Packed with mahi-mahi, grouper, yellowtail and amber snapper, the Mesoamerican Reef nestles off the shores of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, where the people of Puerto Morelos have known the secrets of fresh fish for years. Spend some time in this quaint fishing village, and with a little butter, a clove of garlic, and a few insider tips, you can enjoy fresh fish just like the locals.

Step One: Go Fishing

After you’ve sipped your second cup of Mexican coffee and dawn has surrendered to a bright, clean sky, wander to the Puerto Morelos pier. You will find it on the sea side of the town square. Ask for Carlos Acosta. Carlos, a local fisherman, scuba dives and has intimate knowledge of the underwater caves and canyons where the fish hide. Hop aboard his panga-style fishing boat and he’ll whisk you through the gap in the reef and into the indigo waters where you’ll be dining dancing at the end of your line in no time.

Step Two – Present your steaks to the chef at LaPetita’s

This beach garden-style restaurant is a local favorite. Two blocks from the pier on Avenida Rafael Gómez, its humble concrete façade belies a sun-kissed heart where banana and coconut palms flourish on the sand and salty air wafts in on the breeze. Drop off your fresh fish fillets and while you may only have a party of two, ask the chef to create your special authentic Mexican dinner for four.

Step Three – Meet the locals and invite them over for dinner

Spend the afternoon rummaging through the artful, bougainvillea-covered shops along the narrow streets of Puerto Morelos, where you’ll discover Mayan treasures like ruched dresses, handcrafted silver, and vibrant watercolor paintings. Stop by Alma Libre, the overloaded bookstore with its window open, and peruse volumes filled with brilliant photos of underground rivers and pre-Columbian pyramids. Ask questions. Strike up conversations. The locals are outgoing and generous, both with their time and with their friendship. You’ll meet fascinating people, and when you do, invite them over for dinner.

Step four: Savor the bounty of the sea

Grab a table at LaPetita’s in the shade of a palm tree. Tip the waitress about her feast and ask her new friends for an agua fresca, a refreshing fruit drink made with figgy tamarind paste or syrupy sweet hibiscus flowers. When your food arrives, spread the fare family style. Make sure your guests can reach the Garlic Steak Plate, Piping Hot Tortilla Plate, Clay Plates of Avocados, Garden Ripe Tomatoes, Pickled Red Onions, Crispy Lettuce and Glazed Cheese Mexican Rice Bowls and silky smooth black beans. Kick off your shoes, dip your toes in the warm sand and let the rosy glow of the night fill the sky as you enjoy good conversation and enjoy the best fish dinner Puerto Morelos has to offer.