Puerto Morelos, Mexico
Handbook | Sample Itinerary | Upcoming Open Group | Group Pricing
Location | Yucatan region, Mexico
Photos | Found here
Blog | Read more about Amizade in Mexico
Service Opportunities | At-risk youth work, ESL in local schools, environmental preservation/assistance
Cultural and Recreational Highlights | Visits to Mayan Ruins, including Tulum, Chichen Itza, and Coba, local beaches, cenote-swimming, jungle zip lines, snorkeling
Puerto Morelos is a small fishing village on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula; the town’s tranquility contrasts sharply with Cancun’s mega-tourism and glitzy development just 20 miles away. This friendly community offers visitors a pristine Caribbean beach, glorious sunsets, and a nearby coral reef for snorkeling.
Amizade’s Mexican partner, the Visitors’ Center at Puerto Morelos Reef National Park, has been working for more than a decade to protect the region’s fragile ecosystems, strengthen understanding of Mayan culture, educate the area’s tourists about the origins of the national park, and connect international volunteers with opportunities to enhance local school projects. In 1995, community members became concerned about conserving the natural beauty of the reef, and worked to gain National Park status. Their efforts proved successful and on February 2, 1998, the reef became Puerto Morelos reef national park.
Program Overview
Amizade volunteers have the opportunity to learn about local history and culture, explore the natural beauty and historic ruins of the Yucatan, and serve Puerto Morelos and surrounding communities. They teach English to kindergartners, assist with translating documents related to preservation in the area, and may participate in midnight turns protecting a nearby beach’s natural turtle hatcheries. Volunteers do not need to be proficient in Spanish, but are encouraged to learn basic phrases for working with community members and instructing children.
Amizade volunteers in Puerto Morelos stay at the Amar Inn, a small beachfront bed-and-breakfast a few blocks from the town square.
Lodging | Family-owned guest house on the beach.
Food | Lots of fresh fruit, juice, chicken, and fish entrees and local vegetable dishes.
Flights | Easily accessible from the US.
Visa | No
Communication | Cell networks, Internet cafes, international calling cards.
Closest Airport | Cancun, Mexico
Our Community Partner
Visitors’ Center, Puerto Morelos Reef National Park
Past achievements:
- Initiated the process for creating a National Marine Park for the 21 km of reef that is now a protected area.
- Legally pressured the developers to respect existing federal laws to protect the town’s mangroves.
- Successfully translated the Puerto Morelos welcome video into English, opening opportunities for tourists to gain understanding of the importance of the area.
The visitors’ center is nestled near the center of Puerto Morelos, and includes photo documentation of the area’s ecological history since being founded. The land was purchased in 1997 through donations, providing a space for the organization’s various social and environmental efforts. Since that time, the organization has continually blocked legislation that would allow mega-tourism operations to occur in the area surrounding the reef.
Current Focus: Educational Opportunities
Projects include supporting local schools to provide educational opportunities. Until recently, a principle problem in this area was that the local children did not have an opportunity to advance in education past 6th grade as there were no nearby high schools for them to attend. With the rise of mega-tourism in the Cancun area, a local high school was built, and along with both came a need for foreign language opportunities. English as a Second Language (ESL) programs provide students the opportunity to jump-start their knowledge-base. Foreign language skills are pertinent for community members seeking employment in an area whose economy is widely-based on international tourism.
Through Amizade, university students and other adults develop relevant curriculum and teach English classes to students at varied levels.
