Things to do in Playa Del Carmen
Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
Planning to visit Mexico soon? Here are my favorite things to do in Playa del Carmen after living there for 3 months.
Playa del Carmen is a fun beach town on Mexico’s Yucatan Pennisula, part of the Riviera Maya route. Smaller and less touristy than Cancun, it’s becoming a popular travel destination for people looking for a travel experience more substantial than an all-inclusive resort.
A while back I spent about 3 months living & working in Playa del Carmen and had a wonderful time. Lately I’ve had quite a few readers & friends asking for advice about visiting Playa — so I wanted to share this list of my favorite things to do there.
Things To Do In Playa Del Carmen
Mexican Cenote Caves
Scuba Diving Cenotes
Cenote Diving/Snorkeling
Scuba diving cenotes was by far my favorite thing to do in Playa del Carmen. What’s a cenote you ask? An underground cave filled with fresh water. The Yucatan has tons of them. Sinkholes open up into underground rivers.
If you have your PADI scuba license, you can go scuba diving in these caves with a guide. Because there’s daylight near the entrance, a technical cave diving license isn’t required. Not a diver? No problem. You can also go snorkeling. Cenote Dos Ojos is amazing for both diving & snorkeling. Another good one nearby is called Grand Cenote.
Mayan Ruins of Tulum
Sunrise at Tulum Ruins
Visit Mayan Ruins
The ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum are located South of Playa del Carmen in the town of Tulum. A must-visit if you’re in the area. Tulum was once a small but important port city for the Mayans. Along with impressive structures on the edge of a cliff, it has a beach below where you can swim too.
Because Tulum is so popular, it can be crowded unless you arrive early in the morning. Coba is another Mayan site near Playa del Carmen which sees less visitors. Plus you can climb on the pyramids there unlike Tulum. Both are only a day trip away from Playa via bus or colectivo taxi.
Coco Bongo Nightclub
Nightlife in Playa Del Carmen
Coco Bongo Nightclub
Playa del Carmen’s nightlife is fun, but not as crazy as Cancun. It’s a smaller town. However it does have one special nightclub called Coco Bongo that is certainly worth a visit. Part Vegas show, part nightclub, and a bit cheesy — yet it’s still one hell of a party.
You’ll see flying acrobats, blockbuster movie characters, and rock-star impersonators take the stage in turns throughout the night while you drink from a giant plastic cup full of alcohol. Every ticket includes full open bar all night, so take plenty of photos because you might not remember what happened!
Sea Turtles at Akumal Beach
Akumal Beach
Swim With Sea Turtles
Who doesn’t want to swim with sea turtles? I’ve always wanted to, that’s for sure. I got my chance at Akumal beach, about 30 minutes South of Playa del Carmen. The shallow blue-green water here is home to Green, Hawksbill and Loggerhead sea turtles. You can swim with them!
To get to Akumal, the cheapest way is to take a colectivo taxi headed for Tulum from the stand located on Calle 2 Norte between Avenida 15 and 20 in Playa del Carmen. Tell them you want to get off at Akumal. Then walk down the side road to the beach. Bring your own snorkeling gear, or rent some there, and jump in!
Yo Amo Tacos
El Fogon Restaurant
Eat All The Food
Hey, it’s Mexico. Mexican food in the Yucatan is cheap & delicious. There are a few special restaurants in Playa del Carmen I want to share with you. The first is Yo Amo Tacos located on the main drag. These guys make the best tacos in town, with a great location where you can people-watch too.
If you’re looking for something a little more authentic, check out El Fogon. This place is a hangout for local taxi drivers, so you know it has to be good. It’s super basic with plastic chairs and Mexican Idol blaring on the TV, but order 3 or 4 tacos pastor, a cold beer, and you’ll be in heaven.
San Miguel in Cozumel
Beaches on Cozumel
Boat Trip To Cozumel
Cozumel is a small island off the coast of Playa del Carmen known for it’s pristine beaches. Normally a stop for cruise ships, you can take a 45 minute ferry over on your own from Playa del Carmen for about $13 USD.
An easy & cheap day trip is renting a scooter and driving it around the island where all the best beaches are. Or, if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can try hitchhiking around the island instead. As long as there isn’t a cruise ship in port, you’ll have those white sand beaches to yourself. Plenty of stops on the way for lunch & photos. Jump on the last ferry back to Playa del Carmen around sunset.
Public Colectivo Taxi
Cramped Quarters
Local Colectivo Rides
You can’t visit Playa del Carmen without using a colectivo (group taxi). You’ll see these vans cruise down the street picking up locals. It’s an interesting (and confusing) experience if you’ve never tried it before. They stuff as many people as possible into these things, and rides can cost less than $1.
Destinations are written on the windshield, but if you don’t know the names, it won’t make much sense. A good place to start is by grabbing one at the colectivo station on Calle 2 Norte from Playa del Carmen to Akumal beach (mentioned earlier). Remember to tell the driver where you’re going! It’s cheap, fun, and will push you out of your comfort zone.
More Things To Do In Playa
These certainly aren’t the only cool things to do in Playa del Carmen. But they are my personal favorites. Not only will you have a memorable experience on these adventures, they’re pretty damn cheap too!
Of course lounging on Playa’s beautiful white sand beaches, snorkeling its turquoise water, learning to kite surf, deep sea fishing for your dinner, and much more is possible. ★
More Information
Location: Playa Del Carmen, Mexico [Map]
Useful Tips: Need more detailed information or suggestions for visiting Playa del Carmen direct from locals? The town has a good online forum called Playa.info where you can research or ask questions. Another good site for planning your journey is RivieraMaya.com.
READ NEXT: Mexico Travel Budget: How Much Did It Cost?
Do you have any travel tips for Playa del Carmen?
This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.