On the midpoint between party-central Cancún and boho-chic Tulum, Playa del Carmen is a dynamic seashore city providing the whole lot from wellness retreats to raving events to gourmand eating places. It is a favourite amongst digital nomads and sun-seeking households because of its walkable streets, simply accessible seashores, and proximity to Mayan ruins, coral reefs and cenotes (pure swimming holes).
It is no secret that Playa del Carmen – and the Riviera Maya as a complete – is a magnet for vacationers, however the seashore city maintains a way of convivial authenticity that appeals to vacationers on the lookout for a well-rounded vacation spot. As an expat right here, I’ve realized a factor or two about navigating this energetic seashore city. Listed below are my first-hand ideas that can assist you take advantage of your time in Playa del Carmen.
1. Go to throughout shoulder season for fewer crowds and higher costs
Because the fastest-growing city within the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen attracts hordes of vacationers, particularly through the peak season from December to April. Image-perfect skies and funky nights are normal – however so are excessive costs. And the streets bulge on the seams throughout Christmas and spring break.
The off-season runs from Could to June and from September to November. Regardless of the hovering temperatures, we suggest visiting through the shoulder season in July and August, when crowds are thinner. Whereas there could also be some downpours and an influence outage or two if a tropical storm hits, the solar at all times makes an look in between showers.
2. Select one of the best space to remain
Playa del Carmen could appear small-scale at first, however when you enterprise out to the varied neighborhoods, you may discover a world of verdant parks, weekend markets and genuine taquerias to find. Centro – stretching from the ferry terminal to Calle 8 – is vacationer central and town’s bustling coronary heart. That is the place you may discover loads of bumping nightclubs, salsa bars and flashy memento shops.
Subsequent door, Gonzalo Guerrero is a full of life jumble of worldwide eating places, taco vans and supermarkets sprawling to Calle 40. This space fits those that aren’t hard-core partiers however nonetheless wish to be close to the middle of the motion. Additional northeast is Zazil-Ha, an up-and-coming space that appeals to medium-term guests and artistic varieties with its reasonably priced short-term leases and co-working areas.
South of Centro lies the gated group of Playacar, which caters to {couples} and households with younger youngsters searching for inexperienced areas and tranquility. Right here, you may discover a number of family-friendly all-inclusive resorts, loads of short-term leases and probably the greatest seashores in Playa del Carmen. Word that you will should be able to pedal or stroll quarter-hour to city.
3. Try a special seashore every day
The factor that units Playa del Carmen other than next-door neighbors Cancún and Tulum is the city’s outstanding entry to the sand. In a bid to keep away from coastlines jam-packed with waterfront resorts and personal seashore golf equipment, Playa del Carmen was laid out to permit the general public easy accessibility to most of its seashores. Which means you do not have to spend extravagant quantities on a beachfront lodge room or an overpriced day move to benefit from the powder-puff white sand.
4. Make reservations for actions and day excursions on-line
It is clever to e book boat excursions and day journeys effectively upfront, particularly if you happen to’re visiting in excessive season. (A month forward will normally suffice.) An exception is the ferry to Isla Cozumel, which has common departures each day and may be booked on the ferry terminal solely someday forward of journey. Making reservations beforehand additionally means you will not should take care of vacationer touts and different pier-side hassles.
5. Costume casually
Depart your denim denims or excessive heels at residence: the style type in Playa del Carmen is low-key and informal. Laid-back backpackers and well-heeled vacationers alike are inclined to sport singlets, board shorts and flip-flops by day. It is completely superb to put on a linen shirt and cargo shorts to a luxurious dinner and even an evening out at Coco Bongo.
The feminine costume code is simply as casual, with coverups, sundresses and sandals the norm. Beachwear is a free-for-all; you will not be judged it doesn’t matter what you wish to put on. Deliver a light-weight jacket for cold nights if you happen to’re touring within the wet season.
6. Stroll in all places, and search out the aspect streets
Certainly one of Playa del Carmen’s profitable traits is its walkability. With an environment friendly grid format, this can be a compact metropolis that is straightforward to navigate on foot. A lot of the motion is centered alongside Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue), a pedestrianized boulevard lined with knickknack outlets, memento stands, eating places and bars. The additional you get from Fifth Avenue, the much less visitors and extra native hideouts you may discover.
7. Lease a motorcycle to go beach-hopping
Playa del Carmen is not fairly as eager on two-wheeled transport as Tulum – but. Nevertheless it’s getting there. The town now boasts a city-wide bike-sharing system, with lime inexperienced BiciPlaya bikes for hire from quite a few kiosks dotted round city. Obtain the app, and you can unlock a motorcycle and bop round city for simply M$129 ($6.77) per day.
The perfect bike path within the metropolis runs alongside Tenth Avenue, parallel to the seashore, from Playacar residential space to Avenida Constituyentes. You will typically discover pedestrians spilling onto the bicycle lane, so go slowly. Keep away from using on the principle avenues, as drivers are inclined to disregard cyclists.
8. Drive with warning and be taught the visitors guidelines
If you happen to’re planning to discover the ruins, cenotes and journey parks surrounding Playa del Carmen, hiring a automotive will provide you with the liberty to discover at your personal tempo. Whereas it is comparatively straightforward to drive in Riviera Maya, automotive leases in Mexico include their very own set of challenges. You will discover no scarcity of engaging offers on-line – however they do not normally embody third-party legal responsibility insurance coverage (required by legislation), airport charges and taxes. Be ready to pay a better worth than your preliminary quote.
There is not a variety of visitors in Playa del Carmen itself, however when you enterprise to the 307 Federal Hwy, you may discover a fixed barrage of autos, significantly at peak hours. Be careful for the “TOPE” indicators, as there are extra velocity bumps than you’ll be able to rely, even on the freeway itself. Keep away from driving at evening, because it’s laborious to see all of the velocity bumps and potholes in the dead of night.
9. Watch out of the place and if you withdraw money
Though bank cards are accepted at increasingly more small companies, Playa del Carmen nonetheless runs on money, and you may want small payments to take pleasure in its native taco joints, neighborhood bars and side-street outlets.
Keep away from altering cash earlier than attending to Mexico, as you will not get one of the best charges. Word that not each ATM is protected to make use of in Playa del Carmen, as there have been instances of card cloning and counterfeit notes. Keep away from the ATMs on Fifth Avenue, and at all times use an ATM inside a financial institution quite than one on the road. We suggest taking money out at Cancún airport upon arrival for peace of thoughts.
Curiously, banks and ATMs are inclined to have lengthy traces on the center and finish of each month. That is when locals receives a commission, and plenty of of them are desperate to withdraw their earnings. ATMs not solely have an extended wait at these occasions, however some additionally run out of money.
10. Tipping is appreciated
With a vibrant restaurant tradition, Playa del Carmen has a slew of eating choices with various etiquette and tipping expectations. Ten to fifteen% is the usual at most eating places that do not fall into the high-end or gourmand class. Tipping will not be anticipated in informal cafes and native joints the place you order on the counter, although most have a tip jar if you happen to’re feeling beneficiant.
Word that costs listed on menus in Mexico characterize the whole worth; neither taxes nor ideas are presupposed to be added. Some eating places provide a prompt sum for ideas, which is ok; others sneak the information into the whole worth, which isn’t. Ensure to at all times examine your invoice fastidiously.
11. Study some Spanish to mix in
Hassling is widespread on the streets of Playa del Carmen, particularly alongside tourist-clogged Fifth Avenue and Parque Fundadores. Positive, you may get by with out talking a phrase of Spanish as English is often spoken right here – simply be ready to pay gringo costs. If you wish to be handled pretty, be taught some Spanish vocabulary that goes past the usual “Una cerveza, por favor!” (“A beer, please!”).
For these planning to remain greater than per week on the town, join an intensive Spanish class on the established Worldwide Home Riviera Maya. If you have already got a fundamental degree, be part of within the free dialog evenings run by Chichén Itzá Language College to satisfy new folks and enhance your language abilities over cocktails.
12. What to learn about cartel exercise in Playa del Carmen
An unlucky string of shootings has plagued Playa del Carmen in current months, sounding alarm bells within the tourism business. Two Canadian vacationers have been shot useless in Resort Xcaret in January 2022, and the supervisor of Mamitas Seashore Membership was discovered murdered in the identical week. The Mexican authorities have admitted an growing presence of drug-related crime in Playa del Carmen.
Be aware that the crimes listed here are normally organized and cartel-related, and violence tends to be focused quite than random acts of terror. Playa del Carmen, for probably the most half, is protected for vacationers and expats who avoid illicit actions. The one approach most vacationers work together with cartel members is once they purchase medicine – and make no mistake: all of the sellers are a part of a cartel.
It is very important at all times hold your wits about you and keep vigilant. Maintain your self knowledgeable of the newest happenings in Playa del Carmen earlier than you journey.
13. Do not be alarmed by the presence of police and army
Do not be shocked to search out army troops and police vehicles whizzing by way of the streets of Playa del Carmen: current incidents have precipitated a necessity for heightened safety. A number of police checkpoints have been arrange alongside the 307 Hwy, together with one on the Playa del Carmen exit.
Because the police will do random checks and ask in your paperwork, ensure you have your rental contract and legitimate driver’s license inside straightforward attain. If you happen to’ve violated a visitors rule, there’s an opportunity you may be requested to pay a superb. Tickets are by no means paid on the streets, so any request for money is a request for a bribe. Ask politely to have the ticket written and provide to pay it at a police station as an alternative. This fashion, you will not be feeding corruption, and the superb will normally value you lower than the bribe.
14. Do not do medicine or get drunk on the streets
With a raving bar scene, Playa del Carmen inevitably has its fair proportion of petty theft and robberies, which are inclined to occur at evening. Solo vacationers ought to keep away from getting drunk alone or taking medicine on the streets. Stick together with your group if you happen to plan on late-night shenanigans. Regulate your drink, and do not settle for drinks from strangers.
15. Pay attention to widespread scams
Mexicans are a pleasant bunch – but it may be laborious to distinguish between real hospitality and a gross sales gimmick. Comply with the rule of not trusting anybody promoting on the streets, and you may just do superb. When a neighborhood approaches you saying, “Do you bear in mind me? I am your waiter!” simply smile, nod and stroll away. It is virtually sure that your “pal” is simply making an attempt to lure you into their overpriced store.
A standard rip-off in Playa del Carmen (one acquainted to expats) is the distraction scheme. A pair normally approaches and affords to scrub the fowl poop out of your hair or the tomato ketchup in your again, distracting you and thus swiping your valuables whereas your guard is down.
16. Know the value you must pay earlier than getting in a taxi
Uber doesn’t function in Playa del Carmen, however official white-and-green cabs are available. They have a tendency to cost vacationers greater than residents, so examine with a neighborhood to suss out how a lot you must pay. All the time agree on a worth earlier than getting in: a journey inside Centro shouldn’t be greater than M$50 ($2.50). Alternatively, ask your Airbnb host or lodge concierge for a dependable driver that you may contact by way of WhatsApp.
17. Do not drink the faucet water
The water in Playa del Carmen will not be potable, and you must by no means drink water from the tap. It’s OK, nonetheless, to brush your enamel utilizing it, and plenty of discover native faucet water acceptable for rinsing greens, cooking pasta and washing rice. The water served at eating places is at all times purified consuming water, and so is the ice, so be at liberty to ask for a vaso de agua if you dine out.
A number of firms in Playa del Carmen ship giant 20-liter barrels of purified water proper to the doorstep. You too can refill at any OXXO comfort retailer on the town; there’s one at virtually each nook within the city middle.
