The 7 Best Things To Do in Playa del Carmen in 2019
Playa del Carmen – truly the world’s greatest melting pot of locals, tourists, digital nomads and expats alike. With the incredible variety of people that come and go through this area, there are at least 7 things to do in Playa del Carmen that all walks of life can appreciate, which are all listed below for your reading pleasure.
Fair warning: most of these are lesser known things to do or locations to visit in and around the Playa del Carmen area, which may typically take you months – if not years – of living here to find out they actually existed. Thankfully, we’re all about transparency and making sure that everyone coming to the area – from tourists to locals – can find enjoyable activities to do with friends, family or even solo!
Plus, there’s no better way to impress visiting in-laws or friends than to take them to incredibly unique spots that even Google doesn’t know about! So, let’s get started, shall we? 😉
1. Freshwater swims in ancient, underground rivers
The Yucatan Peninsula (which is where Playa del Carmen is nestled) is home to thousands upon thousands of underground rivers and sinkholes, called cenotes.
Quick science lesson: millions of years ago, the Yucatan Peninsula was actually in the ocean and was a giant coral reef system. Eventually, the peninsula rose out of the water (hello, tectonic plates) and the coral reef system died upon impact (because, #oxygen) and calcified (or hardened) into limestone. For example, if you’re reading this and you’re currently in the area, then what you’re standing on is coral reef turned limestone from millions of years ago – I mean, how cool is that?! So make sure that the next time you’re walking around, check out the ground if it’s not covered in cement. Notice the coral-like shape to the rocks? Notice any fossilized shells? I have 😉
Over the millennia, all of the water from tropical rainfalls has been filtering and draining through the limestone ground that covers the Yucatan Peninsula and eventually collects in an underground river system. Then one day, as agreed upon by modern-day scientists, the same asteroid that is theorized to have killed the dinosaurs, shook up this limestone ground that blankets the peninsula. As you’ve probably guessed already, this caused massive sinkholes to form (over 8,000 and counting, to be exact). These sinkholes, which are entrances to the underground river systems here, are what you can swim, snorkel and scuba dive in – called cenotes.
Now that the science/history lesson is over, let’s talk about the top two cenotes to go to.
Hands down my favourite cenote to go to is Jardin del Eden because it has a small restaurant, it’s reasonably priced, and there’s plenty of room to rest in the shade. Plus, if you go during the weekdays, there’s hardly anyone there.
To get there, you can either take a taxi or, if you want to take the cheap route (while also experiencing the adventurous side of living here) simply head to the colectivo station on Calle 2 Norte between Avenida 15 and 20 in Playa del Carmen. Take a colectivo that’s headed towards Tulum, and tell them that you want to get off at Cenote Jardin del Eden.
Now, you may be asking, “what the heck is a colectivo?!”
Well, simply put, it’s just a shared taxi that makes loops from location to location and with rides sometimes less than a dollar. For example, you’ll notice colectivo’s that say “Playa del Carmen – Tulum”. That means that very colectivo will run from Playa del Carmen to Tulum (back and forth) essentially all day while stopping at many places along the way. It’s relatively quick (maybe an extra 10-15 minutes longer than a taxi), exhilarating and definitely something you should try at least once!
Next up we have Chikin-Ha. This cenote is definitely pricier than Jardin del Eden, but it’s MUCH more expansive. Think of it more as a mini natural park with cenotes included. What do I mean by that? Well, for example, there are three cenotes in this park alone – some of which you can swim in and see all the stalagmites formations, others in which you climb down a set of stairs an end up on a very small island surrounded by cenote, in which you can’t swim.
On top of the cenotes, there’s plenty of walking trails, a small place to buy and eat food, plus activities ranging from scuba diving and snorkelling to rappelling and biking. Although those are all great activities, what I think is the MOST spectacular activity to do there is an ancient Mayan cleansing ceremony that takes place underground in a cenote.
It’s a truly magical experience. Think of being inside a cave where there are lit candles scattered across the rocks, a local Shaman humming his prayers and a delicious smelling smoke that permeates the underground air.
Pro tip: no matter what cenote you go to, try and get there within an hour of it opening. For example, if it opens at 9 am, try and get there before 10 am. That way you can snag the best location and have some time to enjoy it all by yourself!
2. Discover what Playa del Carmen’s actually like
And my favourite way to do that (really, in any city I go to) is through a walking tour and a food tour.
But what’s better, is a walking tour that’s ALSO a food tour. Save time, save stress, save money.
But it’s not only these three things that make Eating With Carmen Food Tour a top choice, but it’s also the quality of care and attention that goes into each guest’s experience. And, although there are one or two other food tours operating in Playa del Carmen as well, Eating with Carmen is hands-down the top.
Why?
- They’ll never take you somewhere the tourists go to, so forget about walking up and down 5th Avenue
- Skip the overrated hype of El Fogon and other tourist-saturated restaurants (which are overpriced in terms of the relative prices of other Mexican food). Yes, it’s tasty. Yes, it appears everyone on TripAdvisor loves the place. But you’re better off just going there on your own after a day of the beach… plus, riddle me this: if it’s so popular on TripAdvisor, why the heck is a food tour company offering it as a stop? Does that seem like a tour that actually cares about the experience, or are they just looking for an easy way to create a tour for uninformed visitors? That’s why Eating with Carmen doesn’t operate in an area that is very touristic. Rather, Dani and his guides take uninformed visitors and transform them into walking, talking experts on Playa del Carmen, Mexican cuisine and history in a span of three hours.
- You don’t just experience the real side of Playa del Carmen, but you get an insane amount of information about where to go, what to do, what not to do, how to do things properly in the area, etc from top-trained tour guides. Dani, the owner of Eating with Carmen, only works with the best of the best – from the restaurants and street stands visited, to the people he has working with him as professional guides.
In my opinion, doing a walking food tour with Eating with Carmen in is probably the smartest and high-value decision any visitor can make when coming to Playa del Carmen. Again, not only will you become acquainted with the streets and foods, but you’ll learn about other things to experience on your trip, thus setting you up for a one-of-a-kind vacation here in Playa del Carmen.
For a full list of his tours, you can check them out here: www.eatingwithcarmen.com
3. Climb Mayan Ruins with The Most Unbelievable Jungle View
Out of all the archaeological sites in the Yucatan, I believe Coba is the top.
Why?
Well, when you climb your way to the top of the ruins, you’ll not only be greeted with the most luscious green canopy of jungle that seems to stretch into eternity, but you’ll also become a little less fearful after that day because climbing to the top of the ruins in Coba isn’t something you’d see your granny doing 😉
Not to say it’s a difficult climb, however it can be a little awkward on the way down due to the slipperiness of the weathered stones, not to mention it can be a thirst-inducing experience from the humid Mexican heat.
And don’t worry, to get to the top of the ruins, no stunts are needed (I promise)…
Another important historical factor (but also a huge plus for anyone wanting to explore Coba further) is the interconnecting stone walkways which were known as sacbes by the ancient Mayans, or ‘white roads’.
Now, I won’t go too deep into the history. But, what’s important to note, is that 16 out of 50 of these roads are open to the public – and the best way to soak it all in is by renting a bicycle!
Lastly, there are two more simple reasons why Coba should be your top choice, even when compared to Chichen Itza and the Tulum ruins:
- Less tourism: this means it’s not only cheaper but there are fewer lines, it’s less overwhelming, and I guarantee you’ll see some incredible views of the site’s structures.
- Less excavation: with overgrown fauna still covering some of the structures, sometimes it feels as though you’re the first person to step foot there in hundreds of years.
4. Experience beach and city nightlife
No matter where you go in the world, when the sun disappears, the city becomes awakened in a whole new way.
The sounds are a bit louder, the lights a bit brighter, and the mood a bit lighter.
In Playa del Carmen, the culture seems to spring to life at night, slithering into restaurants and clubs, permeating the air with laughter and faint beats of reggaeton melodies.
Needless to say, it’s an infectious atmosphere. And, when you’ve been here for long enough like I’ve been, you tend to gravitate towards a few special watering holes where the regular expats and locals casually gather:
- Zenzi, perched right on the beach with Calle 10, they often have live music and always have great service – not to mention, it’s brimming with expats. So, if you’re in need of making new connections, this is the place to go.
- La Verbena, located on Calle 34 between 5th and 10th Ave, it feels like you’re in a place far from Playa del Carmen while drinking ice-cold beer, chatting with the friendly staff and eating tapas on the house (the only bar I’ve found so far that actually serves tapas on the house). La Verbena also has live music, often featuring lesser-known genres and musicians, like jazz duos.
- Kitxen is also located in centro (the city center of Playa del Carmen), tucked between Calle 20 and Constituyentes on 5th Ave. The reason why Kitxen always makes my list is that, like the previous two, they have live music – but more than that, there’s always people dancing and having an awesome time. When people go to Kitxen, they know that there’s going to be loud music, lots of laughter and tons of new friendships made – it’s simply inevitable!
Pro tip: Kitxen fills up fast due to the electric energy and smaller space, so your best bet for a table is probably before 9:30 pm.
5. Swim and snorkel with the wild marine life
Remember the colectivos I talked about earlier?
Now this time, grab your snorkel gear and take the colectivo that goes towards Tulum, and ask to get off at Akumal. At Akumal, there are two options. The first is that you can go with a tour guide and they’ll take you snorkelling around a restricted area to swim with the sea turtles.
My preference and the second option is to head a bit more south along the beach and hop in the water there. If you’re a strong swimmer, there’s plenty of coral formations and wildlife to see a bit further out from shore. The last time I went snorkeling at Akumal in the spring of 2018, I saw: squids, barracuda, grouper, angelfish, turtles, and many other types of life that I can’t even name. By far, this was the best snorkelling experience I’ve ever had and it happened in Akumal.
Pro tip: Akumal and it’s “rules” around who can snorkel and where is constantly changing, sometimes faster than we can update these articles, so in case you can’t freely snorkel on your own as I did, you can simply request to go with a tour company that’s stationed right there on the beach.
6. Deep-dive into the Caribbean’s underwater world
In Playa del Carmen and the surrounding area, scuba diving is king. From diving with bull sharks to underwater museums near Cancun, there’s plenty to see for all levels of divers.
However, recently there’s been a form of diving taking over the spotlight and engulfing everyone’s Instagram feeds.
Can you take a guess?
You got it – free diving.
With literally barely any equipment, you’re able to dive to nearly the same depths as scuba diving (if you’re at the advanced level). If not, there are beginner level courses to take in Playa del Carmen, and my personal favourite is at Amancay Freediving. Not only do the owners take the utmost care in how they train freedivers, but they also take great care of the natural environment in which we dive.
Lastly, the reason why I suggest free diving on your next (or current) visit to Playa del Carmen instead of scuba diving, is because it’s considered a highly meditative sport or activity. It’s mainly about harnessing control over your breath and mind. For example, I talked to one free diver who doesn’t use a mask (only a nose clip, therefore he can’t see underwater) and he said that he literally “dives within himself” and goes down into the depths, up to 30m, with no sight. His only true “sense”, when diving, is his mind.
7. Camping right on the beach at a tucked-away bay
I can hear it now: “Kat, I came for 7 days. I didn’t pack a tent or a sleeping bag.” – absolutely no worries.
Regardless if you’re here for a long time or just a good time, cheap tents can easily be bought for roughly $200 pesos at your nearest Walmart which is deadly cheap. Because we’re in a tropical environment, you literally just need a tent (any tent will do) and anything to create a cushion between you and the ground (blankets, sweaters, yoga mats, sleeping bags, etc.)
Once you’ve got that sorted, I suggest renting a car (for as little as $12 USD a day) to get to this little-known tucked-away oasis called Soliman Bay. Easier than typing it out, just click here to open up a Google Map from Playa del Carmen to Soliman Bay.
Now, once you arrive to the dirt road entrance off the highway, continue on the road for as long as you can (you’ll pass by massive seaside villas) until you reach a beachside restaurant and camping area (which is also the end of the road, literally, so there’s no worry that you’ll pass the spot). From there, camping is less than $200 pesos per day and it’s usually a quiet place with not too many people. Here, you’re free to make bonfires, eat fresh seafood at the restaurant (the mixed ceviche is to die for) and set up camp wherever you please!
Pro tip: you’re more than welcome to take a colectivo if that’s what you prefer, but do note this… the colectivo will only drop you off on the highway, and from there it’s about a thirty minute walk to actually get to the camping site (in plus thirty heat, high humidity, and zero shade). Plus, if you’re going camping, it’s better to take your own transportation anyway!
And would you look at that…
Now you have a 7-day itinerary to Playa del Carmen!
Playa del Carmen, and the little towns and cities that run south and north along the Riviera Maya’s coast are places that I know very well, after living here for over a year.
It’s growing fast as a tourist hot-spot, but there are still many fun things to do nearby that we haven’t even touched on this list – adventuring around the island of Isla Mujeres in golf carts, to trying the pork-tastic Cochinita Pibil (basically a Mexican pulled pork sandwich – but much more savoury than the American version). All in all, there’s much to do, and an incredible list of things to experience – it’s a wonderful hub for basing yourself in the Yucatan Peninsula. And remember, if you take the colectivos, don’t forget to tell them where you’re going!
Are you currently in Playa del Carmen or visiting here soon?
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