Playa del Carmen
Chill - Cheer - Celebrate
Playa del Carmen
The cosmopolitan heart of the Riviera Maya.
From an old fishing village to a vibrant cosmopolitan destination, Playa del Carmen keeps its Caribbean essence. Fifth Avenue, a pedestrian promenade parallel to the sea, is its heart.
Its beaches and beach clubs invite you to enjoy the day; 12th Street livens up the nights. Nearby you will find parks, cenotes, caverns and the Cozumel ferry.
- Right now
- 26°Clear
- Best for
- Beach, culture and entertainment
- When to come
- All year round; the most pleasant weather from December to April
- Bull sharks
- Sighting on dives: November to March
Getting here
Airport
Maya Train
Ferry
Bus
Fifth Avenue
Where all the action is
Along the avenue there are small hotels, shops, malls, art galleries, restaurants and rooftop terraces overlooking the sea; at sunset it fills with live music, mariachis and DJs, and keeps going until the small hours.
Meeting point
Parque Fundadores and the Portal Maya
Where Fifth Avenue begins, facing the sea, Parque Fundadores was the meeting point of the fishing village in the 1950s and today it is where locals and visitors gather: in the afternoon there are shows such as Maya dancers and the Voladores de Papantla, and the Portal Maya, the large sculpture with the sea behind it, is where everyone takes their picture.
The beaches
Beach clubs downtown and quiet beaches to the south
The beach runs along downtown, with beach clubs and the pier where the snorkeling, diving and catamaran boats leave from; to the north, Punta Esmeralda has a freshwater spring that flows onto the sand, and to the south comes Playacar. Farther south, Xpu-Há, Akumal and Xcacel-Xcacelito, a sea turtle sanctuary, are gentle-surf beaches; on the water there is kitesurfing, windsurfing, parasailing, kayaking and paddleboarding.
Nightlife
12th Street comes to life after sunset
The night begins on the rooftop terraces of Fifth Avenue and carries on along 12th Street, where the bars and clubs are, with live music, mariachis and DJs until dawn; there are also dinner shows.
Nature and adventure
Cenotes, jungle and bull sharks
South of the city are the Jardín del Edén, Cristalino and Azul cenotes, for swimming, snorkeling and diving, and parks with zip lines, underground rivers and ATV trails through the jungle; there is also tandem skydiving over the coast. From November to March there is bull shark diving off Playa, certification required, and from May to September swimming with turtles in Akumal Bay.
More about Playa del Carmen
September 29, 2024
10 Things to Do in Playa del Carmen
Discover the best things to do in Playa del Carmen: beaches, Fifth Avenue, cenotes, Maya ruins, Cozumel's reefs, eco parks and nightlife.
Read the article
September 29, 2024
Gastronomic Guide to Playa del Carmen
Where to eat in Playa del Carmen: cochinita pibil, seafood on the sand, taquerías, chef-driven dining and French pastry. Our gastronomic guide.
Read the article
September 29, 2024
Playa del Carmen Nightlife Guide: Bars, Clubs and Rooftops on and around Fifth Avenue
Playa del Carmen’s nightlife, block by block: the clubs on Calle 12, rooftops for sunset, live bands on the sand and a cocktail bar inside a cave.
Read the article- Fri30°24°
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