Your Weekly Window Into Paradise

Friday Jun 12, 2026

What is the name of the local botanical garden in Puerto Morelos, where June's rains trigger a spectacular "green-up" of the tropical forest?

Hola!

Summer is in full swing. And word is out that Puerto Morelos has sargassum free beaches. People are now traveling from Cancún and Playa Del Carmen to enjoy our beaches. Last Sunday the beach was buzzing!

This week brings a colorful mix of local art, live music, and new food to try, along with the latest town news, beach updates, events, and a few helpful tips for making the most of life in Puerto Morelos.

Be sure to check out Puerto Morelos' newest restaurant Lonchería Sandro. Congratulations to our good friend Tony, formerly of Diving Lodge! We wish him great success with this new venture.

Whether you’re heading out for salsa and cumbia, stopping by a new restaurant, or just keeping up with what’s happening around town, we’ve got you covered.

See you out on the town! 😎

1. 🎨 Art Exhibition: Port of Colors & Natural Scenes

If you haven’t yet visited the group exhibition at the Puerto Morelos Cultural Center and Museum, this is a great opportunity to explore the work of two artists sharing their vision of our surroundings through color, landscapes, and creativity.

Puerto de Colores by Esteban García Martínez and Escenas Naturales by Valentina Leal Tosello are on display through June 14. Stop by, enjoy the artistic talent that is part of Puerto Morelos, and take in a thoughtful local exhibition that celebrates the area’s natural beauty and creative spirit.

Dates: On display through Sunday, June 14, 2026
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Centro Cultural y Museo de Puerto Morelos (diagonal from Parque Fundadores)
Admission: Free

2. 💃 Salsa y Cumbia Night with La Maina

Make it a full Saturday night of Latin music and dancing at Los Molcajetes. The evening starts at 7:00 p.m. with free dance lessons for kids and adults, where trained and patient instructors will help dancers learn salsa, cumbia, and bachata.

Then at 9:00 p.m., the party continues with live salsa and cumbia from La Maina, bringing urbano son with plenty of sabor latino. There’s no cover, so come early for the lessons, stay for the music, and enjoy a lively night of dancing in Puerto Morelos.

Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Time: Dance lessons from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.; live music at 9:00 p.m. Location: Los Molcajetes, Av. Rojo Gómez, Puerto Morelos Admission: Free; no cover

3. 🍽️ Grand Opening DJ Party - Lonchería Sandro

Puerto Morelos has a new spot to check out this weekend. Lonchería Sandro is celebrating its official opening on Saturday inside Layla Guest House, after a soft opening that has already started getting good early buzz.

Stop by in the morning for breakfast, or come back in the evening for the opening party with DJ Festejo, tacos, tostadas, and drinks. Early visitors are talking about great food, big portions, a great bar, and a lively vibe. Congratulations to Tony on bringing this new restaurant dream to life.

Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Breakfast: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Opening Party: DJ Festejo from 8:30 to 11:00 p.m.; tacos, tostadas & drinks
Location: Lonchería Sandro, inside Layla Guest House, Avenida Rafael E. Melgar 2, Centro, Puerto Morelos
Admission: Free (food & drink extra)

Mexican Flavor, Live Music, and Late-Night Energy

Los Molcajetes brings together the kind of Puerto Morelos outing that can start with a meal and turn into a full night out.

Located on Javier Rojo Gomez, the restaurant is listed as a Mexican, seafood, and Mediterranean spot serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with popular dishes that include the Molcajete Tradicional, Molcajete de Mariscos, guacamole, aguas de sabor, and mojitos.

The draw goes beyond the food. Los Molcajetes is also a lively local stop for music, dancing, and sports nights, featuring a full bar, television, and sports-bar features.

Locals enjoy the mix of salsa, cumbia, and son rhythms, and the restaurant often hosts Saturday-night dance energy with Salsa and Bachata dance lessons.

For fútbol fans, Los Molcajetes is having World Cup watch parties. Enjoy cold drinks, a family-friendly setting, and special match-day menu energy promoted for guests who want to gather with friends and celebrate every goal. 

With hours that run late, it is the kind of place visitors can keep in mind for dinner, music, dancing, or a big game night in town.

What People Are Saying:

“Very Friendly Salsa Dancing, great Music, sports on TV! Amazing Food, amazing Drinks! Gotta Go..the best evening.”
— Tracy C. (Tripadvisor)

“Had a really good time here came back multiple nights for the vibes. Great food and environment Olaf is the best bar tender. 10/10.”
— Luke G. (Tripadvisor)

“Very friendly service, explained what the items were on the menu and modified it to our liking. Cold beer, Canadian whiskey, fresh food.”
— Edna L. (Tripadvisor)

“One of the best dinners in our month in Mexico. We had the guacamole and seafood molcajete, both of which were fantastic.”
— Pat S. (Tripadvisor)

Contact Info:

Location: Javier Rojo Gomez Mnz 8, Puerto Morelos 77580 Mexico.

Phone / WhatsApp: +52 998 764 5109

Facebook: Los Molcajetes

Hours: 8:00 AM to 2:00 AM daily

👉 Insider Tip:

If you never tried a 'molcajete' dish before, Los Molcajetes is the perfect place to start. A traditional molcajete is served in a hot volcanic stone bowl filled with grilled meats, fresh vegetables, melted cheese, and flavorful salsa. It arrives sizzling at the table and is meant to be shared, making it one of the most fun and authentic Mexican dining experiences you'll find in Puerto Morelos.

June is peak mango season in Quintana Roo!

Skip the supermarket and look for the trucks parked along the highway or the vendors in the Colonia selling Ataulfo (the small, sweet, yellow ones) and Tommy Atkins (the larger red/green ones) by the bucket.

Puerto Morelos Gets a Major Power Upgrade

Puerto Morelos just became home to one of the biggest electrical projects in the region in years. A brand new power substation is now up and running, and it cost $107 million to build.

Why It Matters

People across Quintana Roo have dealt with frustrating power outages, especially during hot summer days when everyone runs their air conditioning.

The old electrical grid simply was not built to handle today's growing population and tourism.

What Changed

The new Leona Vicario substation is connected to updated transmission lines that will help power hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses across northern Quintana Roo.

It is part of a bigger push by Mexico's Federal Electricity Commission to strengthen the grid across the entire region.

What Comes Next

This one substation will not fix every problem overnight. Years of under-investment in the grid means more work is still needed.

But with summer's hottest months approaching, this upgrade gives the region a much better chance of keeping the lights on.

World Cup Fever Comes to Puerto Morelos

World Cup fever is coming to Puerto Morelos, and local restaurants and bars are getting ready to welcome fans for the matches.

The big one to start with is the Mexico vs South Africa opener, which is sure to bring out a lively crowd, but several venues are planning to show games throughout the tournament.

Where to Watch

On the Port Side, confirmed viewing spots include El Pirata Restaurant, Maíz Maix, La Sirena Restaurant, and Mile’s Kitchen.

Over in La Colonia, fans can check out Micheladas del Semáforo, Las Koras, and Siete Lenguas Sports Bar.

Check Before You Go

Some venues are promoting food and drink specials, watch parties, live music, or other match-day fun, so it is worth checking each venue’s Facebook page before heading out.

This is not meant to be a complete list of every match showing in town, but it is a great starting point if you are looking for a place to eat, drink, and cheer with the crowd.

Read more for the full venue guide.

Buying land in Puerto Morelos feels like a dream, but it can quickly turn into a nightmare. Government officials have found over 100 housing projects that are breaking the law and putting buyers at risk.

Why These Deals Are Risky

State leaders are warning buyers about 116 "irregular" developments in popular spots like Puerto Morelos. These projects often lack the proper legal permits needed to build or sell homes.

Some of these sites are being built on communal land without permission or are hurting the environment. Because of this, authorities are closing down building sites and many buyers are losing their money.

How to Spot a Scam

Be careful of land deals that you only see on social media or WhatsApp groups. If the price is way below market value and the seller is rushing you, it might be a trap.

Before you pay any money, always verify the official property deed with a local notary. Hiring a trusted real estate lawyer is the best way to make sure your piece of paradise is actually yours.

The Barrier: A Three-Kilometer Wall in the Water

A three-kilometer anti-sargassum barrier off the coast of Puerto Morelos has been credited by local officials with helping reduce the amount of seaweed reaching the shore.

The barrier does not eliminate sargassum entirely, but local officials say it has helped the town recover more quickly than some open-coast beaches.

Boots on the Beach Every Day

Daily cleanup crews then handle whatever seaweed does make it to shore, keeping the beaches usable for tourists and locals.

During heavier sargassum arrivals, cleanup efforts are reinforced with additional workers and machinery, according to local officials.

From Beach Problem to Big Business

The collected seaweed doesn't just get thrown away... it gets turned into useful products.

A company called CarbonWave runs a facility in Puerto Morelos that processes sargassum into agricultural products that help crops grow, and those products are sold around the world.

What's Next

Puerto Morelos is planning even bigger things, including a biogas plant that would turn sargassum into energy. The town has gone from fighting seaweed to building an entire industry around it.

Hi, I'm Randy. 🐾

I'm a 2-year-old big, handsome guy with an even bigger heart. Everyone says I'm calm, gentle, and easy to be around. While some dogs spend all day bouncing off the walls, I'm more of a "let's hang out together" kind of dog. 😎

I've been at the shelter since I was a puppy after being rescued with my brothers and sisters. When I was just 4 months old, I was hit by a car and had surgery to help me recover. The good news? I'm healthy now and ready for my next adventure.

What I'd really love is a family of my own. A comfy place to nap, some humans to love, and maybe a few belly rubs along the way. ❤️

Want to meet me? Send a WhatsApp message to +52 998 845 2306.

Hope to see you soon!

Love,
Randy 🐶

More Venues, More Music, More Reasons to Go Out

The Puerto Morelos Insider Events calendar keeps growing. We have added a couple more venues this week, bringing the calendar up to 41 venues around town. 

That means even more ways to find live music, dance nights, open mics, classes, food events, and local happenings all in one place.

New Events Added This Week

Latin Night with Son de Caney
Saturday, June 13, 7:00 PM (Muses Restaurant)
Live music by Son de Caney, plus Salsa class at 7 PM and Bachata at 8 PM with Esteban y Ale from Mexplor. Happy Hour runs from 8-10 PM with half-priced house margaritas, mezcalitas, wine, and beer. Free admission.

Salsa y Cumbia Night with La Maina
Saturday, June 13, 9:00 PM (Los Molcajetes)
Get ready for a lively night of Salsa and Cumbia with La Maina, Son Urbano con Sabor Latino. Free admission.

Country Music with Highway 307
Saturday, June 13, 9:00 PM (La Sirena)
Kick back and enjoy live country music from Highway 307 at La Sirena. Free admission.

Xibalba Roots Reggae
Tuesday, June 16, 8:00 PM (La Sirena)
Local favorites Xibalba bring their roots reggae sound to La Sirena for a midweek music night. Free admission.

Caribbean Reggae Crew & Open Mic
Sunday, July 19, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Diving Bar)
Caribbean Reggae Crew brings the reggae, and the open mic keeps the day social, spontaneous, and fun. Free admission.

Got an Event to Share?

Have an event coming up in Puerto Morelos? Submit it here and help us keep building the most complete local events calendar in town.

Browse all events: events.puertomorelosinsider.com

Jardín Botánico Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín. It is a great place to see native orchids and bromeliads in bloom during the early rainy season