Puerto Morelos, considered as the gateway to the Riviera Maya, is located 15 minutes south of Cancún International Airport and 36 km north of Playa del Carmen.

In Puerto Morelos you will find tranquility, long stretches of beach and a small town atmosphere. This is the place to come and relax, watch the sunset on the beach, meet the locals, explore the natural wonders such as the coral reef 500 meters from shore. It has maintained its peaceful atmosphere of a charming Mexican fishing village.

The community, a mix of locals, fishermens and foreigners, works hard to protect Puerto' s status as a National Marine Park and keep development to a minimum. Its close proximity to theCancun airport and bus terminals makes Puerto Morelos a perfect base for exploring the Yucatan peninsula.

Puerto Morelos is bordered by impressive mangroves separated by a lagoon to the north, west, and south. An interesting characteristic about mangles is that their roots filter salt and the remainder is discarded by leaves, which allow them to live in saltwater. Aside from being the habitat of many animal and plant species, mangroves protect coastal communities from storms and hurricanes, stop erosion, and filter pollutants.

This incredible ecosystem is almost in a pristine state, and there you can find many species of insects, crabs, mammals (foxes, raccoons, badgers, aardvarks, porcupines), reptiles (snakes, iguanas, caimans), and birds (spoonbills, herons, fish eagles, owls, woodpeckers, kingfishers). In many places mangroves are destroyed by humans, but in Puerto Morelos the community is genuinely interested in conserving them, since they are one of the few places in Quintana Roo that are still in good condition.

It is interesting to mention that about 60% of the people in Puerto Morelos make a living from the coral reef. Although fishermen get most of their catch outside the reef, many species they fish are heavily dependent on the reef, including lobsters, sea snails, sea bass, and porgies. The community became highly aware of the reef's importance and worked hard to establish the national park in order to ensure its conservation and proper management.

Puerto Morelos is also a good place to learn about Mayan traditions; many ecotours that show the lifestyle of locals start their tours here. Furthermore, Puerto Morelos is an ideal place to relax and meditate. After visiting it you will go back to your daily routine with a renewed spirit and eagerness to come back as soon as possible to this incredibly peaceful place.