| One of the country's most laid-back and eco-friendly travel
destinations lies only an hour south of Cancún.
In contrast to other coastal developments, long-time residents
of Puerto Morelos maintain the town's small-is-beautiful appeal.
MARINE PARK
There are spectacular coral reefs offshore. The region has
been long frequented by snorkelers and divers and declared a
national marine park. Snorkelers will find local guides with
boats near the pier. They can direct you around the reef.
BOTANICAL GARDEN
The Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín Botanical Garden is located
at the turnoff for Puerto Morelos on Highway 307 at Kilometer
38. The gardens, occupying 65 hectares, represent the only land
that has been set aside for conservation on the corridor between
Cancún and Tulum. The habitats range from mangrove swamps
to semi-evergreen tropical forest. In the tropical heat, the
garden is a cool and well-shaded oasis.
Native plants are fostered in the nursery, which has an important
mission given the daily deforestation of the surrounding region.
There are 3 kilometers (2 miles) of marked trails. Want to see
a chicle tree? Visit the garden's re-creation of a chiclero
camp. The gardens contain a Mayan ruin named The Altar that
dates to the post-classic period (A.D. 1400). You'll find local
medicinal and culinary herbs identified by their Mayan, Spanish,
and Latin names. The park attracts wild creatures. If you're
lucky, you might even spot an agouti, a large rodent that grazes
like a rabbit.
INFORMATION PLEASE
What's a vacation without time to read a book or two? Want
to find a book in English? Then head to Alma
Libre Libros, Plaza Morelos #3 on the Central Plaza. The
bookstore stocks an incredible number of English-language books
and provides a terrific collection of pamphlets, maps and postcards
from the area.
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