Puerto Morelos Wins Two World Travel Awards for Adventure and Nature Tourism

Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo — This Caribbean beach town collected two international honors at the 33rd World Travel Awards 2026 gala, held October 11 on Green Island in Jamaica, cementing its reputation as a leader in adventure and nature tourism.

The municipality took top prizes in two regional categories covering the Caribbean and the Americas:

• Mexico’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination — won for the eighth consecutive year.
• Mexico’s Leading Nature-Based Tourism Attraction — awarded to the Ruta de los Cenotes for the second year in a row.

Mayor Blanca Merari Tziu Muñoz credited the local tourism sector with the wins.

“Puerto Morelos has something that makes it special: the chance to live adventure, discover our natural wealth and connect with our roots,” she said. “These recognitions fill us with pride, but they also commit us to protecting what we are and to keep building opportunities for Puerto Morelos families.”

Diversified Attractions Behind the Wins

Karina Vázquez Díaz, the municipality’s secretary of sustainable tourism, said the destination’s competitiveness rests on the breadth of its offerings, which range from reef exploration and water sports to ecotourism treks through the jungle and a cuisine rooted in Maya heritage.

The municipality has more than 8,000 hotel rooms and an annual calendar of traditional nautical events, including the Día de la Marina fishing tournament and the La Diosa del Mar fishing tournament. Officials say those events reinforce community identity and tie economic activity to local residents.

Conservation and Economic Growth

Municipal officials said the awards strengthen their commitment to sustainable management that protects local ecosystems. The aim, they said, is to pair responsible promotion with quality service so that international prestige translates into visitor spending, job creation and growth opportunities for regional businesses.