What to do in Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is the largest city in the Riviera Maya and in the state of Quintana Roo and is strategically located between the city of Cancun (68 km away), the city of Tulum (65 km) and accompanied by a distance of 15 km from the island of Cozumel.
In short, Playa del Carmen is the heart of the Riviera Maya, where parties both day and night can not miss, as well as its various activities and places. So, today we will tell you what to do in Playa del Carmen.
Playa del Carmen
In the 80’s Playa del Carmen was nothing more than a small fishing village that owned a port to Cozumel, however in the last decades it has gone through an incredible transformation that has allowed it to become one of the favorite tourist destinations in the Riviera Maya.
There are so many things to do in Playa del Carmen or “playa” as the locals know it there are so many things to see and do that we have taken the liberty of creating an incredible guide that can help you create the perfect itinerary for your stay in Playa del Carmen.
What to do in Playa del Carmen
Besides enjoying the sun and spectacular weather that Playa del Carmen offers there are many other things to do and know, this is a very touristic and hectic city that gives you many options to distract you throughout the day and which are ideal for the whole family.
Between good food, nightlife, theme parks, reefs, cenotes and Mayan ruins Playa del Carmen gives you the possibility to live an unforgettable vacation that you will surely want to repeat, without further ado, let’s start to know a little of the things to do in Playa del Carmen.
Fifth Avenue
The famous Quinta Avenida in Playa del Carmen is the heart of this city and is an ideal place to stroll, eat, shop or have a snack, this is a place that remains quite full during the day and night, and in this place you can find everything to spend an incredible day surrounded by the most picturesque and cozy atmosphere you can imagine.
In this place you can get large chain stores or international boutiques, its streets are also full of local stores where you can buy handicrafts or clothing, you can also find the most luxurious hotels in the area, take the ferry to Cozumel or meet the nightlife of the 12th Street.
Beaches
Playa del Carmen takes care by itself to enchant all who visit and offer everything you need for your vacation, the beaches of Playa del Carmen have been listed on more than one occasion as the most beautiful in the world thanks to its white sand and warm turquoise blue sea, the best known beaches of this place are:
- Playa Paraiso.
- Tukan Beach.
- Mamitas Beach.
- Paamul beach.
However, there are many others to know that you will surely love, remember to arrive early, do not leave behind the sunscreen and enjoy the day.
Xcaret
A few kilometers from Playa del Carmen, is located Xcaret, one of the best ecological, archaeological and natural parks in the state, which was formerly used by the Mayans as a port and trading center.
This park has to be an obligatory stop for you and we guarantee you that its charm will catch your attention, because this park combines tradition and culture with adventure, where you can see an aquarium with many endangered species, pools, a subway river, giant turtles, attractions for the whole family, among others.
Ruins of Tulum
One of the most exciting visits you can have while in the Riviera Maya are the ruins of Tulum, an incredible mix of natural beauty and history, in Tulum is a Mayan archaeological site overlooking the sea and the only one with this feature.
Some of the structures you can visit in this place are the Temple of the Descending God, The Castle or The Temple of the Frescoes which are a great example of the incredible Mayan architecture, also once in Tulum do not forget to visit its beautiful and warm beaches. Remember that the city of Tulum is not far from Playa del Carmen, so you can take a day to visit Tulum.
Chichen Itza
This is one of the most preserved and visited sites in the world, it is a complex of monuments that was built by the Mayas and counts as one of the 7 modern wonders of the world today, this Mayan city is shrouded in mystery and history and you can find it in the east of Yucatan about an hour from Tulum.
These ruins are also known as a city thanks to the amount of buildings that are found in the more than three kilometers of land in which you will find different temples such as El Caracol an impressive observatory that is aligned with some planets and stars, you can also get the temple of Kukulkan or the temple of the warriors.
Cenotes
Along the Riviera Maya there are about 30,000 cenotes and many of them you can find very close to Playa del Carmen where you will have the opportunity to tour the famous route of the cenotes among which you will find open cenotes, closed, and a variety of fauna and flora, in them you can dive, practice the zip line, snorkeling, diving, among other fun activities.
These cenotes are considered as national natural heritage, so you should leave repellents and sunscreen far away.
Nightlife
The nightlife in Playa del Carmen is quite lively, although a little calmer than Cancun, the offer of bars, discos and shows is not lacking and there is plenty to choose from, one of the things to do in Playa del Carmen and one of the best known nightclubs in the area is Coco Bongo, a two-story nightclub where you can enjoy shows of international scale, international DJ performances, play of lights and is considered one of the best shows in Playa del Carmen.
Conclusion
These are just some of the more than 100 things you can do in Playa del Carmen, and there are still many more that we will list later in this article. And remember, if you don’t know how to get to Playa del Carmen or your accommodation is in Playa del Carmen, you can contact us and we will gladly help you with your private transportation service to the heart of the Riviera Maya.