Mexico : Safety by City
- Acapulco
- Aguascalientes
- Cabo San Lucas
- Cancun
- Chichen Itza
- Chihuahua
- Cozumel
- Cuernavaca
- Culiacan
- Durango
- Ensenada
- Guadalajara
- Guanajuato
- Hermosillo
- Huatulco
- Isla Holbox
- Isla Mujeres
- Ixtapa
- Juarez
- Leon
- Los Cabos
- Manzanillo
- Matamoros
- Merida
- Mexicali
- Mexico City
- Monterrey
- Morelia
- Nogales
- Nuevo Laredo
- Oaxaca
- Piedras Negras
- Playa del Carmen
- Puebla
- Puerto Morelos
- Puerto Vallarta
- Queretaro City
- Reynosa
- Saltillo
- San Luis Potosi
- San Miguel de Allende
- Sayulita
- Tijuana
- Tulum
- Valladolid
- Veracruz
- Zacatecas
- Zamora
- Zapopan
- Zihuatanejo
Puerto Morelos is a town in Quintana Roo on the Yucatán Peninsula, about 20 km south of Cancún.
It is a fishing village, and a resort and diving destination.
The pier in the center of town hosts snorkel and sport fishing boats while yachts dock in a man-made harbor just south of town.
It’s an ideal location for a quiet beach vacation with ample tourist amenities.
The town has just two principal streets and you can walk from one end to the other in about 15 minutes.
Most places accept US dollars but not credit cards.
Tourists come here to spend time in natural beauty without all-inclusive proposals and quiet countryside life.
Warnings & Dangers in Puerto Morelos
OVERALL RISK: LOW
In general, the Puerto Morelos area is quite safe. Police and government protect tourism in this region and contribute to its security. You should be afraid of the sudden showdowns of gangs and be careful with your values.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Using taxis and buses in Puerto Morelos is quite safe. Be sure to take only certified services. Negotiate the price of a taxi before sat in the car. In public transport, be careful, there is a risk of pickpocketing.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
Due to the fact that the area is quite a tourist, the risk of pickpocketing is high. You must carefully monitor your belongings, do not leave valuables unattended and keep especially important documents and things in the hotel safe.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
The risk of flooding, earthquakes, or hurricanes is high enough in the Puerto Morelos area. It is necessary to check the news sources about this risk before visiting the city.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
The risk of robbery can be high for travelers who keep large amounts of money with them. You must keep your valuables in a safe at the hotel. In public transport or in public stores, it is easy to become a victim of a robbery. Park your car only in protected parking.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
There is a minimal risk of terrorism in Puerto Morelos. The city area quite protected from terrorist interests and safety.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
There is little risk of fraud with tours and entrance fees for various entertainment. Be sure to buy them from trusted sources.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Women travel alone through Puerto Morelos in daylight is absolutely safe. You should be aware in the night time and concern the normal level of caution.
So... How Safe Is Puerto Morelos Really?
Most of the Yucatan is very safe in general, and the Mexican government tries very hard to protect the tourism industry.
Puerto Morelos is no exception–it’s very safe. You’ll feel comfortable walking its streets at any time of day or night.
Be aware, the risk of petty theft does exist here, as it does nearly everywhere.
Travelers should be watchful, do not to leave their valuables unattended without fear of them getting snatched.
Normal use of common-sense principle here is the way to avoid troubles.
Tourists feel safe enough here, they even rent bicycles to go cycling around the area.
You will not feel dangerous here if you take the usual precautions.
Not to wander around the clubs at night, not to get drunk and not to shine with large sums of money – it is enough not to become a victim of a crime.
Women traveling alone may also feel protected; police work hard in the Puerto Morelos region.
Sometimes on the streets, there may be gunfights involving drug gangs.
They have rarely targeted do harm to tourists. But you need to be alert.
Check U.S. state department travel advisories for actual information about the situation in Puerto Morelos before your trip.
How Does Puerto Morelos Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Puerto Morelos |
80 |
| Juarez |
28 |
| Isla Holbox |
85 |
| Tijuana |
38 |
| Puerto Vallarta |
72 |
| Chichen Itza |
70 |
| Isla Mujeres |
82 |
 Vermont | 85 |
| Miles City | 78 |
| Neah Bay | 77 |
 Athens | 68 |
 Hamilton | 76 |
| Granbury | 74 |
Useful Information
Visas
No visas required for tourist proposals to enter Mexico for many countries of Europe, US citizens and so on. You should have a valid passport and a tourist permit. The maximum possible of stay is 180 days. For a longer stay or other options, you should visit the Mexican embassy.
Currency
The Mexican peso - is the official currency in Mexico. There are one hundred Mexican centavos to every peso. The symbol for the Mexican Peso is $, so you can see MX$ or MN$ in banks and exchange points.
Weather
Average temperatures are always high. The rainy season lasts from May to October. The best time to visit Puerto Morelos is from the end of November to April.
Airports
The easiest way to get to Puerto Morelos is from Cancun Airport, it is located 25 km from the city. Also, get into the city is possible from Cozumel Airport, getting then by water.
Travel Insurance
The medical travel insurance is required for travelers in any country as well as Mexico. On the border, any traveler may be asked by a customs officer to show insurance.
Puerto Morelos Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C |
27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 28 |
| Low °C |
20 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 21 |
| High °F |
81 | 82 | 84 | 86 | 88 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 86 | 84 | 82 |
| Low °F |
68 | 68 | 72 | 73 | 77 | 79 | 79 | 77 | 77 | 73 | 72 | 70 |
Enjoy Puerto Morelos
We spent a week at a rental home in P.M. last Winter. Also rented a car and traveled South to visit ruins in the area. Police presence heavy in all areas we traveled. We walked into the town in the evenings from our house and never once felt any sort of risk. There had been an assault on a Police Station in Playa Del Carmen the previous week but that was an isolated incident. Felt safer there than I do in many large American cities….common sense is a must and be vigilant of your surroundings. Avoid ANY offers for illicit items! We have been approached to purchase illegal drugs nearly every time we have traveled into Mexico.
Police ARE the criminals
First day in town my nieces apartment was robbed twice. A few days later four family members traveling to Ek Balum were pulled over by 7policemen with rifles who demanded money or jail in Cancun. An hour later were stopped by lone policeman who took the rest of their money. A day later family friends on way to airport in Cancun were pulled over on highway by police and robbed. This was our 3rd trip to Puerto Morelos and we have always loved it. Never again will we risk our lives being shaken down by armed policemen. Please take warnng!!!!
So all and all your trip sounded awesome and I think the locals appreciated your generosity when they robbed you.
When/What year did this happen?
Well, that stinks! Not sure when this comment was made, but the Reply is hilarious. The stay sounds worse than a “Wham, bam, thank you ma’am”. As in, thanks for visiting, come again when you need to be accosted and paying to have it done! Yikes! Thank you for your review.
If we do make the trip, do you think that our Credit Cards are safe? Serious question. Or did they take those too? I know that I was told that our U.S. pennies are not like by children, so to hand them at least a nickel, dime or quarter, as pennies just get thrown away. That was in February 2000, yep, I know, but that’s the one and only time we stayed a week there, other visits have been by cruise ship to Cozumel. Thanks!
So Sorry to hear about your experience that’s terrible!
We were warned about this at our hotel in Cancun when we went on vacation we rented a car and wanted to go see some of the other towns and ancient ruins but the hotel told us that dangerous people may try to stop you posing as police and they told us what to to if that occurred, so it’s possible that could have been the case for you but I don’t know I’m just passing on the information and I hope if you go back to Mexico you have a much better vacation.
Very odd about the police and being robbed. In fact, hard to believe hearsay is really what it is. You were not there! I wrecked an SUV in Playa Del Carmen and everyone was great, especially the police and guy I hit. The ass was the rental agent who was American. We take in-laws who are in their 80’s, nephew and daughter. We have gone as a family for last 11 years until COVID hit. We shop Wal-Mart with thousands of Mexicans who always help me with my father in law who has trouble ambulating. Most gracious people in the western hemisphere. Safer than Cincinnati where I live and much safer than any city in America 200K plus population. Stay out of alleys at night and don’t try to buy drugs but If I have to tell you that your are too stupid to have a job, no passport and or money to travel to Mexico.
Thank you. I was looking for a current review and your commenting on Covid helped me place the timing.
I have never had a bad experience traveling to Puerto Morales, and I have been 4 times. The only advice I have is to prepay for your transportation to your hotel round trip from the Cancun Airport website. You avoid the taxi scam, which can be part of the robbery complaint that I see in this blog. Random taxis also stick together to scam you on the fare, or take you to a place where you are scammed to buy something. Always use the hotel taxi, let them call for one, and the hotel airport transportation arrangements. Safe and much cheaper.
Always happy in puerto
I walk out of airport to public bus to puerto morales. Could not be better!! Then if you are going to remote fishing village part of puerto I get a cab for $2.00, or take that public bus for .50 cents. It could not be easier!! I don’t rent cars in Mexico! Only if you have a Mexican person you know to drive. But the bus goes everywhere, very easy. I speak close to no Spanish and survive nicely. Love Mexico and the people.
Airport shuttle safe?
I am considering an airport shuttle to/from Ojo de Agua. Do you think that’s safe enough for a lone female traveler?
Strolling through Puerto Morelos felt like stepping into a postcard, especially with those colorful boats lining the pier!