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Playa del Carmen is such a sea. Open left menu playa del carmen

Beaches are exactly what tourists are ready to travel to distant lands for. After all, sitting somewhere in an office doing boring work, you dream not about shopping, not about museums, not about bars and restaurants, which are abundant in any city, but about plunging into the azure water of a distant sea and turning your shoulders to the gentle sun. A classic of the genre, whatever you say))

Mexico, I tell you, is the best place for such dreams to come true. We have already visited the beaches of Cancun, Puerto Angel and Puerto Escondido, now it’s the turn of another resort city - Playa del Carmen.

There is constant rivalry between this town and neighboring Cancun. It is clear to everyone that Kanukn is the undoubted leader with a worldwide reputation, but, nevertheless, many tourists prefer Playa.

Beaches of Playa del Carmen (description and photos)

Part 1: beaches north of the pier

The most visited beaches in Playa del Carmen stretch along the tourist section of Fifth Avenue. All of them are public and open to the public. Along the coast you will find many public entrances, some of which even have bike parking facilities.

Full of people! Both local vacationers and tourists cover the coast with a uniform carpet)) And this is in the summer, when it seems that Mexico is not the high season, although, looking at the beaches of Playa in early July, I began to doubt it.

The coast is divided into several beaches, but only the Main Beach and “all the others” are more or less clearly separated. There is not much difference between them.

Main beach - Playa Principal Beach starts at the pier where ferries depart to the island of Cozumel and extends to the Gran Porto Real Resorts & Spa.

After the Main Beach it stretches north series of beaches, which received their names from hotels and resorts:

  • Playa Tukan
  • Playa Mamitas (Mamitas beach)
  • Playa Shangri-La (Shangri-La beach)
  • Playa Zubul (Subul beach)
  • Playa Coco (Coco Beach, Coco Beach)

What can I say about these beaches?

You won't find powdery white sand on these beaches; you'll have to go to Cancun for that. In Playa there is grayish and fairly coarse sand, in places with an admixture of small shells. Because it's not as white as Cancun, which reflects the sun well, it gets quite hot during the day, so be sure to bring shoes when heading to the beach.

Unfortunately, there is no sky-blue clear water here either. The water has a greenish tint and is somewhat cloudy. In some places it is generally more reminiscent of the yellowish South China Sea, which we encountered a couple of times - on the beaches of Thailand and Cambodia.

There are waves, but very small, since the coast “protects” Isla Kozumel. Rescuers monitor safety; there are quite a few rescue points along the coast and none of them are empty, there are workers everywhere.

Snorkeling along the coast is a complete disaster. The corals here are dead, and where there are no corals, there is no life, including colorful fish. In order to find something interesting, you will have to go to sea or go to Cozumel. As you understand, a mask, snorkel and fins will be inappropriate attributes in Playa del Carmen.

But don’t worry, you can find other entertainment. For example, ride a jet ski, fly a parachute, go fishing or relax under the hands of a skilled massage therapist. The latter will definitely not give you peace if you decide to take a walk along the sea.

As you can see, the sea is far from luxurious, but people don’t seem to care too much about that. There are a lot of people, they all enjoy swimming, sunbathing, having fun, in general, relaxing to the fullest.

Part 2: beaches south of the pier

We walked along the beaches stretching along Fifth Avenue, were disappointed and were already completely convinced that Playa del Carmen, as a resort, was completely untenable. However, we looked more closely at the map and saw that to the south of the pier from which ferries depart for the island of Cozumel, there is a long, very long strip of beaches. Curiosity won, and we went to see what was there on the other side.

It turned out there, outside the city limits, along the coast stretched a kind of three-kilometer Hotelier Zone. The end point is a small forest, immediately behind which lives the well-known park Shcaret.

You can get to these otherworldly beaches by passing through the bar-restaurant Senior Frogs.

As soon as we stepped on the sand, we immediately realized that it wouldn’t be boring. A long, wide strip of beaches appeared before our eyes, dotted with people and hotels, houses, and bungalows.

A little further from the pier there are fewer vacationers, and then the situation is this: in front of the next hotel there are a lot of people, as soon as you come across a piece of the beach on which there is no hotel, there are almost no people either. Although, it is unlikely that you will be able to remain completely alone.

I don’t know whether this coastal strip is divided into separate beaches. Purely outwardly, there are practically no visible boundaries or differences. It’s just that in some places there is less algae, in others there is more, in others the water is a little more cloudy, and in others the sand is lighter and finer.

Take the time and energy to stroll through this part of Playa del Carmen. I'm sure you will be satisfied! See for yourself:

The closer you get to the forest, the rockier the shore becomes. Landscapes are becoming more and more original and unusual. By the way, shells appear here; those who like to spend time looking for cute finds will undoubtedly appreciate this.

What can I say about these beaches?

They are much better than the previous ones. Much! Here the water becomes cleaner and bluer and everything around us even begins to resemble Cancun beaches. Although, that unrealistic juicy blue and even dark blue water is still not observed. Maybe the whole point is that the sand is not so snow-white? Perhaps its yellowish tint is what spoils everything. Although, it seems to me that this is not the only issue.

Unlike the coastline of the Zona Hotelera in Cancun, there are no eye-catching huge five-star hotels here, but there are many small cute houses and bungalows, which gives a special charm and coziness.

There are a lot of people in some places, mostly in front of impressive hotels. It’s surprising that most of the residents cluster on one piece of sea and only a few express a desire to walk further away and find at least some privacy.

The sea in this part of Playa del Carmen is no longer as calm as it was before the pier. The waves are very impressive, especially closer to the forest. It seems that you won’t have much fun here with children anymore.

By the way, despite the rough sea, rescuers are not visible at all. I noticed only one rescue point - immediately behind the pier, but further on for three kilometers - not a single one.

Entertainment on these distant beaches is not as fun as on city beaches, although those who look for will always find. Here and there you can find places where jet skis, parachutes and some other unknown gizmos are rented out that lift daredevils above the water.

With snorkeling, the situation is identical to that described earlier - silence.

Some people find unusual entertainment for themselves. Indeed, why not look for something interesting with a metal detector, then you can open your own jewelry store))

What’s worse on distant beaches are shops, cafes and restaurants; they simply don’t exist. So you have to walk and lick your lips, looking at the hotel guests who walk along the shore with glasses of cold drinks and cocktails in their hands.

It seems to me that those who want to enjoy silence and unity with nature away from the noisy city, away from clubs, bars, loud music and cheerful neighbors will enjoy relaxing on these beaches.

In conclusion, I will add that those who have nothing to compare the local beaches with will probably like them, but those who have visited Cancun before may not be completely satisfied. As for me, the beaches of Playa are significantly inferior to those of Cancun. Please note, this is just my personal opinion.

Weather in Playa del Carmen in summer

Why am I focusing on this? Yes, because in the summer in Mexico it is the rainy season and this is most pronounced on the coast. For many people, the phrase “rainy season” is very scary and even makes them refuse to travel.

So, the summer months in Playa are the hottest of the entire year. It gets especially hot in mid-July and August. I confirm! This is true. Very hot and stuffy. On the beach, the skin burns instantly, just fifteen minutes at noon is enough to turn red, like a lobster. Therefore, you must constantly apply sunscreen with a high level of protection.

What does "rainy season" mean? This means that once a day it can rain, or rather, downpour, and it will end quite quickly. The weather may be great before and after. While we were in Playa, it only rained once during the week. Even when the weather forecast strenuously promised streams of water from the sky, nothing happened. But you need to understand that you may not be lucky.

What to choose - Cancun or Playa del Carmen?

Yes, yes, this is a key question for many trying to make difficult choices. Ideally, I would advise visiting both there, because the resorts are completely different, despite the fact that both are located on the Caribbean Sea.

So, let's weigh the pros and cons.

  • It is believed that Playa del Carmen is cheaper than Cancun. Perhaps this is true, but in Cancun, considered the most expensive resort in Mexico, you can also relax on a budget. All you have to do is turn your gaze not towards the expensive Hotelier Zone, but towards Cancun City.
  • If you use the Airbnb resource, you can find inexpensive housing in both Playa del Carmen and Cancun.
  • Playa del Carmen is more convenient because the beaches can be reached on foot from the city, because they are, in fact, located in the city (keep in mind that these are not the best beaches; you will have to walk to the more attractive ones). In Cancun, you will have to travel from the city to the beaches by bus or taxi.
  • Another advantage of the city beaches of Playa is that directly on them and nearby there are a lot of all kinds of cafes, restaurants and shops, while on the Cancun beaches you have to try to find a place to have lunch or just buy water.
  • The beaches of Cancun are many times steeper than those of Playa del Carmen. Firstly, it is there that you will find that unreal-colored water that is shown on TV in all programs about Mexico. Secondly, there are beaches for every taste: calm without waves, fun with waves, with and without stones, and all equally beautiful and clean. In addition, all this is framed by fine white sand. In Playa del Carmen, calm beaches are littered with seaweed, and beautiful rocks are three kilometers away.
  • If someone prefers luxury, expensive hotels, then their choice in Cancun is much better.
  • If you want to relax in a quiet small town, Playa is more suitable. Although, it is quiet only during the day and mainly outside Fifth Avenue, and on distant beaches.
  • Personally, I felt like there wasn’t enough space in this city. It seems that after a couple of days, when you walk up and down Fifth Avenue, it will become unbearably boring.
  • I don’t know personally, but I’ve heard the opinion that

When it comes to resorts in Mexico on the Caribbean coast, what place comes to mind first? I think Cancun with its luxury hotels, unceasing nightlife and beautiful beaches. Undoubtedly, Cancun is a leader in this area, but it is far from the only resort city ready to welcome tourists into its warm embrace. The second most popular is a provincial coastal town Playa del Carmen.

The town of Playa del Carmen is located right in the middle Riviera Maya or the Mayan Coast. I foresee your question: what kind of animal is this?

Riviera Maya is a coastal strip stretching along the Caribbean Sea. It starts south of Cancun and ends south of Tulum, stretching as much as 100 kilometers. This is where the popular resorts of Mexico are located: Playa del Carmen, Cozumel Island, Akumal, Tulum.

What is the city of Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is a very small coastal town with an almost rural feel. I don’t want to say that it’s just a village, but it’s definitely a province of pure water.

In fact, all life is concentrated along one street - Fifth Avenue (5th Avenue or "Quinta Avenida"). It is overgrown with all kinds of shops, restaurants, clubs, hotels, bars and other establishments designed to satisfy the needs of tourists.

Located not far from the pier Main Square (Plaza Mayor). Here you can simply sit in the shade, relax and watch the performance of voladores, presenting their ritual dance to the attention of curious tourists. With its help they once tried to appease the god of fertility, but now it is just an attraction for tourists. We first saw this performance in Chochul. The most surprising thing is that the performers do not have any insurance. Despite this, they are not at all afraid to climb onto a tall pillar, and even jump there, performing the steps of their mysterious dance. They say that Voladores are representatives (or descendants of representatives) of a special tribe of Indians who have absolutely no fear of heights. Well, it looks like it is!

Near the square there is a church, or rather a small chapel. Believe it or not, it even conducts services in English. A clear indicator that many foreigners have taken root in the city.

Outside the tourist artery there are rather boring and unremarkable streets of a small town. Peace and quiet reign on them; in some places it seems that the city has completely died out.

In some places, however, one can observe a revival, and it is aimed not at tourists, but at locals. For example, literally three blocks from Central Park there is a market for Mexicans; it is unlikely that a gringo will be interested in anything there. Please note that prices are not indicated in dollars.

Indulging in shopping, eating delicious food, having fun drinking, having fun in a club or bar, swimming on the beach - this is why people go to Playa.

Well, you definitely won’t leave this resort town without souvenirs, because you’ll hardly be able to indifferently pass by the huge souvenir shops that are full of them along Fifth Avenue. What is there: dishes, jewelry, hats, clothes, magnets, postcards, all kinds of figurines, toys, local alcohol and much more. Mexican shopping is a whole separate topic for discussion.

Sellers will persistently invite you to come into their store, buy their tour, try on their bracelet, hat, T-shirt. You definitely won't be bored))

No wonder there are ATMs at every step, there are a lot of temptations))

In the evenings, you can spend hours walking along the avenue from bar to bar, from restaurant to restaurant, or find a cozy place on the shores of the Caribbean Sea and watch the fire show. Many say that the nightlife in Playa del Carmen is even better than in Cancun. Whoever checks it from personal experience, write if this is true))

By the way, drinking alcoholic beverages on the streets is prohibited. However, if you are drunk but have complete control over yourself, the police will not bother you. But if you walk with a bottle of beer (or even tequila) in your hands and behave inappropriately, you may be arrested. The police not only protect, but sometimes also punish. So rest carefully))

Prices in Playa del Carmen

Personally, it seemed to me that the prices in Playa are not too different from the prices in Cancun. Of course, I do not take into account the Hotelier Zone and five-star hotels, since we are budget travelers and evaluate the price level from our own bell tower. You can live inexpensively both there and there. Below you will see that you can find budget accommodation in both cities. Entertainment, food, and shopping cost about the same. Although, it seemed that in Cancun City it was much easier to find, for example, a bullfighting comida.

There are more souvenir shops in Playa, or rather, they are concentrated in one place and it seems that there is more choice than in Cancun. However, in Cancun, on Punte Sur, we saw the same huge outlet, filled with the same goods. All prices for souvenirs are indicated in dollars, so that gringos do not get confused and nervously convert local prices into their usual currency.

A ceramic multi-colored shard, for example, can be yours for $15, a traditional small rug or bedspread - for $5, a simple hat of not the best quality - for $20, a local national doll - for $5-15 and more, alcoholic products (I suspect not the most first-class) - for 20-30 dollars and above.

Food in restaurants and cafes along Fifth Avenue costs the same as in similar establishments in Cancun. On the menu, prices, thank God, are indicated in pesos)) I think a full meal on a fashionable street will cost no less than 200-250 pesos.

Away from the center you can find taco shops (one taco costs about 10 pesos). There are a lot of pizzerias in the city that will give you a slice of pizza for 25-35 pesos. A Subway sandwich with a cola and a cookie can be yours for 40 pesos. A burrito, despite the fact that it can hardly be called food, costs about 60-70 pesos.

Cafes all the time offer promotions on drinks, such as two Margaritas, Mahito, beer, etc. for 80-100 pesos.

Prices for food, hygiene products and other small items in supermarkets (Cedrawi, Mega) in Playa del Carmen are completely identical to those in Cancun. The same situation applies to shops like OXXO. Extra and others. I painstakingly wrote down all the numbers in a note about prices in Cancun.

What else? Renting a bike for half a day will cost about 80 pesos, for a whole day (24 hours) - 140 pesos.

If you want to relax, you will be happy to get an hour-long massage for $18. It is offered at almost every turn in Playa, especially on the coast.

We observed a funny situation with Andryusiks: we sat down to catch our breath on a bench on Fifth Avenue, and opposite stood a male massage therapist offering his services left and right. So, he did it extremely funny. There are no sounds like “sh” or “zh” in the Spanish language, so, for example, no one can pronounce my name correctly, turning it into “Sanna”. And this massage therapist shouted the word “Massasshhhh” with such feeling throughout the street, as if he had hissing bastards in his family)) The desire to be noticed can lead you to what lengths.

Accommodation in Playa del Carmen

This time we did not walk around the city in order to find out about specific budget accommodation options, as we did in Cancun, compiling a whole list of cheap hotel options.

Why? Yes, because it seemed to me that the housing situation in Playa del Carmen is extremely simple. There are several options.

First: inexpensive hotels and hostels around the bus station or in the depths of the city (along Fifth Avenue, I think, you can also find reasonable options). You can find rooms on the spot, leaving your luggage in the storage room at the bus station, or book through Booking.com, or on HotelLook (by the way, Hotellook also searches by Booking).

Second: accommodation on the coast - expensive hotels with stars and bungalows with sea views (we didn’t find out the prices, but I think they are appropriate). This property is booked through the same sites as indicated above.

Third: expensive hotels along Fifth Avenue and nearby.

Fourth: rooms, apartments and houses that can be rented using the Airbnb website. This is a resource where owners offer their housing (rooms, apartments, houses) for rent. We have more than once found excellent accommodation there in terms of price and quality ratio (including in Playa - one of the most tourist places in Mexico) and have always been satisfied. Below are the most relevant sections of the site:

By clicking on the last link, you will be taken to a section where all the accommodation options offered on Airbnb in Mexico will be collected. There you can enter in the upper left corner the name of the city you are interested in, and you will receive a selection of housing specifically for it, plus you have the opportunity to “play” with other parameters to select the options that best suit your personal needs (the picture is enlarged):

For details about the work of the Airbnb service and the procedure for making a reservation, as well as a $20 bonus for the first booking (for unregistered users), look in my instruction article. There are also reviews and links to specific rooms and apartments that Andryusiks and I rented.

Fifth: condos, apartments, apartments, houses that can be rented locally (from individuals or real estate agencies). There are many different options for rent throughout the city. Literally at every step you can see advertisements with descriptions and phone numbers of landlords. This is probably not the most convenient option for “vacationers”, since it takes some time to negotiate and view housing. However, it is suitable for those who have the opportunity to stay at a hotel for a couple of days and set aside time to find something for a long period of time.

For example: we saw an advertisement for renting an apartment for 8,000 pesos per month (see the current peso exchange rate). Judging by the photo, it was a luxurious option, which means it’s logical to assume that something simpler would cost less. Prices are rarely indicated in advertisements, so you will have to call them.

Here are some advertisements with contacts that might be useful to someone:

Where in Playa did we live?

We rented the “Casa Naranja - Happiness Apartment” apartment in advance on the already mentioned Airbnb website. We paid 255 pesos per day for a compact apartment. Let me make a reservation right away that we were in Playa off-season (summer), so there was a lot of available housing, and the prices weren’t too bad. In winter, the situation is completely different (it is better to book accommodation in advance, a couple of months in advance, or even earlier).

What we got: two compact rooms with a separate entrance: a bedroom with a double bed, a wardrobe niche, a bedside table and a ceiling fan and a living room, also known as a kitchen, also known as a dining room. There is a refrigerator, a gas stove, a microwave, all the necessary utensils (from saucepans to forks), and a large work and dining table. A separate bathroom with hot water and good pressure is included (there are often problems with pressure in Mexico). The Internet is available and works quite well. Next to the front door there is a terrace with a hammock, a table and four chairs, where you can theoretically relax, but everything is very dirty.

Location: in a straight line from our house to Fifth Avenue is about 500 meters, to the nearest beach about 800 meters. There is a MEGA supermarket four hundred meters away, and there are small shops and cafes nearby. There is a laundry room in one block. The bus station is approximately 1.5 km if you take the shortest route. It is not dangerous to walk in the evenings; they say that Playa is generally a very safe town.

Nuances: since everything around is for rent, a noisy company can settle next to the house, as we had. For a couple of evenings, music was playing very loudly under the windows, drunk people were screaming, and it all ended well after midnight. There's nothing you can do about the resort town's errors.

Address: Calle 28, between 20th and 25th Avenue, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Enjoy your stay in Playa del Carmen, dear readers!

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In the minds of many tourists and all those interested in history and geography, this is a real fabulous and paradise corner of Mexico. Constant summer, mild climate, warm waters of the Caribbean, rich history, flora and fauna - this is what evokes the most pleasant emotions and impressions in everyone who happens to visit here at least once in their life. Playa del Carmen is fraught with a lot of surprises and mysterious places. Let's try to get to know them better.


Playa del Carmen view from an airplane

The Mexican Riviera is located on the east coast of Mexico, in the state of Quintana Roo. The city of Playa del Carmen is the third largest city in the state and is the administrative center of the municipality of Solidaridad. Naturally, the main item in the local budget is tourism, because the coast is literally crammed with all kinds of hotels, parks, museums, beaches, clubs and restaurants. Very close to the coast is the island of Cozumel, famous for its entertainment industry, with which there is an excellent ferry connection.


Playa Carmen is not only a real mecca of tourism. The city is home to thousands of expats from all over the world, and this stretch of the Caribbean coast can, without exaggeration, be called a center of attraction for creative youth. This means you can experience both Mexico's past and future by meeting interesting, friendly, and approachable people on the streets and in bars. The step from archaeological sites to ultra-modern clubs and beaches in Playa del Carmen is very short.

How to get to Playa

To get from Russia to Playa del Carmen, you will have to take a flight with transfers in Cuba or the States. The most popular airline carriers flying here:

  • Iberia;
  • Lufthansa;
  • AirFrance;

To get from Cancun to Playa on your own, you can use three available methods:

  • bus;
  • personal transfer;
  • ferry.

From Cancun Airport you can get to Playa del Carmen by bus from Terminal 2 from 10:15 to 19:00, with hourly intervals. Travel time takes a little over an hour, and the fare is $10.

The best and easiest option would be to order a transfer from one of the many travel companies.

Personal transfer will cost from $65. To make the trip more profitable, you can gather a group and divide this amount among all passengers. The trip will be profitable and comfortable.

Ferries depart from Cozumel Island, travel time ranges from 30 minutes to an hour, and the fare is $8.

Playa - the pearl of the Caribbean coast


The history of Playa del Carmen goes back deep into the prehistoric era, when the Mayans lived in these lands. The huge temples and complex architecture and their achievements indicate that it was a great and advanced civilization.

The period of civilization here can be divided into three main parts: the Mayan civilization, the conquest of the land by Spain and the modern history of the development of the city as part of the municipality of Solidaridad in the state of Quintana Roo.

Interesting historical facts:

  • Until the second half of the 80s, the village was inhabited mainly by fishermen and artists;
  • its population in those years did not exceed one and a half thousand;
  • in the twentieth century, agriculture and rubber wood processing actively developed;
  • at the end of the twentieth century, active interaction with the island began thanks to connections with other islands and the mainland via ferry;
  • The ferry service opened a new page in the history of Playa del Carmen - the active development of tourism.

Playa del Carmen and Cozumel Island

The city of Playa del Carmen is located very close to the island of Cozumel. And this island is the largest and most attractive pearl of the Yucatan Peninsula. Ancient Shaman-Ha, when looking at a map of the area, looks like a previous stop before the marvelous Cozumel, considered a holy island for the Mayan tribe. It was here that the first ships of the Spanish invaders landed.

Before the Spanish conquistadors arrived in these parts, this island had a different name, which the ancient inhabitants of the Mayan tribe dubbed it. At the dawn of mankind, the island was called Shaman-Ha. Today its name is translated as “Island of Swallows.”

The local nature is so unique and beyond the limits of human imagination, it immediately becomes clear why the inhabitants of the island had such a unique idea of ​​\u200b\u200blife. The weirdness of the rocks, the bright colors of sunsets and sunrises over the turquoise surface of the sea, majestic animals and plants, deep natural wells going deep into the bowels of a long cave system - awe-struck local residents. They imagined equally powerful and unusual gods, realizing that all this could not have arisen as a result of chance.


The Maya tribe deeply feared their deities and exalted them. Mountains, caves and an underwater river evoked a feeling of awe, which is why some rituals of the tribe arose to this day; huge statues of idols remind of them.

Heads and tails in Playa del Carmen

All lovers of traveling and getting to know the world better want to learn more about a variety of countries, cities or cultures. Before going on vacation, tourists think over and choose a route for travel and, of course, get to know it thanks to the pioneers who told all the features and delights of a particular vacation spot. One of those who are ready to introduce tourists to the fabulous Playa del Carmen is the program “Heads and Tails”. From the experience of TV presenters, you can glean a lot of useful information about how to get to the island, how to spend time on a limited budget and if you live on a large scale, what kind of entertainment lovers of active, extreme recreation or recreation with children can choose for themselves.

Attractions of Playa del Carmen

The main attractions of the island are its flora, fauna, unique natural landscapes and underwater world. In order not to lose sight of the main thing, you should familiarize yourself with the TOP 10 must-see places:

  • Xcaret Park;
  • diving with sharks;
  • archaeological tours;
  • sightseeing tours;
  • Tequilla Academy;
  • boat tours;
  • SPA centers;
  • dives and excursions to cenotes, grottoes and caves;
  • surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing;
  • ziplines and rope towns.

Diving in Playa


Diving in Playa del Carmen is amazing in its diversity. Both experienced divers and beginners can take part here. Since this is where the great reef connects Mexico and America, the diversity of underwater life is breathtaking. On the beaches you can dive with your own equipment or with rented equipment to meet a whole family of sea turtles. They "graze" peacefully on grassy meadows of lush seaweed. To get this kind of pleasure, you don’t have to know how to scuba dive; you can just use a mask and snorkel.

A separate type of diving is diving into cenotes. These are cave wells or holes in the soil; they are numerous gates to the kingdom of one of the longest underground rivers. The cave system of the Yucatan Peninsula is 350 km long and ranks second largest. The river is called Sac-Actun; during the Mayan tribe, its waters were considered sacred, and the wells themselves were considered the gateway to the kingdom of the dead. That is why sacrifices were made here en masse, and lifeless bodies were thrown into the water.

Today, this place covered in legends, although it has lost the meaning that the ancient peoples put into their beliefs, it still evokes awe, and in some cases even fear. Only scuba diving certified holders can travel through the underwater labyrinth, accompanied by experienced instructors who speak Mexican, English and Russian. Some corridors in the caves are unexplored and diving into them can be dangerous, as warned by warning signs. But, despite all their danger and mystery, cenotes leave the most impressive impact on tourists who come to visit the peninsula. Mineral formations - stalactites, stalagmites and impressively sized columns create a unique underwater museum with a prehistoric narration of the history of these places. The unique cenote Zakaton is located deep in the jungle; its bottom has never been explored, since scuba divers who dived to 282 meters never reached it.

For all those who do not have a sufficient level of training, there is a wonderful opportunity to touch the underwater secrets by visiting Cenote Dos Ojos. The name of this cenote translates as “two eyes” and consists of two entrances. The first cenote is a huge pool with crystal clear water and a variety of natural mineral formations, which can be clearly seen thanks to the incident daylight. Snorkeling will allow you to explore the bottom of the cave for a long time. The second eye is called Bat Cave. The cave of bats consists of several interconnected corridors, some of which are filled with water, while others are not, so bats settled in one of them and became the owners of this dungeon.

Parks

Xcaret Park is an eco-theme park that is a unique garden with amazing natural landscapes, entertainment and many rare birds and bizarre jungle inhabitants. The following activities are available to tourists:

  • beach and bay for a comfortable pastime;
  • diving in cenotes and with dolphins;
  • restaurants and cafes;
  • walks along the seabed;
  • raft tours;
  • 80-meter Scenics tower, allowing you to view the surroundings from a bird's eye view;
  • macaw sanctuary;
  • ancient Mayan cemetery.

This list reflects only the main and most popular entertainment of the eco-park; its remaining features can only be revealed by the most daring and inquisitive travelers.


In Playa del Carmen, beaches line the entire coastline. The main beach is the easiest to get to, since this is where ferries arrive and depart to Cozumel, its name is Principal. The remaining beaches are located behind it, and stretch along the northern part of the island. Their names are similar to the names of restaurants and comfortable hotels:

  • Toucan;
  • Mamitas;
  • Shangri-La;
  • Subul;
  • Coco Beach.

The beaches offer a variety of entertainment and sporting activities. For example, you can use massage services, ride jet skis or wakeboards - surfboards with a motor. If vacationers want to go snorkeling, then it is better to go on a yacht or boat into the open sea, dive into cenotes or take a ferry to the neighboring islands, since the underwater world of Playadel Carmen will give less impressive emotions than the underwater world of the neighboring islands.

Shopping in Playa Del Carmen


Evening shopping in Playa del Carmen

Despite its miniature size, Playa del Carmen has two large shopping centers with cinemas and many boutiques with branded goods from world famous manufacturers. In addition to large shops, you can find food markets, souvenir shops and small shops where you can buy basic necessities and other goods.

Location of shops in Playadel Carmen:

  • smaller stores such as Mega, Dorian, Wellmart are located on 50th Avenue, closer to the exit of the city;
  • the largest shopping centers are located on 5th Avenue, these are CentroMaya and PlazaLasAmerica;
  • at the intersection of 30th and 74th avenues there is an industrial market;
  • the fish market can be visited at the intersection of 30th and 35th avenues;
  • Every Sunday in the city center there is a vibrant fair with a lot of products, goods and great deals for tourists.

Conclusion

Playa del Carmen is a must-see city on the eastern Caribbean coast for any tourist in Mexico. The amazing nature of the Yucatan Peninsula has endowed this place with the most impressive natural resources. The development of civilization has brought its charm to these places, and the development of tourism has allowed travelers from all over the world to touch the ancient history and civilization of the Mayan tribe.

Today, tourists can find everything in Playa for a wide variety of recreation - from beaches and clubs to immersion in the rich history of this amazing region. Everyone here will receive and will definitely take with them a piece of a beautiful sunny place that looks like paradise.

Located in the heart of the Riviera Maya region, 68 km south of Cancun. Unlike Cancun, which caters largely to American tourists, Playa del Carmen is a favorite destination for tourists from Europe, especially Italy and France. The atmosphere here is more intimate and reminiscent of a European one, although the city cannot be called completely quiet: in the evenings there is always a party here, although not so noisy.

There is no clear division between the tourist and residential zones in the city. The beach area of ​​Playa del Carmen is called Playacar and is located right in the city, in its southern part along the coast. From here you can go to the Great Mesoamerican Reef (Gran Arrecife Maya), where you dive to a depth of 10 meters and observe various species of fish that have lived in these places for five hundred years.

BEACHES IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN

The city has two beaches: Paamul (Playa Paamul) and Paradise (Playa Paraiso); Both can be used for swimming and playing various sports. There are many beach resorts here, and along with the fashionable ones you can also find very economical, but very nice ones, for which this city is highly respected by backpackers.

FIFTH AVENUE

The main promenade of Playa del Carmen is Fifth Avenue, a pedestrian zone lined with numerous shops and restaurants on both sides. There are no historical or cultural attractions as such in the city. But its architecture, in which there is a distinct fusion of Spanish traditions with the bright decorative elements characteristic of Mexico; excellent shopping in its numerous shops, shops and small galleries with works of local artists, as well as a huge selection of restaurants for every taste (including good European cuisine), where in the evenings they play high-quality live music - from rock and roll to Mariachis make this city very popular among tourists.

MAP OF PLAYA DEL CARMEN

Map of central Playa del Carmen (Click to enlarge)

HOW TO GET TO PLAYA DEL CARMEN

The distance from Cancun to Playa del Carmen is 68 kilometers and can be covered in about one hour. Between the cities there is Cancun International Airport - there is a bus from there to Playa, but you can also order a taxi directly to your hotel. All Arminas Travel tourists are provided with free transfer from the airport and back. In addition, between Cancun and Playa there are many hotels and Cirque du Soleil with its theatrical and food show Joya. These hotels have huge areas and are surrounded by jungle.

TIME IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN

By the way, in February 2015, the government of the state of Quintana Roo, where the main Caribbean resorts of Mexico are located, including Playa del Carmen, for the sake of tourists from the East Coast of the United States, decided to switch to the new time zone UTC-5 (North American Eastern Time). Those. the difference with Moscow time is now 8 hours: for example, when it is noon in Playa, it is already 20:00 in Moscow.

EXCURSIONS IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN

All year round, this resort offers exciting sightseeing tours of the Yucatan. The most popular among tourists are trips to the ancient pyramids and archaeological zones of Yucatan - Chichen Itza, Coba, Ek Balam or Tulum. Many people go scuba diving or snorkeling to explore the reef, which the Yucatan is so rich in.

Both Playa del Carmen and its adjacent Playacar are located in the Riviera Maya, or Mayan Riviera as it is also known, approximately halfway between the large upscale resort of Cancun and Tulum, a picturesque Mayan fortress perched on a cliff. The ancient Mayans appreciated the beauty of these places long before the Spaniards arrived here in the 16th century, and the tourist boom began several centuries later. The shore is full of Mayan ruins; their largest concentration is around Playa del Carmen.

The pedestrian street Avenida 5 runs through the center of the town, where there are many boutiques, good restaurants and houses with interesting architecture. The heart of the town is the zocalo, the main square. To the west is Avenida Juarez; There is a bus station, post office and several banks on it. North of Avenida 5 you will find most of the hotels, restaurants, bars and shops. The further you walk along Avenida 5, the cheaper the restaurants and shops become and the less crowded the beaches become. Streets (avenidas) are numbered 5, 10, 15 and so on, so street number 30 is not as far from Avenida 5 as it might seem.

Just south of Playa del Carmen is the purpose-built gated resort of Playacar, featuring an 18-hole golf course, large all-inclusive hotels, private rental apartments and an executive area. From the center of Playa del Carmen you can get here by taxi in 5 minutes; There are many Mayan ruins around Playacar, but there is practically nothing to see in the resort itself.

Beaches

The Riviera Maya stretches south from Cancun to Tulum, with Playa del Carmen and Playacar nestled in the heart of the region. Here on the coast there is white sand, and the water in the sea is crystal clear. The descent into the water is so gentle that the sea seems like just a huge pool.

Most resort hotels are located along the coast, where the white sand is especially clean. The main beach of Playa del Carmen, with its bars and restaurants, narrows to the north and becomes less crowded. In front of the large yellow building of the Porto Real Hotel, the beach widens again; here, at one of the beach clubs, you can rent an umbrella and a sun lounger.

If you walk north along the shore for another 10 minutes, you will come to Coco Beach, where there are several restaurants and dive shops. Nearby is Chunzubul Reef, where you can rent a boat from the locals and go snorkeling. Please note, however, that most of the corals near the shore have been destroyed.

All beaches around Playa del Carmen are open and free, you can get to them from the promenade - there are several entrances. However, the further north you go, the more difficult it is to get to the beach - access through private areas is limited. It's best to walk straight on the sand, as most of the paths leading off the highway towards the coast between Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen dead-end.

Once you leave the main beach area, you will find yourself in the resort area: Playa Tucan, Mamitas, Shangri-La, Zubul and Coco Beach. This part of the coastline is lined with bars and restaurants, so you'll always be able to refresh yourself. There are lifeguards on all beaches, but this is not a reason for carelessness; Take precautions when swimming.

Even further north, the best beaches of the Riviera Maya begin again: the aptly named Mysterious Coast, Playa del Secreto (Playa del Secreto), and Paradise Beach, Playa Paraiso (Playa Paradiso); their width is 5 km. Sea turtles and crabs are frequent guests here. Without noticing it, you will find yourself in Punta Maroma (Punta Maroma) and Punta Beta (Punta Bete); The limestone formations and jungle here seem to have been created by designers to delight the eyes of vacationers. If you come with children, you may like the part of the coast near the resort of Porto Real. Here, small thickets of corals form natural pools with warm water where fish swim - safe and interesting for small family members.

Many restaurants in Playa del Carmen transform into bars and nightclubs late at night. Avenida 5 is full of bars and clubs.

What to see and do

Cenotes

Cenotes are natural sinkholes formed by the collapse of the vaults of limestone caves in which underground water flows. There are many of them here, and diving into them is a pleasure. The Scuba Cenote Club is run by Armando Elizalde, who organizes trips to local cenotes.

Calle 6, bis 235. Tel.: 984-131-23-91. www.scubacenote.com.

Diving

Diving in underwater caves, among stalactites, stalagmites and coral clusters with the British-Danish club Dive Mike (Calle, 8, between Avenida 5 and Zona Federal Maritima; Tel.: 984-803-12-28; www.divemike.com). There are also many other dive bureaus to choose from in Playa del Carmen.

Golf

Playacar is home to the best golf course on the coast - Playacar Club de Golf. Designer Robert von Hagge designed this championship course (par 72) on the site of dense jungle where the Mayans once lived. The matches held here are spectacular, and it is an honor to win them.

Playacar's courts can get really hot, so we recommend playing early in the morning or late in the evening. For afternoon games (after 14.00) prices are lower, www.palace-resorts.com/playacar-golf-club.

Excursion to the jungle

You can ride a quad bike through the jungle, swim in an 18-metre-deep senot and climb ancient Mayan ruins - all included in the two-hour excursion. ATV Explorer. Carretera, 307. Tel.: 984-873-16-26. www.atvexplorer.com.

Shallan-Ha Bird Park (Xaman Na Aviary)

At the airia, visitors can walk among butterflies, colorful birds including parrots and toucans, flamingos and scarlet macaws, and exotic wildlife such as iguanas. Paseo Xaman-Ha, Playacar. Tel.: 984-873-03-30. www.aviarioxa-manha.com/english. 9.00-17.00 daily.

Excursions

Cozumel

Sign up for a boat tour and set sail to the beautiful island of Cozumel in just half an hour. The island is easy to explore on a day trip and is a haven for divers and nature lovers.

Fishing

On the beaches of Playa del Carmen you can rent a panga, a fishing boat with a motor, for half or a full day. But 20 minutes south, in the marina of Puerto Aventuras, the choice is much better, and the boats themselves are larger. The kit includes (check in advance): rigging, bait, fish gutting knife and light drinks; the captain and mate must also be present.

This part of the coast is especially good for deep sea fishing, with the nearby island of Cozumel forcing big fish to swim close to shore. You can catch a sailfish (high season lasts from March to July, but the possibility remains all year round) and swordfish (from March to September). Blue and white marlin are very common, and tuna is caught year-round.

Swimming with dolphins

At the Nisuk water park you can swim and play with bottlenose dolphins and learn about their habits from experienced instructors. This entertainment is available to those whose height is at least 120 cm, as well as to children accompanied by adults (maximum two children with one adult).

Parque Nizuc, Cancun.

Shopping

Most of the shops in Playa del Carmen are located on the central, pedestrian street running parallel to the promenade - Avenida 5 (also known as Quinta Avenida). Etoncha Amber Gallery sells precious stones from Chiapas, the local amber is especially prized (Avenida 5, between Calles 8 and 10). Blue Planet store sells beachwear in retro style (1970s) (Avenida 5, between Calles 10 and 12). La Calaca has a good collection of wooden masks and carved wood (corner of Avenida 5 and Calle 5), and Amber Mexicano sells amber jewelry by a local designer (Avenida 5, between Calles 4 and 6). If you want to purchase more expensive, branded clothing, check out Crunch (Avenida 5, between Calles 6 and 8).

Playacar has two main shopping centers - Paseo del Carmen and Plaza Playacar.