Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, or just "Playa" as it is also commonly referred to by locals, is a coastal resort town in Quintana Roo on the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. Approximately 70 km south of Cancún and 20 km west of Cozumel island, it is at the center of the Mayan Riviera and offers a more relaxed atmosphere and smaller boutique lodgings.

Playa del Carmen is less internationally recognized than its northern sister city, Cancun. However, this comes with many added benefits. Unlike Cancun, which has a reputation of being incredibly touristy, Playa del Carmen retains an authentic Mexican feel due to its smaller size despite still being a tourist destination. Also, since Playa del Carmen has only recently begun gaining popularity on the world stage, it can be far less crowded and hectic than Cancun year-round. The resorts and hotels are also much newer in Playa del Carmen. In essence, anything one can find in Cancun - be it gorgeous beaches, great nightlife, or delicious cuisine - one can also find in Playa del Carmen, but in a much more authentic and relaxed environment.

Quinta Avenida, also referred to in English as 5th Avenue, is the main tourist thoroughfare in Playa. It is a pedestrian only, cobblestone lined street which spans approximately 20 blocks. Along 5th Ave. you will find a variety of restaurants, bars, clubs, shopping opportunities and various overpriced services. In Playa, nearly everything starts from this street. If you have more local fare in mind, head a few avenues (they are counted in jumps of five, the next one besides fifth avenue is tenth avenue) inland and prices as well as the number of gringos tend to fall. Towards the south there is a gated community full of air bnb rentals and hotels called "playacar". You can just walk in, but cars still be stopped at the entrance gate.

As the town is part of the 1970s master plan to develop the eastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula as a tourist hotspot and barely existed as a hamlet half a century ago, there is very little in the way of remarkable architecture. There is however a couple of small Maya Ruins around the "Playacar" gated community.

You may see many boats on the beach in Playa del Carmen waiting for a deep sea fishing charter. Most of these boats are unlicensed and provide the bare necessities. They are generally small "pangas" which may or may not even offer shade. The equipment is generally sub-par. The professional charter fleet is in Puerto Aventuras which is about 10 km south of Playa. Puerto Aventuras is the oldest and nicest marina on the Riviera Maya. The protection is so good that the Cozumel Ferries park there in bad weather. There are numerous charter boats available from 29-47 feet. For not much extra money (if any) you can upgrade to a private boat. Just walk past the charter boats and you will find private boats. These boats are privately owned by affluent owners who maintain them with an open check book. Some of them offer their boats for occasional charter. The extra effort is well worth it.

With the closest port to Playa del Carmen at 25 mins away there is different options for private luxury yachts, vessels or catamarans, whether to enjoy a day out doing sport fishing, drinking, tanning or celebrating something you can try Playa Yachting for good options.

Scuba diving and snorkeling is plentiful around Playa, though the reefs are off the shore require a boat to get to. The offshore reef is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest coral reef system in the world. All hotels have a dive shop, though many can be found on 5th Ave. Better open-water scuba diving can generally be found in Cozumel so if this is the focus of your trip it is best to stay there. Excellent snorkeling is at Puerto Morelos, roughly halfway between Playa del Carmen and Cancun, and in the lagoon at Akumal, on the way to Tulum. Several dive shops in Playa del Carmen do offer cenote diving south of town.

Cenotes are cavernous freshwater sinkholes which are found all over the Yucatán Peninsula. Many of them are open to the public for swimming, diving, and exploration. Many are open, however some of them are partially underground and the caves associated with these cenotes can run for miles underground. Cenotes also vary in size with openings as little as a foot wide to as large as a small lake. The water clarity in these cenotes is often unsurpassed, often exceeding 60 m (200 feet), and makes for exceptionally good swimming. Some of the bigger cenotes are available as tourist destinations, many are locally owned, and many more still are either undiscovered or undeveloped. Entrance to the commercial cenotes is correlated to the amount of development (i.e. if there are washrooms, restaurants, showers) with fees ranging from US$1-20.

Two good cenotes within 15 minutes drive of Playa del Carmen with facilities are Cenote Chaak Tun and Rio Secreto. Both provide wetsuits, life jackets, shoes, etc, and run guided tours of 1½-2 hours involving walking and swimming through underground caves with beautiful rock formations, with the occasional fish below you, and bats above. No personal photography is allowed at Rio Secreto but their photographer will sell you photos for $100. Cenote Chaak Tun allows photography, but lighting conditions are challenging, and you may be better buying photos from them for $30 (from your trip and stock photos).

Cenote Chaak Tun is open 9-5, with guided tours leaving every 30 min or so. Entry is M$500/US$30 plus tip for the guide. Rio Secreto entry is from USD79 (different tour options available).

• Abyss Dive Center and Training Facility.
• AlwaysDiving. A good place to do your diving or scuba diving classes. Scuba diving for everyone, from beginners to professionals.
• Cenote Dive Center. For cenote snorkeling tours or cenote dive excursions.
• Scuba10. Great option if you want to do cenote diving with an experienced operator in Playa del Carmen.
• Advanced Diver Mexico, 77712, Fuente de Cervantes 15, Santa Fe del Carmen, +52 984 135-3305. 08:00-20:00. Dive shop, providing cenotes & cave diving experiences in Playa del Carmen, tech training and support.

Abyss Dive Center and Training Facility.

AlwaysDiving. A good place to do your diving or scuba diving classes. Scuba diving for everyone, from beginners to professionals.

Cenote Dive Center. For cenote snorkeling tours or cenote dive excursions.

Scuba10. Great option if you want to do cenote diving with an experienced operator in Playa del Carmen.

Advanced Diver Mexico, 77712, Fuente de Cervantes 15, Santa Fe del Carmen, +52 984 135-3305. 08:00-20:00. Dive shop, providing cenotes & cave diving experiences in Playa del Carmen, tech training and support.

• Academia Columbus, Av 30 Norte x 6 Bis (Take Ave 30 and turn on Calle 6 bis, an orange building, +52 984 873 2100. 09:00-14:00. Academia Columbus offers Spanish language courses for international students at the most affordable prices. Small classes of no more than 5 students per class. Price varies.
• International House Maya Riviera.
• Playa Lingua.
• TAAN Spanish School, Different locations throught Playa del Carmen, +52-55-4169-2530. 09:00-18:00. Spanish school offering a full cultural immersion.

Academia Columbus, Av 30 Norte x 6 Bis (Take Ave 30 and turn on Calle 6 bis, an orange building, +52 984 873 2100. 09:00-14:00. Academia Columbus offers Spanish language courses for international students at the most affordable prices. Small classes of no more than 5 students per class. Price varies.

International House Maya Riviera.

Playa Lingua.

TAAN Spanish School, Different locations throught Playa del Carmen, +52-55-4169-2530. 09:00-18:00. Spanish school offering a full cultural immersion.

The touristy part of Playa is laden with shops selling 'artesanias'. These basically sell the same products - shirts, bracelets, and souvenirs, but for varying prices depending on the mood of the shopkeeper and your haggling/seduction skills. Haggling is accepted in the less formal shops in Playa, as in the rest of the Yucatán, though it is worth remembering that if you are able to afford an international vacation your income is many times higher than the storekeeper's (most of whom struggle just to pay the very high rents). It is possible to buy Mexican and Cuban cigars here, but Cuban cigar prices are not particularly cheap. Counterfeits are commonplace in Mexico, so due diligence in the selection of cigars is advisable. If you are young or have long hair, many shop keepers are likely to also offer you marijuana. Marijuana is illegal in Mexico, though its use is widespread among tourists.

There are three large supermarkets in Playa del Carmen: Wal-Mart (30 Ave and Calle 8), Comercial Mexicana MEGA (30 Ave and Constituyentes), Chedraui (Highway 307 between Playa del Carmen and Playacar). There is also a Sam's Club (Hwy 307 in front of Playacar).

There are two large shopping centers on the outskirts of town: Centro Maya (on the right of Highway 307 heading towards Tulum - opposite Playacar) and Plaza Las Americas (entrance is on the right side of Hwy 307 as you head to Cancún, by the large traffic circle with statue at the entrance of Playa del Carmen). Both shopping centers have multiscreen cinemas and large supermarkets (Soriana and Chedraui, respectively).

There are dozens of restaurants in Playa, with foods of every type and price range: try to stay away from 5th avenue to get decent prices - usually 2 blocks only will make a huge difference. There are also various pizza stands with prices ranging from M$10-20, most of them remain open up to 06:00 when bars begin to close. As is the case in much of Mexico, the street food is not to be missed. Simply walk south down 5th Ave until you reach the pier and taxi stand. There are generally five or six carts there serving tacos of various types. Every seafood taco is generally outstanding, along with the carnitas, pollo, and chorizo. Also, try the stuffed poblano tacos. Tacos are typically in the US$2-3 range. For the best and freshest tacos arrive mid-morning before the lunch rush as the carts are setting up.

• Ah Cacao Chocolate Café. A chocolate-themed coffee shop, selling chocolate in all its forms (including pure cacao beans). Famous for the brownies. Probably serves the best lattes and espresso in Playa.
• El Asador de Manolo. Argentine-owned restaurant with the best steaks in Playa. On 5th Ave between 30 and 32 St, it's not in the middle of all the tourism, but still nearby. A tenderloin-steak costs about M$170, and is well worth the money - especially compared to the many very expensive restaurants located down 5th avenue. The crew is friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed and cosy.
• Babes Noodles and Bar. Very popular restaurant bar serving Thai-style noodles, loud music, and lots of beer.
• Benito Juarez and 5th Ave Street Cart. At the corner of Benito Juarez and 5th Ave there are carts every morning where all the hotel and shop workers stop for breakfast. Gathering starts at around 06:00, they stay there until around 11:00. It is right outside of the main ADO bus station and at the start of the walk to the ferry to Cozumel so it is easy to find. The price in September 2011 was M$18 each. One is enough to fill most people. These can be put together in different combinations and if you want something specific (like eggs alone), they will cook it on the spot.
• La Casa del Agua. Great ambiance. The calamari is excellent as is the fish. A little pricier than other restaurants, but well worth a try. Their indoor waterfall is a variation of a small pool of water cascading down rocks. The method cools nicely and is emulated in several restaurants.
• Club Nautico Tarraya. Specializing in seafood, it's almost certainly the cheapest place on the beach, with ceviche for around M$40 and fried fish for less than M$100, and beer to wash it down with costing M$20. The atmosphere is slightly spoiled by cheap white plastic tables and very clinical white lights after sunset, but at these prices that's par for the course, and the quality and quantity of the food itself is excellent.
• Cockteleria Veracruz, 10 Avenida Sur (Between Benito Juarez and Calle 1 Sur, diagonally opposite the main ADO bus station. An unassuming exterior hides a cheap, tasty and very friendly seafood restaurant specializing in seafood cocktails. Mama runs the restaurant and personally makes sure all guests are happy. Note that the oysters in some cocktails are raw - but deliciously fresh. Portions are large, so even though the cocktails and ceviches are considered entrées, anything other than a small portion is a meal on its own.
• La Fragata. Small hole-in-the-wall restaurant with scrumptious food. Tasty fish tacos and seafood pasta that popped with flavor.
• HC Monterrey. The arrachera nacional is so tender it almost melts in your mouth. The meat is served simply with a foil wrapped potato and half of an avocado. If you are looking for something a little different, but truly delicious, try HC. With prices around M$85 a person for the meat alone and M$135 for the full meal, make sure to get there early, they are open until only 19:00.
• Ileana's Il Pescadore. Italian Restaurant that is a must on any visit to Playa. The owner, a lady originally from Italy, is entertaining. The calamari is great. The tiramisu is delicious. The homemade pasta is superb. The portions are a decent size, but you do not leave thinking you overate. Cash only.
• King of the Grill, Aviacion Ave (aka Airport Rd) (Between Federal Highway 307 and 15th Ave. This is the road that runs on the south side of the airport near Playacar Phase 2. In a building on the south side of the road 500 or so metres going towards the highway coming from 10th Ave, +52 984 879 4219. Tu-Su 14:00-21:00 or later if busy. Great Mexican grill. Actually a Weber BBQ shop (for rent or sale) that has a small number of tables and serves great food cooked on the Webers. Slightly off the tourist strip and menus only in Spanish. Friendly owner speaks English and was very helpful in explaining the menu. Hamburgers, steak and ribs are all highly recommended. Prices are very reasonable. M$150 for full rack of ribs, M$180 for a large rib eye steak, MXN100 for a Wagyu beef burger.
• Media Luna. The locals think highly of the restaurant, as do others. The restaurant offers vegetarian dishes, fresh fish, wonderful pastas and salads. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Oasis. Mexican seafood. Battered shrimp tacos, seafood soup, fried fish. Attracts mostly Mexicans and Playa locals. Prices are reasonable and the quality is consistent.
• La Parilla Mexican Grill. The mariachi band was excellent and would play any single song that they knew for USD10.
• Perros Calientes. If you want to eat a great big hot dog, walk two streets from Fifth Avenue to this place and you will enjoy good hot dogs.
• La Pesca. Daily till 21:00. Maybe the best seafood in Playa. Reasonable prices, awesome food. Try the cazuela de camaron. If you choose a main course costing less than M$140 you will probably be told that it is "not recommended", and will be advised something in a pricier category. If that happens, just persevere, they will happily serve the cheaper dish too. Most customers are locals, but the staff speak English and are very friendly. The toilet facilities are of lower quality than would be found at a restaurant in a more touristy part of Playa.
• PlayaMaya Hotel. Octopus Tacos, wonderful.
• Yaxché Cocina Maya. A Mayan cuisine restaurant. The soup with grouper is excellent. The shrimp plate is also tops. Try the creamed Chaya soup. The menu for lunch and supper are the same as are the prices.
• Yogo Chango Yogurt Bar. Frozen yogurt made fresh with seasonal fresh fruit toppings, as well as creative and dry toppings. You can also enjoy smoothies, milkshakes, yogurt smoothies, espresso, frappuccino. Internet is free (laptops are available for free).

Ah Cacao Chocolate Café. A chocolate-themed coffee shop, selling chocolate in all its forms (including pure cacao beans). Famous for the brownies. Probably serves the best lattes and espresso in Playa.

El Asador de Manolo. Argentine-owned restaurant with the best steaks in Playa. On 5th Ave between 30 and 32 St, it's not in the middle of all the tourism, but still nearby. A tenderloin-steak costs about M$170, and is well worth the money - especially compared to the many very expensive restaurants located down 5th avenue. The crew is friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed and cosy.

Babes Noodles and Bar. Very popular restaurant bar serving Thai-style noodles, loud music, and lots of beer.

Benito Juarez and 5th Ave Street Cart. At the corner of Benito Juarez and 5th Ave there are carts every morning where all the hotel and shop workers stop for breakfast. Gathering starts at around 06:00, they stay there until around 11:00. It is right outside of the main ADO bus station and at the start of the walk to the ferry to Cozumel so it is easy to find. The price in September 2011 was M$18 each. One is enough to fill most people. These can be put together in different combinations and if you want something specific (like eggs alone), they will cook it on the spot.

La Casa del Agua. Great ambiance. The calamari is excellent as is the fish. A little pricier than other restaurants, but well worth a try. Their indoor waterfall is a variation of a small pool of water cascading down rocks. The method cools nicely and is emulated in several restaurants.

Club Nautico Tarraya. Specializing in seafood, it's almost certainly the cheapest place on the beach, with ceviche for around M$40 and fried fish for less than M$100, and beer to wash it down with costing M$20. The atmosphere is slightly spoiled by cheap white plastic tables and very clinical white lights after sunset, but at these prices that's par for the course, and the quality and quantity of the food itself is excellent.

Cockteleria Veracruz, 10 Avenida Sur (Between Benito Juarez and Calle 1 Sur, diagonally opposite the main ADO bus station. An unassuming exterior hides a cheap, tasty and very friendly seafood restaurant specializing in seafood cocktails. Mama runs the restaurant and personally makes sure all guests are happy. Note that the oysters in some cocktails are raw - but deliciously fresh. Portions are large, so even though the cocktails and ceviches are considered entrées, anything other than a small portion is a meal on its own.

La Fragata. Small hole-in-the-wall restaurant with scrumptious food. Tasty fish tacos and seafood pasta that popped with flavor.

HC Monterrey. The arrachera nacional is so tender it almost melts in your mouth. The meat is served simply with a foil wrapped potato and half of an avocado. If you are looking for something a little different, but truly delicious, try HC. With prices around M$85 a person for the meat alone and M$135 for the full meal, make sure to get there early, they are open until only 19:00.

Ileana's Il Pescadore. Italian Restaurant that is a must on any visit to Playa. The owner, a lady originally from Italy, is entertaining. The calamari is great. The tiramisu is delicious. The homemade pasta is superb. The portions are a decent size, but you do not leave thinking you overate. Cash only.

King of the Grill, Aviacion Ave (aka Airport Rd) (Between Federal Highway 307 and 15th Ave. This is the road that runs on the south side of the airport near Playacar Phase 2. In a building on the south side of the road 500 or so metres going towards the highway coming from 10th Ave, +52 984 879 4219. Tu-Su 14:00-21:00 or later if busy. Great Mexican grill. Actually a Weber BBQ shop (for rent or sale) that has a small number of tables and serves great food cooked on the Webers. Slightly off the tourist strip and menus only in Spanish. Friendly owner speaks English and was very helpful in explaining the menu. Hamburgers, steak and ribs are all highly recommended. Prices are very reasonable. M$150 for full rack of ribs, M$180 for a large rib eye steak, MXN100 for a Wagyu beef burger.

Media Luna. The locals think highly of the restaurant, as do others. The restaurant offers vegetarian dishes, fresh fish, wonderful pastas and salads. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Oasis. Mexican seafood. Battered shrimp tacos, seafood soup, fried fish. Attracts mostly Mexicans and Playa locals. Prices are reasonable and the quality is consistent.

La Parilla Mexican Grill. The mariachi band was excellent and would play any single song that they knew for USD10.

Perros Calientes. If you want to eat a great big hot dog, walk two streets from Fifth Avenue to this place and you will enjoy good hot dogs.

La Pesca. Daily till 21:00. Maybe the best seafood in Playa. Reasonable prices, awesome food. Try the cazuela de camaron. If you choose a main course costing less than M$140 you will probably be told that it is "not recommended", and will be advised something in a pricier category. If that happens, just persevere, they will happily serve the cheaper dish too. Most customers are locals, but the staff speak English and are very friendly. The toilet facilities are of lower quality than would be found at a restaurant in a more touristy part of Playa.

PlayaMaya Hotel. Octopus Tacos, wonderful.

Yaxché Cocina Maya. A Mayan cuisine restaurant. The soup with grouper is excellent. The shrimp plate is also tops. Try the creamed Chaya soup. The menu for lunch and supper are the same as are the prices.

Yogo Chango Yogurt Bar. Frozen yogurt made fresh with seasonal fresh fruit toppings, as well as creative and dry toppings. You can also enjoy smoothies, milkshakes, yogurt smoothies, espresso, frappuccino. Internet is free (laptops are available for free).

Nightlife is definitely happening in Playa del Carmen, but is not as wild as its neighbor to the north, Cancún. Typically, Playa's shops and restaurants close around 22:00, but nearly all of the clubs stay open through most of the night. Some of the best nightclubs are on the beach. If you are interested in nightlife (dancing, drinks late until the evening/morning), then be sure to visit Blue Parrot, El Pirata, Santenera, and Hotel Deseo. The Blue Parrot has an intense and spectacular nightly fire show at 23:00 and offers beach dancing, swings at the bar, and plenty of dancing. Santenera has a beautiful roof deck bar. Deseo also has a roof deck bar, but it comes with beds. Very relaxing and beautiful.

There is no shortage of great bars in Playa, many of which can be found on the beach. Alternatively, if you are on a very tight budget, many shops outside the main tourist area will sell drinks in bottles and cans that you can pack into a cooler for the beach. Prices at the bars in Playa are consistent with any major tourist area, but a US$1 beer is not uncommon.

Liquor can be bought from any number of tourist shops, which typically sell Kahlua and a variety of tequilas at a price which is generally the same. If you are requiring a more diverse liquor supply, there are places in and about Playa that can accommodate. The most prominent is Covi Liquors, on Hwy 307 in Playa, which offer a wide variety of liquors at prices that are generally cheaper than those shops which cater to tourists on 5th Ave.

Fifth Avenue is packed with restaurants and bars but most close before midnight. There are two main streets to find clubs and bars that close after midnight: The 8th street between 5th and 10th Ave is frequently visited by locals and backpackers, bars like "Los Secretos" offer live music and pool tables and Red Bar offer cheap beer, 2 x 1 drinks and great music (closes at 02:00). The 12th offers more tourist places like Blue Parrot, Coco Maya and Om in the beach area and Bali Club and Santanera near 10th Ave.

The Dirty Martini Lounge on 1st Avenue between 10th and 12th Street gives you an alternative place to party and chill without all the hustle and bustle of the other bars. With a hotel on-site and pizza served to your table for the late night munchies, this community is a great place to spend the evenings in Playa Del Carmen.

• El Bistro at La Tortuga, 10th Ave, & Calle 14th, +52 984 87 30626. 7-23. El Bistro at La Tortuga & El Bistro en la Quinta. Two gastronomic options of good food in a relaxed atmosphere but always with excellent and consistent service, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 12.
• Coffee Stop, Calle 10 North between 10th Ave & 15th Ave, +52 984 803 4365. 07:30-19:30. Small independent coffee shop selling filled bagels, croissants, and a selection of great cakes and pastries to accompany real Mexican coffee (from Chapias). Away from the main hustle and bustle of 5th Avenue, it's a calm place to eat, drink and catch up on your email. very reasonable.
• Hangover Bar Playa, +52 984 142 2310. 10:00-02:00. One of the best bars in town. Featuring he amazing recipe of beer with a special juice. During the day they play good uplifting music with a friendly atmosphere. At night, they plays the same kind of music and the mic is open for karaoke for whomever is brave enough.

El Bistro at La Tortuga, 10th Ave, & Calle 14th, +52 984 87 30626. 7-23. El Bistro at La Tortuga & El Bistro en la Quinta. Two gastronomic options of good food in a relaxed atmosphere but always with excellent and consistent service, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 12.

Coffee Stop, Calle 10 North between 10th Ave & 15th Ave, +52 984 803 4365. 07:30-19:30. Small independent coffee shop selling filled bagels, croissants, and a selection of great cakes and pastries to accompany real Mexican coffee (from Chapias). Away from the main hustle and bustle of 5th Avenue, it's a calm place to eat, drink and catch up on your email. very reasonable.

Hangover Bar Playa, +52 984 142 2310. 10:00-02:00. One of the best bars in town. Featuring he amazing recipe of beer with a special juice. During the day they play good uplifting music with a friendly atmosphere. At night, they plays the same kind of music and the mic is open for karaoke for whomever is brave enough.

• Public Parks : All the parks in Playa del Carmen offer free Wi-Fi. Most of the restaurants and bars will ask for a minimum buy before giving you the password which will change every day. The more expensive the hotel or the condo, the less likely you will get free access.
• Calle 4 between 15 and 10 Avenue: This is the 1st block in Playa fully covered by a free service (powered by Hotel Barrio Latino together with the AHRM, local association of hotels): fast, free.

• United States United States, Plaza Progreso, Local 33, +52 999 942-5700.

United States United States, Plaza Progreso, Local 33, +52 999 942-5700.

• Cozumel the large island off the coast of Playa is famous for snorkeling and scuba near the Great Maya Reef, the large coral system. Note that Cozumel is also a main port for Cruise ships, so can be quite busy sometimes!
• Tulum is a pre-Columbian walled city of the Maya right on the ocean, the number one attraction when visiting the region, the site consists of a large temple, several auxiliary buildings and huts. Many tours frequent the archaeological zone so it is often busy, you can shop at several different vendor sites on your way in or out and it is recommended you use the washrooms near where the buses load. There are several other impressive Mayan vestiges within a few hours drive of Playa. Among them are Ek Balam, Coba, and Chichen Itza.
• Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve is a wonderful nature preserve, just an hour south of Playa for the ecologically minded. Day tours available from Playa. One group offering tours is Sian Kaan Community Tours, mentioned here because it is run by a local Maya community, so your tourist dollars go directly to the community. That apart, it's great value for money (includes a tour of Maya ruins at Muyil, a float down a stream through the mangroves which other companies did not seem to offer, an experienced nature guide who points out the flora and fauna, boating through a lagoon, and not least, a delicious home-cooked Maya meal).
• Puerto Aventuras Puerto Aventuras is about 20 minutes from Playa del Carmen.
• Puerto Morelos Either "Puerto" is a much shorter drive than to Cancun and less expensive. In Cancun, fishing the waters, where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Caribbean, can be extremely rough.
• Merida (Mexico) Merida is the cultural center of southern Mexico, the Mayan indigenous people and the capital of the Mexican state of Yucatan. It is a world away from the rowdy, busy, resort towns of Quintana Roo. There, one can experience the unique way of life of the Mayans which is unlike any other ethnic group in Mexico, with their own cuisine, language, history, and traditions. Although it may be a three hour drive, it makes for an excellent trip for adventurous travellers. Along the way, one can stop at the ancient pyramids of Chichen Itza, or take a dive in one of the various Mayan watering holes, called Cenotes.

[[Cozumel]] the large island off the coast of Playa is famous for snorkeling and scuba near the Great Maya Reef, the large coral system. Note that Cozumel is also a main port for [[Cruise ships]], so can be quite busy sometimes!

Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve is a wonderful nature preserve, just an hour south of Playa for the ecologically minded. Day tours available from Playa. One group offering tours is Sian Kaan Community Tours, mentioned here because it is run by a local Maya community, so your tourist dollars go directly to the community. That apart, it's great value for money (includes a tour of Maya ruins at Muyil, a float down a stream through the mangroves which other companies did not seem to offer, an experienced nature guide who points out the flora and fauna, boating through a lagoon, and not least, a delicious home-cooked Maya meal).

Puerto Aventuras Puerto Aventuras is about 20 minutes from Playa del Carmen.

[[Puerto Morelos]] Either "Puerto" is a much shorter drive than to Cancun and less expensive. In Cancun, fishing the waters, where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Caribbean, can be extremely rough.

[[Merida (Mexico)]] Merida is the cultural center of southern Mexico, the Mayan indigenous people and the capital of the Mexican state of [[Yucatan]]. It is a world away from the rowdy, busy, resort towns of Quintana Roo. There, one can experience the unique way of life of the Mayans which is unlike any other ethnic group in Mexico, with their own cuisine, language, history, and traditions. Although it may be a three hour drive, it makes for an excellent trip for adventurous travellers. Along the way, one can stop at the ancient pyramids of [[Chichen Itza]], or take a dive in one of the various Mayan watering holes, called Cenotes.