Overview of Progreso

Progreso (Yucatan) is a fairly new port for cruise lines on the Gulf of Mexico. Progreso is a popular holiday and vacation destination for local tourists and a growing one for cruise ship visitors. Many ex-pats from North America and Europe have chosen to live in Progreso and the surrounding area, giving a sense of the familiar to this foriegn port.

Progreso is home to the world's longest pier, at a little over 4 miles long. Cruise passengers are taken from where the boat disembarks, down the pier by bus to the center of town. Note that it is both illegal and dangerous to walk into town from the pier. The city has been an active port for centuaries, as even the ancient Mayans used to come to the area in their large ocean-going canoes to collect the sea salt found here.

Progreso's proximity to Merida (the biggest city on the Yucatan Peninsula) and numerous Mayan ruins is what makes it such an intriguing port. Progreso offers, within a short ride, some of the richest history and culture in Mexico.

Check out this video of Progreso (Yucatan), Mexico

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What language is spoken in Progreso? Do they speak English?

The principal language spoken is Spanish; Mayan is also spoken by some locals. Most people involved in the tourist industry speak at least limited English, or will at least make an attempt to understand and converse with you.

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What is the national currency in Mexico?

The national currency in Progreso (Yucatan), Mexico is the Mexican Peso (MXN).

Do they accept US Dollars around the port?

The US Dollar (USD) is accepted more, the closer you are to the port area, however, in most cases, you will get better value in pesos than if you use Dollars. Be sure to confirm what currency you are being quoted before making a purchase. Note that not all vendors, restaurants, etc. accept credit cards, and the ones that do usually accept only MasterCard and Visa. Be sure to call your credit card company before leaving home to be sure they do not block your card when you are out of the country.

Where can I get or exchange money?

There are exchange houses and banks in Progreso as well as numerous ATMs. The exchange rate as of March 2011: USD$1 = MXN$11.91 pesos, however the peso fluctuates quite a bit, so click the link above for more accurate exchange rates.

• Banks closest to Port:  There are several banks on Calle 80 in the center of Progreso. There is an HSBC located on Calle 80 between Calle 29 and Calle 31, which is a short walk from where the cruise port bus drops of crusie passengers. There is also a BBVA Bank on Calle 78 between Calle 25.
• ATMs closest to Port:  There are several ATMs on Calle 80. The HSBC on Calle 80 also has a 24-hour ATM.

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How do I get around Progreso?

Walking

Be careful of the small horse-drawn carts that deliver many goods throughout the city. Other than that, Progreso is a safe city to explore, using common sense as you would anywhere.

Taxis

Taxis in Progreso are not metered; they operate on a flat rate from one point to another. Be sure to confirm the price (and what currency is being used in the quote) before getting into the cab.

Buses

Public transportation is cheap and easily found in Progreso. There is no cost to take one of the public vans from the cruise ship terminal to go into the city itself. Note that most public buses are not air-conditioned.

Rental Car

The available car rentals go fast in this port, so it is best to reserve ahead if possible, or at least get off the ship and go to the car rental counter as quickly as possible once the ship docks. There is only one rental car company inside the terminal on the pier itself – Executive Car Rental (ACE). You can also rent cars from Globe Car Rental once you reach town - their office is right across the street from where the bus from the pier will drop you off.

The roads outside of town can be rough, with many speed bumps, so drive carefully.

Scooter Rental

The best option for scooter rental is Globe Car Rental – their office is right across the street from where the bus from the pier will drop you off.

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How can I stay in touch with home? (Ex. Email, phone, etc.)

Calling cards are available in town in Progreso and can be used at most any pay phone. These cards are a very economical way to call home.

Where are the Internet cafes?

Cyber Progreso, located on Calle 78 between Calle 29 and 31, is a short walk from where the bus from the pier will drop you off. Rates are about a dollar an hour.

What are the cell phone rates?

Verizon is $1.99/minute and AT&T is between $1.69 and $1.99/minute. Contact your cell phone provider for international roaming rates.

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What are the top attractions and must-sees in Progreso? How long will it take me to get there and to explore?

Attractions

• Dzibilchaltun (Place of Inscribed Flat Stones), located about 16 miles south of the port area (see map) outside Progreso (Yucatan), is one of several Mayan ruins within a shour drive from Progreso. Here you will see a fascinating calendar based on the celestial system from Mayan times, an air-conditioned museum and the Temple of the Seven Dolls observatory.

  Don’t forget to bring your bathing suit – there is a wonderful cenote there - a warm water sinkhole with very friendly fish, 140 feet deep in places. National Geographic divers did an exploration of the cenote in 1958 and they discovered thousands of Mayan artifacts, now on display in the museum. Some tours do not include a stop to swim in the cenote, so be sure to inquire if this is something that you would like to experience. If you are not a good swimmer, bring a tube or a float.

  Check out this video of Cenote Xlacah at Dzibilchaltun

• Merida, the capitol city of the Yucatan Peninsula, has one of the largest historical districts in Mexico. Located 25 miles south from Progeso, you will find numerous museums, art galleries, restaurants, and shops. It is also known as an especially clean city.
• Celestun Biosphere Reserve, although this reserve is a migratory stop or permanent home for over 320 species of birds, it is best known for its flock of American Flamingos. The reserve is located 74 miles southwest of the port (see map). Once you arrive, you can take one of several different guided boat tours. The boats are small, holding a maximum of 8 people. The boats must keep a specific distance from the wildlife, so be sure to bring your binoculars for the best view. There may be an opportunity for a swim along the route, so you may want to bring/wear your bathing suit as well.

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Beaches

You can walk from the drop-off spot in town to Corona Beach. There are numerous restaurants and bars right on or near the beach, as well as, restrooms, changing areas, and thatched roof palapas for shade. Until 7 pm, it’s ok to enjoy a cold beer while walking on the boardwalk along the beach if you want. Massages are also available from vendors along the boardwalk. You can also get a “Corona lanyard” for about a $1 – a necklace-type souvenir that holds your bottle of beer.

The beaches in and near Progreso lie on the Gulf of Mexico, which by most accounts do not compare favorably with beaches on the peninsula that lie on the Caribbean Sea. The water is generally clear, however the water will often appear murky and not appealing to swim in. The beach area next to the pier, although not the best water, has very good restaurants and bars that will serve you right on the beach.

Just outside the city, the villages of Yucalpeten and Chelem have nicer beaches if you want to venture out of town.

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Shopping

Shopping in Progreso offers quality on an assortment of goods, which can be found at bargain prices. For example, you can purchase a hammock swing – for less than half the quoted price. There are shops as well as an open-air artisan market right across the street from where the shuttle bus from the pier drops you off. However, the best shopping can be found in nearby Merida, in and around the town square.

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Golf

• The Yucatan Country Club is home to the Jack Nicklaus designed course El Jaguar. This course is an 18-hole, 7,282 yard, par 72 course located 18 miles south of the port (see map. Contact the club for reservations and information by phone at ++52 (999) 800-4000/01 800 GOLF YUC (4653 982) or by email.
• Club de Golf de Yucatan (La Ceiba) is an 18-hole, par 72 course, located 18 miles south of the port see map. Contact the club for reservations and information by phone at +52(999)922-0053/+52(999)922-0071 or by email.

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Scuba

Progreso is not a good port for scuba or snorkeling, as the waters directly around Progreso itself can often be cloudy with little visibility and are quite shallow close to the coast, which is why the port is so long.

There is a good spot about 65 miles north of Progreso, called Alacranes Reef, a Mexican National Park, where you will find a great coral reef which stretches for about 16 miles and 6-8 miles wide, however because of the distance from the port by boat, it is not a feasible scuba excursion for cruise visitors.

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Tours

There are a variety of tours in and around Progreso that are inexpensive and interesting. If you wait and book a tour in the cruise ship terminal immediately upon arrival, the cost is about 60% less than the same tour offered on the ship. If you wait and book a tour when you arrive in the town center, it will be about 50% less than the cost of the cruise company’s tours.

There is a city tour on a double-decker bus – the tour departs from the spot where the cruise ship shuttle drops you off and is a great way to see the city and decide what you want to do while in port. The Autoprogreso Tour Company offers several tours with guides who speak English, German, Italian, French and, of course, Spanish. They offer comfortable, air-conditioned buses (not all buses in Progreso have air conditioning, and it can get hot!). You can find their booth at Casa de Cultura, where the shuttle from the ship lets you off.

Other good tours from Progreso:

• Cenote Cavern tours
• City tours of Merida
• Various Myan Ruins tours: Chichen-Itza, Uxmal, Izamal. These tours take several hours, so you'll need to get an early start to get back in time for the early afternoon ship departures of Progreso port stops.

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Other

Drink bottled beverages only and be cautious of fruits, vegetables and ice as well.

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What are the best eats in Progreso? Where is the best place to get it?

In Progreso the fresh fish is the must eat. Whether fried or broiled in a banana leaf, the fresh fish, found on the malecon (boardwalk), makes for a great lunch.

In Merida, the cuisine has much fusion of Spanish and Mayan cuisine. One popular dish is Queso Relleno (stuffed chees), which is a dish made of a hollowed out Edam cheese, stuffed with ground meat, peppers, salsa, eggs, vegetables and spices.

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What are the must-drinks? Where is the best place to get it?

A margarita enjoyed in a hammock or even in a bar lining the boardwalk is a must.

If you are on Corona Beach it would go to figure that you should have a cerveza Corona. If not a Corona, any of the various refreshing Mexican beers will do.

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Which are the best souvenirs to buy in Progreso? Where can I get them?

Under $25:

Vanilla extract is produced in Progreso and is an excellent souvenir of the area. Sold in the open-air market across the street from where the cruise shuttle drops you off, a large bottle of Mayan Gold Vanilla will cost about $5 USD.

Also popular are duty free liquors such as: tequila, mezcal and Xtabentun – A Mayan Liqueur with a honey, anise flavor.

$25-$75

Progreso is famous for its henequen crafts also called sisal) – look for woven bags and purses made locally.

Hand-embroidered clothing is particularly inexpensive and beautiful in the shops of Progreso. Mexican blankets, of course, are another popular purchase – they are about ½ the cost here than in Cancun or other more developed resort areas.

Over $75

Filigree Jewelry is a kind of jewelry metalwork made with twisted threads of metals, such as gold and silver. Popular among the Mayans, filigree jewelry make a beautiful gift or souvenir of your trip to the Yucatan.

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What is the weather like in Progreso?

Current Temperature

Average Monthly Temperatures and Rainfall in Progreso

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