Puerto Aventuras is a peaceful resort with a marina, beaches, hotels, apartments and a golf course.

It is not an authentic Mexican town, but a secure residential and tourist complex.

The tourist area lies between the sea and the main road, number 307. On the opposite side of the road is a normal residential village of the same name, which most tourists do not visit.

We recommend Puerto Aventuras primarily as a peaceful base for accommodation between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. It’s particularly worth a visit in its own right if you’re setting off from here for a boat trip, diving or sport fishing.

• Why go here: the marina, boat trips, diving and peaceful accommodation
• Duration of visit: 1–2 hours without activities, half a day with a boat trip or diving
• Entrancefee: no charge to enter the site
• Who it’s for: families, couples seeking peace and quiet, and travellers with a hire car

Puerto Aventuras Marina

The heart of the resort is the marina, surrounded by restaurants, cafés, shops and diving centres. The area is well-maintained, feels safe and you can easily walk around the whole centre.

The following depart from the marina:

• catamaran cruises
• private boat trips
• diving and snorkelling trips
• sport fishing trips

If you haven’t booked any activities, a walk around the marina will take you about an hour. The restaurants are mainly aimed at tourists and tend to be on the pricier side.

Choose a cruise or water activity

Right by the promenade, there are also pools with dolphins and other marine mammals. The animals are visible even without booking a programme, so this part of the marina is practically impossible to avoid. We do not recommend swimming with dolphins due to the conditions in which the animals are kept.

Beaches and swimming

The main beach stretches along Bahía Fátima Bay. Smaller stretches of coastline can also be found at Chan Yu Yum and Chac Hal Al bays.

Thanks to the coral reefs and breakwaters, the sea is usually calmer than on the open coast, which suits families with young children. In some places, you can snorkel straight from the shore.

However, the beaches are not the main reason to visit Puerto Aventuras:

• some stretches are narrow or rocky
• the coastline is divided between hotels and apartment complexes
• there is no single long, continuous beach
• access for visitors without accommodation is not very straightforward

Mexican beaches are public, but access routes, hotel sun loungers and other facilities may not be public.

Furthermore, entry to Puerto Aventuras is via a guarded gate, where security may ask about your hotel, restaurant or other reason for visiting.

If you simply want to spend the day on a lovely beach, we’d recommend Xpu-Ha instead. For snorkelling with turtles, Akumal is a better choice.

Diving and boat trips

Puerto Aventuras is one of the main departure points for boat activities in the central part of the Riviera Maya.

There are several diving centres based right in the marina, offering dives on coral reefs and expeditions to cenotes.

If you’ve booked a boat trip or a dive in Puerto Aventuras, combine the activity with lunch and a short stroll around the harbour. Without a specific plan, we wouldn’t organise a separate full-day trip here.

Golf

The resort features a nine-hole golf course with a par of 36. The course isn’t reason enough to travel all the way across the Riviera Maya, but it’s a pleasant bonus for guests staying in Puerto Aventuras itself.

Hotels in Puerto Aventuras

Accommodation is the main reason to choose Puerto Aventuras. You’ll find cheaper studios, family apartments, a small beachfront hotel and large all-inclusive resorts here.

Budget accommodation: Villas Picalu Studios & Suites

Villas Picalu Studios & Suites offers simple studios and apartments in a quiet area near the golf course.

We recommend this accommodation for longer stays, self-catering and travelling by hire car. The marina is about a 10-minute walk away, and the beach is about 20 minutes’ walk away.

• Choose this if: you’re looking for a more affordable base for day trips.
• Don’t choose this if: you want to stay right by the beach.

For families and groups: Aventuras Club Marina

Aventuras Club Marina offers more spacious self-catering apartments with a kitchen, a swimming pool and views of the marina.

The advantages are plenty of space and a location right by the marina. However, the range of services on offer does not match that of a traditional hotel or an all-inclusive resort.

• Choose this if: you’re travelling with your family or in a group.
• Don’t choose this if: you want hotel restaurants and full service.

Best non-all-inclusive option: Puerto Aventuras Hotel & Beach Club

Puerto Aventuras Hotel & Beach Club is situated right on the beach and just a few steps from the restaurants around the marina.

The hotel has only a few dozen rooms and feels more intimate than large resorts. Rooms feature a balcony or terrace, a hammock and an outdoor hot tub.

• Choose this if: you want to stay by the sea but don’t want an all-inclusive package.
• Don’t choose this if: you’re expecting a large, luxury resort.

Affordable all-inclusive: Catalonia

Two interconnected resorts stand side by side:

• Catalonia Yucatán Beach
• Catalonia Riviera Maya

Both hotels share a complex with swimming pools, restaurants, bars, an entertainment programme and access to the sea. When booking, focus on comparing the price and the specific room category. Some rooms have been refurbished, whilst the basic categories may appear a bit dated.

• Choose this if: you’re looking for a more reasonably priced all-inclusive option.
• Don’t choose this if: you’re expecting luxury service or a long sandy beach.

A higher-quality all-inclusive option for families: Dreams Aventuras

Dreams Aventuras Riviera Maya offers a wider range of hotel facilities, several swimming pools, children’s facilities, restaurants and a small, sheltered beach.

We recommend this resort particularly to families who want to spend most of their holiday on the hotel grounds. For couples looking for an intimate or adults-only hotel, there are better options.

• Choose this if: you want a more comfortable family-friendly all-inclusive resort.
• Don’t choose this if: you’re looking for a peaceful adults-only resort.

How to get to Puerto Aventuras

Puerto Aventuras is situated on the main road, Route 307:

• 20 km south of Playa del Carmen
• 40 km north of Tulum
• approximately 80 km from Cancún Airport

Hired car

A hire car is the most practical option. It’s particularly worthwhile if you’re using Puerto Aventuras as a base for trips to the beaches, cenotes and archaeological sites.

Compare car hire prices

Colectivo

Colectivo minibuses between Playa del Carmen and Tulum stop on the main road at the entrance to Puerto Aventuras.

It is approximately 1.5 km from the stop to the marina. A colectivo is a cheap option for a day trip without luggage, but it is not comfortable if you are travelling with suitcases.

For more information, see the section on Transport in the Riviera Maya.

Taxis and airport transfers

A taxi will take you directly to your hotel, but you must agree the fare in advance. From Cancún Airport, we recommend booking a pre-arranged transfer, which is usually more straightforward than trying to find a taxi on arrival.

Book a transfer to Puerto Aventuras

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