Beautiful beach town located in the state of Quintana Roo on the southeast edge of the Mexican Republic.
Formerly known as Xamán-Ha. Translated from Mayan as Northern Waters. A bountiful sea where they would depart on canoe to the island “Cuzamil” (Now Cozumel) where they would adore the moon goddess Ixchel.
Credit: http://www.explore.mx/
These shores are historical witnesses of many different settlements, including Spanish camps during the Conquest and even pirate ships that used to visit these shores. At the beginning of the Twentieth Century, the first inhabitants to enjoy these turquoise waters were fishermen communities, people who harvest coconut trees and extractors in search of chewing gum resin.
THE FASTEST-GROWING CITY IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY
Back in the 80’s, there were only about 1,500 habitants, we can consider them our Playense ancestors. In 1996 it had a population of 10,000 and by 2003, it grew to 49,000.
Tourism development continued to raise this figure, by 2010 there were already 159,310 inhabitants, reaching 300,000 in 2017. According to the results of the 2020 Population and Housing Census of the INEGI, Playa del Carmen reached 333,800 residents throughout the municipality.
Credit: laverdadnorticias.com
Travelers, from all over the Mexican territory and the rest of the world, gather year after year to experience the marvelous Mexican Caribbean.
At Eating With Carmen Food Tours, we feel very happy to call Playa del Carmen our home sweet home and the place where this dream was born, and we are here to share all our Playense tips to upgrade your visit.
LET’S GET STARTED
How to get to Playa from Cancun International Airport?
This and many questions about how to use the transport system around town, are on this guide our team put out for you. “ How to get around Playa del Carmen like a local “ you will get all the tips on when is a good idea to grab a taxi or how to use ADO bus station to visit nearby towns, beaches and hotels.
The next thing on the list, choosing the right place to stay, the Mayan Riviera offers endless lodging options, such as all-inclusive-5-star-majestic hotels, (who doesn’t love to get spoiled, right?) Most are a little far from El Centro (Downtown) on how to move from one place to another, just check our guide. The food is usually of excellent quality, but perhaps not as Mexican as you would cherish. (keep on reading for foodie tips.)
Most resorts have all those amenities that we like so much: a spa, tons of pools, gym, tennis courts, events presented by staff members, clothing and craft stores, etc.
If you are looking for something closer to El Centro, perhaps cheaper and more relaxed, you could opt for a picturesque Airbnb or vacation rentals, such as apartments, houses or villas and small studios.
Do not forget about hostels, Playa del Carmen has plenty of them, if you walk through El Centro you can find really cool hostels, with a Caribbean tropical vibe and good prices, some include breakfast, pool and coworking spaces.
All this will be up to your budget, the itinerary you are going to handle, the number of people at your party, days of your stay, etc.
So, happy research!
Credit: https://www.travelbymexico.com/
A WELL PLANNED VACATION IS WAY MORE ENJOYABLE
A VERY important fact to consider is the weather. The Caribbean is hot and humid most of the year. The best time to visit is between December to April since it is the season with the least rainfall, although it’s also the most expensive. Lots of tourism and the average temperature is about 25ºC / 77ºF approximately.
May is also a good time to visit the Riviera Maya, although the “dry” season is coming to an end there is still not much rain, the temperature is getting warm, but manageable still.
June to September are the rainiest months but also the quietest and cheapest. It is the rainy season, and although this is a tropical rainforest, the hours of sunshine are still abundant. There are not as many tourists as in the high season, so if you hate crowds, aim for these months (September is known as SeptHunger by Playenses). Bear in mind that during these months, when the humidity is also very high, there is some chance of hurricanes, so always keep an eye on the weather forecast. It also can get very hot, but nothing a dip in the Caribbean waters/cenote/pool won’t fix.
SWIMSUIT TIME
Credit: https://www.playadelcarmen.com/
Certainly, the biggest attraction is to visit the many beaches that surround Playa del Carmen, such as Punta Esmeralda, Mamitas Beach, Xpuha or Akumal where you can swim with all kinds of fish and turtles in the beautiful Caribbean Sea. Crossover to Cozumel Island, located above The Great Mayan Reef, which by the way is the largest in America and the second largest and most beautiful in the world. Excellent location for scuba diving, admire the sea life of the reef or even get your PADI open water diving certification, at any of the dive shops and schools located around town.
As soon as you get to the beach, you’ll have the difficult task to choose which of the many beach clubs you’ll spend the day in. Most of them have all kinds of food and drinks, beach beds and showers. As the day goes by, practice parasailing admiring the seashore. You might want to rent a jet ski, schedule a yacht ride, or how about taking a paddleboard session? at Aloha Paddle Club they have sessions for people of all ages, at dawn, dusk and during the day.
Skip the beach and visit the wonderful Cenotes, located throughout the Mayan Riviera, each one of them more beautiful than the other. The closest cenotes to downtown are Cenote Azul and Cenote Cristalino, but we share way more about Cenotes in our “ Top 10 Cenotes To Visit In The Mayan Riviera” Guide.
As the sun goes down, a certain magic vibe floods the whole Town, reaching hostels and hotel rooftops, where you can dance to live or electronic music, mingle with locals and travelers, take a swim at the infinity pools, enjoy drinks and snacks and have a really good time.
Credit: Abbey
FOOD AND DRINKS
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At Eating With Carmen Food Tours, we take food really seriously, that’s why we have the best gastronomic-tour guides in the area, who will feed you the most delicious traditional Mexican dishes while having a great cultural experience by walking around town.
Choose any of our 3 Food Tours:
Authentic Local Experience:
Take a bite of history, culture and geography at our three-hour walking food tour exploring the culinary hidden spots of Playa del Carmen, tasting real and mouth-watering traditional Mexican food.
Seafood Madness:
Mexican seafood and local beer, while strolling through Playa del Carmen, with a local foodie?? Book now, thank us later.
Vegan Delight:
Dedicated to all our health-conscious foodies. 100% Mexican Vegan food tour, with traditional flavors and fruity surprises.
Talking about food, Playa is never disappointing, offering a wide variety of restaurants for every kind of craving, from the typical Mexican specialties, gastronomic fusions, Thai and Italian food, vegans and vegetarian options, pizza by slices and refreshing ice cream and popsicle shops in almost every corner around town.
Perhaps you are in the mood for some drinks to finish a long day of enjoying life, right here are “6 Drinks You Have To Try In Playa Del Carmen” Remember, the temperature is very warm, so you might need some refreshing.
HANGING AROUND EL CENTRO AND 5TH AVENUE
Get the walk started at Parque Fundadores (5th Ave – Juarez Ave) close to the Cozumel Ferry Pier. Historic Park used as the Papantla flyers stage, which you must watch live to believe.
Packed with traditional crafts, street vendors, many places to sit, enjoy and eat some of the snacks of the many food stalls available. Mostly every night, below the “Mayan Portal ” sculpture, the iconic image of Playa del Carmen, a group of performers show some prehispanic rituals and dances, keeping alive these cultures.
Walking through 5th Ave it’s a party itself, live music bands playing at restaurants and bars, Mexican folk dancers from different regions of the Mexican Republic performing in the middle of the street, Mariachis entertaining a birthday celebration and if you get lucky, some movie stars or superheroes taking pictures with tourists.
As far as shopping goes, stores from all kinds of clothing, traditional crafts, sneakers, souvenirs, beauty products, anything, really.
Most evenings at Playa del Carmen’s Market, local artisans offer for sale, jewelry, hand-woven items, natural beauty products, etc. On Thursday nights, on 5th Avenue, local artists exhibit their paintings and sculptures for sale to the public, turning the street into an art gallery known as the “Caminarte” project.
Don’t forget to consume and support local projects.
Credit: https://www.vivaplaya.net/
CULTURAL AND FUN EXPERIENCES
Some of the attractions that you can’t miss are the theme parks, located on the outskirts of Playa del Carmen.
These eco-parks have a wide range of cultural and adventure activities such as tours of underground rivers, bird watching, diving, snorkeling, swimming with whale sharks, kayaking, zip lines, 4×4 rides, live shows, and a long list of activities for all visitors.
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If at some point you need a break from the salty waters, super sunny skies, and feel in need of A/C for longer periods of time. Head to this interactive 3D museum showcasing the creations of one of the world’s top illustrators in 3D conceptual artwork. Become part of the exhibit itself, immersing in the optical illusion.
The first resident show in Mexico combines culinary and performing arts in an intimate theater setting to engage the audience’s five senses. Drawing on Mexico’s history and heritage.
The show has 4 different types of experiences, VIP packages with a premium exclusive dinner, drinks, appetizers, or show-only tickets, are available.
ANCIENT RUINS
Located at Playacar, the Xaman-Há Ruins is a small Mayan settlement little visited by tourists. This archeological site is made up of few, but wonderful Mayan buildings.
To visit the most emblematic ruins of the Riviera Maya, we recommend reading a little more about the nearby cities, such as Tulum: The City Of Dawn or Merida: The Colorful White City. You will find all the necessary details for your next ancient ruins tour, or maybe we’ll just release the top-ruins in the Mayan peninsula list to make it easier for you, so stay tuned!
Credit: Abbey
Our beloved Playa del Carmen is waiting for you to give you an incredible vacation, although, we understand if you decide to settle down here, it is inevitable.
Don’t make us wait any longer, at Eating with Carmen Food Tours, we have everything you’ll need for your next visit to this Mayan Paradise.
Hope to see you soon.
-Abbey. Just another proud Playense.
