Alacranes Reef

The Alacranes Reef is the largest reef in the southern Gulf of Mexico, 110 kilometers north of Progreso (coordinates: 22°27′00″N 89°42′00″W). The reef is a cluster of five small islands of coral origin covered with vegetation: Isla Perez, Isla Desertora, Isla Pajaros, Isla Chica and Isla Desterrada.

The only inhabited island is Isla Perez. There is a lighthouse on it. In 1994, the Alacranes Reef became a national park and biosphere reserve. The only way to get to Alcranes is to take part in a special diving safari. We organize such safaris upon prior request.

It is believed that the name Alacranes was given to the reef by a group of Spanish sailors who were shipwrecked in 1545. This wreck, and probably more than a thousand others, was due to the fact that Alacranes is the only reef located directly in the middle of open ocean and on the route from the Caribbean to the Gulf of Mexico ports, so Alacranes has posed a great risk to mariners in the area for centuries. For this reason, in the 1800s, a lighthouse was built here at Isla Perez by the Lloyd's insurance company. The lighthouse that stands today is not the original lighthouse built by the British, but the house of the first lighthouse keeper still exists. You need to obtain a permit to stop in Alacranes and it must be purchased per day and per person at the CONAMP office in Merida, located at Avenida Perez Ponce #120 Merida, Yucatan Phone number +52 (999) 938-0708 and +52 (999) 942 1304. The Perimit consists of a bracelet that is purchased for each person on board and is one bracelet per day that you plan to stay in Alacranes.