An enviable geographical location, large beaches, a sea paradise of divers : here is Playa del Carmen, key of Riviera Maya. The old fishermen village, a modest seaport for the ferry to Cozumel, after years of quiet life along the immutably blue sea, has been converted into an international sea resort able to welcome 400,000 tourists in high season.
It is a lively place with every service a demanding tourist expects. Playa del Carmen, « playa » for the regulars, Xaman Há in Maya, is located 52 km (32miles) from Cancun airport and from the Mayan city Tulum. The maximum hotel capacity is still not reached so Playa del Carmen is still a good choice. But, for how long ?
Playa del Carmen is an ideal base to share your time between the sea and the country : the surroundings offer many possibilities of excursions, walking or horse riding. You can also go further : air conditioned bus tours leave the city to the whole Riviera Maya through Federal Road 307. There are also many beaches, coves and lagoons, as well as a wonderful coral reef, close by. At the north, Coco Beach is one of the nicest beaches in the area offering, less than 50m (164feet) from the coast, a coral reef. The best diving spots are « Tortuga » and « Barracuda » reefs.
In Playa del Carmen, several diving centers offer beginners and advanced, equipment rental and scuba or snorkel expeditions.
After a sunny day, Playa del Carmen offers a long stroll. Quinta Avenida, mainly walking street, is really busy with relaxing people. You can find any kind of lodging, from the most luxurious ones to the simplest, and restaurants that can suit all taste and purses in Playa del Carmen. There are also many beach clubs “in” with night activities, cafés and music bars. The avenues are parallel to the sea and the streets perpendicular. The other important axis is Avenue Juárez, perpendicular to the sea, lined with banks, traditional shops and cheap restaurants.
Be aware that many hotels don’t have a beach anymore. Check, not with the travel agency that will tell you that everything is fine, but with the hotel and ask for a picture of its beach. The problem of no beach is worst every year either because of the cyclones, or because of the real estate developers !
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