The upscale golf and yachting community of Puerto Aventuras boasts a great location, among other things. It’s safe and somewhat tucked away from the hubbub of other busy tourist destinations, yet it’s within easy distance of main centers like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and the Cancun International Airport.
Puerto Aventuras is currently the only marina in the Mayan Riviera, and is known for being the region’s hub for sport fishing tours.
PUERTO AVENTURAS
PUERTO AVENTURAS HOTEL INFORMATION
Booking a vacation villa or condo is arguably the best way to enjoy all that Puerto Aventuras has to offer. The community mostly attracts well-off expat retirees, vacationing families, and snow-birds looking to escape the winter. Long-term rentals are common.
There are also several spa resorts and all-inclusives lining the coast, and a sprinkling of boutique hotels. Residence clubs are plentiful, with properties backing onto the 9-hole golf course or with incredibly gorgeous oceanfront views.
HOTELS
THINGS TO DO IN PUERTO AVENTURAS
Activities in Puerto Aventuras include golf, tennis, fishing and diving. Centered around the main marina there are a few small shops selling local crafts, restaurants, a pharmacy, and a few small grocery and liquor stores. There are also a couple of dolphin parks where you can kayak and swim with dolphins and manatees.
As for SCUBA diving, Puerto Aventuras has bevvy of multi-lingual instructors and dive masters, as well as state-of-the-art equipment and custom dive boats that ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. You have your choice of open water dives or cenote diving (cavern diving requires special certification). The reef is only about 100 feet from shore, so you can easily do several dives in a day with not a lot of transportation time needed.
Twice a week, there’s a market at the main square in town, by the gazebo. Fresh fruits, vegetables and other local items are sold. There is also a small maritime museum with nautical artifacts that is very interesting to visit if you get a rainy day.
THINGS TO DO
Aktun Chen
Aktun Chen is a highly rated eco-park by National Geographic and TripAdvisor located near Akumal on the Riviera Maya. Experience an underground cave, zipline, cenote and more.
Cirque du Soleil JOYA
Cirque du Soleil JOYA is a new theatre show in the middle of the Riviera Maya. Tickets include transportation and tablecloth dining is available.
Enlighten Your Senses At Xenses
Brand new park opened in 2016! Guaranteed to explore your senses with 15 enlightening activities to participate in. Learn more and get you tickets.
Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
Visitors to this UNESCO Heritage Site will experience tropical forests, pristine wetlands, palm savannah, lagoons, mangroves, dunes and sandy beaches.
Xel-Ha
Embark on an aquatic adventure. Explore creeks, mangroves, lagoons, natural wells and ancient caves fed by subterranean rivers flowing to Mexico’s beautiful Caribbean Sea. Learn, rest and participate in the world’s most beautiful natural aquarium, Xel-Ha.
Xcaret
Travel back in time at the Maya Village and enjoy the five wading pools straight from the Caribbean. Unique rivers wind through Xcaret’s naturally occurring system of underground rivers. Must visit attraction.
Xoximilco
Experience the ultimate Mexican fiesta at Xoximilco. This is an evening dinner experience south of Cancun taking place on a Trajineras (large wooden boat). This is a detailed visit from a local.
Chichen Itza Tour
A perfect day trip from all location throughout the Riviera Maya and Yucatan Peninsula. Chichen Itza is the most popular Mayan Ruin destination and provides phenomenal photo opportunities and interesting insights to the Mayan culture.
Coba Ruins Tour
Coba is a short 30-45 minute drive from Playa del Carmen. This is a large site on the shore of two lakes. This is a popular tour site and is the highest pyramid in Mexico.
Tulum Ruins Tour
The Tulum Ruins with Xel-Ha tour is a great combination to participate in. Mayan culture and refreshing water at is finest from both locations.
Yal Ku Lagoon Snorkeling
Yal Ku Lagoon is a great snorkeling location in Akumal. It is so attractive because it is protected from rough sea-days and is beautiful. Rental equipment is available at the entrance and makes a great day trip throughout the Riviera Maya.
GETTING TO PUERTO AVENTURAS
Located on Federal Highway 307, Puerto Aventuras is just 20 minutes’ drive south of Playa del Carmen. It’s about an hour (77 km / 48 miles) south of the Cancun International Airport.
ADO buses and other public transportation (like colectivo vans), will take you as far as the town of Puerto Aventuras, but you will then need a taxi from the highway junction to get to your hotel. This applies whether you’re coming from the airport or from Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum.
The best way to get to Puerto Aventuras is by shuttle or taxi. If you plan on staying a while, renting a car is a good option.
TRANSPORTATION
PUERTO AVENTURAS RESTAURANTS
Most of the restaurants are clustered around the marina in Puerto Aventuras. You’ll find independently-owned coffee shops (as well as Starbucks), gelato stands, great Italian restaurants, pubs, pizzerias, and of course Mexican restaurants.
The restaurants here have a unique vibe in that they’re on the dolphin lagoon, with views of yachts, catamarans and fishing boats moored beyond the boardwalk. Come sunset, it’s a beautiful setting for a memorable meal!
At the entrance to Puerto Aventuras, beside the gas station, there are a few restaurants as well. Here you’ll find great shrimp tacos, fresh fish tacos, sub sandwiches and pizza.
PUERTO AVENTURAS BEACHES
Fatima Bay is the main beach area, with over 1.5 miles of beachfront. It basically begins at Chac Hal Al condos and ends at the Hard Rock Hotel. The best sandy beaches are in front of Hotel Catalonia and Dreams Puerto Aventuras Resort & Spa. There is public access to these beaches.
Chan Yu Yum is a beautiful beach to the north, and is great for snorkeling.
The beaches around the two mouths of the marina are mostly pebbly and no swimming is permitted. It is exhilarating, though, to stroll out to the rocky points and watch the waves roll in!
Chac Hal Al inlet and beyond, which is located to the south of the marina, is principally private properties.
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT PUERTO AVENTURAS
Puerto Aventuras has two currency exchange locations and a number of ATMs (located around the marina, at convenience stores, and at the gas station on the highway). Mexican pesos and American dollars are both accepted at the vast majority restaurants and shops.
On the west side of the federal highway (non-beach side), there is a good-sized community. This is where many workers, hotel staff, and fishermen live. The total population averages around 7,000 permanent residents.
A large grocery store (Chedraui), recently opened to service the Puerto Aventuras area. It’s located in a strip mall on the highway junction. It sells some imported items, clothing, housewares, beach gear and alcohol. This is also where buses and colectivos stop en route between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
VISITOR INFORMATION & TIPS
Visitors to Puerto Aventuras are checked in securely at the entrance gate (guarded 24-hours), and drive the short distance past the 9-hole golf course to the main marina. Shops and restaurants line the waterfront. The ambiance is luxurious–with groomed grounds, tennis courts, impressive vacation homes and condos–yet the feeling is still very relaxed and friendly.
TRAVEL RESOURCES
For vacationers, many of your questions could probably be answered if you read these pages:
HISTORY OF PUERTO AVENTURAS
The modern site of Puerto Aventuras as we know it didn’t really exist before the 1980s. It first started as a staff settlement to house workers from nearby beachfront resorts. In the late 80s and early 90s it began to grow into a town as tourism in the area blossomed.
Puerto Aventuras plays a part in the region’s rich history, spanning the Mayan era to the days of pirates, explorers and buccaneers. You can get a glimpse of it if you visit the Maritime Museum, located above the shopping area on the dolphin lagoon.
