Things to Do in Playa del Carmen

Here is a list of things to do right in Playa del Carmen. Keep in mind that there are bigger crowds everywhere when a cruise ship is in port.

Enjoy the beach

The sunny beaches should not be missed out. This town’s name (|playa is Spanish for beach) highlights its best feature. Its main beach runs from the ferry dock through the north. When visiting Playa del Carmen, make sure to spend some time on the beaches and enjoy the white, fine sand and plunge into the refreshing crystal-like waters. If people watching and tidy sand appeal to you, then stay close to the dock. But if you want serenity and an untouched, walk north.

Go scuba diving or snorkeling

The Great Mayan Reef has the second largest walls of coral reefs in the world. The reefs stretch from Catoche Cape, approximately100 meters from the seashore of Playa del Carmen, to as far as Guatemala and Belize. This underwater wonder houses diverse flora and fauna and also work as a barrier against the harsh surf. The reefs soften it, forming calm natural pools. This area is ideal for snorkeling, scuba diving, and other aquatic sports.

Xel-Ha is a snorkeler’s paradise, offering an amazing range of fish and flora. This ecological water park allows visitors to swim with dolphins, Prepare some huge amount of money, though, as enjoying what this park has to offer can be quite pricey.

Shop, shop, shop

Shopping in Playa del Carmen is crowded on the pedestrianized street of Quinta Avenida. The area can sometimes get crowded, especially during tourist season or when a cruise stops between Cozumel and Playa and disgorges guests for four hours of shopping excursions. The street is almost empty early in the morning and in the afternoon.

Eat out

playa del Carmen has a diverse mix of traditional, international, as well as fusion cuisines – all ready to appease your craving palate with something hot, something new, or something scrumptious. Options include authentic Mayan dishes French, Italian, Chinese, Argentinean, and many other international dishes.

The dining scene in Playa del Carmen is so busy you will not have a difficult time finding restaurants that will satisfy your discerning palate and hungry stomach. There are over 80 restaurants in Playa del Carmen, with different kinds of food on offer and price range.

Visit Mayan ruins

Chichen Itza houses the largest concentration of Mayan ruins in the Yucatan peninsula. In this former Mayan capital, you can climb the main temple of El Castillo, which is well-known because of the autumnal and vernal equinoxes. Tulum, while not as big as Chichen Itza, remains an impressive Mayan site. Only few visitors know about Coba, but it is an imposing Mayan site as well.