Homes for Sale

ATM (ABM-Cashpoint-Bank Machine) - Best to use bank-affiliated machines as they have the lowest fees. There are several on the square including a Santander machine by the police station and a Banco Norte in the OXXO. There are two bank-affiliated machines in the new Chedraui supermarket and a CI Banco machine just outside the grocery store. We find the CI Banco machine has the lowest fees and is safe. There is another machine at the Bancomer in Super Aki Plaza. There are two independent machines on the square, two at the mall and one in Aquanauts Dive Adventures. The independents have higher fees.

There have been some skimming incidents in Puerto Morelos, so please examine the machine carefully for any tampering before using and watch your account afterward. We have not had any recent events. Chip cards have improved this situation drastically.

Bank - Puerto Morelos has no bank in the main part of town. Your best bet is the bank machine. There is a new CI Banco bank at the Chedraui on the highway and a Bancomer at Super Aki Plaza.

Bike Rental - The Puerto Morelos Travel Agency has a tiny office around the corner west of the bookstore. They rent bikes by the hour, day, week or month. There are also bikes available at DiversPoint, La Bici Roja on Ninos Heroes, website here and Puerto Morelos Green Bikes, website here.

Bookstore - There are precious few bookstores in the Yucatan, so Alma Libre Bookstore is a rare find. We could probably sell more books if we were in Playa del Carmen or Cancun...but then we couldn't live in Puerto Morelos! We have 20,000 books including new books on the area, the Maya and the birds and fish...plus lots of used fiction and nonfiction books. Maps & postcards & art & gourmet items too!

Botanical Garden Ya'ax Che - Located on the south entrance to Puerto Morelos. Open daily at 8:00. Admission charge is around 120 pesos. More info here.

Catering - Chef Miguel co-owner of Hola Asia restaurant will provide meals to your place in Puerto Morelos or Playa Secreto. He also offers cooking classes in your place. Click here for more information. Richard of Mi Cocina does catering, as does Anthony at La Sirena.

Cooking Schools - How better to bring a little of Mexico home with you than to learn to make some of the fantastic food you find here? The Little Mexican Cooking School offers classes two days a week right in Puerto Morelos. Learn some new cooking skills, and then eat the results. You can book online through their website.

Chef Miguel co-owner of Hola Asia restaurant will also teach classes in your home or condo. Contact him through his website.

Dentist - Dr. Carlos Escalante has an office just west of the square. 998-206-9157 NEXTEL 185-2583 Website Here. We've used him ourselves and would recommend him. He speaks excellent English. People have also recommended Dr Georgina Reyes Herrera, office in the Colonia 998-251-7595/998-169-3559

Diving - We love to snorkel, but diving is the best way to go meet the fish. We are lucky to have several good shops right in town to serve you. If you are staying at a resort, skip their dive shop and use one of the ones in town, you will save a plethora of pesos.

Doctors - We have a good doctor in Puerto Morelos and a medical clinic. The doctor will make house calls.

Fashion - Check out Sofia's Fashions on the square toward the beach from the bookstore for unique creations you will only find there. Open Tuesday-Saturday 9 am-6:30 pm, Sunday 9 am-1 pm.

Fishing - We always recommend Kathy Loretta of Puerto Morelos Fishing. She has the best boats and crew. Daytime phone 998-848-8819. Evening phone 998-206-9206. Cell Phone 998-201-9805. She speaks English and Spanish. Alternatively you can go down to the dock and talk to one of the captains there or arrange something through one of the dive shops. You can also arrange snorkeling this way.

Golf - I've never had the bug, but I know there are some of you who need to swing the wrenches even on vacation. Here are a few courses near PoMo.

• Mayan Palace golf course. Closest to PoMo (14kms), just south of town near Playa Secreto. Website.
• Iberostar golf course. Just a little further south. More info.
• Mayakoba El Camaleón Golf Club. About 22 kms south, this course, designed by Greg Norman, hosts an annual PGA tournament. Website.

Grocery Store - Puerto Morelos now has a real, live grocery store. Chedraui opened in late 2014. It has everything you would expect to find in a small supermarket, including baked goods, hardware items and liquor. There is also another store a little further north on the same road called Super Aki. Aside from a few beautiful beer sales, there is nothing you can find at Aki that you can't find at Chedraui, so if you only go one place, go there. On the port side of Puerto Morelos, Casa Martin on the north side of the square has the basics including produce, eggs, bread, snacks & alcohol. There are an abundance of small "Supers" (convenience stores) all over town, most with beer. There is also an OXXO convenience store on the south west end of the square and another at the entrance to town. Alma Libre Books & Gifts has a selection of locally made gourmet items, coffee, honey, chocolate and more.

Chulim, which has two produce stores in the Colonia, recently opened a new one on Ninos Heroes across from the Tejones Park near the Cultural Centre. Fresh produce, juice, eggs and other staples available. They open early at 7am.

The Wednesday morning Produce Market by the Church and the many produce trucks that roll through town will keep you in fruits and vegetables. The fish co-operative on the square has the best and freshest fish anywhere. Mariscos del Puerto on Av. Ninos Heroes has frozen fish, shrimp and steak. They are open Monday-Friday 9-5 and Saturday/Sunday 9-3. A bakery truck rolls through town every evening at dusk with baked treats. For more grocery selection, Playa del Carmen and Cancun both have Sam's Club, Chredaui, Mega, Wal-Mart and Soriana. Cancun also has Costco.

There are 2 very good produce markets located in the Colonia. These markets specialize in fresh fruit and vegetables.  We especially like the fresh squeezed orange juice for around $15 pesos/litre. (look in the big white cooler for a variety of juices.) They also have fresh meats, chicken, pork and other items next door.  You never know quite what you are going to find, so they are definitely worth checking out.  The first store is located 3 blocks behind the Pemex, on the corner of the road that runs beside the Pemex and the wide street.  The second location is one or two blocks further west (toward Villas Morelos).  If you ask the bus or taxi driver to take you to Chulim, they will be able to help you find them. There are a couple of larger grocery stores there too. See our Puerto Morelos map for exact locations.

Handicrafts - For sure you should check out the Mayan Handicraft Centre located around the corner from the bookstore on the main road, across from Spaghettino restaurant. Mauricio's hammocks are located there among other shops. There are also many places around the square and Tesoros Mayas just south of OXXO on the square. Also check out our selection in our gift section at the bookstore.

Hardware - There are a couple of stores on the highway, I have had the best luck with the new one on the west side, a few blocks past the Pemex. There are a couple more in the colonia. You need to know how to ask for what you want as the products are behind the counter. Prepare to act out what you want. Cancun has a Home Depot which is surprisingly well equipped and features some of the worst and loudest in-store music you will ever hear.

Internet - Stay in touch with loved ones...or just rub it in that you are in paradise and they are not! There is one internet cafe in town, beside the OXXO on the square and there is also free WiFi with purchase at several restaurants.

Mail - The Mexican postal system leaves much to be desired. It is not quick, but reasonably accurate. Good for sending postcards. Not good for sending vital time-sensitive materials. For that we have fax, email and FedEx. Lovely Puerto Morelos postcards are available at Alma Libre Bookstore. Stamps are available at the grocery store on the square. Best to mail them at the airport, or if you buy your postcards from us and stamp 'em, we will post them.

Money Exchange  - We only have one in town and it handles cash only. Exchange rate is posted above the window. Located in the mall on the north side of the square. They will not cash traveler's cheques. If you are changing US dough, you need to show your passport. It's not their policy, it is federal law. Count your change. These folks are notorious for short-changing.

Newspaper - The local English newspaper is the "USA Today Cancun Edition" which comes out daily. It is available at several locations around town including the grocery store. As an alternative, pick up one of the local Spanish language dailies. Some of them are quite outrageous and have lots of pictures, some of them quite tasteless. In Playa del Carmen and Cancun you will be able to find other papers like the New York Times.

Perito Traductora - The Mexican government may require you to have officially translated documents if you are applying for visas etc. You can't just have anyone translate the documents for you, they must be approved by the state. Catherine Gray from Felipe Carrillo Puerto is now an official translator for English/Spanish or Spanish/English. Costs for this service depend on the work, but her rates are lower than can be found in Cancun or Playa del Carmen. Contact us for her contact information.

Rental Accommodations - See our list

Restaurants - See our list or download a copy to take with you

Snorkeling - Our main attraction in Puerto Morelos is our Federally protected healthy reef which attracts thousands of fish, creatures and plant life. There are a variety of ways to book a snorkel trip, the easiest is just to head sown to the dock and catch the next boat going out. It's a quick boat ride to the reef and they should take you to two different locations. Cost is about 25 USD or peso equivilent, which includes Park admission. Make sure you receive a wrist band. The money from the sale of the band goes to protect the reef. All the guides are trained. If the guide "Charlie Brown" is available, go with him. He's a special guy. You can also arrange a trip through one of the Dive Shops or with Diving Dog Tours.

Spanish Lessons - The wonderful Casa de la Cultura now offers lessons in Espanol Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00-7:00. A little Spanish goes a long way here. Give it a try! For private or semi-private classes, try Marilu and Victor. I don't want to publish their email address here because of spam, so write to us and we'll send it to you. They get excellent reviews and teach all levels.

Spa Services - Your hotel will have all kinds of spa services, but for a real local experience, try the Jungle Spa. Skilled local Mayan women will treat you at a price that is much, much lower than your hotel. Full treatments are offered Tuesday through Saturday, limited appointements on Sunday during the season. Appointments can be arranged other times. Spa is easy to reach by taxi or car. Website Here. Map to the spa here.

Martina who lives in Puerto Morelos offers Massage, Body, Facial and Esthetic Treatments. She will come to you. Contact her through her website.

Manicures and pedicures can be booked at Aquarius, on Avenue Ninos Heros north of the square. The staff does not speak English, but they are very kind and welcome visitors. You can also get this service from Carmen in the Colonia. Her shop is called "Glamour", it is on our Puerto Morelos map.

Telephone - To call locally or back home, your best bet is to get a Ladatel Telmex card and use it in one of the many silver payphones around town. Local calls are about a peso a minute and long distance to the US or Canada is about 5 pesos a minute. The cards never expire. There are a variety of discount calling cards available, but we have never had any luck with them. More info here

Tours - Former Puerto Morelos shrimp taco magnate Eric is now designing and conducting tours of our area. Small groups ensure a better experience than your hotel can offer. Reviews are very good. Website Here. The travel agency also books tours.

Travel Agency - Located around the corner from Cafe de Amancia. Offers tours plus car and bike rentals. Website Here. Be aware that there are "fake" travel agencies that are just fronts for time share sales. You can save big money on tickets, but you will have to go to a presentation, usually three hours.

X-Rays - A company will come to you and give you an x-ray using portable equipment. We have not used this service. 998-937-0280 or 984-876-2415.

Yoga – Lots of options for yoga in Puerto Morelos

• Mina Wigueras has yoga classes on the beach three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:15 am. Meet up in front of PlayaSol. 50 pesos.

• During the season there is yoga at Abbey del Sol, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 8:15

• Melissa has yoga classes, contact her through her Facebook page.

• Casa Om – Contact them through their webpage.

• Coco does advanced yoga Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7:00 am in the gazebo on the square. Contact her through her webpage.

Zoo - Crococun is just north of town on the east side of the highway. Kids will love it...and adults will too. Telephone: 998-850-3719