Playa del Carmen


For much of it's history, Playa del Carmen was a small, quiet fishing town that was only visited by foreigners to catch the ferry across to Cozumel. Seeking an alternative to modern, busy Cancun, Playa (as it commonly referred) has attracted increasing number of travelers yearly, and is probably Mexico's fastest developing town. Hotels, shops, restaurants and Internet cafes are popping-up everywhere.

Unlike Cancun's Miami Beach-style towering resorts, accommodation here is more varied and typically no more than a few floors high. Many of the properties and restaurants are European owned or managed that provides a good international flavor. Like Cancun and Cozumel, Playa also has excellent white-sand beaches ideal for swimming, and the nearby reef is comparable to Cozumel's for diving. Nightlife in terms of dining and entainment are also just as good because of the variety.

Downtown Playa is an easy-to-walk 20 square block area with the central streets a pedestrian only walkway. Avenida 5 (5th Ave.) is the main shopping street. It is lined with tourist boutiques, cafes, tour agencies and everything a shopper would expect in a Mexican tourist area including the friendly call "hola amigo, come inside - best prices".

Conveniently located downtown is the bus station for easy travel to Cancun and other towns along the coast, as well as the ferry to Cozumel Island. There is also a small airport for flights in the region. Adjoining the east side of downtown is the lovely development of Playacar where many upscale, all-inclusive beachfront resorts and vacation homes are located.

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