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You don't need me to tell you that the food in Mexico is great, but it's really great in Puerto Morelos. Particularly seafood-based delicacies like ceviche and fish tacos. One of the best things to do in Puerto Morelos is to sample as many local dishes as possible! I highly recommend joining a Riviera Maya Food Tour. They run two tours in Puerto Morelos (lunch and dinner), and you'll sample dishes from little restaurants, taquerias, street carts, and cantinas. It's around 2.5 hours, and you'll learn how the locals like to dine and all the essential dishes to try. First, catch a colectivo heading north to Cancun from the highway stop just outside town (look near the main entrance by the big Chedraui supermarket). They run frequently and cost about 30 pesos. Once you're in Cancun, grab a taxi or hop on a local bus to Puerto Juárez Ferry Terminal, where boats to Isla Mujeres leave every 30 minutes or so. The ferry takes around 20 minutes, and the return ticket is about 580 pesos. Once you're on the island, rent a golf cart or bike and go beach-hopping - Playa Norte is hands down one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. Shallow, clear water. Powdery white sand.
Xcaret Park is a theme and water park unlike any you've visited before! This is a natural, ecological park on the water surrounded by jungle. It's only 43 km/26 miles from Puerto Morelos, which is a 45-minute drive. There are over 50 activities on offer, including swimming in underground rivers, exploring caves, and cultural performances. There are lots of ticket options depending on whether you need transport and when you visit, so check the website for prices. Xcaret Park is open every day from 8:30 AM-10:30 PM.
Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín Botanical Garden is just a 10-minute taxi ride from Puerto Morelos. It's a fun and fascinating place to spend an afternoon when you're not swimming in the sea and cenotes. Opening in 1982, this botanical garden is one of the largest in Mexico. It encompasses the last patch of preserved forest between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Naturally, the mission of this botanical garden is to conserve local and regional flora. There are over 300 species of cacti, palm trees, and more growing on this lush 160-acre woodland. There's also a walking trail to a ruined ancient Mayan site. It's open 8:00 AM-4:00 PM from Monday to Friday. The entrance fee for foreign visitors is around 500 pesos. If you don't have a car, no problem. Colectivos leave from the same highway stop just outside town and can drop you near the turn-off to your cenote of choice. Just tell the driver where you're heading (we liked Cenote Verde Lucero) and they'll let you out at the right spot. From there, it's usually a short walk into the jungle. Verde Lucero had zip lines, platforms to jump off, and not too many people when we visited. It cost about 300 pesos to get in, and that included life jackets. Refreshingly cold water, shady trees, and no screaming resort kids.
Tulum is a great day trip from Puerto Morelos for ancient Mayan ruins, lush mangrove jungles, and upmarket bars and restaurants. It's 97 km/60 miles from Puerto Morelos, which is approximately a 90-minute drive. El Castillo is part of a 1,000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Chichen-Itza. It's such an important historic monument, and it sits in a beautiful coastal location. The entrance fee is currently 365 pesos, and it's open 9:00 AM-5:00 PM daily. Otherwise, check out Tulum's beaches (like Playa Paraiso) and cool cafes.