Puerto Morelos, a quaint fishing town nestled between Cancún and Playa del Carmen on the Riviera Maya, offers a relaxing, peaceful retreat for digital nomads. After spending a month here, we’re excited to share our experiences and insights. If you’re looking for a destination that blends Caribbean beauty with laid-back vibes, Puerto Morelos might be the place for you.
This guide will walk you through the highs and lows of staying in Puerto Morelos as a digital nomad. Both myself and Manu rated various criteria on a scale of 1 to 10, and we’ve taken the average to give you our honest review of the town.
Puerto Morelos Digital Nomad Overview
Overall Score: 7.45
Puerto Morelos offers a slower pace compared to other locations on the Riviera Maya, making it ideal for digital nomads who prefer a quieter, more relaxed environment. Here’s how our experience shaped up based on different criteria:
Time of Year
We visited Puerto Morelos in March/April, when the weather was warm and sunny. Depending on the season, the Caribbean coast can be quite humid, and rain showers are common (rainy season is June-September). The weather was manageable, but honestly for me it’s a little too humid and makes working outside not an option.
One thing also to consider is “seaweed season” or sargassum, which makes its way onto the shores of the Riviera Maya towards the summer and Puerto Morelos can be particularly affected. The typical seaweed season is from May-October but this can vary year on year! During our visit there was some seaweed on the beaches, but nowhere near enough to stop us enjoying anything.
Accommodation
Puerto Morelos is split into two distinct areas: the beach side and the colonial side. For those looking for a more authentic experience and slightly more affordable accommodation, we recommend staying on the colonial side. It’s a quieter part of town, and the cost of living is lower than the beachfront, but you’re still just a short colectivo ride or easy cycle away from the beach.
Our Airbnb was a modern apartment in a gated compound, complete with a pool and bikes for us to use. While the apartment had all the modern conveniences we needed (even an air fryer!), it was on the pricier side compared to other places we’ve stayed, costing around £2000 per month. There are definitely more affordable options, or staying on the beach side generally means higher rental costs, especially for long-term stays, so it’s worth looking into both options depending on your budget.
Our Likes/Dislikes
We love quiet, peaceful environments, and Puerto Morelos delivered on that front. The small-town vibe and slower pace were a huge plus for us (and the people here are probably some of the happiest I’ve ever met!). However, the high rental costs and occasional tourist influx during weekends meant that the colonial side was our preferred area to stay in for more tranquillity.
Detailed Breakdown of Puerto Morelos for Digital Nomads
Food: 8.5
Puerto Morelos pleasantly surprised us with its variety of food options. The town offers everything from local taco joints to high-end seafood restaurants. The local seafood is a must-try, and we enjoyed eating freshly caught fish. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, there are a few options available, though they aren’t as plentiful as in larger tourist towns like Playa del Carmen. The street food scene here is divine, and I’d really recommend booking a foodie tour when you’re in Puerto Morelos, especially if you’re not used to Mexican cuisine!
Prices: 6
Puerto Morelos is more affordable than nearby tourist hotspots like Playa del Carmen and Cancún, but it’s still relatively pricey for Mexico. The cost of accommodation was higher than we expected, especially since we were close to the beach. Groceries, however, were reasonably priced and eating out was super affordable. If you’re staying longer, it’s worth looking for discounts or negotiating on rent, especially if you stay on the colonial side.
Fun Activities: 7.5
There’s no shortage of activities for nature lovers and water enthusiasts in Puerto Morelos. For example you can snorkel along the Great Mesoamerican Reef, which is one of the largest coral reefs in the world. For those interested in eco-tourism, Puerto Morelos also offers cenote tours and day trips to nearby Mayan ruins.
However, Puerto Morelos doesn’t offer as many independent activities compared to larger towns, and some excursions—like visiting ruins or eco parks—are better done through organised tours, which can add up in cost. We found this limiting since we prefer to explore places independently when possible. For us the best solution was to rent a car for a week and take it as a holiday to visit some nearby places like Tulum and Isla Mujeres.
Beauty: 6.5
Puerto Morelos is a charming coastal town with stunning turquoise waters and white sand beaches. While it lacks the dramatic mountains or lush landscapes you might find in other destinations, the peaceful beauty of the coastline and the town’s quiet streets create a relaxing atmosphere. The beach is pristine, but compared to more breathtaking landscapes like those in certain parts of Mexico or South America, it might feel more modest.
Safety: 7
Puerto Morelos felt safe for the most part. It’s a small town with a strong sense of community, and we felt comfortable walking around day and night. However, as with any tourist destination, it’s best to take standard precautions, especially around the more crowded beach areas where theft can sometimes occur.
Public Transport: 6.5
Public transport in Puerto Morelos is limited to colectivos and taxis. The colectivos are a budget-friendly way to get around, and they can take you to nearby towns or the beach easily. We mostly used bicycles to get around, as the town is small and cycling is a great way to explore. For longer trips, you’re pretty much limited to taxis as the previously available ADO bus stop in Puerto Morelos has closed down. You can, for example, take a colectivo to the nearest big town (e.g. Cancun) and take the ADO bus from there for long-distance travel. We did this to visit Holbox for a weekend, and it made for a long travel day, but it all worked pretty seamlessly!
Communication: 7.5
Most locals speak Spanish, but we found that many people working in the tourism sector also spoke basic English, particularly on the beach side. It’s useful to know a few key phrases in Spanish, especially if you’re staying on the colonial side, where English is less commonly spoken. We had no issues with communication when it came to working remotely, as most cafes and accommodations had reliable Wi-Fi.
Weather: 7
The weather in Puerto Morelos is typical of the Caribbean coast—warm and humid year-round, with the occasional tropical storm. While we didn’t mind the heat, the humidity was intense at times, making outdoor work pretty much impossible. Still, the weather is great for beach days, and we appreciated the cooling sea breeze that helped mitigate the heat in the afternoons.
Quietness: 9
Quietness is one of Puerto Morelos’ biggest strengths. Compared to Cancún and Playa del Carmen, the town offers a serene and peaceful environment, perfect for focusing on work or simply relaxing. If you’re after a break from the hustle and bustle of typical tourist hotspots, Puerto Morelos is ideal. We loved the tranquillity, especially on the colonial side, which felt worlds away from the busier beach areas.
Supermarkets: 9
There are several large supermarkets in Puerto Morelos that catered to all our grocery needs. Chedraui was our go-to for most groceries, and it’s stocked with everything from local produce to international items. Smaller local markets also offer fresh fruits, vegetables, and seafood. We found shopping in Puerto Morelos easy and convenient, with everything in close proximity.
Reviews from the Community
Read on for reviews from fellow travellers about staying in Puerto Morelos for an extended period of time. Want to contribute? Drop me an email at alicia@thechaosdiaries.com
Michele Kinnon from Coming2Mexico
“Having lived and worked all up and down the Riviera Maya for the past 20 years, I’m going to give Puerto Morelos a solid 7 out of 10 as a destination for digital nomads. While the rest of this region has seen unprecedented growth over the past several decades, Puerto Morelos has managed to maintain much of its authenticity. At the same time, all the conveniences you need as a digital nomad are here. Good, reliable internet, easily accessible grocery stores and cheap eats aplenty! The portside downtown area has a newly renovated square and amphitheater. There is a new museum, loads of reasonably priced restaurants and a great live music scene. Unlike the beaches in Cancun and Tulum that are difficult or expensive to access, the beach in PM is for everyone to use and enjoy.
The downside is that rents are high all along the Riviera Maya including Puerto Morelos. Electricity is expensive so if you need AC to survive, that’s going to cut into your daily living budget. Depending on your age, you may struggle to find a connection socially. There are a lot of retired expats and snowbirds down here and the younger generation may not find a lot of people to hang out with. If you are looking for a place to party, you’ll have to head north to Cancun or south to Playa del Carmen. Still, I think Puerto Morelos has a lot of offer digital nomads who are looking for a tropical home base.
Score: 7/10
Tanya Korteling from Can Travel Will Travel
Puerto Morelos was our favourite digital nomad destination in Mexico. My husband and I spent about 8 weeks living and working from this small beach town in 2018. It may have changed a little since we were there, but at the time it was still a charming, sleepy fishing village, that hadn’t yet fully exploded with tourism like nearby Cancun and Playa del Carmen.
We stayed in an Airbnb in La Colonia, the local side of the town found the other side of the mangroves and highway. We loved being on this side, where there were several local shops, and eateries serving mouthwatering local food. Living away from the beachside enabled us to immerse ourselves more in a more ‘real’ Mexican village life.
The only challenge we found was the WiFi in our Airbnb wasn’t amazing – but we learnt from this and now always ask for a speed test before booking. As it was a few years ago since we were there, I would expect the Wifi situation to have improved.
If you prefer to be closer to the beach (or for a change of scenery), the other side of the town has plenty of accommodation options. There are also plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants with WiFi that you could work from.
We also loved how close its beautiful beach was to the protected Mesoamerican Coral Reef, the snorkelling from Puerto Morelos is amazing!
I would give Puerto Morelos an overall rating of 8.5 / 10 as a digital nomad destination (it would be higher if I could guarantee the WiFi quality).
Score: 8.5/10
Final Thoughts
Puerto Morelos is an ideal destination for digital nomads looking for a peaceful, quiet place to work while still having access to the stunning natural beauty of Mexico’s Caribbean coast. While it may not offer the same bustling activities and low prices as other places in Mexico, its laid-back charm, beautiful beaches, and quiet environment make it a great spot for those looking to recharge while still getting work done. We recommend it for those who enjoy a slower pace and aren’t looking for a high-energy nightlife scene.
