Puerto Morelos
Preserving a Small Village Flavor ( article written by Jorge Chino )
Located between the world-famous Cancún and Playa del Carmen, Mexico, Puerto Morelos is a community with a small village flavor and character. Its history and culture date back to the year 435 A.D, much older than its famous neighbors. After hurricane Beulah hit this small village of sugar sand beaches and blue green waters, its residents refused to take down their damaged lighthouse and built a new one next to their old Leaning Tower of Pisa.
While Cancun displays a high-rise luxury hotel zone and Miami style discos, Puerto Morelos offers a tranquil lifestyle with its line of boutique shops and restaurants. Unlike Playa del Carmen that has become Mexico’s fastest-growing city, Puerto Morelos has retained its advantages of small is beautiful, especially, since the government declared the reef area and the mangroves behind it, ecological preserves.
This last June 15th, Puerto Morelos became its own city. It now has its own mayor, and the commitment from the State of Quintana Roo to investment in its infrastructure and preserve its character. This village of around 2,500 residents has continued to build its own character drawing on its ancient culture to search for its own future.
Besides its active pier, Puerto Morelos has become for many people a place to fully or partially retire in a small village environment. Here fishermen unload their catch of the day and the residents can get fresh local fish for lunch or dinner. Like in most small villages in Mexico, Puerto Morelos comes alive every Sunday through a fair at its main square.
Puerto Morelos is for people who’d like to live a fabulous lifestyle of friendly neighbors, great weather, excellent healthcare system and, last but no least, low taxes. It has plenty of private areas and a real estate market in an upswing. Take a trip to the Riviera Maya and visit this village where no building exceeds three stories.
Puerto Morelos is only 20 minutes from Cancun International Airport, 25 minutes from Playa del Carmen, 25 minutes from Cancun and its hotel zone.
