Puerto Morelos Disney Travel Agents Near Me

Overview

Introduction

Unlike Playa del Carmen, 22 mi/35 km to the south, Puerto Morelos, Mexico, has retained much of its charm and tranquil village atmosphere. It's the starting point of the Riviera Maya, which runs 125 mi/200 km south along the coast. A playground dominates the main square, and fishing launches still line the town beach.

This could all change, though, as increasing numbers of Canadian and American retirees move to the area. Developers have built several large hotels and a marina along the empty white-sand beaches that stretch south of town. Puerto Morelos has a good selection of small hotels and restaurants, as well as an unremarkable handicraft market and a used-book store with titles in English.

For the time being, it remains one of the most pleasant towns on the Riviera Maya and is relatively deserted in the off-season.

History

Puerto Morelos was one of the first developments in the area. During the 19th century, the Mayan people needed to export their products, so they built a small community and the first commercial port of the Yucatan; among the products they extracted from the jungle were vanilla, rubber and henequen (a type of agave).

After the construction of Cancun, this port was used to send goods and cars to Cozumel. After Playa del Carmen was developed in the 1980s, it was easier and cheaper to use the ferry there. The one in Puerto Morelos is still running, but it is not used as frequently and it does not provide transportation for tourists.