Traveling to a foreign country requires a bit more awareness than traveling domestically, but it doesn’t need to be stressful, especially to the Mexican state of Quintana Roo (QRoo), Puerto Morelos, and the rest of the Riviera Maya.
What do I need to enter Mexico?
All you need is a valid passport. There are no Covid restrictions or immunization requirements. And the tourist card and declaration form we used to fill out on the plane is no longer used at CUN.
Check your passport expiration date! It technically can expire while you are there, but to use the automated immigration lanes, it needs to be valid for 6 months beyond your date of entry.
Do I need to speak Spanish?
No. While it is helpful (as well as respectful) to know the language, you can almost always find someone who speaks some English almost everywhere throughout QRoo.
We do recommend installing an app like Google Translate on your phone and making Spanish available offline.
Can I use American money?
Most places will accept USD, but you’ll always get a horrible exchange rate. Before traveling, we recommend acquiring some pesos from your local bank.
Does “don’t drink the water” apply to QRoo?
Yes, even most locals experience intestinal distress by drinking water from the tap. Most lodging places, including Las Arenas, provide drinking water in 20-liter containers. To avoid filling the landfills with small plastic bottles, we recommend bringing with you a sturdy water bottle, perhaps with a built-in filter that filters out impurities (in Mexico water, chlorinated water, fluoride water, etc). Both Bernie and Sky use a LifeStraw bottle and love them.
And what about eating raw fruits and vegetables?
Eating improperly-washed fruits and vegetables raw also can result in intestinal distress. Cooking them and/or soaking them in water with disinfectant drops kills the bacteria. Restaurants are, for the most part, extremely safe. It’s a tourist town and a bad reputation travels fast, so they understand the need to prepare the food correctly.
Will my cell phone work there?
Yes, cell reception is prevalent throughout the Riviera Maya, but make sure your cell plan includes Mexico and/or keep your phone in airplane mode and rely on the equally-prevalent WiFi.
Where in Puerto Morelos does camp take place?
Camp takes place one block north of the beachside town square, immediately adjacent to the main Puerto Morelos beach, in two locations:
- Dance sessions take place on the ocean side of Hotel Las Arenas Puerto Morelos. We dance on the sandy ground under a retractable shade sail with a view of the ocean in the mornings and under the stars at night.
- Classes and late-night music jams take place across the side street next to the hotel at Alaska House, a private rental on the beach.
Is getting there difficult?
No, not if you follow a couple of simple steps. The Cancun airport (CUN) is becoming more and more like a US domestic airport each year. But… the vendors outside of customs can seem intimidating and finding your ride at the curb can be a bit tricky. Navigating CUN seamlessly guides you through the process.
And pre-arranging your transportation from CUN to Puerto Morelos helps.
Where do I stay when I get there?
Lodging Options describes the layout of Puerto Morelos and provides an abundance of places to stay.
The great majority of the dancers stay at Hotel Las Arenas, where we dance. Learn more about booking a room.