Playa del Carmen and around

Once a sleepy fishing village where travelers camped on their way to Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, often simply called “Playa,” has transformed into a bustling hotspot with ambitions of becoming the next Miami Beach. For locals, it has also become a major source of construction and tourism-related jobs. Mexico City’s elite visit regularly, as do day-trippers from Cancún and cruise passengers arriving from nearby Cozumel.

As a result, the town’s main hub, Avenida 5 (La Quinta), a long pedestrian street one block from the shore, is often crowded with visitors filling cafés, souvenir shops, and boutique stores. Its lively energy makes Playa an unmistakable stop for many travelers on a trip to Yucatán, whether for nightlife, dining, or people-watching along the Caribbean coast.

Isla Cozumel

Costa Maya and Bacalar

The Yucatán Travel Guide

Cancún and around

Nonetheless, the low-rise development and numerous European-owned businesses make the town feel, at least on the quieter north side, relatively cosmopolitan and calm, especially when compared with Cancún. The nightlife has a distinctly hip edge, though as the town has grown, it has become tougher on budget travellers, something to keep in mind when planning Mexico’s Mayan trail trip.

Playa’s main beach has experienced some erosion and can look narrow in certain stretches. Serious beach-goers often head to the area north of Constituyentes, known as Playa Norte, where deep, silky sand slopes into waist-high green water with gentle swells. A couple of beach clubs anchor the social scene here.

Trip ideas for Mexico

Crafted with by local experts

Crafted by Javier

9 days

Trip ideas for Mexico

Isla Cozumel

Find even more inspiration for Mexico here