We like to think of Playa del Carmen Mexico as Cancun’s more laid-back, younger sister. While you’ll still find lots of tourists and Western-style restaurants, Playa del Carmen has a stronger cultural vibe. It’s also a great beach town to use as a base for exploring the Riviera Maya in Mexico.
As locals living here for over four years, we’re excited to share 13+ amazing things to do in Playa del Carmen Mexico!
Why Playa del Carmen is a great vacation destination
Many of us dream of vacationing on Caribbean beaches, but it can feel out of reach because of the distance and cost. That’s where the Mexican Caribbean comes in. You get beautiful white sandy beaches at a much lower price and Cancun International Airport, one of the largest in the world, makes getting here easy.
Unlike Cancun, which can feel overdeveloped and lacking character, Playa del Carmen Mexico keeps its authentic Mexican charm. Plus, you’ll find a wide range of accommodations, from budget-friendly to luxury, right near the beach.
If you’re still not convinced, Playa del Carmen is a small, easy-to-walk city. It offers not only delicious Mexican food but also great international cuisine, thanks to its diverse expat community.
When is the best time to visit Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is a fantastic year-round vacation destination, as it’s essentially ‘always Summer’, but there are some factors you’ll want to consider before choosing the perfect season to visit.
First, you’ll want to think about how hot is too hot for you, because the Summertime in The Riviera Maya is pretty brutal. You’ll also want to consider sargassum season and your budget.
Weather: May to September is the peak summer and hurricane season. If you love hot, sunny days, you’ll enjoy the nearly 100% humidity and temperatures around 32°C (90°F) most days. However, if you don’t handle heat well, this time of year can be uncomfortable.
Hurricane season is unpredictable, so while it’s possible to get bad weather, it’s not very likely.
From October to April, temperatures drop slightly, and the humidity is much lower. As locals who get tired of the intense summer heat, we love the weather from November to March. It’s still warm and sunny but comfortable enough to enjoy being outside.
📍 Puerto Morelos, just north of Playa del Carmen
Sargassum Season: Sargassum, a brown, smelly seaweed, often washes up on the shores of Quintana Roo, sometimes making it difficult to swim. Due to climate change, the sargassum season seems to get longer every year, usually appearing from March to October. It’s hard to predict when the beaches will be affected, but there’s a Facebook group that provides live updates you can follow.
Keep in mind that the amount of sargassum changes daily and varies along the coast. If your hotel’s beach is affected, you might find a clear beach just a few kilometres away.
This doesn’t mean you can’t swim when sargassum is present—it depends on how much is there and how sensitive your skin is. For example, I got a skin infection after swimming in thick sargassum, but I have sensitive skin. Geovanny swam in the same water and had no issues.
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Travel Season: If you’re on a budget, it’s important to consider travel seasons, as hotel and Airbnb prices change throughout the year. The peak season is from December to mid-April. If you’re travelling during this time, booking your accommodation and tours well in advance is a good idea.
If you have a flexible schedule and prefer booking things last minute, the shoulder or low season is a better option. The shoulder season is in the summer, with most tourists being local, while the low season runs from September to November.
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When planning a trip to Playa del Carmen Mexico, many factors must be considered. As locals who know the area well, we highly recommend visiting in November. The weather is perfect, the beaches are completely free of sargassum, and it’s much quieter than at other times of the year.
How to get to playa del Carmen
Thanks to the tourism boom in Quintana Roo and significant real estate investments from Canada and the U.S., the infrastructure to reach Playa del Carmen is excellent. You can fly into Cancun International Airport or the new airport in Tulum. Both are just over an hour’s drive from Playa del Carmen.
From Cancun International Airport, you have several options to get to Playa del Carmen: take a taxi, rent a car, book a shuttle, or hop on the ADO bus.
Taxis: We recommend avoiding taxis as they often overcharge and may claim that tipping is mandatory (it’s not). If you do take a taxi, make sure to agree on the fare before getting in, and don’t feel pressured to tip.
Shuttle: A shuttle is a safe and reliable way to travel from Cancun International Airport. You can choose a private or shared shuttle. If you pick a shared shuttle, be prepared to wait for other passengers, depending on flight schedules. Shuttles are usually on time, well-maintained, and air-conditioned, which makes for a comfortable ride.
💡 Depending on the hotel you choose to stay at, they may include a free shuttle with your accommodation, so just make sure to check if that’s an option for you.
Rental Car: Driving in Mexico can feel overwhelming if it’s your first time, but renting a car is a good option if you want flexibility during your trip. Car rental services are conveniently located right at the exit of Cancun International Airport, making pickup and drop-off easy.
🚗 Looking for an affordable rental? Here are the best options!
ADO Bus: The ADO bus is one of the best ways to travel around the Yucatan Peninsula. The buses are clean, well-maintained, and reliable. You can store large suitcases under the bus, with space for personal items in the overhead bins. This is also the best option for you if you’re travelling on a budget.
The best place to stay in Playa del Carmen Mexico
Before booking accommodation in Playa del Carmen, it’s important to check how far it is from 5th Avenue, the main hub of activity. Many large all-inclusive resorts are located along the Riviera Maya between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. While they may look close, staying there can make getting around tricky and expensive unless you have a rental car.
Ideally, choose a place no more than a few kilometers from 5th Avenue so you can easily walk or take a short taxi ride to the main tourist area.
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1️⃣ Playacar: Our top recommendation is Playacar, a beautiful, quiet, and secure gated community. It’s just a short distance from 5th Avenue and offers a variety of all-inclusive hotels and VRBOs.
2️⃣ 5th Avenue: If you want to be in the centre of the action, staying on 5th Avenue is the best choice. There are plenty of accommodation options, but keep in mind it can get noisy due to the crowds. Staying one block behind 5th Avenue is a great option if you prefer something quieter. We recently stayed at ALOFT, which had a stunning rooftop pool with ocean views.
3️⃣ Centro: Another great option is staying in Centro, where you can easily walk to 5th Avenue and the beach. If you’re booking a condo, look for one with a rooftop pool to help you cool off in the heat.
📍 The gated community of Playacar
📍 A block or so from PDC Centro
Top 13 things to do in (and around) Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is an ideal base for exploring the Riviera Maya, thanks to its central location. The town has lots of fun activities, but there are also plenty of amazing things to do nearby. To help you plan, we’ve broken down 13+ awesome activities into two categories: things to do in Playa del Carmen and things to do around the area. So, here are the best things to do in Playa del Carmen Mexico:
1️⃣ Walk 5th Avenue: This is Playa del Carmen’s main street, running about 5 miles parallel to the coast. Locally known as ‘La Quinta,’ it’s lined with charming restaurants, souvenir shops, local swimwear stores, and even upscale open-air shopping centres.
It’s perfect for a relaxing walk, shopping, or finding a great place to eat. Since there’s not much shade, it’s best to go before 11 a.m. or around sunset. It’s good to note that there are a few ‘scammy’ things to avoid in this area, so you’ll find our local tips for avoiding these below.
2️⃣ Parque Fundadores: While walking along 5th Avenue, make sure to visit Parque Fundadores, located near the Quinta Alegria shopping mall and the ferry port.
This large public park is right by the beach. While there’s no grassy area to relax on, you’ll find local food vendors and live cultural performances.
The park is also home to the iconic Mayan Portal, the city’s most famous landmark. If you want to catch the live performances, they usually start after 4 p.m. and are free, but tips are appreciated!
📍 Papantla flyers at Parque Fundadores
3️⃣ Beach day at Playa Flamingo: Playa del Carmen has many great beaches, but they can get crowded. For a quieter spot, head to the far end of 5th Avenue, where you’ll find Flamingo Beach.
While it can be busier on weekends, it’s usually peaceful. Plus, the beach has clean bathrooms and changing facilities that cost just a few pesos to use.
4️⃣ Visit a Rooftop Pool: While you’re in Mexico, you’ll probably want to spend most of your time at the beach. But if there’s a lot of seaweed (sargassum), consider checking out a rooftop pool instead. Playa del Carmen, especially the Centro area, has many rooftop pools that you might not expect.
Some hotels allow non-guests to access their rooftop pools for a minimum spend (usually around $30 USD per person), which can be used for food and drinks.
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5️⃣ Visit Cocobongo: If you enjoy nightlife, Cocobongo is a must-visit spot. Every evening, they put on a live show full of singing and dancing, featuring performances inspired by classic movies and popular 80s and 90s music.
It’s even fun for teenagers (though alcohol is only served to those 18 and older). Plus, your ticket includes all-you-can-drink beverages for the night!
6️⃣ Tacos at El Fogon or Don Sirloin: One downside of 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen is that it lacks authentic local restaurants. However, for great tacos, you can easily walk to El Fogon or Don Sirloin.
Both spots are affordable and serve delicious, authentic tacos. We highly recommend trying the tacos al pastor at either place!
Now that we’ve covered all the best things to see and do in Playa del Carmen, we’re sharing all our favourite tours and day trips.
Everything mentioned below is within the near vicinity of Playa, and most of the options we’re recommending include transportation.
In the case that you want to do a tour that doesn’t include transportation, we’d definitely recommend renting a car for the day, as taxis will charge a fortune. You can easily find most major car rental companies on or near 5th Avenue. Here are the best things to do near Playa del Carmen.
7️⃣ Xcaret Parks: Think of Xcaret (pronounced “sh-ka-ret”) as Mexico’s version of Disneyworld. There are six unique parks to choose from, with Xcaret being the main one.
While the parks can be a bit pricey, they’re incredible and showcase the best of the region. Here’s a quick guide to the top three: Xcaret is perfect for families, Xplor is great for adventure seekers, and Xel-Ha is ideal for water lovers.
📍 Xcaret Park (flagship park)
📍 Xplor Park (adventure park)
📍 Xel ha Park (water park)
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8️⃣ Cozumel Island: This beautiful Mexican Caribbean island is known to have some of the best snorkelling in the world. Plus, it’s just a quick ferry ride from Playa del Carmen.
You can easily spend up to 3 nights exploring the island as it is so big, but even just a day trip is awesome! We’d recommend renting a car on the island to get the most out of your travel day.
9️⃣ Visit a Cenote: One thing that makes the Yucatan Peninsula special is that it’s the only place in the world with cenotes—natural sinkholes that connect to an underground network of others.
Cenotes have crystal-clear (and cool) water and come in three types: open, semi-open, and closed. There are thousands of cenotes in the region, but we highly recommend spending a day at Kantun-Chi Cenote Park, where you can explore five beautiful cenotes.
📍 Main Plaza on Cozumel Island
📍 Cenote at Kantun-Chi Cenote Park
1️⃣0️⃣ Tulum Archeological Zone: To experience ancient Mayan civilisation, you can visit either Chichen Itza or the Tulum Archeological Zone (or both). We recommend touring the Tulum ruins since they’re much closer and easier to get to. We had a great tour that included pick-up and drop-off, lunch, a visit to the Tulum Archeological Zone, the Coba Ruins, and ended the day at a beautiful cenote.
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1️⃣1️⃣ Visit a Tropical Island: One of the best experiences in the Riviera Maya is visiting a hidden gem that few people know about—Isla Contoy, a small, uninhabited island near Cancun.
It’s a protected wildlife sanctuary with pristine, untouched beaches. The only way to visit is by boat tour, which departs from Cancun and also stops at Isla Mujeres, a busier but beautiful island.
Along with the stunning beaches, you can expect to see amazing wildlife, including manta rays, stingrays, turtles, starfish, and even dolphins.
1️⃣2️⃣ Puerto Morelos: Although Playa del Carmen is a small town, you’ll quickly notice how busy and developed it has become.
One of our favourite low-key spots in The Riviera Maya is the quaint beach town of Puerto Morelos. If you’re looking for a relaxed beach day with some gorgeous seafood, the 35-minute drive from Playa is absolutely worth it!
1️⃣3️⃣ Cirque du Soliel: If the weather is rainy while you’re in Playa del Carmen we would suggest booking your tickets to see the internationally famous Cirque du Soleil. You’ll need a car or take a taxi to get there, but the show is beautiful and a ton of fun for the whole family.
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Our best local tips for visiting Playa del Carmen Mexico
As locals of Playa del Carmen, we’ve seen and heard about various scams around 5th Avenue. Although Playa is generally safe, being aware can help you avoid falling victim to scams. Remember, not everyone has your best interests in mind, and staying informed can save you from losing money.
1️⃣ Pickpocketing: This form of pickpocketing may not seem subtle but can be easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. Scammers might discreetly smear toothpaste (or something similar) on your clothes and then approach you, claiming that a bird has pooped on you. While they “help” you clean up with napkins, they may swipe your valuables and walk away. This often happens on 5th Avenue and in grocery stores.
2️⃣ Carry Pesos: While most places accept US dollars, they can choose their exchange rate, which often leads to you losing money. It’s best to pay in pesos instead.
3️⃣ Overcharging: It’s common for servers to try to overcharge customers, especially large groups who have been drinking. Always check your bill, and if something seems off, ask to see the menu to verify the prices. This can happen in both restaurants and stores along 5th Avenue. For example, one person was charged $1,000 for a ring that was priced at $85 while the vendors distracted her with jokes and shots of tequila.
4️⃣ Don’t Buy Silver: You’ll find many stores selling beautiful silver jewellery, but often these pieces are not real silver; they are cheap imitations that will quickly tarnish. This caution applies not just to silver but to any store along the main tourist strip—be careful before making a purchase.
We hope that this post helps plan your trip to Playa del Carmen Mexico. If you have any questions or comments, please drop them below 👇 We’d really appreciate it if you share this post with a friend, or even on Facebook or Pinterest 🫶
3 thoughts on “13+ Amazing things to do in Playa del Carmen Mexico”
Going there soon ;excellent info & vids – Lee jan2025
Going there soon ;excellent info & vids – Lee jan2025
Thank you so much your kind words, we truly appreciate it. 🫶