Puerto Aventuras is a small town in the Riviera Maya with plenty of things to do. It’s a 20-minute drive south of Playa del Carmen and about an hour from Cancun. Many hotels in the area are all-inclusive, but there are also some boutique and quaint beachside resorts and some villas that offer both all-inclusive and room-only rates.
In the center of Puerto Aventuras is a large marina with restaurants, shops and a couple of dolphin parks. There’s also a golf course and a beach club. The beaches are mostly private, but there’s a nice stretch of public beach at Fatima Bay in front of Hotel Catalonia and Dreams Puerto Aventuras Resort & Spa. There are also a number of privately owned beach cabanas on the rocky areas near Chac Hal Al and elsewhere on the shoreline, some with private pools and some with bar-service.
Most of the restaurants are clustered around the marina, including independently-owned coffee shops (as well as a Starbucks), gelato stands and a variety of great Italian places, pubs, pizzerias and more. You’ll also find a handful of great Mexican restaurants in the town and a few that specialize in seafood dishes. During the day, you’ll also see many yachts and fishing boats docked in the lagoon.
There are a couple of currency exchange locations and ATMs in town. Most restaurants, bars and convenience stores accept both American dollars and Mexican pesos. There’s also a large grocery store, Chedraui, in a strip mall at the highway junction that sells some imported items and basic household goods, as well as liquor, beer and snacks.
You’ll also find several shops and services at the marina itself, including a few dive shops and a hair salon. The marina’s gift shop is a good place to pick up gifts for the folks back home, including hand-made jewelry and artwork.
The most popular activity in the Puerto Aventuras area is a sunset cruise or snorkel tour. Leaving out of the Puerto Aventuras marina, you can enjoy drinks and music on a luxury yacht as you admire the beautiful Caribbean sunset. This is a great option for couples, families and groups of friends who want to celebrate a bachelor party or other special occasion. Kids will love the chance to spot sea turtles and other marine life at Ihna Reef on a fun family-friendly snorkel tour. Depending on your preference, you can choose to do the cruise in the morning or afternoon. All boat tours include open bar, snorkel gear, a captain and crew and more. Some also offer a dinner buffet. Puerto Aventuras Yachts