In general, Playa del Carmen is a friendly and peaceful city. But like many other cities in mexico, pickpocket, petty crimes, and unprovoked attacks do occur. So before you pack your bag and visit this sunny Mexican destination, you have to know some basic safety and emergency procedures.

Safety in Playa del Carmen means never leaving your belongings unattended in the hotel lobby or in front of the hotel. You nust deposit all your valuables in the safe and lock your room every time you leave. Also, do not leave your bag unattended in the hotel restaurant or the breakfast room, even if you are just going to the restroom to freshen up or to the buffet table.

Common sense is the key when you are in Playa del Carmen. Do not walk in dark, isolated, and unpopulated streets at night, especially when you are alone. Also, be aware of gangs of youths that congregate around street corners.

Do not bring your passport when out on tours. Many travelers misplace or lose their passports while having excursions. It is always a good idea to carry with you a photocopy of your passport.

Be aware of petty thieves as they will do anything to distract you. Keep your handbag as close as possible to your body. Do not wear too much jewelry as they could attract potential thieves. Always be mindful of all your things, including your camera.

Put your wallet or purse in an inside pocket that you can close with a zipper. Carry only the cash you need for the day’s expenses. Whenever possible, use your credit card and keep all the receipts. Also carry only one credit card with you. Keep your card numbers and phone numbers of your credit card company, and your ATM card’s PIN code.

If you are taking a cab, always choose one equipped with radio. Sure, they are more costly compared to conventional taxis, but they are safer and more reliable. If you drive your own car, make sure that all valuable things are in plain sight. Do not leave valuables in your car.

Remember, better safe than sorry.

Here are some of the best places to hike in the city:

Rio Cuale

Starting in Sierra Madre, Rio Cuale divides the city of Puerto Vallarta. The 12-kilometer hike is perfect for the whole family. To prepare yourself for the 6-hour hike though, do not forget to bring with you your sunscreen, insect repellent (as you’d be crossing through the jungles), swimsuit (in case you want to take a dip in the water),and shoes that’s tough enough to endure the long walk.

San Sebastian

Located on the eastern part of the city is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Sebastian. A colonial town founded in 1605, San Sebastian is home to 600 residents and highlights several spectacular sceneries. As you journey through the 10-hour hike, you can also enjoy the view of the many tropical bird species inhabiting the place.

El Cuale

For those who are big fans of parrots, a hike to the Cuale River would surely make your day. Home to the Macaw Conservation Program in the city, hiking in the place will give you the opportunity to see for yourself the world-famous Military Macaw. Aside from the parrots, you’ll also get to see a number of Sierra Madre’s endemic birds and some species of owls, woodpeckers, orioles, flycatchers, buntings, and more.

Sierra Madre

There’s no better place to hike in Puerto Vallarta that in Sierra Madre. The approximately 5-hour hike begins at the northern part of the Banderas Bay’s Mexican ranch known as the “El Naranjal”. You will pass through the magnificent subtropical forests and the great diversity of tropical trees and plants.

Hiking in Puerto Vallarta is not just a way to explore and experience the city, it’s also a perfect getaway to learn Spanish in México.

You can get ahead in Playa del Carmen if you know how to behave property in nightlife events. You will definitely suffer if you do not know these rules. Bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and entertainment venues in this sunny Mexican city are no different than other social environments; there are certain ways to do things.

Common sense says you must follow nightlife etiquette. But common sense is not that common after all, so continue reading just to be sure. Before you go to the hottest nightspot in the city, it always pays to be ready. Here is a short is a list of nightlife etiquette you must follow:

• Decide where you are going and make sure to have back up plans.
• Know the dress code of the place you intend to go to and respond accordingly.
• Know how you will get in – whether you need to reserve well ahead of time, contact connections, or just stand in line.
• Be extra nice to the bouncer when you get there. Give them a hard time and you might ruin your own night in Playa del Carmen.
• Once you get inside your goal is to enjoy.
• It is always a good idea to be nice to the staff; it is nice to be treated importantly, but it is more important to act nicely.
• Unless your ultimate goal is to get a nasty hangover, we suggest that you drink and do something else. Hit the dance floor, flirt, talk, eat, or whatever makes you have a good time.
• The key to making new friends in Playa del Carmen is to help them feel good about themselves, not using these people to feel better about yourself.
• DON’T drink beer on the street. Many tourists come here and start drinking beer while walking on the street, in the fifth avenue or so. But recently the authorities are being more strict and you can be stopped by a police man and even be fined.
• Show you care. Before you black out on the road to hangover, make sure your old and new friends actually got home or to their hotel in the city.

The common traditions

It has been a common tradition throughout Mexico to not let the New Year pass without eating a dozen of grapes as soon as the clock strikes to midnight. This tradition is said to bring good luck to those who ate the fruit throughout the year. When you are in Playa, this will surely be a visible act wherever you are in the city. Whether you are in a restaurant or bar to party for the New Year, grapes will definitely be a common sight.

Many people in Playa also have this tradition to look up the sky when the New Year is closely approaching. It is believed that a huge cloud will be seen to cross the sky on midnight to signal the start of the New Year. So do not wonder when you see a number of people gazing the skies on New Year’s Eve.

If you are living with a host family in Playa, do not be surprised when your host family asks you to help out for a general cleaning a day before the New Year. It is a common Mexican tradition to clean the house for the New Year to start everything clean. Expectedly, taking a bath on New Year’s Eve will also be observed around the town.

Underwear traditions

The Mexicans, particularly the people in Playa, have this weird tradition that has something to do with underwear. On New Year’s Eve, these people wear a particular underwear color depending on what they would want for the New Year. Red underwear is supposed to bring the wearer good luck on his/her love life throughout the year, while yellow is supposed to bring the wearer work. White underwear is believed to bring good health and green is supposed to attract money.

Some Playa New Year traditions may sound weird for those who are first-timers, but these very traditions help shape and define the city’s uniqueness and beauty.

So where do you get the best food while studying in Playa del Carmen? Will let these give you some idea…

Alux Restaurant and Lounge

Juárez Mza. Av. Number 217
Lote. 2 Col. Ejidal between diagonal 65 y 70.
Playa del Carmen Q. Roo.
+ 52 (984) 807 9084

Specializing in Mexican cuisine, Alux Restaurant and Lounge showcases a natural cave that is situated just 10 minutes from Playa’s beach. Enjoy the beat of the lively music while the waiters give you a quick tour on the restaurant’s hidden underground caverns, rivers, and tunnels. Aside from a giving you a relaxing ambiance while on a break from school, the restaurant is also ideal for weddings and private dinners.

Indigo Beach Club and Restaurant
Calle 14 y Playa
Playa del Carmen, Q. Roo
México
+52 (984) 803 22 22

Located next to the El Taj Oceanfront Condotel, Indigo Beach Club and Restaurant showcases a menu made by the creative chef Jen Paolo Ferrera. If you are looking for a place for a nice, sumptuous breakfast, this is the place to be.

Mosquito Blue and Wine Bar
Quinta Avenida entre 12 y 14 calle norte
Playa del Carmen
Q.Roo, Mexico
+52 (984) 873 12 45

If you are looking for a fine dining in Playa del Carmen, then try Mosquito Blue and Wine Bar located at the outskirts of the city. Savor its Italian/Mediterranean cuisines made by top Italian chefs, Vito Semarar, Nicola Cafagno, and Francesco Incesti. Aside from the food, you will feel relaxed with its ambiance brought by its natural scenery and its sophisticated and elegant architecture.

Showcasing European fusion in its meals, Negrosal will awe you with its great smoked lobster and salmon. Have fun in its lounge and wine room as you enjoy its amazing food.

Studying the Spanish language here in paradise is a lot of fun. So don’t fuss yourself with all your lessons. Take a time to check out some of Playa del Carmen’s best restaurants and experience its sumptuous offerings.

Here are some of the things you can do to kick off the New Year in the city:

Party in Mazunte

A small beach town in the city, Mazunte is one famous destination, especially on holidays. Located 22 kilometers of San Pedro Pochutla’s southeast, the beach’s name has two etymologies: maxotetia which is a Nahuatl phrase for “please deposit eggs here” and the word mizontle referring to a crab species abundant in the city before.

Popular for having a number of sea turtles, the beach is often a venue for great parties every New Year. Aside from the vigorous happenings on the beach, great music and superb food are also served especially for the occasion. Some resorts may even offer free grapes for everyone to kick off the New Year.

Sing and eat

As soon as the 31st kicks in, the people in Oaxaca ready themselves to sing the Auld Lang Syne with big smiles and high hopes radiating their faces. When the clock strikes 12, everyone prepares to make a toast of sidra, which is an apple cider that’s carbonated. Considered to be Mexico’s very own “champagne”, sidra can taste a mix of sweet and dry.

Break plates and get something sweet

Starting December, the festivities in Oaxaca do not seem to stop, and on the 16th up to the 31st, the “breaking of plates” is being held in the city to give everyone the ‘royal’ experience to let go and let loose. When you are in the city to learn the Spanish language, this can be your big chance to let out all the stress and pressure you are experiencing. Break as many plates as you can, and when you are done, you will know what the word “free” means.

Oaxaca is now just a perfect place to learn a new language. Celebrating the New Year in the city, you will find out it’s also an ideal place to discover Mexico better.

A blog is often referred to as an online journal, somewhat a diary for that matter. Here, you can share about the day you had in school, rant about your teacher or your classmates, and even record a video of yourself practicing your Spanish lesson of the day.

There are various blog platforms. The most common ones are Blogspot, WordPress, and Tumblr. Setting them up as just as easy as 1-2-3!

First, is to sign up for an account in any of those blog platforms – including the title of your blog (what do you want to call your blog? Would it be Maria’s Musings, Maria in Mexico, or Maria’s Spanish in Oaxaca? Before you decide for your blog title though, make sure it isn’t taken by another owner yet. After coming up with your title, you can start customising your blog. Want some flowery designs or edgy and modern one? Your blog’s design will speak of your personality, so be careful when choosing how it would look. When the design’s done, then you are ready to make your post! See? That’s just three easy steps!

Aside from keeping a record of your experience in Mexico, blogs are also great because you get to broadcast your memories not just to your relatives and friends, but throughout the blogsphere (a community of bloggers) as well. People can comment on your experience and in the same way share about theirs, too.

You may not be able to forget your experience in Mexico but you would sure want to re-live the moment through your own writings.

The quality of sea fishing in Playa del Carmen may come as a surprise to many visitors. While this area is more famous for its diving activities and the Mayan ruins, fishing in Playa del Carmen is ranked highly by serious anglers from different parts of the world.

If you are into deep sea fishing, the Riviera Maya or Playa del Carmen would be a great choice. Thanks to geography. The channel between the island and the coast of Cozumel creates a perfect game fish highway. The big fish run so close to the shore that you start putting on the bait as you leave the marina or beach!

While the panga or small fishing boat leaves from the local beach in Playa del Carmen, the bigger fishing boats work out of the marina in Puerto Aventuras, only 20 minutes from Playa del Carmen.

However, it is advisable to book a boat before you get down here to do your fishing business, especially during peak season. No matter what the group size or budget, there’s a combination that will get you on the water and catching fish. Big Crusader for 6 people? You got it. Small Pangas for two? No problem.

You will be able to catch fish whatever time of year you are in Playa del Carmen. The large and attractive billfish migrate through the Cozumel channel during the spring and summer. Catching a fish like this is a thrilling experience and one that will truly pump your adrenaline up. They are plentiful off the coast in Playa del Carmen and they are caught year-round and on a daily basis during the season.

The main target for many is the impressive sailfish, which is abundant from March to July. You can also see plenty of both blue and white marlin, both of which are highly desired. Every year there are numerous grand slams made up of a sailfish, a white marlin and a blue marlin.

A number of world records have even been set here. All these amazing billfish are released back to continue their journey.

Do not forget your camera to capture your achievements!

The celebrations

Throughout the year we’ve ‘joined’ in the various celebrations there is in Mexico, particularly in its key cities: Playa del Carmen, Oaxaca, and Puerto Vallarta. We were there as we celebrated its New Year, Valentines, Halloween, Christmas and its various festivals that include the Bird Festival, Yucatan Fair, and the Autumn Cultural Festival.

The food

Taking on a back track, this year we’ve also uncovered to best foods of Mexico. Have you visited its top restaurants already? Or tried cooking its top dishes and desserts? Have you gone to the streets to get a taste of its sumptuous street food? Have you just enrolled yourself to learn the techniques in preparing these foodies?

The treats

Learning Spanish in Mexico is never a stress-free task, with all the treats we discovered, we learned how to give ourselves a break once in a while. These treats include getting a facial spa or massage, going on a yoga, and even learning the art of dancing. And yes, how can we exclude the best places to watch films in Mexico in this category?

The lifestyle

Being in a foreign place takes some adjustments with the country’s lifestyle and way of life. Do you still remember the tips we gave you on how to stay safe in Mexico? What about the guidelines for a safe driving experience in the country? We hope you don’t forget about information we gave you about how to get along with the Mexicans, particularly your host family.

These were some of the things that added color to our 2011 experience in Mexico. In the coming year, let’s look forward to discovering more about Mexico and the Spanish language.

Looking for a job in Playa del Carmen? Take heart, this resort city is an expat-friendly city – not only is it home to great culture, offers excellent cuisine, vibrant nightlife, and exciting activities, there are also many job opportunities in this resort city. Here are some tips when finding a job in this paradise:

First, you have to speak the language. The major reason many expats obtain jobs in Playa del Carmen is because they can speak fluent English and Spanish. Most jobs in the city are done with only a basic knowledge of Spanish. In Soléxico we are more than happy to help yu with that so you can start speaking Spanish as sson as possible.

Plan your CV. Many employers want to know who their job applicants are and what they look like – not just their educational background or job experience. This practice might seem unnecessary, but many employers do not take job applications without photos attached. You may want to get a passport-type picture in a booth in the subway, then paste it onto your CV.

Also include a brief section at the bottom of the CV detailing your interests. This is so that employers can dig deeper into your lifestyle and personality. Offer your CV in both Spanish and English.

Do not be lazy, go for a walk when looking for job openings. Do not underestimate this as many employers in Playa del Carmen prefer face-to-face meetings and other human interactions. Most employers in the city post job ads on their doors before going to websites.

There is no shortage of employment opportunities in Playa del Carmen. There are many expats in many fields, including the service industry, human resources, design, business, marketing, and sales. There are also huge opportunities in shipping and logistics, administrative, and finance, audit, and investment field.

So what is your best bet for landing a job in Playa del Carmen? Teach English. Check out the Internet and put together a list of schools and academies and then start calling them one by one. Some of these establishments require applicants be certified, but many could not care less. There is more demand here than supply.