Puerto Morelos - Culture

Puerto Morelos is a charming fishing village located 40 minutes south of Cancún ( 15 minutes from Cancún International Airport ) and 20 minutes north of Playa del Carmen. A perfect place to enjoy life and relax, a unique vacation spot in the Mayan Riviera.

The National Marine Park, part of the Grand Mayan Reef the world's second largest barrier reef, is only 800 metres from shore . You can go swimming comfortably and the area is ideal for diving, snorkeling, windsurfing and other water activities.

The reef in Puerto Morelos is a natural reservation "Reef National Park" The second largest coral reef in the world.
Puerto Morelos is close to and protected by the reef, making it a especial place for safe swimming and for taking diving lessons, with easy access to the fascinating underwater world of the caribbean.

The Mexican Caribbean is catalogued as world class for its transparent waters and extensive marine life as well as its wonderful sand that has the singular characteristic of being as white as talcum powder.
The calm waters of the Mexican Caribbean are perfect for sport fishing. In this region, Marlins abound and sailfish, as well as many other species depending on the season and the area.

Near the entrance to the town is the only Botanic Garden in the region and a Zoo. The town is edged by mangrove swamps to the west with beautiful local fauna . To the East are wide white sand beaches and the Caribbean Sea.

Puerto Morelos offers: Fresh seafood daily and diving and snorkeling trips to the reef.
Wednesday morning has a farmer's market and Mayan Jungle spa. There are regional crafts and the necessary services for comfort including supermarkets, restaurants: (Mexican, Spanish, Italian, International ), Church, Medical clinic, Taxi services, Money exchanges , Tourist information , Phone / fax office and Internet Services.

Puerto Morelos is a town in Quintana Roo, Mexico's easternmost state, on the Yucatán Peninsula.

There are two parts to Puerto Morelos, the original coastal fishing village is now a laid-back, mixed use neighborhood of private homes, hotels, condominiums, restaurants, and tourist shops. The second part about 2 km. inland and adjacent to Highway 307, on the western side. The inland portion is mainly single level dwellings for the local workers.

Puerto Morelos stands in the north-east of the state, about 36 km south of the resort city of Cancún. It has historically been the main port between the mainland of Yucatán and the Island of Cozumel, and an automobile ferry used to run from Puerto Morelos to Cozumel. The town is named after Independence leader José María Morelos.

Puerto Morelos has grown rapidly with the development of tourism and as of 2003 is estimated to be the home to some 5,000 people.

One hundred meters off shore lies the Puerto Morelos portion of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, designated as a National Marine Park due to local environmental activists.

In 1967 the structure of the original Lighthouse was tilted over in Hurricane Beulah. It has since survived Hurricanes Gilbert in 1987 and Wilma in 2005, but has not been knocked down. The new light house replacing this one was built aside.