A charming, easygoing village in the north part of Quintana Roo in the Riviera Maya, with beautiful and rarely visited natural landscapes, white sand beaches, exuberant underwater life, and the great kindness of its people.
To appreciate Puerto Morelos you must fully experience it, perfect for Eco-conscious vacationers who want to rest, live among nature, and learn about the history of its inhabitants, speaking of which:
A REBELLIOUS HISTORY
The history of Puerto Morelos began when Itzaés inhabited the territory known now as Quintana Roo. These Mayans were the first to arrive from the south and founded the population of Syancan Bakhalal, presently known as Bacalar.
Photo by Leafar Perez
For many years, the rebellious Mayans of the area resisted the Spanish conquest, but the exploitation of the region’s natural resources caused the imminent arrival of the first immigrants. These first settlers built new communities, such as Hacienda Santa María, which is today known as the town Leona Vicario, and a small port that was known as Punta Corcho until 1936 when the name Puerto Morelos was established in honor of José María Morelos y Pavón, leader in the fight for the Independence of Mexico.
THE FIRST COMMERCIAL PORT OF QUINTANA ROO
Since ancient times, the Mayans who traveled from the south to collect salt on Isla Mujeres, stopped in Puerto Morelos to extract cork that was next to the mangroves, a material that they used to make resistant fishing nets that were essential for one of the most important and oldest professions of the region. Thanks to these activities and fishing, Puerto Morelos experienced great cultural and economic progress, being fish the most important source of food and income for the natives.
source: Wikipedia commons
During the colonial era, the coasts of Puerto Morelos became a key point for maritime trade, thanks to its strategic location. Extraction, exploitation, and marketing of agricultural and forestry products, such as dyewood and chewing gum, led to the construction of the port dock and later, the construction of a narrow gauge railway line that connected Puerto Morelos with other places in the country, on this small railway they would transport tons of goods and people on a cart pulled by a mule, being until this day the main and oldest port in the State of Quintana Roo.
A NATURAL PARADISE
The daily life of the inhabitants of Puerto Morelos goes hand in hand with a deep respect and conservation of nature. Thanks to the effort and dedication of the inhabitants of Puerto Morelos, it has been possible to maintain a balance between the ancient Mayan traditions and the constant evolution of the Riviera Maya as a tourist hot spot.
Photo by Embla Munk Rynkebjerg
Puerto Morelos is a protected area that combines tropical forest, beautiful beaches, lagoons, cenotes, and mangroves, each of these ecosystems boasting a great variety and beauty of wild fauna, such as coati, wild boar, raccoon, sea turtle, and wild turkey, as well as aquatic birds such as heron, pelican, frigate bird, and cormorant, among many others.
The seawater in Puerto Morelos has, of course, the characteristic turquoise color of the Caribbean Sea. Still, the extensive underwater vegetation of the Great Mayan Reef gives it a beautiful and unique jade green color that distinguishes it from the other beaches of the Riviera Maya. For this very reason, it was declared a National Park and is one of the main reasons for the growing tourist importance of the port.
source: Wikipedia commons
Since the reef is only 500 meters away from the beach, it is customary to take a boat ride to get there, but some adventurers arrive by swimming. The gentle waves of the beaches near the reef are ideal for swimming with children, snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, or simply relaxing and floating on the sea!
If you are in a diving mood, you can explore the sunken gunboat C-56 Juan Escutia, an artificial reef donated by the Mexican Navy in 2000, almost completely covered in corals, sponges, gorgonians and an indescribable range of creatures of all shapes and colors.
An unmissable attraction during your stay is the Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín Botanical Garden, a 65-hectare living museum, one of the largest botanical gardens in the country and the most important in the region. It was first established in 1982 to protect the regional flora and conserve the biodiversity of northern Quintana Roo.
source: Wikipedia commons
Be part of an immersive experience that combines nature and culture in which you will find several collections of plants from the region, from medicinal to ornamental, cacti, ferns, and succulents, as well as various species of wildlife such as butterflies, squirrels, coatis, iguanas, sereques and peccaries, even if you are lucky, it is possible to spot families of spider monkeys that are preserved in their ancestral ecosystem.
You can also visit a gum collector camp, a small archaeological area known as “El Altar”, a typical Mayan house, and a nine-meter-high bridge from which you can see the mangrove and the sea.
PUERTO MORELOS’ DOWNTOWN
To get to Puerto Morelos, you must take Highway 307, the same one that travels from the Cancun airport and takes you to nearby towns such as Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
Throughout the year, all kinds of cultural activities are offered such as the February Carnival festival, as well as various music festivals and important annual fishing tournaments.
source: Eating With Carmen Food Tours
The town is perfect for enjoying local and international cuisine. The catch of the day is practically guaranteed so you will find several restaurants and street vendors where fish and seafood stand out, such as delicious coconut shrimp and Tikin-Xic fish without forgetting the traditional snacks of the region such as panuchos, or cochinita pibil and the local favorite dessert the marquesitas, finish your day with a refreshing local beer, Pescadores.
If you are not sure where to start your gastronomic route, don’t worry, You can join our Puerto Morelos Local Food Experience in which a local guide will take you to try the most delicious and typical dishes of the region, while you learn of the life and history of this picturesque town.
source: Eating With Carmen Food Tours
THE CULTURAL VIBE OF PUERTO MORELOS
Down by the beach, in the Main Plaza, you can enjoy a unique atmosphere where locals and people from other cities and countries share their traditions, creating a hippie, fresh, and culturally enriching atmosphere. Regularly, these characters exhibit their music, paintings, and various crafts here surrounded by traditional dance performances, film screenings, and circus and theater shows.
On the Main Plaza, you can find markets and exhibition galleries selling crafts made locally as well as paintings, lamps, hammocks, traditional garments, stone and ceramic sculptures, or figures carved in wood and coral jewelry. For book lovers, there is a space that is a favorite for both locals and tourists and it is Alma Libre Bookstore, much more than a simple independent bookstore, as it offers an eclectic collection of new and used books, gifts, crafts, maps, guides and more treasures.
THE LEANING LIGHTHOUSE
In front of the Main Plaza is the Malecón where you can visit the main pier and the iconic Leaning Lighthouse, built with the stones of destroyed Mayan structures. In September 1967 the powerful Hurricane Behula tilted the port’s only lighthouse, turning it into an emblem of strength for the city and its inhabitants. The Lighthouse has managed to resist not only one but three meteorological phenomena that severely hit the area, Hurricane Gilberto in 1988 and Wilma in 2005.
source: Wikipedia commons
The inhabitants of Puerto Morelos live a relaxed life, far from the hustle and bustle of big cities, in a quiet place that moves suspended in time. A small fishing town where the benefits of Mother Nature go hand in hand with daily life and where the story of a resilient town is told through its folklore.
Puerto Morelos is not only one of the best places to spend a few relaxing days on vacation but also a starting point to explore the other hidden jewels of the Riviera Maya, such as the Cenote Route and the Mayan ruins of Tulum and Chichen Itza.
Ready to fall in love with Puerto Morelos?
We hope to see you soon!
-Abbey
