According to BARBLEJEWELRY, Playa del Carmen is a very popular beach town in the province of Quintana Roo on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Playa del Carmen is often seen as the smaller brother of the city of Cancúnwhich is about sixty kilometers away. The reason why Playa del Carmen has developed so quickly into the tourist hot spot it is today is the fact that the city is conveniently located near a number of attractions and points of interest. Because many sights are not within Playa del Carmen itself, you will often have to go on an organized excursion, a rental car, by taxi or by bus. On this page we describe the sights of Playa del Carmen itself or those that are within easy traveling distance (a radius of twenty kilometers).
Top 10 things to do in Playa del Carmen
#1. Strand
Without any doubt, the beautiful tropical beaches of Playa del Carmen are the city’s biggest attraction. The white sandy beach has beautiful shades of color just off the coast where azure blue, green and blue tones alternate. For palm beaches you have to go to Playacar, where the Riu hotels have a part of the beach full of palms.
#2. Fifth Avenue
The street of Playa del Carmen is 5th Avenue, in Spanish that is Quinta Avenida. This street consists entirely of pedestrian area. It is a succession of shops and restaurants where it is very lively both during the day and in the evening. In the evenings you will also find many artists who offer their works on the street.
#3. Playacar
South of Playa del Carmen you will find the Playacar district. This area can only be reached from the road via guarded barriers, you can easily walk into Playacar via the beach. If you walk through Playacar you will see beautiful villas, some of which are located right on the beach. In addition to villas, you will also find an 18-hole golf course in Playacar. This Playacar Golf Club has a unique all-inclusive formula that includes food and drinks. The district is also home to the luxury all-inclusive hotels of the well-known Spanish Riu chain, with Riu Palace Riviera Maya and Riu Palace Mexico as the two most luxurious hotels.
#4. Xcaret
Just south of Playa del Carmen is the Xcaret eco-archaeological park. Originally Xcaret is an archaeological Mayan site. However, a great commercial concept has been created around it, which today ranks among the region’s greatest attractions. Although it is widely offered as an excursion by local tour guides of the Dutch travel organizations, it is often cheaper to go there independently by taxi and arrange the entrance tickets in advance via the internet.
#5. Carmen walk
The more luxurious shops can be found in the Paseo del Carmen outdoor shopping center, which is located at the beginning (south side) of 5th Avenue. The white shophouses house shops with luxury clothing brands, sunglasses, perfumes and jewelry. You will also find some catering establishments here, such as Starbucks Coffee and one of the many branches of the American chain Subway.
#6. Mayaruines
You don’t have to travel to Chichén Itzá or Tulum for Mayan ruins. Playa del Carmen also has its own remnants from the Maya era. In the Playacar district you can find a few small remnants of the Mayan culture. Access to this one is free.
#7. Departure pier Cozumel ferry
At the place where 5th Avenue starts there you will find the departure pier of the ferry to the island of Cozumel. At the place where the passengers wait to board, you have a room on the first floor with some wooden benches. From this point you have a beautiful view over the beaches and sea of Playa del Carmen.
#8. Cenote Chaak-Tun
The landscape of the Yucatán Peninsula is home to a large number of cenotes. Also at Playa del Carmen you will find a few cenotes that are collectively known as Chaak-Tun. These three caves are home to wonderfully clear water, stalagmites and stalactites.
#9. Paamul
Paamul is located about twenty kilometers south of Playa del Carmen. If you want to avoid the relatively busy Playa del Carmen, you should take a look here by boat. Paamul is a small village with one restaurant, a few holiday homes and an almost deserted sandy beach where you feel like Robinson Crusoe. The best way to get here is by boat from the nearby Puerto Aventuras marina.
#10. Coco Bongo
Coco Bongo occupies a special place within the vibrant nightlife of Playa del Carmen. It is not an ordinary disco, but an all-inclusive concept where a large number of varied shows are given within an evening.
