A week of exploring cenotes, Mayan temples, local cuisine, and amazing beaches staying at the laid-back town of Puerto Morelos.
We landed in Cancún and made my way to Puerto Morelos in under half an hour.
Our first full morning started early with a boat ride out for some snorkeling. Puerto Morelos sits right in front of a protected part of the Mesoamerican Reef, so within minutes we were out on the water, gearing up. We visited two sites. At the first, we floated above coral gardens and spotted schools of fish weaving through the formations. At the second, the guide pointed out a stingray resting on the sand and some groupers ducking into crevices.
Afterward, we took a short walk around the town. It’s small—just a handful of streets—but there’s a local market, the lighthouse, and a few good spots for fresh juice.
The next day was a full-day trip inland. We started at Ek Balam, one of the few archaeological sites where you can still climb the main temple. From the top, the view opened up over the Yucatán jungle in every direction.
After exploring the Temples, we continued to Valladolid where we took a walk through the central plaza and along La Calzada de los Frailes before heading to a nearby town for lunch. The highlight there was Poc Chuc, a local specialty of grilled pork with a tangy marinade.
After lunch, we made a short drive to Nohoch Aktun, a dry cave filled with striking rock formations—stalactites, stalagmites, and narrow passages. Our guide talked us through the significance of the cave, both historically and in current Maya communities.
To end the day, we stopped at Cenote Choj Ha. The water was cool and clear, perfect after a day of walking and exploring, and then we made our way back to Puerto Morelos.
The next day was left at leisure so we could enjoy the beach
Day 5 was all about keeping it local and easygoing. We kicked things off with a breakfast taco tour in downtown Cancún, stopping at a few no-frills taquerías where the lines of locals were a good sign. I had cochinita, longaniza, and some incredible fish tacos.
After the food tour, we made a quick stop at El Meco, a small archaeological site located north of dowtown Cancun. It’s not as crowded as the big sites, and that gave us space to wander quietly.
We then headed to the ferry dock and crossed over to Isla Mujeres. Once on the island, we rented golf carts and drove to punta sur to enjoy the clifs, views and a small mayan temple, we then came back to Playa Norte, the most popular beach, where the water was calm and shallow. Free time was allowed for lunch and shopping.
The next morning we explored La Ruta de los Cenotes. We visited two different cenotes: Verde Lucero and Cenote Zapote. At Verde Lucero, I eased into the water from a small dock, and the open sky above made it feel like a natural pool in the jungle.
Cenote Zapote, on the other hand, was more dramatic. It’s deeper, and you climb down a wooden staircase to get to it. There’s also a diving platform for the more adventurous types. The cenotes were quiet, not overly crowded, and it was a good way to spend time in nature without having to go far. To goal was to have a nature filled morning not so far from Puerto Morelos so we can get back early and enjoy our afternnon.
Our last full day was also left at leisure, I was moving at a slower pace. I had a massage booked at the hotel spa and took time to walk back into town to grab a few souvenirs—mostly spices and some locally made honey.
On day 8 we were picked up right after breakfast and driven back to the aiport.
Want to learn more about this itinerary or see how we can tailor it to match your company’s style and needs?
Just drop us a line at info@holacolega.com — we’d love to chat!