Posts: 61
From: Westminster, MD, USA
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 04-18-2005 13:20            

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How far from Cancun is Puerto Morales and has anyone been there? We have been going to the Royals in Cancun for over 10 years and just wanted to try something different. We've done all the tours but just hear of this small town. We were thinking of taking a day trip there and maybe another day trip to Isla Mujeres since we love it over there. Is it worth it? Thanks, Jan

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Posts: 542
From: Granite Bay, CA, USA
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 04-18-2005 17:55               

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Puerto Morales is about a 10 minute taxi ride north from the Mayan Palace, so I am guessing it is 30 to 40 minutes from Cancun. Worth the visit although there is not a lot to do. We were there in February. We enjoyed the Pelicanos restaurant and walking around the town. Doesn't take long to see everything. Nice beach with no one on it and great snorkling and diving.
Marty

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Posts: 982
From: Newmarket, Ontario, Canada Owner: 2 Aquamarine Villas, 2 Durban Sands and Foxrun!
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 04-18-2005 18:35               

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Actually it's Puerto Morelos - I don't think that it qualifies as a day trip in and of itself - maybe a couple of hours or for lunch or dinner- and given a choice between Puerto and Playa Del Carmen I'd go to Playa - that is definetly a day trip or more accurately a day and a night and several more days and nights...

Puerto Morelos is a somewhat sleepy little fishing village - it does have a reef quite close to shore and several dive operations there which can take you out to the reef for snorkling or for scuba. When we were there at Christams, the waters were very rough and one or two days of our kid's diving were scrubbed becasue of the seas.

Puerto also has Mamas Bakery (recommended) and John Grays Restaurant(also recommended) and several other little restaurants and bars around the zocalo....

Here are some websites for the town:
http://www.visitpuertomorelos.com/

http://www.locogringo.com/maps/tour/173a-t.html

http://www.puertomorelos.com.mx/

regards,

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Barb

[This message has been edited by BarCol (edited 04-18-2005).]

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Posts: 100
From: Innisfil, Ontario Royal Islander-Cancun
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 04-18-2005 19:36               

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Its a 20-25 minute drive from cancun. We did a snorkel tour there this past December. It was very nice little place.

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Posts: 25
From: Indianapolis, In USA
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 04-19-2005 06:31               

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Puerto Morelos is worth the trip!!! It used to be a sleepy village. Three years ago we went there to eat at the Los Pelicanos Restaurant. It was beyond wonderful. My ten year nearly fell off his chair when the catch of the day came...it was the enire fish...head..eyes...tail...all!!! The shrimp was fabulous. After lunch we walked around the village and stopped into one "beauty shop" and my daughter had a pedicure and manicure. The lady basically had the shop on her front porch. She went back into the kitchen to boil the water for the pedicure. She worked nearly an hour on my daughter's feet...they were in terrible shape..and the did her nails. All for 15.00 US WHen we left the shop, we stopped a the local grocery..I use the term loosely and bought one of those plastic mesh shoppping bags that I sen in Cancun for 15.00. I bought it with no haggling for 1.00. Then we stopped at another front porch type shop and purchased roasted chicken, rice and beans. ALl for under 5.00. We went back to the beauty shop and the lady found us a man to drive us back to the resort. ALmost no English was spoken but we were able to communicate.
Puerto Morelos is supposed to be the place to get a local to take you out to the reef to snorkel in his own little fishing boat. I have not done this yet but it comes highly recommended to me by a girl whose dad is from that area. I believe that Puerto Morelos is being discovered and that seveal new adult only resorts are popping along their beaches. go soon!!!

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highland

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Posts: 61
From: Westminster, MD, USA
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 04-19-2005 06:34            

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How about the diving? How does it compare to Cancun? And is the snorkling as good as Isla Mujeres?

Thanks,
Jan

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Posts: 100
From: Innisfil, Ontario Royal Islander-Cancun
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 04-19-2005 14:29               

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I found the snorkeling to be much better than what I experience just off Isla Mujeres.

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Posts: 1408
From: Pembroke Pines, FL, USA Own: Aruba - Casa Del Mar, Playa Linda, Aruba Phoenix; Omni Cancun, Seapointer, SA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 04-20-2005 19:38               

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There are plans for a major resort in Puerto Morelos.

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Greg

Greg's Excellent
Adventures

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Posts: 235
From: Lincoln, Nebraska USA
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 04-23-2005 17:14               

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We took the Bus from Mayan Palace last month. It cost 1.00 each. Then took a cab from highway 307 into town for 2.00. Very quiet quaint town like others have said. Had breakfast by the beach for half of what it would have cost elsewhere. Did not drive or snorkel, but saw others arranging their day trips. Beach was pristine. Did not spend as much time there as I would have liked as it was our last day and we needed to get into Playa to spend more money. Besides hubby was with me and he gets so nervous because neither of us speak spanish. I tell him just relax and listen.

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Posts: 165
From: Denver Colorado
Registered: Nov 2002

posted 04-25-2005 20:58               

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The only diving in Porto Morales that I am aware of is a wreck dive slightly to the south. The only dive trip to the wreck that I have taken was scheduled though Aquaworld in Cancun.

There are some great restaurants there and good snorkeling. If you go snorkeling really watch out and stay in protected areas. Our dive boat hit a snorkeler that had wandered out into the channel and when the boat hit her, it broke her hip. (Ouch). There seems to be just enough chop in the water that snorkelers that go to far out cannot be seen by the boats

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Posts: 61
From: Westminster, MD, USA
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 04-26-2005 06:54            

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Do you recommend snorkeling right off the beach or should we get a guide/boat?

Thanks for all your help/advice! I really was looking forward to a day with calmer waters. The ocean is sometimes too rough for us in front of the Royals and a day in calm water would be great. Do they sell beer on the beach? Is there a public beach? Also, do you recommend getting there by taxi? There will be 12 of us.

Jan

[This message has been edited by beercangirl (edited 04-26-2005).]

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Posts: 270
From: Massillon, Ohio, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 04-26-2005 20:20               

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If you want great snorkeling in cancun area, go to Puncta Nizuc by Club Med. Just take the bus to Westin Regina, walk through the hotel to beach, take a right, walk down toward the point and cross over to other side where you can wade into wonderful snorkeling protected by a reef. if the water isn't too rough in front of your resort, it will be great snorkeling. Take water shoes with you because the current will carry you down toward the national park area where they take you on snorkel tours, and yu will want to walk back instead of swimming against the current. You can see lots of fish close up, because the wate isn't too deep. I have seen a sea turtle, mantaray, octopus, and hundreds of fish there. it is our favorite place to snorkel. Afterward, go to the sunrise bar in front of Westin Regina where you can enjoy a drink or lunch before heading back to your resort. The view of the water and Puncta Nizuc is one of my favorite settings for beauty and tranquility.
Enjoy!!!

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DonnaD.

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Posts: 61
From: Westminster, MD, USA
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 04-28-2005 06:28            

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Is the water calm? We are looking for ocean water that is gorgeous but that we can also swim in it! Thanks for all your help!

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