TRANQUIL AREA OF CANCUN IS HOME TO LAID-BACK LUXURY, CULTURE, AND ECO-EXPLORATION
In an area just south of Cancun’s Hotel Zone, travelers find the Mexican town of Puerto Morelos to be a hidden jewel of the Caribbean
Vacationers to Mexico‘s Yucatan peninsula can experience a recipe of relaxation and exploration in the quiet village of Puerto Morelos, an area of Cancun located just 12 miles south of the International Airport. With just 5,000 inhabitants, this laid-back, bohemian town welcomes Cancun visitors to a relaxed hideaway that holds true to its Mexican roots.
ECO-ADVENTURE
The Great Mesoamerican Reef system is protected here by the Puerto Morelos Coral Reef National Park located just over 300 feet from shore. This system, the second largest in the world, provides the best underwater views of coral and sea life in the area to snorkel adventurers, fishing enthusiasts, and scuba divers.
Once in a lifetime expeditions to discover cenotes, natural underground caves unique to the Yucatan region, offer refreshing turquoise waterways ideal for swimming and diving. Puerto Morelos and Cancun are surrounded by this spectacular phenomenon in an area designated by the Mexican Government as “La Ruta de los Cenotes,” or the “Route of the Cenotes,” which displays some of the most beautiful caves and limestone scenery in the world.
One of the Yucatan’s great adventure companies, Selvatica, offers such tours, and is headquartered in Puerto Morelos. Recognized by Travel + Leisure magazine as “One of the 35 Great Adventures in the World,” Selvatica offers a Canopy Tour through the jungle that consists of an unparalleled eleven zip lines, mountain biking, and swimming in a private, serene cenote. Other excursions include snorkeling; driving through the jungle in an open-air Corona buggy, as well as a remarkable nighttime zip line excursion capped off with a gourmet meal served in the starlit jungle.
Visitors can also learn about the plants of the area while admiring a wide array of monkeys, birds, and other animals native to the region at the Botanical Garden of Puerto Morelos, which spreads over more than 140 acres of land Travelers may visit several Maya ruins here, including a “chiclero” camp that once produced chewing gum. The charming Crococun Zoo is also nearby, providing opportunities to view reptiles and mammals indigenous to the region.
CUISINE & CULTURE
The town’s local artisans join together on a daily basis in an open-air market located one block south of the Town Square. This Handicraft Workshop Center allows visitors to see the artists at work, and to purchase handmade blankets, hammocks, hats, clothing, shells, baskets, jewelry, natural stones, Maya carvings, ceramic decorations, and more.
Nightlife in Puerto Morelos consists of enjoying casual meals that linger for hours, featuring traditional cuisine, live music, and sometimes karaoke. A multitude of local restaurants in Puerto Morelos serve fresh seafood, authentic Mexican dishes unique to the Yucatan, along with Italian, American, European, and Asian fare.
HAUTE HOTELS
Centered around the historic “leaning lighthouse,” this breezy coastal community is home to a luxurious hotel product that provides travelers with a peaceful getaway, and offers easy access to the amenities, conveniences, attractions, and natural wonders of the nearby area.
Accommodations range from guesthouses to bed and breakfast facilities, villas, condos, and hotels that range from boutique to modest, deluxe and all-inclusive. Puerto Morelos’ luxury resort offerings include some of the following deluxe properties:
Azul Beach Resort
Desire Resort & Spa
Marina El Cid
Paradisus Riviera Cancun
Ceiba del Mar
Secrets Excellence Riviera Cancun
Moon Palace Resort & Spa
Paraiso de la Bonita Resort & Thalasso Spa
ABOUT CANCUN and PUERTO MORELOS
Cancun is situated on the northeastern tip of Mexico‘s Yucatan Peninsula, uniquely bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the tranquil Nichupte Lagoon. The destination is renowned for its 16-mile stretch of white sandy beaches, world-class hotels, exceptional recreation features and proximity to historic Mayan archeological sites. Visitors to Cancun and nearby Puerto Morelos can enjoy spectacular snorkeling and diving at the Mesoamerican Reef, the second largest coral reef in the world, as well as action-packed participatory sports activities that capitalize on the area’s exceptionally clear, blue waters.
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