Mexican Vacation: Things to Do in Playa del Carmen?

Without taking a dip under the vast ocean of colorful species your visit to Playa del Carmen will be incomplete. Playa del Carmen has the best diving spots just offshore near Cozumel. Many Diving agencies have set up shops in Playa. The most popular one among them is Reef Quest Divers, which caters to novice and experts alike. Reef Quest Divers offers a variety of dive charters which includes reef dives, local cenote dives, etc. Playa Scuba Dive Centre is also well-reviewed among the few which organizes scuba tours. On the other hand, tourists looking to snorkel can borrow snorkeling equipment from their hotel or buy it from the market. Reef quest, the snorkel shop and Playa del Carmen Tours offer snorkeling excursions in the beautiful Moche Reef. This shallow reef bustles with marine life especially brightly colored tropical fishes. The light current and calm waters provide for excellent visibility to tour the reef, to spot unusual creatures and corals along the way. You can also take a three-day course with PADI Advanced Open Water Diver in Playa Del Carmen or Open Water Diver Course from Riviera Maya which will expand your scuba skills which ultimately opens deeper water horizons up to 100 feet. The course will help you gain more underwater experience, buoyancy and improve navigation.

The diving costs, fees, and schedules vary by tour agencies.

Lauded as best kept secrets on the Yucatan Peninsula, Rio Secreto or secret river is an underground river with a collection of caves. The coffee-colored rock formations contrast with the bright turquoise water within the caves, which includes stalagmites and stalactites. You can swim in the river, climb through the caves and indulge in the beauty of the place. It can be a great rainy day exploration because most of the activity takes place underground. Wet suit and water shoes can be rented from the agency that takes care of this attraction.

Rio Secreto is located 6 miles southwest of Playa del Carmen. Prices vary by agencies. Rio Secreto is open from 8 am to 3 pm.

Travelers visiting Xcaret often call it Yucatan- style Disneyland. It is an eco-park having an aviary, a turtle sanctuary, a dolphin aquarium, and a beach, making it perfect for a day visit. One can swim, dive and snorkel at the beach. The park offers a multitude of activities like stingray encounters, dolphin interactions, shark swims, speedboat rides and snuba tours (a combination of scuba and snorkel). They have evening events which include performances exploring Mayan past.

The park is located 6 miles south of Playa del Carmen. You can purchase your tickets online and if purchased in advance you get the tickets for a cheaper price which starts from $89.99 (adults) and $44.99 (kids). They also offer build-your-own package and have discounts on combo packages which includes photos, add-on activities, transportation and admission to its sister attractions. You can also reach the park using taxis or public transportation.

Similar to Xcaret, you can visit Xplor for adventures such as zip-lining, rafting, spelunking, etc. The park offers two circuits of zip lines, river rafting, exciting hammock ride that ends in a cenote, caves, and caverns, underground river swimming and amphibious vehicles.

Xplor is located 5 miles from Playa del Carmen. The park (Xplor) is open Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and in the evening the park turns into Xplor Fuego which opens from 5:30 pm to 11:30 pm. If tickets are purchased online in advance, it costs $107.99 (adults) and $53.99 (kids). The park also provides for round trip transportation from your respective hotels for a fee or you can also avail taxi services which cost $15 one way.

Xel-Ha meaning, where the water is born in the Mayan language is a perfect trip you can take to explore underwater. Centered on an inlet and lagoon, Xel-Ha is a natural aquarium where visitors can snorkel and swim along with schools of dolphins, turtles, and tropical fishes. They offer package deals which include touring Mayan ruins in Tulum and water activities in Xel-Ha in a day.

Hel-Ha is situated 20 miles south of Playa del Carmen. It opens from 8:30 am to 6 pm all year round. The ticket price starts at $94.49, usually, the ticket price includes transportation charges to the attraction.

La Quinta Avenida is the main street in Playa del Carmen that runs parallel to the shore which also serves as a pedestrian pathway. It is lined with hotels, hostels, restaurants, street performers, condominiums and bars. you will find many souvenir shops where you can buy trinkets and mementos. La Quinta Avenida starts at the intersection with Avenida Juarez and goes upto 4 miles north to the edge of the Grand Riviera Maya Golf club.

Inspired from Las Vegas pool parties and Ibiza beach ragers, Coralina Daylight Club gives party hungry travelers a chance to day-drink, listen to music and dance to its beats. It has a restaurant with several pools and private cabanas. The club has private access to the beach.

The club is located near the Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort. It's open from 11 am to 7 pm all year long.

All those who are fascinated by historical places must-visit Chichen Itza. It is a Mayan archaeological site which was named one of the new seven wonders of the world. Experience the serene attractions like the ball court, Kukulkan pyramid and other impressive archaeological zones. Explore through the observatory and the temple of warriors. The Kukulcan Pyramid is also known as El Castillo, a four-sided structure with an acute knowledge of astronomy. Stand on one of the platforms at the colossal ball court where once Mayans used to play sports and make someone from your group to whisper to you from 150 feet, you'll be surprised how clearly you can hear each and every word. The acoustical engineering marvels of the Mayans are still not understood.

Chichen Itza is 3 hours away from Playa del Carmen. So, start your trip with an early departure to be one of the few early visitors to explore the wonders of Chichen Itza. The site opens from 8 am to 4:30 pm. The entry ticket price costs 250 pesos/ $54. You can also avail an archaeologist guide to give you an informative tour of the place. He will explain the Mayan mythology, philosophy, and cosmology. Understand the meaning behind the stone carvings, ball courts, staircases, and platforms. You will require a minimum of 2 hours to explore the well- preserved ruins.

This tiny village is named Las Coloradas, which means blush red in Spanish. Salt production and fishing are the main occupations in this village. It is part of the Rio Lagartos biosphere, a protected natural reserve with crocodiles, birds, flamingos, etc where you can take a boat trip around the biosphere. It is a unique opportunity to see the pink salt lagoons and a regiment of bright pink flamingos that thrive there caused by feeding on organisms that also make the lake pink. Explore Las Coloradas for the mangroves, to visit the salt factory, spot the wildlife and also experience a cleansing Mayan mud bath.

Its 3 hours drive from Playa del Carmen. you can join a touring group or drive on your own. You can get a delicious lunch at a local restaurant in the village.

To experience the most beautiful sailing in the Lagoon whilst enjoying the sunrise, visit Bacalar lagoon. Magica Bacalar gives you an opportunity to sail in the lagoon while watching the birds wake up and catch their morning worm or watch the sunset witnessing beautiful colors blending in with each other, making the lagoon and the sky look like one big painting. The resort next to the lagoon provides sweet fresh fruits and cool drinks. They offer aquatic massage, a cleansing experience which can be enjoyed with your family or friends.

A minimum of 2 days should be spent here. Apart from sailing in the Bacalar lagoon, you can see Canal de Los Pirates and Cenote Cocalitos wherein you can snorkel or swim in 3 different sites. You can hire guides to explain the pirate stories and biological importance of the place. The package deal can be bought online from the attraction's website and the prices start from $199. It’s a 4-hour drive from Playa del Carmen. You will be picked up from Club del Playa and dropped at Las Velas Bacalar.

For an ecological experience, you must visit Calakmul. It lies at the heart of a limitless, untrammeled Reserve de la Biosfera Calakmul. The rain forest and seemingly endless canopy of vegetation surround the ruins. Around 350 bird species reside here like ocellated turkeys, toucans, parrots and more. You should camp overnight in one of their camping spots. Waking up to the screams of howler monkeys is going to be the highlight of the day.

The ticket prices depend on various tour agencies and it can range from $83 to $98. It is open from 6 am to 5 pm, however, the last entry time is 2:30 pm. It’s a 6 hours journey to Calakmul from Playa del Carmen.

Travel to Isla Holbox to discover paradise beaches, an area on the northern coast of Yucatan. It has spectacular landscapes with a great diversity of birds. Visit Isla Pasion and Isla Pajaros, perfect for bird watching which can be followed by visiting the white sandbank with crystal clear waters. You can relax in the hammock while enjoying the blue waters and clear sky.

Travelers usually book a tour package which includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, activities, a professional guide, round trip travel and alcoholic beverages for $129. It takes 3 hours to get to Isla Holbox from Playa del Carmen.

For some genuine Mexican taquerias visit El Fogon and Don Sirloin. Tacos al pastor with cheese, shavings of spit-roasted pork topped with a slice of pineapple are highly reviewed.

All seafood lovers must visit Los Aquachiles for some tostadas topped with fresh fish, fried coconut shrimp, and special tacos.

Similar to Los Aquachiles, Hijos de la Tostada also serves seafood, but they specialize in tostadas. traditional tostadas with raw seafood or fried ingredient on top. Chapulin cocktail is the favorite drink ordered by all.

If you are looking to have ceviche for lunch, El Pirata serves fresh ceviche for 90-120 pesos. A giant ceviche is enough for two people.

A small corner shop that only serves delicious chicken tostadas. It is a highly recommended place by everybody whose been there. They don't provide any cutlery, so be prepared to get face and hands dirty.

Set in a lush green garden with a turtle pond in the middle, the ambiance in La Cueva del Chango is very beautiful. It’s the perfect place for tropical breakfast. The most reviewed dish there is crepes poblanos with cheese and mushroom.

Chez Celine is located on 5^th Avenue. It serves French food and pastries at any time of the day. The signature dessert in Chez Celine is the white chocolate raspberry cupcake.

It’s a local chain which serves healthy food with a wide selection of smoothies. Their Chilaquiles Verdes with eggs is a perfect dish for breakfast.

Papa Charly serves the best Italian food in Playa del Carmen. They have a wide range of sauces you can choose from. Mushroom Lasagne is liked by most of the visitors.

It is a Chicago style pizza place with well-spiced sauce and toppings.

Kaxapa Factory is known for its simple Venezuelan food with only 4 choices on the menu. Corn pancakes are a must in this place.

You will find all-inclusive resorts in and around Playa del Carmen ranging from romantic retreats with overwater bungalows and rooftop pools to family-friendly escapes like El Dorado Royale, Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla, The Royal Playa del Carmen, Grand Velas Riviera Maya, etc. You can unlock great deals if booked in advance. whether you are looking for a casual beach vacation or an ultimate spa experience, Playa del Carmen has it all.

The best time to visit Playa del Carmen is from starting of April to mid of May when the temperature is not too high and has moderate humidity. Two important events take place during these two months, Easter week and the Sacred Maya journey, where during Spring Equinox, Mexico natives swim in the open waters. These two months are ideal, so as to avoid Mexico's hurricane season which starts from June till September. Also, you can get great deals in this short shoulder season.

Tourists in cruise ships flood Playa del Carmen after the Hurrican season ends which increases the hotel prices. Three main events take place between October to early January. The Riviera Maya Underground Film Festival in October, the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival in November and BPM Festival in early January.

The best way to get around Playa del Carmen is on foot. Public buses are not available, you can avail the taxi service if required. Most travelers fly into Playa del Carmen which is serviced by Cancun International Airport (CUN) which is 45 minutes’ drive from the town. They have shuttle services which run from 8:30 am to 7:45 pm for $ 15, but you can hire taxis or take a bus. Customize your search to get the best prices for your travel dates. If you would like to travel on a budget, combine your Playa del Carmen flight bookings with a discount hotel reservation for great deals.

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