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Location: An hours' drive south of Cancún and a world away from its high-rise neighbour, Playa del Carmen is a pearl of a seaside resort with something a distinct European flavour. There's also a friendly village atmosphere, especially along the main street, 5th Avenue which is a colourful parade of shops, bars and street vendors. It is a delightful resort to wander in; the main street just yards from the Caribbean being almost traffic free. Twice a week the population is swollen by the arrival of several cruise ships bringing hundreds of passengers on daytrips Days Out Playa del Carmen is centrally located for visiting Mexico's world famous ancient ruins which can be reached by rent-a-car or an organised coach trip. (see our main Mexico page). 12 miles off the coast, an hour by ferry, is the island of Cozumel which boasts some of the world's best snorkellling conditions around its coral reef. Ferry tickets can be bought at booths along 5th Avenue. Excursions to swim with dolphins and jungle cruises are also popular.
Nights Out: 5th Avenue is the hub of Playa's night time activity with bars and clubs staying open beyond sunrise. Competing with the many clubs are the popular 'live' music venues showcasing all kinds of Caribbean and American rhythms. There's a good choice of international cuisine on the menu at the dozens of restaurants along 5th Avenue or down many of the side streets leading to the beach, even some well-known fast food chains. Beaches: The sand in Playa del Carmen is compact and coarse unlike the powdery variety up in Cancún. This can make the beach uncomfortably hot to walk on without sandals or trainers. The beach is kept clean from litter and seaweed thanks to dawn sweeps before all the sun worshippers arrive for the day. Beach bars provide refreshments and lifeguards patrol along the main resort coastline. On the outskirts of town the jungle creeps down to the coast providing some breathtaking scenery. Bucket and Spade Brigade: Seek local advice about beach safety. Some parts of the coastline are shallow and protected by coral, in other areas the sand shelves quite steeply. The water park at Cancún is just an hour away. |
