Riviera Maya: redescovering paradise, second part.

Playa del Carmen is completely different from Tulum. There was a long time when I went to stay for a long time, just as I do now with Tulum. I lived as a local many times, always being surprised by its life and constant movement.

Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is a place full of life, especially throughout the day and night, on its main street: Quinta Avenida. This Avenue is crossed by numbered streets that go from 1st to 38th.

How to get there? Both national and international planes arrive at the different terminals at the Cancun airport. As with Tulum, there are many ways to get to Playa del Carmen, which is a little more than 30 minutes from the airport. You can schedule a transfer in advance or buy an ADO bus ticket, which is much cheaper, leaves from the airport itself (terminal 2) and arrives at Quinta Avenida in 45 minutes.

Where to stay? As I mentioned in my Tulum blog, hotels in the "Mayan Riviera" are not necessarily close to Playa del Carmen, and you will possibly be forced to travel by taxi or take a tour to get to Playa del Carmen. Below are the places where you can stay if you want to be very close or in Playa del Carmen itself.

Playacar: the large hotel chains with an All Inclusive system located closer to Playa del Carmen are located in an area called Playacar, which you can see on the map and is located in the southern part, once the Quinta ends (or begins) Avenue. I recommend you to check and book your hotel in here since they show you daily prices in a calendar so you can get the best deals.

Downtown: Around Quinta Avenida there are a number of boutique hotels and accommodations. You have to consider that if you stay on Quinta itself, you have to expect noise both at night and during the day. Ideally, the accommodation should be close to the beach and la Quinta, within walking distance. You can check them and book one in here.

How to get around Playa del Carmen? Getting around in Playa del Carmen is much easier than in Tulum. It is not necessary to take a taxi (unless you are staying in Playacar), everything is walkable on foot from the center to the beach. If you want to go explore the surroundings, it is advisable to hire a tour. In another blog I will talk about the surroundings that are worth knowing. You can go to the beach during the day, to a restaurant at night, and then dance, without the need to travel by car or motorcycle.

What to do in Playa del Carmen? In Playa del Carmen there are many things to do, without having to leave the city. Everything revolves around Fifth Avenue.

Beach: unlike Tulum, in Playa del Carmen the entire beach is public in the center, so you can walk without problems to hang your towel wherever you want. There are also varieties of beach clubs if you want to drink or eat something. Many of them with minimal consumption to be able to occupy a lounge chair.

Shopping: Playa del Carmen is full of clothing stores, souvenirs and even several malls and shopping centers, all on Fifth Avenue.

Restaurants: on Quinta Avenida there are all restaurants, whether haute cuisine or fast food. There are Mexicans, Italians, Argentines and Mediterraneans restaurants, among others. Unlike Tulum, here there are large fast food chains everywhere such as McDonald's and Starbucks.

Playa del Carmen at night: I already told you that Playa del Carmen is a very lively city both day and night, so it is not far behind with nighttime entertainment. At night on Quinta Avenida we will find multiple bars and restaurants full of tourists, including Irish bars and the inevitable Señor Frogs.

If dancing until late isyour thing, there are several "antros" as they call nightclubs in Mexico. They are all concentrated between 10th and 12th Avenues that cross Quinta Avenida. There you will find the classic Coco Bongo, which is expensive, but if you have never been, it is worth it for the quality shows it has. Other places in the same area are Mandala and Palazzo.