Playa del Carmen, Mexico

One of the hottest destinations in Mexico plays host to Culture and Sunshine

 

Located about 40 minutes south of Cancun, Playa Del Carmen is fast becoming one of the hottest destinations in Mexico. Playa, as the locals call it, is a beachside city on the coast of the Caribbean Sea that still maintains its quaint fishing village charm even as it’s grown into a luxury resort town.

Playa walkway

The beaches here are superb. In the tourist zone along 5th Avenue, beaches are cleaned every day, and there are snorkeling, dive and fishing boats ready to take you out for a day at sea. Everything you need is within walking distance in the heart of town, including pharmacies, souvenir stores and clothing shops. The further from the main tourist area you get, the cheaper things become.

playa ruins

You can spend your days swimming in the crystal-blue ocean or touring ancient Mayan ruins—Tulum and Coba, two famous sites, are both located within about two hours of Playa. It’s easy to book a ride to the ruins as well as secure a personal tour guide once you land in Playa, but you can do it before you leave at bestday.com. If you’ve got children, treat them to a day at Xcaret Eco Theme Park, where they can swim with dolphins and explore an underwater river.

Don’t plan on dieting while you’re in Playa del Carmen! The Mayan Riviera has an enticing variety of international restaurants, and a number of top restaurants serve local delicacies. Europeans, especially Italians, flock to the region on holiday, so there are a number of Italian restaurants in the area. You can find the best seafood in town at the Blue Lobster, but if you’re craving tacos, check out Los 3 Carboncitos. You can even find Argentinean food in Playa at the Carmencita.

Palya resort

Nightclubs stay open until the early morning hours, but if you only have time to hit one, the place to see and be seen is the Hotel Deseo Lounge. The rooftop bar comes complete with beds to lounge on while sipping margaritas. If you want to dance the night away, hit La Santanera Lounge, where the DJ spins everything from Reggaeton to lounge until the wee hours of the morning. The town is hip and trendy with local Mexicans mixing with the influx of tourists, and there’s plenty of “eye candy” out at the clubs for both men and women.

High-end resorts and small quaint hotels are sprinkled along the shoreline and mega-resorts are located just outside of town. If you opt to stay in Playacar, a cab ride into the heart of the Playa will run you about $8.00. If you plan to stay in town, be sure to find out how close you are to the nightclubs. The music goes until 4:00 or 5:00 A.M., and some rooms are located directly across from the clubs.

Country Code for Mexico is (52) and the city code for Playa Del Carmen is (984)

Where to Stay

Royal Hideaway. All-inclusive luxury resort located just outside of Play del Carmen in Playacar. It’s one of the finest all-inclusive you’ll find anywhere; Lote Hotelero No. 6; 800-999-9182;www.royalhideaway.com

Mosquito Blue. A great boutique hotel in the heart of town. Clean, convenient and moderately priced, it’s perfect for those wanting to be in the middle of the action; 5th avenue between Calle 12 and Calle 14; 873-1245; www.mosquitoblue.com

Allegro Playacar. An all-inclusive family resort that starts at $115 per person, per night; Lote Hotelero Nº 7; 800-858-2258; www.occidentalhotels.com

Where to Eat

Blue Lobster: One of the best seafood restaurants; at Calle 12 5th Avenue; 873-360.

Java Joe’s: The best cup of coffee in Playa. Guaranteed to wake you up after an all-nighter at the nightspots; Calle 10 between 5th and 10th; 876-2694; www.javajoes.net

Carmencita: Probably one of the best for Argentinean food; Calle 20 5th Avenue; 803-3649.

Media Luna: One of Playa’s most popular restaurants. Opened for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu features great vegetarian dishes, fresh fish, wonderful pastas and huge salads; 5th Avenue between Calle 12 and Calle 14; 873-0526

Nightlife

La Santanera Lounge. Dance the night away; Calle 12 between 5th and 10th avenue; 803-2294;www.lasantanera.com

The Blue Parrot. A lively outdoor club/bar where the revelry continues after hours. It has theme nights too; Calle 12 on the beach; 873-0083.

Playa69: The gay scene is alive and kickin’ here. It’s the only gay bar on 5th Avenue; 5th avenue between Calle 4 and Calle 6; 876-9466.

Hotel Deseo Lounge: Hip, trendy club with beautiful people and potent drinks; 5th Avenue and Calle 12; 879-3629; www.hoteldeseo.com

Must See

The Mayan Ruins of Coba and Tulum are fascinating. If you only have time for one, make sure to see Coba. If you have time to see more, Chichen Itza is a few hours away and worth the trip. You can book all of your tours once you’re in town or visit www.bestday.com to arrange them in advance.