Puerto Morelos

Puerto Morelos is, in many senses, the real Quintana Roo. Much older than either Cancun or Playa del Carmen, its coastal neighbors, Puerto Morelos is one of the main ports of entry in the state, and its largely unsung along this stretch of paradise coast.

The town boasts ancient credibility and excavations have revealed some remnants of its place in the Ekab chiefdom that controlled most of northern Quintana Roo. The leaning lighthouse used as a symbold of Puerto Morelos was built from stones used in ancient Maya structures on the same coast. (The lighthouse was pushed off kilter by Hurrican Beulah in 1967.)

Today the port is very much a part of the international travel scene that dominates the entire coast. Although it remains more sedate than either of its raucous neighbors, you will find resorts, hotels and plenty of people willing to sell you an oceanview apartment. In many ways, Morelos is more appropriate for those looking for long term stays and the international retirement community continues to grow, year upon year.

Offshore, the coral reef is protected, and the second biggest in the world. The snorkeling and diving community will never tire of exploring it. At places, the reef is a mere 400 meters from land. The town is also one of the initial stops on the Cenotes Route which follows the enchanted sinkholes into the interior of the peninsula.  

Don't miss the Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín Botanical Garden or the Wednesday morning street market for better food. 

More and more people are arriving to Puerto Morelos on board the Tren Maya. Just one stop from Cancun, the train is also connecting the port with the entire rest of the peninsula.