in place, to protect it too.

Our experience at Hotel Cielo y Selva

Admittedly, I was worried about our drive to Hotel Cielo y Selva. We were so desperate to get away from the overdeveloped areas in the northern part of Quintana Roo, but I kept seeing warning signs about this crazy road and was having visions of breaking down in our rental car, voiding our insurance and getting stuck in some sandy, muddy pit. That was all a waste of time, and as I mentioned our journey was shockingly simple, with no problems at all. In fact, it was one of the most beautiful drives we have done in Mexico.

We knew hours before even arriving at Hotel Cielo y Selva that we were going to like this place. The palm-lined roads, development limited to just a handful of holiday houses and small hotels, and virtually no other cars around felt worlds away from Tulum, when in fact it was just a matter of minutes.

When we arrived at Hotel Cielo y Selva, we were both in awe. The sandy palm-filled groves, right on the beach, the slow pace of life, the peace and quiet, and real connection with nature. I think this is what we had hoped to experience in Tulum, but of course, this is long gone after years of intense development in the area. But Tulum isn’t all bad, and if you plan accordingly you can still have an authentic experience with some incredible nature. Check out this Tulum travel guide to plan your time.

We spent three nights at Hotel Cielo y Selva, completely relaxed and immersed in nature. We were barefoot, toes in the sand, and bikinis on the entire time. We woke up with the sun, went to bed with the moon, and slept to the sound of the waves. We ate fresh, delicious food, swung in hammocks, and experienced the stunning nature of Sian Ka’an. I’m always shocked by how quickly we forget the noises of development, and we adjusted immediately to the sound of waves crashing and palms swaying. The horns, bars, people and motorbikes of the past few weeks vanished from our memories.

We honestly loved every second at Hotel Cielo y Selva, and Punta Allen has quickly become one of our favourite Mexican beach towns. We came at exactly the right time. After visiting Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, our faith in the Mexican Caribbean was slipping, and we were beginning to think what everyone says about it being overdeveloped and ‘not the real Mexico’ was true. But we came to Quintana Roo hoping to find some gems, somewhere outside of the Instagram posts and away from the masses of hedonistic holidaymakers. I knew these places existed, we just had to look. And we absolutely found it at Hotel Cielo y Selva, in Punta Allen, inside the stunning Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. I encourage you to find it too.

🌿 Looking for more eco-friendly hotels in Mexico? We loved our stay at The White Lodge in Baja California Sur, and if you’re in Mexico City, you can’t miss El Patio 77, a sustainable bed and breakfast.