Puerto Morelos Vacation Guide: Where to Eat, What to Do & More

Puerto Morelos is one of the Riviera Maya’s hidden gems—a laid-back seaside town where you can enjoy beautiful Caribbean water, incredible food, snorkeling on the reef, nearby cenotes and a more authentic Mexican experience without the crowds of larger resort destinations.

One of the things we love most about Puerto Morelos is that it really has two sides to explore. The beachside offers the town square, restaurants, shops and the Caribbean, while La Colonia offers fantastic local restaurants, markets and a glimpse of everyday life in Mexico. This guide shares some of our favorite places and things to do so you can experience both.

Puerto Morelos offers a different kind of Riviera Maya vacation. It’s smaller and more relaxed than Cancún or Playa del Carmen, but there’s still plenty to do. Spend the morning snorkeling the reef or relaxing by the Caribbean, explore nearby cenotes in the afternoon, and finish the day with dinner at anything from a beachfront restaurant to a small local favorite in La Colonia.

Puerto Morelos is also a great home base for exploring the Riviera Maya. Cancún, Playa del Carmen and many of the region’s cenotes and attractions are close enough for day trips, while you get to come home to a quieter town at the end of the day.

Breakfast & Coffee
Puerto Morelos has some fantastic breakfast spots, from healthy cafés to authentic local tacos. These are a few of my favorites:

Lola y Moya
My favorite breakfast spot in Puerto Morelos. Ivett, the owner, has taken some of her grandmother’s favorite recipes and created a wonderful menu. The crepes are especially good, as are the smoothies and breakfast bagel sandwich. Tell Ivett that Julie sent you!

Mangata
A great choice for a healthy breakfast with a unique and delicious menu. This is one of my favorites when Lola y Moya is closed.

Taqueria Ely
For a truly local experience, try tacos for breakfast! It’s a short walk from Casa Joya, inexpensive and popular with locals. Choose your taco filling and enjoy it with juice or horchata. The mole is especially good. Bring cash, and be prepared to point if your Spanish is limited!

Inmortal Barra de Cafe
My go-to coffee spot and another easy walk from Casa Joya. They roast their own beans, have plenty of milk options and make delicious baked goods. Try the carrot cake and the mocha frío — two of my favorites.

Belleville Panaderia
A wonderful bakery for croissants, cinnamon rolls and sourdough bread. They also serve a great breakfast.

El Pirata
One of my longtime favorites in Puerto Morelos — and I'm lucky to call the owner and chef Karla a friend. She takes great pride in her food, and it shows. It's a wonderful choice for dinner and cocktails, and they make some of the best burgers in town.

Boquinete Seafood & Grill
A favorite when you want great seafood with a beautiful ocean view. It's a wonderful spot to relax over breakfast,  lunch or dinner and enjoy the Caribbean setting.

El Pesquero
A great choice for fresh seafood on the beach side of town. I'm especially fond of the ceviche, and the fresh fried fish is always a good choice.

Pecao Fonda de Mar
One of my favorites in La Colonia. The menu is creative and interesting, with excellent seafood and plenty of flavor.

Blue Morelos
Casual, relaxed and consistently good. A great place for tacos, tostadas and seafood when you want something delicious without a fancy night out. The 2 for 1 margaritas are a great bonus.

El Campanario
A great choice when you're craving steak or grilled meats. The food is consistently good, the staff is fun, and it's one of my favorite alternatives to seafood.

Burger Underground
Sometimes you just want a really good burger! Burger Underground is one of our go-to spots when we're in the mood for burgers and fries.

Yum Yum
A great change of pace when you're craving Asian flavors. It's a nice option after you've had your fill of tacos, seafood and Mexican food.

Tanino's
One of my favorites for a nicer dinner out. The food and atmosphere make it a great choice when you're looking for something a little more upscale.

Al Horno
A great local option in La Colonia for pizza, pasta and empanadas. They also deliver, which makes it an easy choice for a relaxed evening at Casa Joya.

La Sirena
A Puerto Morelos classic overlooking the town square and Caribbean. Head upstairs to the rooftop for the view, drinks and live music. It's a fun choice when you want dinner or cocktails with a little more atmosphere.

Breakfast favorite: Lola y Moya

Breakfast with an ocean view: Boquinete

Coffee: Inmortal Barra de Cafe

Authentic and inexpensive: Taqueria Ely

Seafood: El Pesquero or Pecao Fonda de Mar

Ocean view: Boquinete

Great burger: El Pirata or Burger Underground

Steak: El Campanario

Something different: Yum Yum

Nice dinner out: Tanino's

Live music & rooftop atmosphere: La Sirena

Easy dinner at home: Al Horno

Good to know: Many Puerto Morelos restaurants offer delivery, so enjoying a great local meal at Casa Joya is easy too. Ask us if you need help figuring out delivery options.

Snorkel the Puerto Morelos Reef
The National Reef Park of Puerto Morelos is one of the highlights of a visit here. You'll need to take a boat tour to reach the reef, but it's absolutely worth it. Depending on the day, you may see colorful tropical fish, rays, sea turtles and other marine life. There are plenty of snorkeling operators near the beach, and we're happy to recommend a guide.

Explore Underwater from the Beach
You don't necessarily have to take a boat to see marine life. There's snorkeling right from the beach, and we've spotted rays and turtles ourselves. Ask about the Ojo de Agua, a small freshwater spring just offshore that's a fun local spot to find.

Go Scuba Diving
Puerto Morelos is a great destination for divers, with reef diving and even a shipwreck to explore. There are several dive shops in town for both experienced divers and people interested in getting certified. We've personally had good experiences with Dive with Ruben and Om Delfin.

Spend Time Around the Town Square
Don't just head to the beach and leave! Take some time to explore the seaside town center and main square. You'll often find local vendors selling art, crafts and jewelry, along with food carts and community events, particularly on weekends and some evenings.

Experience Koox Ich Kool
If you have an open day in your itinerary, this is one of my favorite experiences. Koox Ich Kool combines an organic farm and jungle tour with time in a cenote-style pool, cocktails and appetizers, followed by a multi-course farm-to-table dinner. It's a wonderful way to experience a completely different side of the area.

Explore the Ruta de los Cenotes
Just inland from Puerto Morelos is the Ruta de los Cenotes, where you'll find dozens of cenotes and jungle adventures within easy driving distance of Casa Joya. Cenotes are natural freshwater sinkholes, and no trip to this part of Mexico is complete without experiencing at least one.

Kin Ha
My current favorite. Kin Ha offers beautiful cenotes along with several ziplines at different heights and platform jumping for the adventurous. I've found that going directly and focusing on the cenotes rather than booking a larger ATV package can sometimes mean a quieter, less crowded experience.

Cenotes 7 Bocas
A smaller, quieter option with seven different entrances into the cenote system. This is a good choice if you're looking for something that feels a little less like a large attraction.

Zapote
Another fun option where you can experience several cenotes and add activities such as ziplining.

Selvatica
For guests looking for more adrenaline, Selvatica combines jungle ziplining, ATV adventures and a cenote swim.

You Don't Necessarily Need a Car
One of the things we love about Casa Joya's location is having easy access to both sides of Puerto Morelos. The beach and seaside town center are about 1.5 miles away, while La Colonia is even closer. Depending on where you're headed, you can get around by bike, taxi, colectivo or car.

Explore by Bike
Casa Joya has three bicycles available for guests to use. Biking is an easy and fun way to get around town, whether you're heading to the beach, La Colonia or out for a meal. If your group needs additional bikes, there are local rental companies that deliver.

Uber & Taxis
Uber is now available in Puerto Morelos, giving guests another convenient option for getting around town. Traditional taxis are also readily available, and our local property manager can help arrange transportation when needed.

Colectivos & Buses
For a more local—and very inexpensive—way to get around, try a colectivo. These shared vans travel around town and are easy to catch near Casa Joya. For trips farther afield, buses and vans provide inexpensive transportation to places such as Playa del Carmen and Cancún.

Experience Both Sides of Puerto Morelos
Casa Joya is located in Puntarena, a highly desirable gated community ideally situated between the beachside of Puerto Morelos and La Colonia. That means you can enjoy the Caribbean, town square and beach restaurants while also being close to the local restaurants, shops and everyday life of La Colonia.

Our three-bedroom home sits along the edge of the mangrove, with unobstructed views from the private rooftop terrace and plunge pool and the Caribbean Sea visible in the distance. Three bicycles are provided for exploring, and Uber, taxis and colectivos make getting around easy even if you choose not to rent a car.

After a day of snorkeling, exploring cenotes or simply enjoying Puerto Morelos, come home to the rooftop, cool off in the plunge pool and watch the sun set over the mangroves.

Ready to plan your Puerto Morelos vacation? Check availability and rates for Casa Joya.