Nomadic dani

If you’re looking for a laid-back, authentic beach town in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, look no further than Puerto Morelos. Nestled between Cancún and Playa del Carmen, this charming fishing village is perfect for travelers seeking relaxation, adventure, and local culture without the crowds of big tourist resorts.

I spent 24 hours in this very tranquil destination after being picked up by my girlfriend from the Cancun airport. We only had 24 hours as this was a quick stopover before heading south to Tulum. We spent much of our time strolling the beachfront and stopping off for cervezas and the first breakfast of my trip (always Chilaquiles).

If calm and relaxation is what you are looking for that visit here! Unlike the busy hotel zones of Cancún and Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos retains its small-town charm. The town square is the heart of the community, with colourful shops, street vendors, and lively restaurants. The beachfront itself is very quiet and one thing I would say is worth doing is getting up for either a sunset or sunrise walk. This place feels so calm and relaxing and its a great place to take a moment and enjoy the view and let all of your negative thoughts fly away.

A must visit is the Puerto Morelos famous Leaning Lighthouse just on the edge of the beachfront. This is still standing after being hit by a large Hurricane that moved the foundations.

With only 12 hours to have a quick look around, I know this is somewhere that I would like to return to in the future as there is so much more to do including snorkelling and scuba diving and local cenotes. This is the perfect stopover after a long haul flight!