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By Robert & Joanne Birce of Alma Libre
Tucked away in the Mayan Rivera is the small fishing village of Puerto Morelos. While most settlements along this Caribbean coast have exploded with growth, this little gem is still a picturesque, quiet, quaint town. It has beautiful white sand beaches, a healthy reef that is a national park, a mangrove with more than 150 species of birds, an impressive Botanical Garden, excellent fishing, over 27 restaurants including hard to find Asian food, and great shops including the largest new and used bookstore in the Yucatan. Located just 10 minutes south of the Cancun airport and 2km off of Highway 307, this little village is filled with surprises.
Puerto Morelos' most spectacular attraction is its reef with hundreds of varieties of fish, sea life and corals. The reef is only 2 meters deep (6 feet) at some points making it easy for snorkelers to get a great look at schools of brightly coloured fish along with rays, lobsters, eels, nurse sharks, turtles and more. For scuba divers there are many different dive sites including a military boat with large cut outs for divers to explore, a sunken wooden ship, a garden area with coral formations plus pathways and chimneys you can swim up. This underwater playground is located directly in front of the village and only accessible by boat with a guide. Puerto Morelos also has world class fishing for Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado (Mahi Mahi), Bonito and Barracuda. Tours can be arranged through the local dive shops.
For nature lovers, Puerto Morelos maintains its healthy mangrove which feeds the reef and attracts birds and wildlife. A good place to catch a glimpse of the Yucatan’s many species of birds and other jungle creatures is at the Jardin Botanico. The gardens feature 150 acres of exotic plants labelled in both English and Spanish. It is located just 2km south of Puerto Morelos on Highway 307. Bring your mosquito repellent and watch out for the monkeys and lots of other creatures!
Puerto Morelos offers world class cuisine. Here you will find some of the best restaurants in the Yucatan at very reasonable prices. There are excellent cafés, coffee houses, restaurants and an American style bakery. You can indulge your taste buds in Mexican, Italian, Asian, German, Nuevo and Seafood. And you can even find a bar to enjoy a drink or two!
Puerto Morelos is also a great place to pick up a few gifts without the high pressure and hassle of "Come On… Take a Look." Several shops carry hammocks, clothing, jewellery, art and more. Visit the Handicrafts Centre where you can see local artists working in their shops as they create something special just for you. Plus here in Puerto Morelos you will find the largest and least expensive English bookstore in the Yucatan. Alma Libre Bookstore, located on the central square, has more than 20,000 new and used books to choose plus maps of the area.
While in the Mayan Rivera, remember to take time to discover Puerto Morelos. You will be pleasantly surprised.
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