Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
Planning to see United Mexican States soon? These are my favorite things to produce inwards Playa del Carmen afterwards living hither for over a year. Pretty beaches, cenote swimming, Mayan ruins as well as more.
Playa del Carmen is a fun beach town on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, business office of the classic Riviera Maya route downward the coast.
Smaller as well as less touristy than Cancun, it’s becoming a pop move finish for people looking for move experiences that are to a greater extent than substantial than your typical all-inclusive resort.
I spent over a yr working as well as living inwards Playa del Carmen every bit a digital nomad.
Lately, friends receive got been bespeak for opor-garai advice virtually the surface area — hence I wanted to part some my favorite things to produce inwards Playa del Carmen!
Playa Del Carmen Highlights Map
How To Use This Map
Above you’ll respect a map of highlights inwards Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Click on the top left of the map to respect divide layers mark the route as well as points of interest. You tin shroud as well as present dissimilar layers, or click icons on the map to meet the names of places I cite inwards this move guide. “Star” the map to salve it to your ain Google Maps, or opened upward the map inwards a novel window for a larger version. Enjoy!
Best Things To Do In Playa Del Carmen 2019
1: Cenote Diving/Snorkeling
What’s a cenote yous ask? It’s an underground cave filled amongst fresh water. The Yucatan has tons of them — sinkholes that opened upward up into underground rivers amongst the clearest H2O you’ve ever seen.
If yous receive got your PADI license, you tin go scuba diving inwards these caves amongst a guide. Because there’s daylight nigh the entrance, a to a greater extent than technical cave diving license isn’t required.
Not a scuba diver? No problem. You tin also go snorkeling at most cenotes. Some of my favorite cenotes nigh Playa del Carmen are:
- Cenote Dos Ojos
- Cenote Azul
- Garden of Eden
- Gran Cenote
2: Visit Ancient Mayan Ruins
The ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum are located South of Playa del Carmen inwards the town of Tulum. Tulum was i time a small-scale but of import port metropolis that sits on the border of a cliff, amongst a beach below where yous tin swim too.
Because Tulum is hence popular, the ruins tin live crowded unless yous brand it early on inwards the morning. Coba is some other Mayan site nigh Playa del Carmen which sees less visitors. You tin fifty-fifty soundless climb the pyramid in that location too!
Of course, everyone who visits the Yucatan Peninsula wants to depository fiscal establishment tally out Mexico’s most famous ruins, Chichen Itza. This site is a chip farther away, virtually 2 hours past times car.
3: Playa Del Carmen Nightlife
Playa del Carmen’s nightlife is fun, but non quite every bit crazy every bit Cancun. Coco Bongo is i nightclub that I intend is worth a visit.
Part Vegas show, business office nightclub, as well as a chip cheesy — but it’s soundless i hell of a party. You’ll meet flying acrobats, blockbuster motion-picture present characters, as well as rock-star impersonators accept the phase inwards turns throughout the night.
Every ticket includes total opened upward bar all night, hence accept enough of photos because yous in all probability won’t recollect what happened the side past times side day!
A few other goodness nightclubs that I recommend are Mandala as well as La Vaquita (just await for the moo-cow dancing inwards the street!)
4: Swimming With Sea Turtles
Who doesn’t desire to swim amongst sea turtles? I’ve ever wanted to, that’s for sure. I got my peril at Akumal beach, xxx minutes South of Playa del Carmen.
The shallow blue-green H2O hither is domicile to Green, Hawksbill as well as Loggerhead sea turtles that yous tin swim with.
To see Akumal, the cheapest means is to accept a colectivo taxi headed for Tulum from the stand upward located on Calle 2 Norte betwixt Avenida xv as well as twenty inwards Playa del Carmen. Tell them yous desire to acquire off at Akumal.
From the highway, it’s a 5-minute walk to Akumal Bay. Bring your ain snorkeling gear, life jacket or rent some there. Swimming amongst the turtles is free!
5: Ocean Parasailing Over Mexico
Ocean parasailing is a hugely pop activity inwards Playa Del Carmen, amongst many boats ready to delineate their passengers through the sky over the ocean.
Take off tin live quite a bumpy ride, i time you’re upward inwards the air paragliding is i of the most serene as well as peaceful experiences on the busy beaches of Mexico.
As a bonus, parasailing gives yous an fantabulous see of Playa’s coastline from above. Great for photos if yous receive got a waterproof camera! Sometimes they dunk your legs into the sea for fun…
6: Self-Guided Mexican Taco Tour
Hey, it’s Mexico. Mexican nutrient inwards the Yucatan is inexpensive & delicious. There are a few special restaurants inwards Playa del Carmen I desire to part amongst you.
If you’re looking for some authentic tacos, depository fiscal establishment tally out El Fogon. Super basic amongst plastic chairs as well as Mexican Idol on the TV, but monastic say three or iv tacos pastor amongst a mutual frigidness beer, as well as you’ll live inwards heaven.
Another swell pick for tacos is Don Sirloin. Their taco sauces are the best! My favorite is the jalapeno as well as pineapple one…
Don Sirloin has 2 locations, i on tenth Avenue betwixt twelfth Street as well as 14th Street as well as some other on Constituyentes Avenue at the corner of 25th Avenue (next to Mega).
7: Salsa Dancing At Zenzi
Zenzi is a beach bar as well as restaurant, located correct off the sand inwards Playa Del Carmen. While of course of written report the nutrient as well as imbibe hither are great, the existent attraction is salsa dancing!
Every Saturday night a alive salsa band plays every bit guests as well as visitors bring together inwards or only sentry every bit local dancers present off their best moves on the trip the calorie-free fantastic floor.
It’s a swell means to start the black off inwards Playa before heading on to other bars as well as nightclubs.
8: Boat Trip To Isla Cozumel
Cozumel is a small-scale island off the coast of Playa del Carmen known for it’s pristine beaches. Normally a halt for cruise ships, yous tin accept a 45-minute ferry over on your ain from Playa del Carmen for virtually $13 USD.
An tardily & inexpensive 24-hour interval trip is renting a scooter as well as driving it roughly the isle where all the best beaches are. Or, if you’re feeling extra adventurous, yous tin endeavour hitchhiking roughly the island instead.
As long every bit in that location isn’t a cruise send inwards port, you’ll receive got those white sand beaches to yourself. Plenty of stops on the means for tiffin & photos. Jump on the concluding ferry dorsum to Playa del Carmen roughly sunset.
9: Parque Fundadores
Parque Fundadores, or the “Founding Fathers Park”, is a world common inwards Playa del Carmen exactly northward of the Cozumel ferry terminal along the beach amongst amusement for the whole family.
While a playground entertains children, adults tin accept a stroll downward the beach as well as depository fiscal establishment tally out the Portal Maya statue, sitting over 50 feet tall.
You powerfulness also grab a Papantla Flyer’s (Voladores de Papantla) performance inwards the park. H5N1 spectacular acrobatic present of men swinging from a 90ft pole past times their feet! If yous sentry the whole thing, delight recollect to tip them.
10: Ride In H5N1 Colectivo
You can’t see Playa del Carmen without using a Colectivo (group taxi). You’ll meet these vans cruise downward the street picking upward locals. It’s an interesting (and confusing) experience if you’ve never tried it before.
They materials every bit many people every bit possible into these things, as well as rides tin cost less than $1.
Destinations are written on the windshield, but if yous don’t know the names, it won’t brand much sense. H5N1 goodness house to start is past times grabbing i at the Colectivo station on Calle 2 Norte from Playa del Carmen to Akumal beach (mentioned earlier).
Remember to say the driver where you’re going! It’s cheap, fun, as well as volition force yous out of your comfort zone a bit.
11: Scuba Diving In Playa Del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is a swell house to base of operations yourself if you’re a scuba diver. Along amongst all the cool cenote cave diving areas I mentioned earlier, in that location are some decent reefs nearby too.
A few of the most pop are Pared Verde Ledge as well as Tortugas nigh Playa del Carmen itself, Gorgonians downward nigh Akumal, Palancar Reef as well as Santa Rosa Wall off the coast of Cozumel.
There are tons of dive shops as well as schools inwards as well as roughly town, hence if you’ve ever wanted to acquire your PADI opened upward H2O diving certification, Playa del Carmen is a swell house to produce it!
12: Visit Playa Del Carmen’s Beaches
Playa del Carmen’s beaches receive got been hitting live erosion pretty badly over the past times few years, as well as frankly the beaches downward inwards Tulum are a lot nicer, however, yous tin soundless respect a spot to soak upward the Sun spell enjoying a fruity drink.
Mamitas Beach
One swell house to lay out inwards the Sun is Mamitas Beach Club. You tin rent lounge chairs amongst umbrellas, go jet skiing, parasailing, or accept a sailboat ride. This is sort of the “party” beach where people go to live seen.
Playacar Beach
Another goodness beach is inwards front end of Playacar Phase 1 Community. While the gated community is private, the beach is public. Just walk a few minutes South from the Cozumel Ferry Pier. Fewer tourists, to a greater extent than sand, as well as exactly a nicer beach. There are no services out in that location — convey your ain food/beverages.
Punta Esmeralda Beach
This is a busy world beach at the far North terminate of Playa del Carmen, amongst to a greater extent than locals than tourists. At Punta Esmeralda there’s a limestone sinkhole/cenote that’s connected to the sea that acts every bit a protected swimming spot for kids.
13: Walk Playa’s Famous fifth Avenue
You can’t see Playa del Carmen as well as immature lady walking downward La Quinta, aka fifth Avenue. It’s the chief walking-street lined amongst all mode of shops, beach bars, as well as restaurants.
The cobbled-stoned street is where you’ll respect most of the city’s nightlife. It’s a lot of fun to respect a bar or cafe, sit down down, as well as sentry the (sometimes strange) parade of people walk by.
You tin pass hours wandering downward the street, stopping into touristy shops, cafes, as well as trying dissimilar vegan smoothies. At night, street performers occupation the sides dressed inwards costumes, or breakdancing for tips.
14: Relax On H5N1 Rooftop Pool
After a busy 24-hour interval exploring the sights of Playa Del Carmen, what improve than a cocktail spell lounging past times the pool.
Unlike many of the rooftop pools inwards the area, the Be Playa puddle champions a laid-back atmosphere as well as provides a welcome escape from the loud music of the surrounding hotels.
Attracting many locals as well as expats for this reason, Be Playa’s rooftop is small-scale but cozy as well as a existent process afterwards a long day. There are fifty-fifty a few tables as well as chairs that sit down inwards the shallow water.
15: Xpuha Beach Day Trip
South of Playa del Carmen, but before Tulum, in that location are 2 swell beaches that brand for a swell 24-hour interval trip away from the larger crowds.
A 20-minute drive volition convey yous to Xpuha Beach; a stretch of beautiful white sand lies interspersed amongst beach bars as well as restaurants.
The beach entry fee is 50 pesos, as well as yous tin rent beach chairs, umbrellas, snorkeling equipment, as well as kayaks hither too.
16: Sunbathing At Xcacel Beach
A chip farther due south you’ll respect Xcacel, i of my favorite beaches inwards the Yucatan Peninsula. The sea is a chip rougher than at Xpuha, but there’s also a freshwater cenote to cool off in.
May-October is sea turtle nesting season, as well as some areas of the beach may live roped off to protect buried turtle eggs. If you’re a goodness swimmer, in that location is some decent snorkeling on the North side of the beach.
The entry fee for this beach is 10 – twenty pesos (for sea turtle protection). This remote beach doesn’t actually receive got many services, although in that location are bathrooms.
17: Alux Cave Restaurant
For an upscale dining experience, depository fiscal establishment tally out Alux, the eating seat built within an underground cave!
Aluxes are supernatural spirits who protect Mexico’s sacred places.
Colored cave lights created a mysterious atmosphere, spell waterfalls position the tone for a romantic evening.
After dinner, brand certain to inquire for a quick cave tour, because the whole complex is MUCH bigger than it start looks! You may fifty-fifty meet a bat or 2 flying around.
18: Frida Kahlo Museum
Frida Kahlo is i of those artists yous either know or yous don’t. H5N1 local icon inwards Mexico, Frida created portraits as well as self-portraits inspired past times the nature as well as artifacts of Mexico; mixing realistic images amongst fantasy.
The Frida Kahlo Museum doesn’t incorporate whatever master copy plant of art, but it does encompass the life as well as plant of Frida Kahlo; giving visitors a peril to larn virtually her controversial fine art through photos, videos, diagrams, as well as collages.
Everything is really artistic as well as colorful, correct through to the inevitable tourist gift shop, as well as it’s worth a see if solely for a piddling while!
19: Eat Some Street Elote Or Esquite
Elote is essentially corn-on-the-cob, roasted on an opened upward grill amongst a decadent coating of salt, chili powder, butter, lime juice, cotija cheese as well as mayonnaise.
Esquite is basically the same, solely the corn kernels receive got been removed from the cob, boiled, as well as are served inwards a piddling loving cup mixed amongst dissimilar ingredients.
The best elote as well as esquite inwards Playa del Carmen tin live institute sold from carts on the chief drag of Avenida Benito Juarez — especially inwards the evenings.
20: Rent H5N1 Jet Ski In Playa!
I’m certain I don’t demand to produce much convincing hither – who doesn’t desire to whizz roughly on a jet ski every bit business office of their holiday? Particularly when the location is every bit stunning every bit Playa Del Carmen!
Mamitas beach is in all probability the best house to rent a jet ski as well as drive it similar yous stole it… The even out seas offering a speedy as well as exhilarating ride, making jet ski hire good worth the cost!
21: Take H5N1 Sailing Trip
From booze cruises to full-day sailing tours, the opportunities for getting out on the H2O are never-ending inwards Playa Del Carmen.
While the booze cruises are swell for saltation breakers, I prefer to a greater extent than relaxing trips to coral reefs for snorkeling. For the most romantic option, there’s also sunset sailing catamaran trips.
Another pick is to only rent a smaller sailboat (with a captain) correct from the beach (like Mamitas) as well as cruise roughly the local reefs as well as produce some snorkeling for an lx minutes or two.
22: Sunrise Stand Up Paddle Boarding
You soundless haven’t seen the sea inwards its truthful beauty until yous produce a sunrise paddle board session. The Aloha Paddle Club offers sunrise sessions for mixed groups.
Paddleboarding is available for all levels as well as abilities, amongst instructors introduce to render guidance to anyone who may demand it. An incredible means to appreciate the sunrise!
23: Grab An Acai Or Quinoa Bowl
Bio-Natural is an organic store as well as vegetarian restaurant, amongst enough of vegan offerings as well as salubrious options. It’s extremely pop inwards Playa.
Their fruit bowls are made fresh from scratch yous tin live certain that whatever dietary requirements yous receive got volition live taken tending of. They also receive got some awesome cold-pressed juices.
Bio-Natural is worth a see – especially for the health-conscious! I oftentimes came hither for breakfast, choosing the salubrious & hearty quinoa bowl amongst a drinking glass of carrot juice.
Getting To Playa Del Carmen
Flying To Cancun
Playa del Carmen has a VERY small-scale airport, but the most economical means is to wing into Cancun as well as drive downward (bus, shuttle, or rental car). Check for Cancun flying deals on Skyscanner as well as read my guide amongst tips for finding inexpensive flights.
Renting H5N1 Car In Mexico
The best site to mass your automobile is Discover Car Hire. They search both local as well as international automobile rental companies to aid yous respect the best possible price. This is the easiest means to rent a automobile inwards Mexico.
Traveling By Bus
The cheapest means to acquire to Playa del Carmen from Cancun airdrome is the ADO Bus System. H5N1 ticket solely costs virtually $10 USD as well as the trip takes exactly over an hour.
Airport Shuttle
There are a bunch of airdrome shuttle services offering rides from Cancun airdrome to Playa del Carmen, as well as they’ll live certain to harass yous at the airdrome exit. In my opinion, they are overpriced as well as taking the omnibus is much better. As long every bit your hotel is inwards the metropolis itself (so yous tin walk or accept a taxi).
Where To Stay In Playa Del Carmen
Playa has go a pop tourist hub for travelers to base of operations themselves spell exploring the Yucatan Peninsula. If you’re wondering where to rest inwards Playa del Carmen, hither are my recommendations depending on your budget.
Have yous ever considered short-term even out rentals? It’s a swell means to salve money! Click here to larn how to acquire $35 off your start booking.
Playa Del Carmen Tips & Advice
- The best fourth dimension to see Playa del Carmen is betwixt Oct – December. Busy flavor inwards the surface area starts inwards Dec as well as goes on through March. There’s swell weather condition inwards the winter, but many to a greater extent than tourists too.
- What happens if yous acquire stuck amongst a rainy day? Well, yous tin ever proceed a Rio Secreto cave tour! Another fun affair to produce is see the 3D Museum Of Wonders.
- If you’re looking for fun festivals as well as events inwards Playa del Carmen, I recommend checking out the Sacred Mayan Journey roughly the terminate of May, Semana Santa Holy Week inwards tardily March, as well as Day Of The Dead on Nov 1st.
If you’re vacationing inwards United Mexican States as well as desire something dissimilar than Cancun, yous actually can’t go incorrect past times basing yourself inwards Playa del Carmen to explore the best of what the Yucatan Peninsula has to offer. ★
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to aid yous start packing for your trip. Pick upward a move backpack, photographic boob tube camera gear, as well as other useful move accessories.
Book Your Flight
Find inexpensive flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to respect deals on airlines. Also brand certain to read how I respect the cheapest flights.
Rent H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a swell site for comparison automobile prices to respect the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read to a greater extent than virtually how I mass inexpensive hotels online.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget move insurance! I’m a large fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than virtually why yous should ever deport move insurance.
Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Yucatan
Suggested Reading: The Maya: Ancient Peoples & Places
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READ MORE FROM MEXICO
Best Of The Yucatan Peninsula
Tips For Visiting Mayan Ruins Of Tulum
How Much Does Traveling United Mexican States Cost?
Chichen Itza: Mexico’s World Wonder
Highlights & Things To Do In Cancun
Have whatever questions virtually things to produce inwards Playa del Carmen? What virtually other suggestions? Drop me a message inwards the comments below!
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