Puerto Morelos has beaches that are as spectacular or even more spectacular than those of its famous neighbors, Cancun, Playa del Carmen e Tulum, and the nearby reef offers some of the most fantastic diving in the Mexican Caribbean.
This small fishing village offers excellent beach clubs, wonderful hotels, delicious restaurants and plenty of snorkeling and diving tours.
If you want the best tips for Puerto Morelos, read this text until the end and plan your trip to Mexico perfectly. Let’s go!
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What to do in Puerto Morelos
Dive and explore a shipwreck
During colonial times, many ships filled with precious metals and other valuables sought by treasure hunters sank in the Caribbean, but C-56 gunner Juan Escutia was not one of them.
This ship was deliberately sunk on October 28, 2000 as an “artificial reef” and is 30 meters deep and is approximately 2 km off the coast of Puerto Morelos.
Wreck diving is an unforgettable experience because of the rich and unique ecosystem that thrives inside the ship’s rusting hull. Just as mountain climbers keep track of the peaks they’ve summited, many divers have their own list of sunken ships they’ve explored.
The ship is approximately 60 meters long and has three diving decks (cabins, machinery and ammunition room).
On the upper deck, it is common to see huge rays and other fish weighing up to 150 kilos, including groupers. To reach the ship, it is a 20-minute boat trip from Puerto Morelos.
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Explore Snorkel Native Park
If you want to live the ultimate diving experience in the Puerto Morelos Barrier Reef, this aquatic adventure takes you to discover the best of underwater life in the Great Mayan Reef, with 2 diving sessions in Arrecife National Park.
The tour has specialized guides who know exactly where to go to maximize observation and entertainment.
On this tour, you will discover the fascinating, multicolored world of fauna and flora of the Puerto Morelos reef and learn interesting things about the biodiversity in these majestic ecosystems.
The package includes entrance to the national park, the necessary equipment, specialized guides, lockers and a stop at a beach club with a typical buffet and open bar.
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Take a tour of Puerto Morelos
The modern history of Puerto Morelos began in the late 19th century, when the Colonization Company of the East Coast of Yucatan (which exploited forest products and other plant species in forests near the coast) began using the area as a transshipment point.
Before the pier was built, the logs were thrown into the sea and dragged by boats to a ship that anchored in the sea in front of the current port.
The construction of the pier brought new impetus and the population began to grow, becoming the most important port in Quintana Roo. Puerto Morelos preserves its traditional fishing village atmosphere.
The hubbub of the town is its picturesque square with its central kiosk and the church where the local patron saint, San José, is venerated, whose festivities are celebrated on March 19.
Around the square there are cafes, restaurants, bars, shops and ice cream parlors. A conversation with the town's elders will take you back to the times when Puerto Morelos lived in the exploitation of dye, chewing gum, cork and vanilla.
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Discover Playa del Secreto
14 km south of Puerto Morelos, on the way to Playa del Carmen, you will find Playa del Secreto, which is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mexican Caribbean and, without a doubt, one of the calmest and most uncrowded.
Despite its paradisiacal beauty, it has remained off the radar of mass tourism because its public access is an adventure through a mangrove swamp and it does not have much infrastructure.
A walk through the mangroves allows you to see birds and other animals. The beach is a turtle sanctuary, where chelonians come to lay their eggs, and it is not uncommon to see iguanas in this almost virgin habitat.
Some tourist service establishments in Playa del Secreto use the sun and wind to cover their energy needs.
It is a beach with intensely beautiful, crystal clear turquoise waters and soft white sands. The main activities on the beach are swimming, rowing and kayaking.
Enjoy the Day & Night Beach Club
It is a great beach club in Puerto Morelos, located on lots 3 and 4 of the Federal Maritime Zone, between Javier Rojo Gómez and Rafael E. Melgar avenues.
It has palapas, tables, hammocks and lounge chairs and serves exquisite Caribbean dishes, such as ceviches and fried fish, and Mexican food, as well as delicious tropical drinks and cold beer.
It has bathrooms and showers and offers a good musical atmosphere. The beach in front of the Day & Night Beach Club is calm, flat and warm, making it suitable for families with children.
On weekends, there is live music and many couples are choosing the club as a place to celebrate their weddings. The service from the waiters is excellent, both at the kiosks on the beach and inside.
The variety of food and drinks is wide and it is the ideal place in Puerto Morelos to enjoy a Margarita cocktail admiring the turquoise blue sea.
Visit the Sanctuary of Hope
According to the Popol Vuh, a spiritual and historical book of the Mayans, the gods create a new human being, better than the previous one, at the beginning of each era. Thus, December 21, 2012, which was popularized by the media as the end of the world supposedly predicted by the famous civilization, was nothing more than a new rebirth of humanity and a new stage for the harmony of the universe.
As a tribute to Mayan culture, a monument formed by a column inspired by an eye was built in Puerto Morelos to symbolize the Mayan interest in the study of the universe, which led them to develop advanced astronomy.
The monument is located at the entrance to the Ruta de los Cenotes and is a must for photos in Puerto Morelos.
Discover Punta Maroma
20 km from Puerto Morelos, along the Federal Highway, is Punta Maroma, a spectacular beach in the municipality of Solidaridad, with incredibly clear waters and soft white sand.
In Punta Maroma, there was a small Mayan community that disappeared as a result of diseases brought by the Spanish and the place remained virgin until it was developed for tourism.
To get to this paradisiacal coconut palm beach, you must cross a stretch of jungle on the federal highway. There are cozy resorts and hotels in the area that offer all the services for a wonderful stay.
Diving and snorkeling in the nearby coral reef are two of the favorite activities in Punta Maroma, although just a few meters from the beach, among the transparent waters, it is possible to admire the fish swimming in the reef.
Dinner at Chilpayas restaurant
This restaurant has a reputation as the best place in Puerto Morelos to eat seafood. The food is excellent and the prices are reasonable, complemented by its cleanliness, simple atmosphere and the attentive service of its hosts and waiters.
It has a varied menu of fish and seafood, as well as beautiful salads and delicious rice and beans.
The beer is always very cold and you should enjoy it while you wait for your order, as service can take a while, as is the case in many restaurants with a lot of customers. Among the most popular dishes are shrimp and octopus in coconut sauce.
For those who are allergic to seafood, the restaurant also offers excellent cuts.
The Chilpayas restaurant is located at Calle Almendro, nº 513, in Colonia Joaquín Z. Gasca de Puerto Morelos.
Stay at the Valentín Imperial Riviera Maya hotel
For luxury and comfort accommodation near Puerto Morelos, we suggest Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya, a 5-star, all-inclusive, adults-only resort located at km 311 of the Federal Highway, 15 km south of the city.
The hotel is located on the beautiful Playa del Secreto which has shades of blue that change from turquoise to navy and beautiful white sand.
The pool area is spectacular, featuring islands of vegetation connected by picturesque wooden bridges. The suites are spacious and comfortable, with whirlpool tubs and high-speed internet, and the spa, gym and beauty salon offer the best in facials, massages, healing rituals and exercise equipment.
It has a buffet restaurant and seven à la carte restaurants, including Mexican, French, Italian, Japanese, Indonesian, seafood and meat cuts.
Puerto Morelos Tips
Puerto Morelos has spectacular beaches that form a beautiful gradation of colors between bright green and intense turquoise blue.
Puerto Morelos Reef National Park is part of the Great Maya Reef and is a paradise for both surface and deep diving.
The municipal headquarters has attractions such as the leaning lighthouse, the Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín Botanical Garden, the Croco Cun Zoo crocodile farm, cenotes, mangroves and various possibilities for excursions by sea and through the Yucatan jungle.
Puerto Morelos Beach
Water Eye Beach
The main beach in Puerto Morelos is public and there is no access fee. The nearby coral reef, located 500 meters from the coast, tempers the waters and makes this beach a kind of natural pool.
In Puerto Morelos, beach days are calmer, compared to Cancun and Playa del Carmen, where there is a much larger flow of seasonal workers on the sandbars.
The beaches of Puerto Morelos, with their clean, warm and crystal clear waters, are a haven of peace amidst the hustle and bustle of Cancun and Playa del Carmen during the high season. Ojo de Agua is another great beach, with an excellent level of service from hotels and restaurants located right on the sand.
Puerto Morelos Reef National Park
This national park is part of the Great Mayan Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world.
It is located opposite Puerto Morelos, about 500 meters from the continental coast with an extension of 9067 hectares.
It is great for lovers of underwater sports due to the variety and ostentation of its fauna and flora, which includes multicolored fish, crustaceans and turtles.
Cenotes in Puerto Morelos
Route of the Cenotes in Puerto Morelos
The Ruta de los Cenotes is a 35-kilometer corridor between Puerto Morelos and Leona Vicario, where some of the most famous cenotes are located. most spectacular cenotes in the Riviera Maya and the Yucatan Peninsula.
Amidst dense vegetation, with the sound of birds and other species of the tropical jungle, these bodies of water offer their beauty and freshness for swimming and admiring their fascinating underwater world.
Among the best cenotes on the route are Las Mojarras, Siete Bocas, Boca de Puma, Lucero Verde, Kin-Ha, Popol Vuh and Selvática.
Hotels near Puerto Morelos
Kin Sol Soleil Hotel Boutique
Puerto Morelos has magnificent hotels and among the best luxury establishments (5 stars) are Kin Sol Soleil Hotel Boutique, Catalonia Playa Maroma – All Inclusive e Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa.
In the center and near the beach of Puerto Morelos, there are cheaper accommodations, such as Hotel Gota de Sal Puerto Morelos, Hacienda Morelos Beachfront Hotel e Abbey of the Sun, 3 3-star establishments.
Where is Puerto Morelos?
Puerto Morelos is located on the Caribbean coast in Quintana Roo and is accessible from Cancun and Playa del Carmen via Federal Highway 307.
The most immediate air access is via Cancun International Airport. Buses depart from Cancun's central terminal to Puerto Morelos, making the trip in approximately 38 minutes.
From Playa del Carmen, buses to Puerto Morelos depart from the central terminal and the alternative terminal and the journey time is 34 minutes.
How long does it take to get from the airport to Puerto Morelos?
O Cancun International Airport, which serves this tourist city and the Riviera Maya, is located 25 km from the port, on Federal Highway 307, with a direct travel time of approximately 20 minutes.
Puerto Morelos Bonus Tips
- Take time to chat with the friendly locals who reside in Quintana Roo's most traditional coastal town.
- Try to travel between November and March, when the weather on the Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo is milder.
- Remember that December-January is the most expensive season, as it is the one with the highest flow of international tourism.
- If you travel between June and October, the probability of rain will be higher, so make forecasts accordingly.
- It's almost a sin to go to the port and not dive in the coral reef.
- There are hotels of all types, including all-inclusive. They are all on the beach or very close, so you don't necessarily need to stay right on the sand.
- The beaches of Puerto Morelos are ideal for swimming, so do that and get a nice tan.
- In Puerto Morelos, there are beaches with access for pets. Find out at your hotel.
- Don't forget to set aside at least one day to visit the beautiful cenotes of Puerto Morelos.
- The distance from Cancun to Puerto Morelos is approximately 25 km.
- The distance from Playa del Carmen to Puerto Morelos is 35 km.
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