Written by Jody Zagger
Looking for a perfect getaway close to Cancun airport that isn’t as busy as Cancun? Does a quiet fisherman’s village with a boho vibe and a foodie scene sound right up your alley? If so, this is just the spot for you! Puerto Morelos has all the chill and all the charm without all the hoopla.
This small town is a short 25-minute ride from the airport and provides a lowkey getaway for those who are looking for pretty much the opposite of the surrounding popular vacation spots that are geared towards all-inclusive party seekers. Puerto Morelos has a port, a town square with a church, a market, and plenty of restaurants all a stone’s throw from the turquoise Caribbean waters. It’s affordable, walkable, safe, friendly, and alive with Mayan culture.
Where to stay?
There are several hotels and lots of rentals that pepper the area. For a short visit, you want to be close to or on the beach. There’s a main drag, Javier Rojo Gomez, that runs parallel to the sea, and anywhere along there is perfect. It’s small enough that even if you are across the street from the beach side, you are still really close to the shore. Many listings will say Puerto Morelos, but look them up on the map and make sure they are in the actual downtown, walkable area, rather than the outlying hotel zones. The surrounding area is beautiful as well but not walkable like the downtown and feels more like Riviera Maya. It’s easy to taxi downtown from outside the downtown area, but it is a different type of trip than staying in the actual town where you can have more of an immersive experience.
I recently stayed at The Fives for my 3rd time in Puerto Morelos, which is maybe one of the only “resorts” in the small town. It did not disappoint. The Fives is a beautiful boutique hotel with an amazing rooftop adults-only pool and bar, a beach club, a relaxing spa, and a super friendly, helpful staff. The property sits at the end of the main drag so you are an easy 10-minute walk into town. It was quiet and clean, and the rooms were huge and posh—I upgraded to a king ocean view, and I think it was bigger than my one-bedroom apartment in Chicago. I felt like I rented a condo!
I could see and hear the waves from my bedroom and main living area! The restaurant upstairs, Al Mare, is excellent. They also have Ro Marley on site for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and great reggae vibes. You can do all-inclusive or breakfast-only options for this resort. I chose breakfast-only because I knew there were so many good restaurants to try downtown.
Where to eat and drink?
Al Mare, the restaurant I mentioned that is in The Fives, was the best Italian meal I’ve ever had in Mexico (and I’ve been to Mexico over 20 times!). I’m part-Italian, and I live in Chicago where there is a huge food scene. So that is saying a lot! I was admittedly skeptical and went only because it was the night I arrived, it was raining, and I didn’t want to walk to town in the rain. But wow! GO. There are lots of great seafood places downtown. I have to mention Punta Corcho. It has amazing food and romantic ambiance. I had maybe the best mole dish I’ve had at El Charro, and the space was el charMING. Tanino’s is another win; the staff are extremely friendly, there is great ambiance, and the pear salad with goat cheese gelato on top was like nothing I’ve ever had.
Gelato on Salad? Yes please! Puerto Morelos has everything from fine dining to fresh seafood to taco stands; try it all.
And make sure to save room for dessert at Aldo’s Gelato!
What to do?
You may or may not know that the Mesoamerican Coral Reef, aka the Great Mayan Reef, that runs along the Yucatan Peninsula is the 2nd largest coral reef system in the world, 2nd only to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. In Puerto Morelos, the reef sits only about 500 meters from the shore line and is shallow enough that even if you are not a diver you can get a good view of the sea life. I’m told it’s a snorkeler’s paradise! Sadly, the weather did not cooperate on my trip for me to have enough days to venture out to the reef—next time! You can also book popular tours from here that you can do from areas like Cancun or Playa Del Carmen—cenotes, ruins, boat trips, etc.
Of course, eating and drinking are always something to do, but also enjoy the live music that is featured in a few of the restaurants. I heard a fun rock cover band at La Sirena one night and a great blues band at Lauro’s another night.
There are several Beach Clubs peppered along the coast to enjoy. So if you are staying a street or two away from the shore, you can easily walk to one of these and spend a day.
Walk around! There’s a church to see downtown in the main square, and the iconic tilted lighthouse statue and port area/ malecon is adorable.
There is some shopping in the market but also an area called Mi Pueblo that tauts tequila and tastings along with a restaurant and other high end shops with jewelry and art—pro tip: it’s all a bit overpriced so just go to look around because it’s very artistic and cool (i.e. tree vines overhead and things hanging in the vines, etc.). Also, buy your tequila at the fancy grocery store right there, Chedraui. That place is awesome and has everything from groceries to souvenirs to a sushi bar if I recall correctly. Great place to stock up on supplies if you are staying at a rental home.
Puerto Morelos is truly a perfect spot for a tropical beach escape that provides a uniquely serene scene for this coastal area of Mexico. If you’re like me and you love Mexican culture AND you love the beach AND you like to get out and enjoy some local charm, Puerto Morelos is perfect for you! Grab a margarita, kick back, listen to the waves, stare at the Caribbean, and tune in to the ancient Mayan boho vibes. What more do you need to unwind?
