Mexico is one of the most popular travel destinations right now because it is one of the few places in the world that you can travel to with relative ease since Covid. Puerto Morelos is no exception.
When you arrive by plane you will have to fill out a Health Declaration Form, but there is no legal requirement to quarantine.
Quintana Roo has been working very hard to stop the spread of Covid-19. Case numbers are posted at noon daily (local time) here on Twitter. As we write this, Puerto Morelos has had an official total of 30 cases. Most of the cases occurred in the first few months of the pandemic. 
Our state has been handling Covid on a stoplight system. Under “red” everything except grocery stores and pharmacies were shut down. We then moved to “orange” which loosened a few things. On September 7th we moved to “yellow” which was very good news for us, because it meant we could go to the beach again and other restrictions were lifted. You can read more about that big day here.
We have remained in yellow since then. The Governor of the state of Quintana Roo, Carlos Joaquin, does an update every Thursday which he live streams on Twitter. Some day we will go “green”, but that will not be soon.
Here’s what you can expect when you visit Puerto Morelos during Covid:
- You must wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth when you are within 1.5 meters (5 feet) of other people.
- You must wear a mask when you enter and are inside any business.
- When entering a business you will have your temperature checked, gel your hands, and wipe your feet on a disinfectant floor mat.
- You should practice social distancing as much as possible
- You must self isolate and get tested should you come down with any of the symptoms of Covid-19.
- You must wear a mask inside public transport (ie Taxis, buses, collectivos)
The number one question we get is… “Do I have to wear a mask when I go to the beach?” You should wear a mask when you are walking to the beach if you are near people. Once you are at the beach, most people take their masks off as long as they stay at least 1.5 meters away from other people, outside of your family/group. Our beach is very large making it very easy to social distance.
Do you have to wear a mask when you are walking around the town? You are supposed to wear your mask anytime you are off your own property, but most people only wear one when other people are nearby. Note: You can be fined for not wearing a mask. I have not heard of anyone in Puerto Morelos being fined.
Vacation rentals and hotels must clean for Covid. We recommend that you check with your accommodations and make sure that they have an enhanced cleaning regimen for the virus.
Restaurants and cafes are allowed to be open up to 60% capacity. You must wear a mask when entering or walking around a restaurant. You must also have a temperature check and walk through a disinfectant mat when entering an eatery. Bars are not allowed to be open, so many of the bars in town have transitioned to restaurants so that they can keep their businesses going. You will be required to order some food with your booze, it is a law that bars are following so that they can open. Many of the bars/restaurants have come up with low-cost menu items so that you can enjoy a drink.
When you visit a restaurant you must wear a mask when entering and leaving. You must also put your mask on when you get up to use the restroom or if you walk around for any other reason. All of the staff in restaurants must and are wearing face masks and some have also added visors on top of that.
When you go shopping, you MUST wear a mask inside ALL grocery, convenience, and produce stores. You will not be allowed inside the store without a mask that covers your nose and mouth, having a temperature check, using hand gel, and walking across a disinfectant mat. You must stand 1.5 meters apart when lining up at the cash registers.
You must also wear a mask when you are taking a taxi, collectivo or bus. Also, there is a maximum of two passengers allowed in a taxi. Buses and collectivos are only allowed to operate at 50% capacity. And only a maximum of four people are allowed in a private vehicle, so if you are a family of more than four, you will want to prepare for this.
Now you know what to expect when you arrive in Puerto Morelos. We think you will find that it is probably not much different from your hometown. Being a small town, with lots of wide-open spaces and fresh air, we do believe that you can have a very nice vacation in Puerto Morelos this winter. We & and the whole town will be very happy to see you!
Make sure you always purchase travel insurance before you leave home. Some airlines are even including Covid insurance with your ticket.
Having said that, we must let you know that we have openings at our usually fully booked vacation rental Casa de los Viajeros. Many of our clients are Canadian (who do have to quarantine upon return) or high risk. Because of this, we have had some very good dates available that were booked one year in advance. We encourage you to contact us about a place to stay this winter. We look forward to hearing from you and even better, seeing you in Puerto Morelos soon.