Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. My last winter getaway recommendation for this series is Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Playa Del Carmen is a small city sitting along the Caribbean ocean in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico located in the Riviera Maya. I have been three times now and it’s a destination for the books. Instead of staying in Cancun which is beautiful but mainstream, rent a car or take a shuttle bus from Cancun to Playa Del Carmen which is roughly an hour away from the Cancun Airport. The ADO bus service is one of the cheapest and easiest way to get to Playa Del Carmen. I recommend this shuttle bus if you have no plans of renting a car.
Playa Del Carmen is a GREAT time. There is so much to choose from here and a lot of hustle and bustle and entertainment twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. It is kind of a mini Vegas but at the same time still Caribbean- like making it a bit more relaxed than the Las Vegas strip. The top spots here are definitely Playa Del Carmen beach, Akumal and the Cenotes for the coolest snorkeling experience, La Quinta Avenida, and the Mayan ruins.
Playa Del Carmen is remote enough that it’s long stretch of beach has never received a proper name which is why it’s literally called Playa Del Carmen beach. Most hotels are located right on Playa Del Carmen beach so it will most likely be your front lawn and the sight you wake up to every single morning for the length of your stay. The views from your hotel balcony will be pure bliss. The white sandy beach is full of palm trees, beach chairs, and tourists since this is the main beach in Playa Del Carmen, people definitely know about it. Even though it’s not a secluded beach you can definitely find your happy place and relax here. The early morning and late afternoon are the best times for sunbathing when the sun is not scorching hot but definitely hot enough. The early mornings are also when the beach is least crowded so I advise taking a jog or snapping pictures at this time. The beach stretches about a mile so it is great for strolling and people watching as well.
This area is known for its killer snorkeling. Akumal and the Cenotes are two noteworthy spots you must check out if you plan on exploring the underwater world. Akumal is located just down the coast between Playa Del Carmen and Tulum and is where all of the sea turtles hang out. Here you can snorkel and swim alongside the sea turtles and experience the freshwater meeting the ocean which oddly attracts schools of fish of all shapes, sizes, and colors. The coolest thing about Akumal is that the snorkel shops here offer both day and night snorkeling tours. For roughly $40 USD or $20 USD if you barter or find a local willing to bring you out on his glass bottomed boat, you can hop on a guided tour and see all that Akumal and its beautiful coral reefs have to offer. The tour I signed up for was four hours long and included lunch. I highly recommend a tour versus buying the equipment and swimming off the shore in hopes of finding the very best wildlife on your own. The Cenotes are deep, natural sinkholes found inland throughout the Riviera Maya that connect to underground sources of water. The most popular ones are those at Kantun Chi Eco Park but the best one in my opinion is the Gran Cenote in Tulum. The water is so clean and clear here and the scenery and wildlife is just exquisite. There are a lot of fish and turtles just like at Akumal but here the setting is a bit different. It’s also less crowded than the other Cenotes which really makes the experience that much better when you can swim around freely and take it in solo.
Did you know that Playa Del Carmen is located at the heart of the Mayan empire of Mexico? While visiting Playa Del Carmen, you must make the trip to the Mayan city of Tulum, Cobá, or Chichen Itza to experience the ruins. Tulum a scenic setting located on a cliff overlooking the ocean with smaller ruins whereas Cobá is under the radar and unexcavated for the most part. I highly recommend these ruins as they were important landmarks of the once thriving empire and are seriously untouched. The Cobá ruins are covered in vines and shrubbery, and surrounded by overgrown jungles. You can climb parts of these ruins too which really brings you back in time and gets you wondering what the people and empire was like. Cobá is also the closest to Playa del Carmen. Chichen Itza is the flagship of Mayan ruins and is the most developed site. It’s really impressive and HUGE. I think this site is worth visiting if you are willing to spend roughly 4 hours round trip to visit it. Mentally prepare yourself for the long ride to get here especially if you are taking a tour bus.
For nightlife, entertainment, and fruity tropical drinks visit La Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue) during your stay. It is the main drag a street away from Playa del Carmen beach. Full of bars, restaurants, and small locally owned shops with owners bartering and waving anyone and everyone into their stores, this street is quite entertaining and the absolute best for people watching. People do funny things when they are heavily intoxicated. I recommend walking the avenue and seeing what it has to offer and checking out the rowdiest and tackiest bars for a drink or two. Just beware though that everything for sale on this street which includes food, booze, and souvenirs is pretty overpriced. Locals know this is where the tourists flock too and that they can stick it to them here. Check out the scene but don’t stay too long. Do check out nearby Luna Blue’s swing set bar on 26 calle for a refreshing cocktail at a reasonable price and La Coronela, a hole in the wall restaurant a few minutes off the beaten path. After eating at La Coronela, I guarantee you will compare all Mexican meals to this one for the rest of your life. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner and all menu items are homemade and made to order too. They are known for their fish tacos and homemade guacamole. The guac is freaking amazing. This spot is a little hard to find but worth searching for. After dinner and a few drinks, head to the Blue Parrot club to dance the night away. This club is absolutely unreal and has actually been ranked one of the top nightclubs in the world. It is located right on the beach and is a very, very good time. It is a happening place seven nights a week. Singles love this bar.
Playa Del Carmen and its neighboring cities are a great winter getaway destination. From December to March the temperatures are a comfortable 70- 80 degrees Fahrenheit (20-27 degrees Celsius). I also highly recommend visiting Cozumel while you are here. It’s a quick 45 minute ferry ride from Playa Del Carmen to Cozumel. The beaches are beautiful here and the best beaches around for swimming. The snorkeling here is stellar as well.
Cheapest Months for Travel: The cheapest flights right now are for the first two weeks of December and first week of January which are starting at $360 round trip. The last week of January looks good as well with round trip flights averaging $375. Flight prices will increase for February and March which is around the time universities and public schools go on Spring break.
Download the hopper app on your smart phone to find out the latest and greatest flight prices and flight tips.
For other winter getaway recommendations, check out my post Warm Destinations for Colder Months and Second Pick: Warm Destinations for Colder Months.