We are still getting lots of messages asking about the current state of COVID in Puerto Morelos. So here is the latest.
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 started. 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. When you leave, depending on where you are from, you must get a COVID test to return home. We have more about that here.
Quintana Roo has been working very hard to stop the spread of the virus including the new omicron variant. Our state has been handling Covid on a stoplight system. Under “red” everything except grocery stores and pharmacies shut down. We then moved to “orange” which loosened a few things. In September 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. In November we moved to “green”, where we have remained since then. The Governor of the state of Quintana Roo, Carlos Joaquin, does an update every Thursday which he live-streams on Twitter.
“Green” means that we are at low risk. This also means that the following are open at 100%: the beach, restaurants, gyms, bars, shops, etc. This doesn’t mean that there are not still COVID protocols in place.
Following are the rules in place at this time. It may seem like a lot, but you will find they are very similar to what you are used to at home (except the sticky mat, we are not sure what that is all about).
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 standing inside any business.
- You can take your mask off only when seated in a resturant or bar
- 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 property, but most people only wear one when other people are nearby.
You must wear a mask when entering or walking around a restaurant/bar. You must also have a temperature check, gel your hands, and walk through a disinfectant mat when entering an establishment. You can only remove your mask when you are seated. If you stand up for any reason, you must put your mask back on. You may be required to order some food with your drinks, it is a town law that restaurants/bars are following so that they can be open. Please check with each establishment to see what their policy is before you order. Many restaurants and bars have had to pay heavy fines for trying to bend these rules, so please don’t blame the owners. It is not up to them, it is up to the government. Also, restaurants/bars must be closed and dark by 11:00 pm. Now there is an exception to this rule, some places have paid extra fees to the government to stay open later. If you are arriving late to an establishment you may want to check their closing hours before you order.
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!
And if you would like to join us this winter, we have had a very RARE cancellation at Casa de los Viajeros. Suite #3 is now open from February 23 to March 16, 2022. If you are interested, contact us today!
