We feel Casa el Mar is the best kept secret on the Cancun Caribbean coast. Puerto Morelos is a small fishing village located about 12 miles south of the airport and 20 miles north of Playa del Carmen. Recently a four lane highway was constructed from the airport to Puerto Morelos and on down the coast to the ruins of Tulum. Cancun is about an half hour drive north from us. Casa del Mar is on the beach and offers beautiful sandy beaches to walk and enjoy. Each condo has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, fully equipped kitchen, spacious living and dining area, central air.The patio overlooks the swimming pool and Caribbean.
COSTS: Cost varies according to which condo is rented and the number of people in the unit. Please call Sandra Dayton or email her.
Additional Condo Information: We supply purified drinkin water for the condos. Just let us know when you are getting low and we will get you another bottle. Fresh unpeeled fruit or raw veggies can be soaked in tap water to which a few drops if microdene are added (each condo has a bottle on the kitchen sink). In this manner you can safely eat uncooked food such as salads and unpeeled fruit in Mexico. Maid service is provided mid week which includes a change of towel, bed linens ( or once a week for a one week rental) as part of your rental fee. Additional services can be arranged through me, but at your own expense. The condos have full kitchens with pots, pans, plates, silverware, glasses, etc. Also coffee pot, blender, microwave. You might want to bring some coffee for the first morning. There is a new washer and dryer on the premise for the use of guests and the charge is $1 a load. Ask us to unlock the laundry room for you. Beach towels are supplied and changed once a week with maid service. Each condo is responsible for their beach towels so bring them in from the beach. There are plastic chairs and sun chairs for your use and enjoyment on your patio and around the pool. There are also a couple of hammocks hung under the palm trees to enjoy. We do have a small grill, so ask us if you want to use it. Please, for your own safety, glassware is prohibited around the pool. There is a beautiful beach right out in front of Casa del Mar. The reef, which has been made into a national park, has very gentle, soft waves and sandy ocean floor that makes it just right for swimming or just standing in the Caribbean. Excellent snorkeling right out in front as well. Some good snorkeling right by the pier. Please do not swim to far out since the fishing boast come by at a rapid speed and may not see you. Stay close to home or bring an orange inflated balloon so boaters can see you. You can walk to town for dinner. Our guests enjoy walking to town for dinner and catching a cab back. However some even walk back home.
Getting here from airport: Renting a car is a great way to see all the wonderful sights the Mayan Riviera has to offer There are many great day trips to cenotes, ruins, beaches etc. If you do plan to rent a car, and if you have a credit card that provides international car insurance coverage, (most gold and platinum cards) use it for your car rental because having to take car insurance from the rental companies substantially increases the cost of the car. You can compare prices at Budget, Executive, National, Avis or Hertz to get the best rate. Just let me know if you will be renting a car from airport so I can give you directions to get to Casa del Mar. We can arrange airport pickup if you are not planning on renting a car at the airport. We have been using a private transport service for several years. We will need your flight info and arrival time. Look for Ramon when you come out of the airport doors. He will be at the back and he will have a sign with your name. Our guests are so happy to see him and climb into his van.
PUERTO MORELOS
Things of interest and stuff to do during your stay at Casa del Mar in Puerto Morelos. Dear guests, the moment you turn into Puerto Morelos it will be a wonderful adventure. All the stress and work getting here will be well worth it. Believe me, when you walk into your condo you will give a sigh of relief, thinking pretty darn wonderful for the internet! When the end of your vacation nears you will probably not be ready to leave the piece of paradise you found. Between us, let's keep it a secret If you need to call us for any reason before arrival our tel number is (998) 208 9148
We are fortunate to have the second longest reef in the world only 300 meters from our beach and is now a National Protected Marine Park. A must to snorkel. Our village offers a variety of restaurants, so you could try different one every evening. Of course we have fresh seafood, we are a fishing village! We have shops and boutiques, a book store, super market, liquor store and church. Most of the local people speak some English and love spending time talking to you. It''s wonderful to walk around our town square in the evenings, have a cocktail or refreshment at one of our restaurants and relax and mingle with the locals. We have purified drinking water in all the condos and bottled water is easily available at many of the stores up and down the coast. The restaurants use bottled water as well, even for ice cubes. There is an ATM service in town as well. You will find several good restaurants in Puerto Morelos and quite reasonable.
Puerto Morelos is a small fishing village and the only Mexican village on the coast. There is a wonderful town square and park that is nice to walk around or sit on the benches, and do some people watching. The local people are very friendly and will stop and talk with you. Good way to practice your Spanish. Around the town square on the other side
of the street are shops, grocery store, pharmacy, money change houses, restaurants, fresh fish market, liquor store Our small grocery store, Casa Martin has just about everything you need to get started, fresh fruits, veggies, cheese, lunch meat, bread, chips, refreshments, beer, liquor, chips, purified water and ice. They also carry the Miami Herald. If you rented a car you can make a trip to Cancun to one of our big stores, like Walmart's, Sam's Cosco or Mega if you a need a large supply. There is a fresh fruit and veggie market every Wednesday morning around 8 a.m right next to the church. Also fresh fish market two doors down from the store every afternoon around 2:30 . 3:00 p.m. after the fishermen get in with their catch of the day.
You will notice on the back streets there are several chicken roasting stands. Try them, the chicken is delicious. You can get a whole roast chicken, rice, chopped onion, two salsas and tortillas for a little over $5 US. Available everyday. And if you are really into Yucatecan food, Don Nico's family makes the most wonderful dinners, fish cooked in banana leaves, pollo pibil etc. let me know and I can help you order something. You can place your order and pickup to go. Absolutely wonderful. A fresh tortilla factory is located on the back street coming into town across from the roasted chicken place . The tortillas our always hot and good!
We have a great Doctor in town. Dr Carlos. Hopefully you won't need his services but if you do he makes house calls. There is one pharmacy in town, next to the church, and three up on the high just in case you need some medicine or forgot yours at home.
Don't worry about exchanging money , we have four places to exchange money in town. Two of them are located around the town square. Also 2 ATM machines. One right next to the grocery store and one on the highway going out of town. So you can change your dollars or traveler's checks easily Also several Internet cafes have popped up around town. Very reasonable rate and a good place to meet the locals. You can purchase telephone cards at most stores and use them in the many telephones all over town to make long distance calls home. We have a great book store on the square. Pop in and browse. Lots of good stuff and good way to meet the locals. Deep sea fishing trips are available. Let me know and I can arrange a trip for you.
Bird watching is fantastic because we have the natural habitats for birds in and surrounding Puerto Morelos. There is a unique place in the mangrove. Walk to hotel La Ceiba and in the back parking lot there is a path that leads out into the middle of the mangrove and palapa. Great place for bird watching or just relaxing or meditating There is a fabulous beach on the south end of town. Go on the street behind the church and follow the road past Rancho Libertad, past Caribbean Reef Club, keep going until you come to a Marina, you can either park there or go further down the road and park where you want . Remember to always lock your car doors. This is a great beach, high waves, sandy bottom, no reef in front. Open sea. So makes for good shell and coral collection. Also in season a good place for turtle nesting. You can walk all the way down to the lighthouse and even further. Just remember a long walk back. You can swim, raft or snorkel right in front of Casa del Mar, There are fish around the white bouy and especially around the pier. If you want to snorkel out on the reef I can help you arrange a trip. It's a must to do while you are here. Our reef is a National Park and it is spectacular.
Up on the highway to the left, going south about a mile is the Botanical Gardens. It is the largest botanical gardens in all of Mexico. Good place to see large iguanas, become familiar with the flora and fuana of our area. Also a large spider monkey family lives in the tree tops there. If you go around 4 p.m. in afternoon you will probably see them flying through the trees in front looking for food. There is a small unescavated ruin site, that is very interesting. Right across from the Botanical Gardens follow the road to Central Vallarta. An old chewing gum community. Further down the road are several cenotes to visit and are great swimming holes. Nice cool fresh water. If you go to your right on the highway north about two miles down the road is Crococun, which is a crocodile farm. Great place to take the family, Lots of local animals, snakes, birds, deer, monkeys
RESTAURANTS IN PUERTO MORELOS
Well, that's one thing we do have here is great, reasonably priced restaurants. So enjoy! Dinner hour around is a 6.p.m. In winter season it's good to get there early because the restaurants fill up. Some of the restaurants have live music
****Caféé del Puerto: Small bistro with tables on the sidewalk across from Pelicanos. Fabulous food. Great grilled Lobster in season. Daily specials, always fresh. Good steaks and delicious grilled brochetas. Great salads, one is enough for two people. Save room for desert. Entertainment some nights.
*****Hola Asia Our favorite. Great Asian food. Lots of vegetarian dishes. Their Thai fish is a must! Coconut shrimp, stir fries, sushi. The soups are great. Large portions, 2 people could almost eat one dish. Located on the square. My husband's favorite ****Porto Bella Pizza restaurant. Really good Pizzas. Love their Porto Bella pizzas! Good salads and pasta. Next to Hola Asia
****John Gray's Kitchen: Well known chef owns this restaurant. Good bar, Pricey. ****Pelicanos: First block on back street Beautiful setting , on the beach. Great place for ceviche or large fried whole fish. Margaritas are the best there. Try the Coconut ice cream or flan for dessert with a Kahula and coffee or a Mayan after dinner drink called IXTABATUN, it's called the drink of the Gods
****Fishermen's Restaurant above the store. This is a good place for different soups. Fish or seafood soup. Try the classic Lime or Tortilla soup
****La Pirata: Great Mexican food. Check the daily specials. Located on the corner across from park. Look for the green table and chairs
****Amancia's: Good place for sandwiches, desserts and iced cappuccinos. Great place to meet the locals. Located on the corner across from the park with medal tables and chairs outside ***Spagetino's: Good place for Spaghetti and salads and wine. ****Ole PePe's: Spanish style food, Wonderful Paella, good atmosphere to have cocktails and beer
****Posada Amor: Always good food. Family Run. Good Mexican food. Great fried conch! A block south from church
****El Tio: Around the corner across from light house. Yucatecan traditional food, salbutes, tacos, tostadas. Very reasonable
****Ma Ma's Bakery: Only open during the day for breakfast and lunch. Great sweet rolls.