If you are planning a day trip from Cancún to Puerto Morelos, you are in store for off the beaten path exploration on Mexico’s Caribbean coast.
Puerto Morelos is a charming, local town located on Mexico’s Riviera Maya on the Yucatán Peninsula. It features beautiful white sand beaches, nearby cenotes, and the second largest barrier reef in the world. Puerto Morelos is often overlooked by neighboring Cancún and Playa del Carmen which see the highest number of tourists in this region.
Puerto Morelos is a fishing village and features local charm as opposed to other more touristy towns on the Riviera Maya. It still caters to tourists and features resorts, but it’s a lot quieter and has a more local feel.
If you are looking for a quieter town on your beach vacation, a day trip from Cancún to Puerto Morelos might be the choice for you.
Puerto Morelos Planning Details
How to get to Puerto Morelos
Location: Quintana Roo state of Mexico. Riviera Maya
Cancún to Puerto Morelos by car: This is a quick 20 minute drive. Official airport taxis charge up to $75 for a one way trip. I negotiated the cost to $50. The reverse trip from Puerto Morelos to Cancún Airport with a local Puerto Morelos taxi costs $35. Uber is not available in Puerto Morelos or Cancún Airport.
Cancún to Puerto Morelos by bus: The ADO Bus from Cancún Airport to Puerto Morelos is considered to be a safe and more budget friendly option to reach the town.
Playa del Carmen to Puerto Morelos: Puerto Morelos is located right in between Cancún and Playa de Carmen. Playa Del Carmen is 34 minutes by car to Puerto Morelos and offers a great day trip on your way back to the Cancún Airport.
One of the most budget friendly options is taking an ADO bus from the stop at 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen.
Weather in Puerto Morelos
The most popular time to visit Puerto Morelos is during the dry seasons of winter and spring. Temperatures are known to be more comfortable with lower humidity and less chance of rainfall. However, the region still sees many vacationers over the summer who enjoy their experience and plan accordingly for the heat.
Winter (December – February): Average highs of 81°F and lows around 64°F. Rainfall is minimal.
Spring (March – May): Average highs of 84°F and lows around 69°F.
Summer (June – August): Average highs of 89°F, and lows around 75°F. Occasional heavy rainfall is common.
Fall (September – November): Average highs around 86°F and lows around 73°F. Rainfall decreases toward the end of fall.
Puerto Morelos Transportation
Puerto Morelos is a very walkable town, and the most common means of transportation. Bike rentals are available for $10 for 24 hours. If I had more time on my itinerary, I definitely would have rented a bike!
If you need to go somewhere by car, book a taxi. Puerto Morelos is a small town so it is unlikely a taxi will be available to quickly hail on the street. There is no Uber in Puerto Morelos. Consider booking a day tour from Puerto Morelos for further trips.
How many days in Puerto Morelos?
1 – 2 days in Puerto Morelos is sufficient for visiting the top sites and relaxing on the beach. Consider extending your trip if you are interested in day trips like a cenote tour. It is most common for visitors to spend more time exploring other cities in the Quintana Roo region like Cancún, Playa de Carmen, and breathtaking Bacalar.
Local ATM and Convenience Store in Puerto Morelos
Super Chedraui is the main grocery store in town. It’s the size of a small Walmart and features all necessities from groceries to sunscreen, swimsuits to waterproof phone cases, and more.
Super Chedraui has four ATMS at the front of the grocery store.
Best Things to Do in Puerto Morelos
Puerto Morelos Reef
Did you know Puerto Morelos is home to the second biggest barrier reef in the world, next to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia? Once I found out, snorkeling Puerto Morelos was a no brainer!
Its warm, glowing turquoise waters 15 minutes by boat from shore are a hidden surprise.
The Puerto Morelos Reef offers diverse marine life, colorful coral formations, and underwater landscapes that make it fantastic for underwater exploration.
The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is part of the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park and is federally protected. Apply sunscreen up to 30 minutes before entering the barrier reef. Applying sunscreen any later poses a threat to the reef’s unique ecosystem.
Snorkeling Puerto Morelos
The largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere naturally makes for world class water activities. I loved my snorkeling experience in Puerto Morelos! There are many guides located along the pier and beach selling snorkeling tours throughout the day.
All of the snorkeling tour operators require more than one person in order to begin the tour. As a solo traveler, I almost skipped this activity until I found a small group further down the beach that was looking for a few more adventurers to join. So there I was, crashing a romantic French honeymoon in the Caribbean struggling to place two ginormous flippers on my pronated feet. My oh my! No, swimming has never been luxurious for me, but nevertheless we prevail.
ANYWAYS!
Snorkeling tours are also very affordable. I paid 200 pesos, or $12 USD, for my one hour snorkeling tour including one snorkeling stop on the barrier reef. Most other snorkeling tours are two hours including two reef stops and cost double the price.
My highest recommendation is to purchase your snorkeling tour on arrival, and not online in advance. You will likely save money this way! Snorkeling operators are running all throughout the day so you won’t need to worry about not finding an available space.
The final snorkeling tours of the day usually depart no later than 4:00pm.
Scuba Diving Puerto Morelos
Adventurers with more time in their schedule may consider a scuba diving trip. I recommend booking a scuba diving tour in advance because they are longer and more involved than a snorkeling tour.
Most of the dive centers in Puerto Morelos offer certification courses for new divers, and offer dive trips for a variety of experience levels. All of the tour operators provide equipment and guides.
Scuba diving is a year round activity in Puerto Morelos, but the dry season is generally considered the best time due to calmer seas and better visibility.
I did not personally scuba dive in Puerto Morelos (hello deep water fear) but it has very high reviews across the board.
Cabanas Puerto Morelos
Consider upgrading your beach day by renting a luxurious cabana or umbrella from one of the many locations along the white sandy beach. Puerto Morelos Beach Club is one of the most popular options!
Puerto Morelos Lighthouse
The Puerto Morelos lighthouse is a staple of this small town. This leaning lighthouse in front of the pier is a landmark representing hardships and resilience symbolizing local strength. Hurricane Belulah in 1967 damaged its foundation causing the infamous tilt, and its resilient foundation remains today!
Downtown Puerto Morelos
Downtown Puerto Morelos features several restaurants, a main square, beautiful church, local artisan sellers, and several shops. I liked strolling around Naturalmente, a boutique shop featuring clothing and decor handmade by women. It was out of budget for me, but I love to support businesses like this!
Puerto Morelos Artisan Market
Puerto Morelos sees a huge local outdoor market on Saturdays. During the week, you will find a couple of local shops featuring handmade items.
Puerto Morelos Massage
If you’re looking to top your beach day off with added relaxation, consider a massage. There are several local businesses with high reviews you can choose from. I was low on budget at this point in my trip and did not personally get a massage in Puerto Morelos.
Cenotes near Puerto Morelos
If you have more than one day in Puerto Morelos, consider taking a cenote tour. Ruta de Cenotes in Puerto Morelos is a highly rated route of cenotes. Many visitors even opt to take a Ruta de Cenotes Puerto Morelos tour from Cancún or Playa del Carmen.
While popular, these cenotes still remain quieter than others in the region like cenotes in Tulum.
Puerto Morelos Nightlife
Due to its laid back feel, Puerto Morelos nightlife mostly consists of enjoying a local restaurant, late night desert, or walking around the town square.
Unico Beach is a cabana paradise during the day, and is a highly rated restaurant at night. Experiencing Puerto Morelos nightlife on the beach is a relaxing way to continue enjoying your vacation. Current hours indicate Unico Beach closes at 7:00pm.
Best Restaurants in Puerto Morelos
Puerto Morelos is a fishing village, so you will find several popular fish restaurants. I am a vegetarian so this is not the food I am seeking out. However, most restaurants had vegetarian options such as beans, rice, plantains, and tortilla.
I liked eating at Pelicanos because of the beautiful views, though it’s pricey.
Puerto Morelos food also features a variety of cuisine at its local restaurants, including: Wok, Argentina, Italian, burgers, and vegan.
Sweet tooth? Consider Aldo’s, the adorable waffle and ice cream cafe located in the square outside of the church.
On a budget? Purchase your grocery items at Super Chedraui.
Puerto Morelos Accommodation
Budget
Casa Malix, Cuca Macuca, and Good Morning Bed and Breakfast Puerto Morelos are the three budget options in the area. These are no frills accommodations, so enter with this expectation. An ant infestation invaded my backpack at Cuca Macuca- we’re talking hundreds. This didn’t feel good to me, but my dorm mate in the same room had no problems so it very well could have been a problem with my backpack. Also, when in a humid region of the world, there is always the possibility of insects, and as scared as I am of insects, these tiny ants were harmless. The AC is turned on from 9:00pm – 9:00am.
Mid-Range
Hacienda Morelos is a 3 star hotel with no frills in a prime location.
Luxury
The Fives Oceanfront Puerto Morelos is a highly rated 4 star oceanfront hotel features rooms with beautiful views, a glimmering pool, comfortable beach chairs, and breakfast included.
Is Puerto Morelos safe?
Puerto Morelos is considered a small, peaceful, and safe town. Of course there are news articles emerging about violence in the country, as there are in the United States as well. Read travel advisories before you leave as I would recommend for any trip. I felt entirely safe solo exploring during my 24 hours in Puerto Morelos.
Puerto Morelos Packing List
Reef Safe Sunscreen– This is my TOP recommended item for visiting Puerto Morelos. Many reef species are in danger. In order to experience the reef with minimal footprint, please use reef safe sunscreen. Chemicals in traditional sunscreen can kill animals in the reef or make them sick.
Travel Towel– I LOVE bringing my travel towel just about anywhere. It’s so easy to roll and takes up minimal space.
Waterproof Phone Pouch– Always safe to protect your phone during water activities. I also like using my waterproof case to take photos and video underwater! These are also sold at the Super Chedraui in town.
Comfortable Sandals– Rock a pair of comfortable waterproof sandals. One of the top brands is Teva.
Sun Cover Up– I recommend a t-shirt or sun cover up to keep your skin safe during time out of the water.
Day Trip Costs
I spent about $140 on a solo day trip from Cancún to Puerto Morelos including all costs from transportation, accommodation, food, and activities.
Cost breakdown:
Taxi from Cancún to Puerto Morelos: $50
Accommodation: $22
Snorkeling Tour: $12
Food: $20
Taxi from Puerto Morelos to Cancún Airport: $35
You can lower the cost of your Puerto Morelos trip in the following ways: taking a bus from Cancún Airport to Puerto Morelos, packing snacks ahead of time, cooking your own food, and splitting taxi costs when possible.
Where to go after
Riviera Maya is a world known beautiful Caribbean coastal region of Mexico. There are many options to extend your trip. If you are staying in Quintana Roo, consider traveling from Puerto Morelos to Tulum or Puerto Morelos to Playa del Carmen to continue your beach adventures.
If you are planning a full day trip, Isla Mujeres is one of the most popular day trips in the region.
Is Puerto Morelos Worth Visiting?
I think Puerto Morelos is worth visiting! It is the only town on the Riviera Maya I have explored so I might be partial, but I loved the local, charming feel in the middle of paradise that overcrowded towns cannot provide.
Puerto Morelos is known to provide a relaxed and less crowded atmosphere compared to its neighboring towns, making it a popular choice for travelers seeking a quieter coastal experience with access to the Caribbean Sea and attractions of the Yucatán Peninsula.
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