Is it safe to travel to Mexico today with all that has been going on? We did, survived it, and loved it. We spent 6 week in Puerto Morelos a small fishing community between Cancun, and Playa Del Carmen. I recently heard it described as a drinking community with a fishing problem, which I thought was hilarious.

The town of Puerto Morelos is separated into two distinct areas, the Port Side, where the tourists primarily stay and the Colonia side. The port side features the beaches, charter fishing, diving, and snorkelling tours, as well as beach bars, and numerous restaurants. The Colonia side, which is where you will find most of the local residents live, is predictably cheaper for lodging, and food, but is quite a distance to the port area. Depending on where you are, it could be a good 2+ miles to the beach.

Both areas offer grocery stores, however the Port Side Chedraui features a higher end shopping experience compared to the Colonia area Chedraui.

It is spider monkey birthing season, and these cute animals can often be seen with their babies clinging to their backs. They have become accustomed to humans with many people feeding the monkeys by hand, despite warnings not to do so. These animals are still wild, and can bite. They are hilarious to watch with each monkey seemingly displaying their own personality trait.

Colonia features cheaper prices for eating out, compared to the Port Side, and the quality of food is equally as good, if not better. Two of my favourites, were Pecao and Tulipan.

Highway 307 which runs north and south through Puerto Morelos and is difficult to cross on foot. There is a pedestrian overpass, and underpass, but many locals are forced to cross this busy, dangerous highway, so and wait on the median for the traffic to break to finish their cross. Typically these locals are either catching a collectivo, or getting off of one. The collectives are an alternative means to travel in Mexico, and are significantly cheaper than a taxi, or any ride sharing program that may exist.

The beaches are white and powdery, but are currently being marred by an infestation of sargassum, a seaweed that is creating havoc all over the Caribbean. Not only is this seaweed uncomfortable to swim with, when it dies, it creates a sulphuric odour, that is almost unbearable to be around. This issue is only getting worse, and is becoming headline news as a big patch of it heads toward the Florida coastline.

Between Colonia, and the Port Side is a huge lush Jungle/Marsh/Mangrove forest where monkeys, birds crocodiles, and other species live.

Puerto Morelos is growing in popularity, and as such there is development taking place on the outskirts of the town. This is concerning locals, as they see prices, and traffic congestion rise. Let's face it though, a great community can only stay a secret for so long before people decide they want to move there.

Puerto Morelos features a big pickleball community with four courts running every weekday from 7:30 AM until about noon. There are many expats that participate, but there are also many locals now playing as the Mexicans get addicted to this uber popular sport.

There is a clothing optional resort should one venture far enough along the beach. The resort has cabanas on the beach, where nude people can be seen lying in these beach beds. We even spotted some skinny dipping off the nearby pier. Not offensive to us, but I am sure that it could be shocking to those who have children.