** VIRTUAL TOUR - click on photos and go to photo no. 3 (only visible on a desktop computer or laptop/tablet).
HIGHLIGHTS
The house benefits from 24hr security, pool, kids play area, BBQ area, basketball court & basic outdoor gym. The house itself has a terrace, balcony & private patio, 300MB internet (upload and download), 55" & 46" TVs, dishwasher, coffee makers, full oven and washer/dryer. The bedrooms & living area have powerful ACs. The bathrooms have rain showers w/pressure pump. 2 bikes available. Lots of amenities for families. A desk, monitor & printer available on request, subject to availability, for remote workers.
THE SPACE
The house has colourful mexican design throughout and mexican arts and crafts. The palapa terrace is a lovely shaded airy space to chill in the hammock or on the beanbag. The patio has 2 acapulco chairs for relaxing and a table with bench, stools and wooden swing, for the family to sit around. The house and its outside private spaces cover 130m2 (1400feet2). The house and condominium are a very secure environment, with 24/7 security guard, access is restricted and only with ID, theres an electric fence, and CCTV around the perimeter (not for any other reason than prevention and peace of mind!)
Lots of home comfort touches & things for your convience, like cotton sheets and towels, hotel grade matresses (firm), more than the bathroom essentials, ceiling fans, USB sockets in every bedside lamp, USB charger cables, travel adapters, beach essentials (beach towels, beach umberella, 2 beach chairs, snorkelling gear, cool bag, beach mat), umberellas, hairdryer, hoover, first aid kit.
KITCHEN
In addition to the kitchen amenities mentioned above, theres also a Nespresso Vertuo machine and frother, an electric coffee maker, and espresso coffee pot, 4 slice toaster, electric citrus press, blender, kettle and microwave. The hob is a larger 5 ring gas stove. Salt, pepper, some herbs & spices, sugar, olive oil, vegetable oil, teas and ground filter coffee are all provided as a starter pack for you. Big glasses, small glasses, wine glasses, ice cream sundae glasses, mugs, tupperware, oven dishes, bowls, a pizza cutter, ice cream scoop, potato masher, garlic press ... just like home!
ENTERTAINMENT
Theres a small range of books, PS3 with Rockband, Singstar, ten pin bowling and several other games, family board games & playing cards & more. Subscriptions to Netflix HD, Amazon Prime TV and Claro Video. You can play music on 1 Smart Mini speaker or the living room TV soundbar.
FAMILIES & KIDS
Family amenities include the travel cot/playpen/changing table, highchair, baby bath, baby monitor, electrical socket safety covers and baby/toddler gates at the top and bottom of the stairs and in the palapa. 2 kids seats are available for the bikes on request. The condominium kids play area has a great play structure with swings, slide, climbing ropes etc. The shallow area of the pool is great for them (and for adults to lie back in). For older kids (and adults!), theres the basketball court. Ive left a few childrens books and some coloured pencils and paper for an extra distraction for the younger ones.
DIGITAL NOMADS/REMOTE WORKERS
There are various options for where to locate the desk, depending on your group size and how many bedrooms you need to use. A 31.5" full HD monitor and multifunctional printer are available on request, subject to availablity. There are routers and ethernet connections both upstairs and downstairs. For one-off/occasional printing needs you are welcome to send documents to me to print.
GUEST ACCESS
The entire house, terrace, balcony, & patio are private and for your exclusive use. A cupboard under the stairs will be kept locked. Only the condominium amenities are shared: pool, kids play area, BBQ/picnic area, outdoor exercise equipment and basketball court.
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
The house is very close to the jungle, but less than 10 minutes drive from the beach, or 20-25 cycling. The neighbourhood is residential and quiet. There are several small shops/convenience stores in the neighbourhood, a couple of fruit and vegetable shops, an Italian restaurant, small informal eateries, within 10 minutes walk.
GETTING AROUND
Depending on your fitness, town and the beach are all in cycling (or some things walking) distance. To the beach its 20-25 mins cycling, 8-10 mins driving. To supermarkets, and more shops and restaurants in town, 5 minutes cycling or 15-20 mins walking. Minivan buses ( "collectivos" or "combos") also go to the beach via the centre of town and past the supermarkets and plenty of eateries. These buses stop right outside the gates of the condo and cost $10-20 pesos. Taxis cost $35-40 pesos within the colonia, $70-80 pesos to the beach, There are 2 car rental companies in town, and lots at the airport, if you'd rather be more mobile.
Buses and combos/collectivos run from Cancun through Puerto Morelos down to Tulum, and others to & from the airport (**airport buses to/from Puerto Morelos have been suspended since the start of Covid, please ask me for an update). To go further afield (eg Merida or Chitchen Itza), you'd need to go via the bus stations in Playa del Carmen or Cancún, or there are organised tours to Chitchen Itza and many other places too.
A few of the theme/adventure parks like Xoximilco, or some cenotes, are reachable by local public transport direct from Puerto Morelos, but in any case most of the major attractions along the Riviera Maya are within 30-60 mins by road.
PUERTO MORELOS
Puerto Morelos is one of the smaller towns on the Riviera Maya, retains its charm from once being a fishing village, and is a quieter alternative to the hustle bustle and organised tourism of Cancun and Playa del Carmen.
The town is divided into 2 sides by a mangrove, with a connecting road between. Theres the 'colonia', which i call the "locals" side (the larger part and hub of the town), and the beach side, which i call the "touristy" side. We love the more authentic feel of the colonia along with its more traditional shops & eateries. People are friendly and helpful, and there are plenty of shops, supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, gyms, ATMs etc
Between the colonia and beach side, there´s a surprising range of places to eat, with all kinds of food, posh & cheap! Italian, American, burger joints, juice bars, cafes, crispy fried chicken, roast chicken, pizza, seafood, vegan, vegetarian, Indian, Chinese, Argentinian, sandwiches (well, filled rolls, or "tortas"), tacos joints (one with "delicacies" like brain and tripe), barbacoa (traditionally meat slow cooked in a hole in the ground), finer Mexican restaurants, even regional Mexican food, for example Oaxacan.
ATTRACTIONS
Puerto Morelos is ideally located half way between Cancun & Playa del Carmen, and close to the airport. Its right next to the start of Ruta de los Cenotes, and theres a small botanical garden & Crocun Zoo on the outskirts. Its beach lies along the 2nd biggest coral reef in the world, which is a marine national park where you can take trips to snorkel and scuba dive. You can take out a kayak, or go snorkel along the beach too, you still see lots of marine life there.
Closeby are cenotes, a reptile park, a mexican cookery school, jungle adventure parks, massage places & spas, sports fishing & boat tours, even horseriding trails. Further afield but within 30-40 mins, are some spectacular adventure parks of all kinds (e.g. Xel-Ha, Xcaret, Xoximilco, Xavage, Aquapark) with both water based activities, or with things like quad biking, ziplines, or a sensory adventure. Other places offer underground cenote tours, pirate ship sea trips, or there are clubs, cirque du soleil, a few museums and smaller Mayan pyramids along with other marvels on their sites. There are 4 golf clubs within 15-35 mins by road.
Merida and Chichen Itza, and the islands of Holbox, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel, are further away, but still good for full day trips, and amazing places to see.
CONDOMINIUM RULES
The condominium has its own rules, which apply equally to permanent residents, visitors and vacation rental guests. They are available in the Rental Contract as part of the VRBO booking process and you will be asked to sign to acknowledge receipt of them on entering the condominium. Just sensible stuff for harmony between neighbours, and which work to your benefit too All condominiums in the area and in Mexico have similar rules, but most hosts do not mention them. I like to give you all the information upfront so you don't get any surprises.