Visitors to Puerto Morelos, in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula, are quickly smitten by the region’s white-sand beaches, laidback lifestyle and outdoor opportunities. The town is about halfway between Cancun and Playa Carmen and offers its own blend of the beach life and jungle adventures. In fact, just offshore is part of the Great Mesoamerican Reef, the second-largest reef system in the world and a National Marine Park.

Whether you prefer to relax under a thatched palapa and drink in the sea views or venture out for watersports and jungle trekking, Puerto Morelos has activities for every energy level. Visit spider monkeys at Jardin Botanico. Go birdwatching in the mangroves. SCUBA dive the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef or go snorkeling right off the beach. Explore a cenote, a sinkhole filled with crystal-clear groundwater, particularly the beautiful Boca de Puma. Visit nearby Maya archaeological sites, including Tulum, Cobá and Muyil, as well as Chichén Itzá. And since you’ve chosen a vacation rental, you’ll be able to do your own cooking and experiment with local flavors. So, check out the large Chedraui supermarket, where Puerto Morelos families shop and plenty of local ingredients are available.

Family-friendly and great for groups, a vacation rental offers a budget-conscious getaway and promises the ultimate in flexibility and privacy. And Puerto Morelos is brimming with options, from beach houses to oceanfront condos. Enjoy searching for just the right place; the amenities are countless. How about a sprawling private home, with a Mexican fountain and handmade tile, a covered terrace overlooking the sea and a separate guest villa? Or perhaps a villa rental with spacious bedrooms and separate bathrooms, a huge dining area and all the pool floats, games, DVDs and CDs you could want. The choices are many. Look for fully equipped kitchens, beach access, infinity-edge swimming pools, balconies, outdoor showers – the vacation rentals of this region are generous with their amenities, making this a perfect home away from home.