This post was written for the Hipmunk City Love campaign as a paid contributor. Opinions are my own.
Akumal Bay, Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Photo by Victoria Sterkel via Trover.com
If you were lucky enough to have visited Playa del Carmen when it was a sleepy town, you might be surprised by what you find today.This seaside town formerly sat in the shadow of Cancun on the Caribbean’s turquoise waters, but without the infrastructure of a larger city. Only the adventurous and budget conscious came here. The new Playa del Carmen consists of several avenidas with Avenida Juárez being its main thoroughfare. The beautiful beach is still the same. However, with the arrival of cruise ships, the town’s population has increased. Even though it can no longer be considered a sleepy town, you are highly likely to fall in love with the town and its surrounding environs. Fill your free time enjoying a few of these simple luxuries.
Sun Bathe at Playa del Carmen Beach
The beach runs the length of the city along the coast and has been in top beach lists several times. It is a public beach with many entry points. As you walk north, the access points to the beach will become less frequent. The one caveat is you cannot cross private property to use a beach.
Walk Quinta Avenida
It’s surprising that walking Quinta Avenida can bring so much enjoyment. Think “Cheers” and the comfort of going to a place where everybody knows your name. This is what will happen by the end of your second day in Playa del Carmen. This is really not a place to shop or necessarily eat. But it is a great place to engage in the free pastime of people watching.
Swim in an Area Cenote
Cenotes, natural sinkholes with spring water in them, make for a wonderful day activity. They are everywhere. If you’ve never swam, snorkeled, or dived in a cenote, then you must. Early Mayans used these caves to seek refuge from severe storms.
Visit the Mayan Ruins
There are many important ruins near Playa del Carmen. Xcaret is a Mayan Eco Disney World that will please both children and adults. Xel-Ha Eco Park, which offers snorkeling, is close by. Tulum, a stone’s throw, is a great day trip. And those especially interested in ecology can visit Aktun Chen Dry Cave and Jungle Tour, south of Akumal; Tres Rios Ecological Park, north of Playa del Carmen; Yaax Che Jardin Botanico, south of Puerto Morelos; and Sian Ka’an Bisphere Reserve, south of Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen reportedly offers some of the best diving spots in the Western Hemisphere, especially just offshore near Isla Cozumel.
Other than a reminder to not drink the tap water, you can relax in knowing this will probably be your most pressing safety concern. Do not eat salad greens that were washed in tap water. Ask your server for bottled water in a sealed bottle. Although it is harder to find a cheap hotel in Playa Del Carmen today than in the past, it is still possible. The sooner you book, the sooner your vacation can get started.
Do you have any other things to do in Playa del Carmen?
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