#city #beach #visited ## Background Progreso is a port city located on an isthmus about 30 minutes' driving north of [[Mérida]]. Progreso is a cruise ship destination, and the port of entry for many container ships, which dock at the 8-km-long pier – the world's longest, due to the extremely wide and shallow continental shelf. The *Malecón de Progreso* or the boardwalk features many shops, restaurants, and hotels, including [[Almadía (Progreso)]], [[Casa del Pastel (Progreso)]], and [[Crabster (Progreso)]]. Over the last couple of years, there has been rapid further development of the boardwalk with many new hotels and restaurants opening up. Many operators offer boat rentals near Progreso which can take groups up and down the coast, often stopping at Pig Beach and/or dropping anchor near the Poseidon statue. The Chicxulub Crater, where the meteorite fell that led to the mass extinction event that killed off the dinosaurs, is just off the shore from Progreso (actually, the closest point to it is the town of Chicxulub, just east along the coast). There is a museum called [[Museo del Meteorito]] located along the Malecón. ## Review Although there are many nice (nicer) beaches all around Yucatán, Progreso is unique in that it offers a significant number of restaurants and a walkable (stroller-pushable) boardwalk. It's also the closest beach to Mérida. > [!warning] Boat rental scams > If you choose to rent a boat, make sure you agree beforehand (in writing, e.g. on WhatsApp) with the operator where the boat will go – there are some operators that will take it a short distance to Pig Beach, drop anchor, and refuse to move it further. We had one bad experience (out of 4) that did this – they didn't even add enough gas to the boat's tank to go anywhere, so we wasted time both arguing with them and waiting for them to fill it up. > > Typically you should agree to visit both Pig Beach and the Poseidon statue, ideally with the boat touring the rest of the time. ## Photos ## Further Reading > [!tip] 365 Días en Yucatán: [#318 Playa incluyente en Progreso](https://yucatan.travel/experiencia/318-playa-incluyente-en-progreso/)