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What does Puerto Morelos mean to us? The best beach
we have found in Mexico. The soft white coral sand stretches for nearly 2 km
along the coast, protected from heavy surf by the reef just 400 M offshore.
The beach is lined with low rise apartments and beach restaurants, with nary
a large resort within the town limits. We stay in a small one bedroom
apartment a short block from the beach where we sit in the shade of palm
trees and swim from the shore, spying on the multitude of colourful fish
through our snorkels and masks. After our swim we go for a long walk,
sometimes making it to both ends and back. By then it is time to return to
our apartment and cook our lunch or dinner with the vegetables and fish we
buy in town.
Of course, there are days we chose to dine at one of
the increasing number of good restaurants in town. We celebrated Christmas
at John Gray’s Kitchen and our Anniversary on December 30 at Tanino’s, owned
by our landlady’s daughter. I had mentioned, when I made the reservation at
Tanino’s, that we were celebrating our anniversary. To our surprise we were
treated to a complimentary bottle of good sparkling wine when we arrived.
Both restaurants rate my vote for the best restaurants in town.
Brunch, increasingly popular in Canada and Mexico, is
no exception in Puerto Morelos. Whether you enjoy a Mexican breakfast of
Chilaquiles or Huevos Rancheros or prefer traditional eggs Benedict, or
pancakes, there are restaurants to suit your taste. Our favourites were El
Nicho, Cafe Layla and the ever popular Cafe D’Amancia, but there are many
more, if Trip Advisor ratings can be believed. If you have a soft spot for
croissants, as I do, the best place in Puerto Morelos is small, La Guaya,
where their croissants rival the ones I dote on in Paris. As for tacos and
ceviche, you cannot be in Puerto Morelos without going to t@cos.com and La
Petita en la Playita, on the beach.
Puerto Morelos is actually two towns; the beach
section and Colonia, 2 km away from the beach on the other side of the major
highway that transects the Yucatan Peninsula. Colonia is where the majority
of local Mexicans live, although many of them work in the service industries
in the beach side town. There are many Bed and Breakfasts in Colonia and a
collection of new, smart rental houses, at less expensive rents than those
available close to the beach. To get to Colonia, you have a choice of
walking, taking an inexpensive local bus or taking a taxi. We regularly took
the local bus to Chaudraui, the largest supermarket in the area, and brought
our purchases home in a taxi. The walk is fine, provided the temperature is
below 30 C. Judith George and Bill Landles, friends from Ottawa found
Colonia much to their liking, especially as it is more authentically Mexican
than the beach side of town. They enjoyed trying out several of the small
restaurants near their B & B and look forward to staying in Colonia Puerto
Morelos, or Lower PoMo, as Judith christened the area, again when they
return to Puerto Morelos next year.
We were charmed by the Sunday market, on the jungle
on the outskirts of Colonia. We took the local bus as far as it went in
Colonia, and walked several blocks to find the promised market in the
jungle. Encouraged by an American woman several years ago to revive
traditional crafts and activities, the market has become a community project
for the Mexicans in the area. There were several booths selling handicrafts
and traditional food we enjoyed for lunch. At 11 AM, traditional dances were
performed by children and adults, with the audience invited to join a
Mexican version of a Maypole dance. The finale was a chance for all the
children to try their luck breaking a piñata filled with candies. A good
time was had by all.
What else did we do? I found a yoga studio in town,
run by Patty, an American living fulltime in Puerto Morelos with her husband
and two daughters. I enjoyed the thrice weekly lessons in an open palapa on
her property and fully intend to sign up again next year.
Read one of the following
February
2018 in Zihuatanejo
March
2018 in San Miguel de Allende
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