Playa del Carmen & Riviera Maya

Playa del Carmen, Mexico’s fastest growing city, is just 42 miles south of the Cancun airport and about 35 miles north of Tulum. 

Just a short time ago it was a lazy seaside community but has exploded in recent years outpacing even the phenomenal early growth of Cancun.  Playa’s dock is host to the ferry that takes people to the island of Cozumel, the slender profile of which is barely visible on the horizon, especially at night when it lights up the sky.

The Caribbean is the main attraction here with the Great Mayan Reef just a short boat ride from Playa’s dock:  Diving, snorkeling, sailing, and sport fishing are just some of the reasons to get out to sea.

The hotels in Playa are smaller than Cancun and are mostly located in Playacar, the planned community just south of town.  Playacar boasts a nice golf course and spa and many nice homes and resorts.  The stretch of beach that runs the entire length of the city and beyond is one of the best in the area. 

Due to its jarring growth, Playa del Carmen changes constantly.  However, some things remain the same.  Fifth Avenue (Quinta Avenida) which is a pedestrian street parallel to the beach, is still the main drag and is home to most of Playa’s best restaurants, clubs and shops.  The main bus terminal at Fifth and Juarez is can still get you to Tulum, Chetumal and Belize.  The dock to Cozumel is also nearby as is the main town square.

The Riviera Maya, also known as the Mayan Sun Coast, refers the 100 miles of coastline that stretches from Puerto Morelos in the north to Felipe Carrillo Puerto, across from the  Sian Ka’an Biosphere.  This 1.3 million acre reserve stretches another 100 miles to near the border of Belize. 

This region has a very unique topography that has over the centuries riddled the area with underground rivers and caves.  In some areas sinkholes have opened up the ceilings of these river caves and exposed them to the jungle above.  The Mayans called these sacred sinkholes “Cenotes” and used them for certain ritual burials.  Today, the Riviera Maya boasts the only place in the world with such a collection of underground rivers ripe for rappelling, swimming and exploring.  Adventure seekers can descend to these subterranean 

Along the coast of the Riviera Maya is the Great Mayan Reef, second only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.  It begins near Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy in the north and stretches 197 miles (317 km) south down the coast past Cozumel to Belize and Honduras.

Playa del Carmen / Riviera Maya RESORTS (top)

In the 75 miles of coastline from Cancun to Tulum, there are over 25,000 hotel rooms representing a wide variety of resorts.  Expansive tropical lake-sized pools are available plus lazy rivers, swim-up rooms, even a wave pool.  Indoor spas, beachside spa treatments, water sports, marinas and unlimited activities abound.  Adult-only, kid friendly, in town, remote:  It’s all here.

 

VIEW THE RESORTS

QUICK FACTS (top)

Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen SHOPPING (top)

Playa del Carmen is a great location to shop for handcrafts including objects made of copper, semi-precious stone jewelry, pottery and glass. 

Most boutiques are centered in the area along the pedestrian La Quinta Avenida (5^th Ave) and its side streets.

Playa del Carmen DINING (top)

There are many great restaurants in Playa, many of which fight for sidewalk space along Quinta Avenida. Many have been there for years and new standards are born each year in this fast growing town.

Old Favorites include Blue Parrot Inn, Bylos (a French bakery), Food (Swedish-owned), Java Joe’s (coffee and sandwiches), Da Gabi Restaurant (brick oven pizza and Italian food). Two Canadian owned restaurants are local favorites: Zas and Media Luna. Both are funky with eclectic menus. Mayan food is served in style at Yaxche Maya Cuisine.

The local palette offerings include Moroccan, French, Asian, Brazilian, Argentinean, Tex-Mex, Spanish tapas, Middle Eastern, German, American, Mayan, Yucatan and even Mexican!

Playa del Carmen NIGHTLIFE (top)

Although not as large as Cancun, Playa del Carmen has a respectable club scene for a town of its size. Many new chic venues have opened recently to add to the familiar stand-bys. As by day, the life pulse of the night is along Quinta Avenida.

Perhaps the most enduring nightspot in Playa del Carmen is the Blue Parrot Beach Club with its famous center bar surrounded by swings. In the past, there was a straight shot to the beach from the bar, the dance floor was sand and the place itself was run down in an endearing way. Nowadays, there are restaurants and stages between the bar and the beach, the dance floor is cement and stone and the rustic hotel has upgraded and grown several blocks into town. It is still a great place for open-air nightlife with live bands, live acrobatic shows, dancers and a lazy atmosphere.

More popular in terms of people crowding the dance floor are Senor Frog’s where Latin and world dance beats pump into the night. Other popular more mellow locales include Safari and Captain Tulis. There are new tequila bars to rival those in Mexico City and even jazz can be enjoyed in the new Playa.

Since the town was there before the Spaniards came, it has developed first as a Mexican City and more recently as a tourist destination. This explains the absence of malls, the scarcity of chains and the charming atmosphere that permeates this town day and night.

Playa del Carmen ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS (top)

Besides shopping at unique boutiques, dining at quaint restaurants, taking the ferry to Cozumel and relaxing on the beach, you can keep busy with many other activities in Playa del Carmen such as cave diving, kite- surfing, snorkeling, windsurfing, parasailing and visits to the areas Eco-parks.

 

Area Activities and Attractions