Known more often by just “Playa”, this lively beach town is one of the crown jewels of the Mayan Riviera—a place where turquoise waters meet white sand, and laid-back Caribbean vibes blend seamlessly with modern energy. Once a humble fishing village, Playa del Carmen has grown into a vibrant hub that still manages to keep its bohemian charm. It’s more polished than Tulum yet far more relaxed and intimate than Cancun, giving travelers the best of both worlds.
Beyond its sun-soaked beaches, Playa brims with character: youthful, adventurous, and just a touch free-spirited. Stroll along its bustling Fifth Avenue, dive into the cenotes tucked away in the jungle, or hop just outside town to discover theme parks, caves, and untouched stretches of coastline. Whether you’re here for nightlife, nature, or simply to slow down, Playa del Carmen makes it easy to find your own rhythm.
Book your trip with Travel Yucatan and get ready to explore all the highlights, from theme parks to beautiful caves and public beaches. This is your guide to exploring Playa del Carmen!
Photo Credit: JessicaGirvan
This pedestrian thoroughfare stretches over 25 blocks running parallel with the beach. It’s like an outdoor mall or market but with a tropical carnival flavor! This is truly the heart of Playa. Chances are, you’ll stroll this little avenue a few times during your vacation. It’s too fun to resist!
Lining both sides of 5th Avenue, there are hundreds of stores, restaurants, and bars. If you come to shop, you’ll have your hands full! In one block, you’ll see high-end stores sandwiched between local merchant shops. Colorful souvenirs are stacked high, silver jewelry sparkles in the sunshine, and leather purses, hammocks, and ponchos swing in the breeze.
You don’t even have to buy anything or stop anywhere for a bite—it’s an experience just to walk La Quinta and see all there is to be seen! Visit the extremely cool outdoor art gallery that sets up along the avenue every Thursday night, called CaminArte. Watch artists at work and buy a unique memento of your trip!
Photo Credit: Simon Dannhauer
Like most of us, you came to visit the beach, right? Relaxing, playing, eating, and drinking on the beach—that’s pretty much what Playa is all about. Around here, they know how to do it right!
One of the best things about Playa del Carmen is that you can stroll the beach for hours and find your perfect slice of paradise. Even if you’re staying in a beachfront hotel, don’t stay stuck in one area of the beach! It’s all public access, with many beautiful spots to explore.
Lots of guests (especially the ones who’ve been here before) love to pack up a little cooler of drinks, a Mexican blanket, perhaps a book or frisbee, and hit the sand. Some expat residents here tote everything down to the beach on their bicycles, even beach chairs and umbrellas at times!
You can hit a beach club for the day and get pampered, if this is something your hotel doesn’t offer. Who doesn’t dream of being brought a chilled tropical cocktail while lounging on a sun bed as the waves lap the shore a few feet away? Playa has a great variety of beach clubs, each with their own charm, like the popular Lido Beach Club.
You can swim virtually anywhere along Playa’s coastline. The currents are gentle, although you’ll notice they do gradually pull you northwards. (Lifeguards and colored flags will let you know the status of the water and how safe it is that day.)
This is great news for the whole family. Unlike Cancun or other destinations on Mexico’s other side, Playa’s shoreline features shallow, clear water and minimal waves.
Unfortunately, Playa is not known for its snorkeling. Consider booking a tour or exploring nearby Akumal or Puerto Morelos.
There are two wheelchair accessible beaches in Playa del Carmen, with free amenities for disabled persons. The most convenient one is located right off the main square, nestled beside the ferry dock in downtown Playa. The other is at the north end of town at Playa Esmerelda (a gorgeous non-touristy beach in the local district).
Photo Credit: Eduardo Vidal Gutierrez
When the sun sets, Playa del Carmen comes alive with dining, music, and nightlife. Whether you’re looking for a relaxed evening or a night of dancing until dawn, the city has something for everyone.
Start your evening with dinner along Fifth Avenue (La Quinta Avenida), where you’ll find everything from upscale restaurants to casual taco spots. Popular picks include Alux Restaurant—set inside a cave for a one-of-a-kind experience—or La Cueva del Chango for authentic Mexican dishes with a jungle vibe.
If you’re in the mood to dance, Playa has a buzzing club scene. Head to Coco Bongo for its legendary shows and high-energy vibe, or check out Mandala and La Vaquita for late-night parties right on Fifth Avenue.
For a more laid-back night, enjoy live bands and cocktails at Zenzi Beach Bar, which hosts music right on the sand. Kitxen, co-owned by a member of the band Café Tacuba, is another hot spot where local and touring artists play in an intimate setting.
Photo Credit: Aerial-motion
Have you tried fly-boarding yet? It’s one of the latest sensations rippling across the beach scene, and Playa has taken it up in a big way. Strapped to a type of wakeboard with powerful water propulsion jets, you’ll have the feeling of flying while you tumble and spin in and out of the water. You can also try out a jet bike; it’s even easier to use.
There are several places along the beach where you can rent jet-skis and rip around, as well as kayaks and little catamarans to take your crew out on the water. For a good core workout, paddle-boarding is fantastic here most of the year, since the water is crystal clear and usually fairly calm.
Though skydiving isn’t exactly a water sport, it is amazingly scenic because it happens over the ocean. Every day, skydivers get the thrill of a lifetime and land on Playacar beach, south of the ferry dock. Imagine jumping out of a plane at 12,000 feet over the stunningly blue Caribbean Sea!
Right in Playacar, the beautiful Hard Rock 18-hole golf club is worth playing. There are also several other excellent golf courses in the area, like El Camaleon at Mayakoba, Puerto Aventuras Club, and more.
Aside from golfing, you can also enjoy beach volleyball, allowing you to have some fun while working on your tan. Nets are set up for public use at Senor Frog’s (by the ferry dock) and near Mamita’s Beach Club. Several resorts have their own nets as well.
When you’re ready to trade the poolside lounger for a little adventure, Playa del Carmen is the perfect launch point. Nestled in the heart of the Mayan Riviera, the region offers endless ways to explore beyond the beach.
Families can saddle up for horseback rides along the shore, rev up on ATV tours through the jungle, or head offshore for a day of deep-sea fishing. With so many excursions to choose from, you’ll quickly realize two weeks isn’t nearly enough to experience it all.
This small town has several protected beaches with turtle nesting grounds. Year-round, you can swim and snorkel with various species of sea turtles in Akumal Bay. The government is currently trying to regulate the number of visitors to the bay in order to protect the delicate ecosystem of the area.
There’s even more snorkeling to be had at this protected cove in Akumal. Great for kids, the lagoon is mostly shallow, and there are lots of fish to see! There’s an entrance fee to get in here.
These natural freshwater wells in the limestone shelf are all over the Yucatan Peninsula. With crystal-clear water swimming holes, submerged caverns, and awesome stalagmite and stalactite formations, they’re a unique wonder you have to see! Some of the best cenotes are about 20 20-minute drive south of Playa on the federal highway.
We recommend:
Visit the island across the channel for a fun day of shopping, surfing, or SCUBA diving. Cozumel Island is an internationally known diver’s mecca and cruise ship destination. Explore the ‘wild side’ of the island (the eastern coast), which is mostly undeveloped. Ferries between Playa and Coz run almost 18 hours a day, every day of the week.
This eco-park is absolutely fantastic for snorkeling. Family-friendly and beautiful, XelHa is a lot of fun. Chill at the hammock island and float through the mangroves on inner tubes. This natural water park is the farthest park from Playa del Carmen, about a 45-minute drive south by rental car.
This is the most active park you can try, featuring ziplining, canoeing, swimming in underground rivers, and driving amphibious vehicles through caves. There are also nighttime packages available after dark for a whole different experience. It’s located just outside Playa.
The most well-established of the eco-parks listed here, Xcaret opened its doors in 1991. It showcases the gorgeous natural beauty of the area, and has amphitheatre performances, a replica of a Mayan city with costumed performers, plus horseback riding, cave swimming, and lots of exotic animals. It’s south of Playa.
This is the newest eco-park and is located next to Xplor, just a few minutes south of Playa del Carmen. It also focuses on the natural beauty of the region’s caverns, waterfalls, pools, and jungle. Take a sensory journey through the park, solving riddles and optical illusions as you go.
Located close to the Cancun International Airport, Xoximilco is fashioned after an actual Mexico City canal neighborhood. Long boats called trajineras (like a gondola) take your party of 20 around the canals on a culinary and musical adventure through Mexico’s rich historical culture. This park is only open in the evenings.
Excavated Mayan ruins are all over the region! You will even see some in the community of Playacar, and along the highway. Some of the best are Tulum, Coba, and Chichen Itza. You can easily visit the beautiful coastal ruins of Tulum in a day (it’s about an hour south of Playa).
Coba and Chichen Itza are inland and are even more impressive, although they lack the ocean backdrop of Tulum! Other smaller ruin sites include:
For unspoiled beaches with protected reefs and jungle, visit this beautiful area south of the Tulum ruins. There are scores of species of exotic birds to be seen here.
Pro Tip: Consider staying overnight in Punta Allen, Boca Paila, or Tulum to fully enjoy this experience. Sian Ka’an is not far from Playa, but the roads are terrible and travel can take a while!
These words and phrases will help you get around Playa del Carmen, Mexico and surrounding beach towns.
| Spanish | Pronunciation | English |
| Como te llamas? | (Como tay YAM-mass) | What’s your name? |
| Me llamo ….. | (May YAM-moh) | My name is ….. |
| Mucho gusto. | (MOO-choh GOOSE-toh) | Nice to meet you. |
| Cuanto es? | (KWAN-toh ess) | How much is it? |
| Que precio tiene? | (Kay PRAY-seeoh TEA-ennay) | What’s the price? |
| Hay un descuento? | (I oon dess-KWEN-toh) | Is there a discount? |
| Gracias por todo. | (GRASS-ee-ass pour TOH-doh) | Thanks for everything. |
| Necesito una bolsa. | (Ness-ess-EAT-toh oona BOWL-sah) | I need a bag. |
| Aceptas tarjetas de credito? | (Ass-SAYp-tass tar-HEY-tass day CRAY-dee-toh) | Do you accept credit cards? |
| Aceptas dolares Americanos? | (Ass-SAYp-tass DOH-lar-ess Amer-ee-CAN-nos) | Do you accept American dollars? |
Playa del Carmen is one of the most exciting and lively towns on the Riviera Maya. Easily reached from the Cancun Airport, this fun stop is known for its beautiful beaches, souvenir shops, Fifth Avenue activities, and much more.
For a memorable time at some of the best beaches on the Caribbean coast, book your trip with Travel Yucatan.