LIBERTAD
The beautiful little village of Puerto Morelos
Travel Tips
Getting to Mexico: For travel to Mexico you need proof of citizenship. A passport or certified copy of birth certificate accompanied by some kind of photo ID will suffice. A voter's registration is also proof of citizenship. NOTE: Just a drivers license is not proof of citizenship. You will receive a tourist card/visa from either your travel agent or on the plane. Complete this form before you arrive. You will receive a copy from immigration as you check into Mexico. You must turn in this copy when you leave the country.
Arrival in Cancun: You will arrive at Cancun International Airport usually with several other plane loads of people. You will be guided to the immigration lines first. At immigration they will want to see your tourist card/visa to stamp and return the copy to you. You will then move on to the baggage area and the arrival of your luggage. Usually on the plane, you are given a customs declaration form for goods you are bringing into the country. There is only one page that needs to be filled out with your name, number of bags, and merchandise you might be bringing in as gifts. Usually this means (nothing). If you are bringing gifts such as a stereo, TV, etc., their value must be under $300.00 to be duty-free.
Once you have your luggage. you will go through customs. You will be asked to push a button at a "stop light" and give them the customs declaration form. If the light is GREEN, you will pass on through and no luggage check will be made. If the light is RED, you will be asked to open your bags. There is no problem with bringing in clothes and personal items, the luggage check is a formality. When you leave customs, you will walk out and be greeted by guides meeting groups and guides from specific hotels. If prior arrangements have been made for someone to meet you this is where they will be. Car rental booths are in this area as well as taxi arrangements.
What to bring: Sunscreen, sunglasses, beach towels (we do not provide them), hats, cool clothes, light jacket and pants in the winter, normal toiletries and any medications you may need. Insect repellent; pump please, no aerosol. Avon's "Skin So Soft" works well as a mild repellent.
Leaving Cancun Airport: Here you have several options. Car Rental is available. Note: this is usually better if arranged in the U.S. and you have confirmation and rate upon arrival. Daily rental fees are expensive in Mexico. You can go to the window marked "Ground Transportation" which is still inside the terminal and pay for an airport taxi. Travel time is approximately twenty minutes. You can also take a longer, more complicated but less expensive route. You can take a collective taxi (van or bus) to Cancun Centro Bus Station. From the bus station take the smaller buses marked "Playa Express" or "Inter Playa" to Puerto Morelos. The bus ride costs a little over $1.50 per person. From Puerto Morelos you would take a local taxi to Rancho. This is the more scenic, less expensive, 1-2 hour route. There are no local buses that come to the airport, and the main highway is 2 miles away.
General information: Check in time is 3:00 p.m. and checkout time is 12:00 p.m. Tips are appreciated and split among the staff. Payment is due upon arrival in Travelers Checks, U.S. Dollars, Credit Cards or Pesos. Sorry NO personal checks are accepted at Rancho. It is possible to get cash from a credit card advance with your PIN #, in Puerto Morelos, Cancun, Playa del Carmen. The American Express office requires you to write a personal check to get cash. In case of emergencies, when calling from the US, the phone/fax number at Rancho Libertad is 011-52-998-871-0181.There is a local internet server in Puerto Morelos, so people may go there to send/receive personal or business emails.
More Helpful information: Finding Rancho Libertad: Read this section in the FAQ.
Rancho offers rooms on the beach, each with a private bath, hot water, ceiling fans, hanging beds inside, large communal kitchen, hammocks outside -- for siesta! A complimentary cold breakfast buffet is served each morning between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Our large thatched roof meeting room with kitchen facilities is ideal for workshops or retreats. For meals there are restaurants within walking distance and Cancun and Playa del Carmen are only a half hour away.
Some of the many activities available include:
- Bikes and snorkel equipment included in the room cost
- Massage and/or various forms of energy work
- Gift shop on-site
- Personalized day or overnight trips to nearby ruins, cenotes, jungle
- Yoga classes in town
- Snorkel trips to the reef
- Scuba diving instruction and dive trips
- Meal catering for your group of friends
- Laid back, friendly atmosphere of a small town
In the area: Mayan archeological ruins, freshwater lagoons, dolphins to swim with, secluded beaches and parks, crystal-clear water for swimming, fishing and water sports, horseback riding, Cancun nightlife, great stargazing, caves to explore, summertime watching for sea turtles nesting on the beaches, and much, much more.
Tel/fax number for reservations: 011-52-998-8710181
E-mail for reservations: reservations@ranchosakol.com