Riviera Maya MX.Puerto Morelos Travel Facts

Puerto Morelos Travel Facts

Alcohol: The minimum legal drinking age in Mexico is 18. Beer is very popular among the mexican population and tourists: it is possible to buy it in bars, restaurants, mini-marts, supermarkets and liquor stores. Tequila and other liquors are also sold in liquor stores and supermarkets.Technically it is illegal to drink alchohol in the streets or public places, but people do, especially in tourist areas. Drinking and driving is a serious crime : if you drink, take a cab, they are not expensive.

Churches: There is one Catholic church located across the main square of Puerto Morelos. Mises are celebrated Saturday afternoons, Sundays mornings and afternoons.

Clothing: If you are planning to travel during spring, summer or autumm time expect hot temperatures during daytime, t-shirts and shorts are a must. A thin sweater for the evening would be enough. A pair of sneakersfor the ones planning to travel around to ruins or other eco-adventures. For the ones staying at a fancy all-inclusive property, specialty restaurants at dinner time require formal dressing. During winter time the night time may get to the 60's deg. F (15+-C).

Credit Cards: American Express, Visa and Mastercard are accepted in hotels, restaurants, larger shops and department stores.

Drinking water: Avoid drinking water from the tap, even if you are staying at a hotel. Bottled water is cheap, and you can find it everywhere. Make sure it has the safety seal.

Driving Facts:

American Car:To drive your own car into Mexico, you'll need a tourist card and a temporary vehicle importation permit, which you can get at the border. In some tourist border areas, you don't need this permit or a tourist card (for instance Puerto Penasco or Baja California). Just ask at the border.
Documents You Will Need for a Mexico Vehicle Permit and Mexico Tourist Card
Proof of car ownership
Proof of American registration
An affidavit from any lien holders authorizing temporary importation
A valid American driver's license
Proof of citizenship (like a passport)

The minimum required insurance coverage to drive in Mexico is civil liability insurance which covers you in case you cause injury or damage. Your American liability insurance is not valid in Mexico for bodily injury; some American insurance policies will cover you for physical damage - check with your carrier. If you want some flexibility on the date you'll take your car out of Mexico, consider a six month policy - about $150.

Check with drivemex.com - you can buy a policy from them before you leave home and the company will give you the rundown on all the policies available.

You can also buy Mexican car insurance in American border towns -- there will generally be several stores or just storefronts selling Mexican car insurance near the Mexico border, on the US side.

Car Rental in Mexico

: If you're renting a car in Mexico, your credit card will provide insurance, but buy the Mexican car insurance anyway. If you get in a car accident and don't have Mexico car insurance, you might not be able to leave the country until the damage has been paid for - your credit card will reimburse you when you get home.

When you rent a car, look the car over before you sign the rental agreement, and have the agent write down every scratch or non-working part or you'll have to pay for those scratches and parts when you return the car

Breakdowns : If driving in a highway, you do have car trouble during the day, the Los Angeles Verdes (the Green Angels) will come to your rescue. They are a fleet of green trucks with government-paid bilingual crews cruising the roads every day carrying tools and spare parts, looking for motorists in trouble. They'll even go to an auto supply store to buy a part for you if necessary. If you need them, call "060" or pull over (if you can - many road have no shoulders to speak of) and put your car's hood up.

Buying fuel for your car: You can buy fuel from any PEMEX station (acronym for Petroleos mexicanos). For finding a station, look for the green and white signs located everywhere. The price will be the same whatever the station you go, except the border with the US where Pemex reduces the prices to compete with american prices.

Electricity: The electricity system is 120v, 60Hz (same as US). If you bring any equipment that operates at a higher rate (240v) it will need to be a dual-voltage. Many videocamaras, laptops and digital cameras have this adapting feature. Check with the instructions to make sure. You may need a socket adaptor: most plugs have two flat prongs, and some have a third circular for earth.

Embassies & Consulates: There are no diplomatic representations in town. The closest ones are located in Cancun.

Emergencies :

Police - 060
Fire department and ambulance - 080
Highway emergencies - 078

Health

Many people who have never traveled to Mexico get the impression that immunization is an absolute requirement for Mexico. It is not in many cases. It is in some, depending where you plan to go. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Americans travel to Mexico for their holidays, just as the British travel to Spain. Most Americans travel to Mexico's beaches, resorts, colonial cities, archaeological sites, and other well-established tourist places. Many of them don't immunize themselves for these trips. Do you need to? Probably not, but the choice is a personal one and you should speak with your doctor if you are uncertain. Unless you plan to travel off the beaten track, for example, take jungle tours, or plan to travel in rural and/or remote areas of Mexico, or places that are not well established, the likelihood is, you won't need to immunize yourself. The choice is a personal one and you should check with your doctor before you travel.

Heat exhaustion : If you are walking around in the sunshine, bring a bottle of water and keep hydrated all the time. A good idea is to wear a sunhat. If you get very dehydrated go to the pharmacy and buy Pedyalite ( hydratation drink which contains salt, minerals, sugar and electrolytes that help your body to recover )

Sunburn : At the tropics sun can cause very serious health risks, inmediate and long term, it's important to take these considerations for sun care: 1-Use high factor sun cream according to your skin type. 2-Children need extra care 3-Protect your lips with an adequate lip cream and use sunglasses with proper UV protection.

Health Insurance : you need to ensure that your medical insurance will cover all your medical requirements you and those travelling with you might need. Your medical policy back home may not cover you in Mexico ( Mexico does not have a reciprocal health care agreement with any country in the world )

Nearby Hospitals and doctors: If you are staying at a hotel in Puerto Morelos and need a doctor, the staff of every hotel can locate a doctor very quickly. In case you need hospitalisation, the closest facilities are located in Cancun (about 20mi north).

How to get to Puerto Morelos:

By Air : Cancun International Airport is located 20km (12mi) north of Puerto Morelos.
By Sea : Altough "Puerto" Morelos is the most important port in the area, its traffic only includes arrival and departure of freight goods. There are no passenger ships operating here.
By Bus : Since Puerto Morelos is located by the Federal Highway, all buses going from nothern Cancun to Playa del Carmen and southern towns as Puerto Aventuras, Akumal and Tulum, have a stop here. From the bus station the main square is only 3km away.
By car: If you rent a car take Federal Highway 307, when you see Puerto Morelos sign turn right (if you come from south) or left (coming from north), drive 3km and you'll find the main square across the ocean.

Internet: There are a few Internet Cafes in town. Most of them have broad band and they are open from 10am-10pm. They charge between $1-$2 per hour.

Maps: Available maps of Puerto Morelos and nearby areas.

Money & Banks: There are no banks in Puerto Morelos. However you can find one ATM at the entrance of the town, by the Federal Highway and another one, across the main square. It is possible to exchange money at two booths located in front of the main square.

Passport/Documents/Entry requirements: American citizens will need a combination of a birth certificate *and* driver's license or other state-issued photo id, or a passport only, to visit Mexico. If using a birth certificate as identification, you must have the original, with an embossed state seal.You don't need a passport to visit Mexico by air and sea until January 8, 2007. If traveling by land, you don't need a passport to visit Mexico until January 1, 2008. Both those dates may be being pushed back to June, 2009 -- get a passport now, regardless. A Mexico tourist card, also called an FMT, is a government form declaring that you have stated the purpose of your visit to Mexico to be tourism, and which must be carried while you are visitng Mexico. Although more than one kind of Mexico visa exists, this is a simple declaration of your intention to vacation in Mexico for not more than 180 days.

If you are a citizen of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Island, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, United States of America, Uruguay or Venezuela, you don’t need a visa to enter Mexico, although you must present a valid passport and fill out an immigration form for tourists and business trips, which can be obtained in travel agencies, airlines or at the point where you enter Mexico.

The immigration officer at your point of entry into Mexico can also request that you demonstrate that you have sufficient funds and a return ticket to your country.

If you are a citizen of any other country, you need to go to a Mexican consulate to request a visa. If you have a family member, friend or acquaintance in Mexico, he or she can do this at the Instituto Nacional de Migracion.

If you are driving to Mexico, you can get a tourist card at or near the border. If you are flying to Mexico, you will get a tourist card on the plane.

Whenever you cross the Mexico border, you will need to show your travel documents.

If you are flying into Mexico, you will need to show your travel documents to Mexico customs agents before you leave the airport. You may have to show your travel documents again before picking up your luggage. When you leave Mexico by plane, you will need to show your travel documents before you pass through security and before you board the plane.
If you are driving into Mexico, you will need to show your identification before you cross the border. You will get a tourist card at or very close to the border. If you are driving out of Mexico, you will need to show all your travel documentation before you can cross back into the US.

Postal services: In Puerto Morelos there is only one maibox attached to the wall besides La Pirata Restaurant (in front of the main square). Stamps are sold at the pharmacy.

Public Holidays :

January 1st

Año Nuevo - New Year's Day

February 5th

Dia de la Constitucion - Constitution Day

February 24th

Dia de la Bandera - Mexico's National Flag Day

May 1st

Dia del Trabajo - Labour Day

May 5th

Cinco de Mayo - Victory over France in Puebla

September 16th

Dia de la Independencia - Celebrating Independence (from Spain) Day

October 12th

Dia de La Raza - Columbus discovers the new world

November 20th

Dia de la Revolucion - Anniversary of the 1910 Mexican Revolution

December 25th

Dia de Navidad - Christmas Day (Christmas dinner / presents traditionally happen on the evening of the 24th - Christmas Eve)

Shopping: There are some crafts shops around Puerto Morelo's main square: find postcards, books, guides, hammocks, sunblocks, hats, t-shirts and souvenirs. Walking a couple of blocks south from the Church you'll find a handcrafts market that opens from Monday thru Saturday 10am-1pm and 4pm-6pm.

Smoking: It is not illegal to smoke in public places, however many restaurants have separated areas for smokers and non. If you smoke at the beach, avoid the leave the cigarette butts in the sand, it takes the nature hundreds of years to degradate them.

Restaurants: Click HERE to find a list of Restaurants in Puerto Morelos.

Taxis: It is possible to call a taxi from any hotel: obviously rates may be higher than taking a cab from the streets. In downtown Puerto Morelos there is one parking site for cabs located in one of the corners of the main square. Cabs have fixed rates according to the distances ( there should be a chart with prices inside each cab) . As an example, for a 3km (1.5mi) distance they shouldn't charge more than $60 pesos .It is a very good idea to ask the driver how much the price will be before taking it!!

Telephone: The long distance code in Mexico is 01. If calling the United States, first dial 001. To make other international calls, dial 00, and then the country and state and / or city (area) codes.

You can buy phone cards (LADA phone cards) good for making calls in Mexico for 30, 50 and 100 pesos (about $3-5-10 USD).

Time Zone: Quintana Roo State is 6 hours behind GMT. Same time as US Central Standard Time (CST)

Tipping : As well as in the US, tipping is very usual and expected too. You can tip between 10-20% of your consume at a restaurant or bar. Also in tourist areas, service providers such as maids, tour guides, taxi drivers,coach-bus drivers, sailors, divemasters, snorkel guides expect your tip too. Remember that their monthly salary doesn't reach $400 and, most of the times, they do their best to make your vacation memorable!

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