Playa del Carmen Vacations, Playa del Carmen Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

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Playa del Carmen Vacation Guide

At the heart of a district that’s become known as the ‘Mayan Riviera’, Playa Del Carmen offers a chic alternative to its larger cousin to the north, Cancun, in laying on pedestrian only, cobblestone streets that give a laid back, old-world vibe. Playa (as its known locally) is also home to some truly spectacular diving and a standard of beaches that will have visitors settling into a beach-hotel-beach routine.

The offshore MesoAmerican reef, in fact, is the second largest reef system in the world, and while the delicate infrastructure must still be treated with care, the sheer extent of the sight means you can often find your own spot to dive over. The snorkeling is also impressive, and while snorkelers can join the scuba divers on an offshore trip, they might prefer to enjoy the seaside lagoons, which have a similarly impressive array of underwater life, without the depth required for serious diving.

If you prefer a slightly more cultural experience, the town of Tulum – a half a hour trip from Playa itself – is the home of extensive Mayan ruins, ideally placed for photographers overlooking the sea. Another perfect day trip option is the island of Cozumel, often inundated with the passengers of passing cruise ships, but the perfect place to launch a snorkeling expedition or simply explore the tropical wilderness that seems to appear each time the cruise ships depart.

Another must see sight is the cenotes, a set of alternative swimming destinations that consist of freshwater sinkholes, and are home to incredibly clear water and make for the kind of obscure holiday aside that make the whole trip worthwhile, with some the size of small lakes developed into natural ‘swimming pool’ destinations complete with changing rooms and restaurants, while others remain in their more natural state. The natural versions are – if anything – a more attractive, ‘wilderness’ option.

At the end of the day, Playa Del Carmen is a resort, but it’s one with such impressive natural and historic asides that you can forgive the excesses of tourism, and still go home having had a taste of Mexico.

Popular Hotels in Playa del Carmen

  1. Shangri-La Caribe Beach…
  2. All Riviera Resort Hote…
  3. Playa Palms Beachfront …
  4. Sunset Fisherman Spa an…
  5. Barrio Latino Hotel
  6. Iberostar Tucan / Quetz…
  7. hotel Iberostar All-inc…
  8. Deseo Hotel and Lounge
  9. Fairmont Mayakoba Hotel
  10. Hacienda Tres Rios Reso…
  1. Labnah
  2. Mimi Del Mar Hotel
  3. Riu Lupita Hotel
  4. Riu Palace Mexico Hotel
  5. Sandos Caracol Beach Re…
  6. Secrets SilverSands Riv…
  7. The Royal Resort
  8. Tropical Casa Blanca Ho…
  9. Riu Yucatan Hotel
  10. Kinbe Hotel
  1. Playa Hostal
  2. Aventura Spa Palace Hot…
  3. Fusion Beach Hotel
  4. Hacienda Vista Real Res…
  5. Hul Ku
  6. Maya Bric
  7. Mayan Palace Wyndham Ri…
  8. Tropical Casablanca
  9. viva wyndam maya
  10. El Tukan Condotel
  1. Magic Blue Hotel
  2. Sandols Caracol Beach R…
  3. Secrets Maroma Beach Ri…
  4. Playalingua del Caribe …
  5. Reef Club Playacar Hotel
  6. Riu Playacar Resort
  7. BlueBay Grand Esmeralda…
  8. Coco Rio Hotel
  9. Condo Hotel El Patio
  10. El Dorado Royale Hotel

Playa del Carmen Travel Blogs

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
posted by:
Jul 20, 2007
Playa del Carmen is a cosmopolitan town located on the Caribbean Sea about 35 miles South of Cancun in the heart of Mexico's Mayan Riviera. The town is small enough where you can walk just about anywhere you need to go. The location of Playa del Carmen and its nearby attractions makes this the perf…
Overview 309 words 50 12 31
A Typical Day In Playa...
posted by:
Dec 20, 2005 – Jul 06, 2008
First of all, as a little background, this is my third trip into the great vacation country of Mexico.  In the past I have traveled to Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta with my family.  There have been many times in my adulthood that I have thought of venturing back and traveling into the Yuca…
Overview 13,192 words 127 100 176
Playa del Carmen
posted by:
Oct 17, 2009 – Dec 26, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009After diving, we hurried back to the Hotel Flamingo, grabbed our stuff and walked over to the ferry dock to head to Playa del Carmen. We opted for sitting outside on the upper deck with a nice view of Cozumel where there were two, drunken honeymooning couples from somewhe…
Overview 17,476 words 225 19 53

TravBuddies going to Playa del Carmen

TravBuddies who live in Playa del Carmen

Popular Nearby Cities and Destinations:

  1. Cancun
  2. Tulum
  3. Cozumel
  4. Coba
  1. Isla Mujeres
  2. Xel ha
  3. Xcaret
  4. Akumal
  1. Puerto Aventuras
  2. Puerto Morelos
  3. El Rey
  4. Mayan Riviera
  1. San Gervasio
  2. Holbox
  3. Xel ha
  4. Paa Mul