On the midpoint between party-central Cancún and boho-chic Tulum, Playa del Carmen is a dynamic seaside city providing every thing from wellness retreats to raving events to gourmand eating places. It is a favourite amongst digital nomads and sun-seeking households due to 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 seaside 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 seaside city. Listed below are my first-hand suggestions that will help you benefit from 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 throughout the peak season from December to April. Image-perfect skies and funky nights are commonplace – however so are excessive costs. And the streets bulge on the seams throughout Christmas and spring break.
Commercial
The off-season runs from Might to June and from September to November. Regardless of the hovering temperatures, we suggest visiting throughout 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 all the time makes an look in between showers.
2. Select the perfect space to remain
Playa del Carmen could seem small-scale at first, however when you enterprise out to the varied neighborhoods, you will 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 the town’s bustling coronary heart. That is the place you will discover loads of bumping nightclubs, salsa bars and flashy memento shops.
Subsequent door, Gonzalo Guerrero is a energetic 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 need 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 inventive sorts with its inexpensive short-term leases and co-working areas.
South of Centro lies the gated neighborhood of Playacar, which caters to {couples} and households with younger kids looking for inexperienced areas and tranquility. Right here, you will 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’re going to should be able to pedal or stroll quarter-hour to city.
3. Try a unique seaside every day
The factor that units Playa del Carmen other than next-door neighbors Cancún and Tulum is the city’s exceptional entry to the sand. In a bid to keep away from coastlines jam-packed with waterfront resorts and personal seaside golf equipment, Playa del Carmen was laid out to permit the general public quick access to most of its seashores. Because of this you do not have to spend extravagant quantities on a beachfront lodge room or an overpriced day cross to benefit from the powder-puff white sand.
4. Make reservations for actions and day excursions on-line
It is sensible to ebook boat excursions and day journeys properly upfront, particularly in case you’re visiting in excessive season. (A month forward will normally suffice.) An exception is the ferry to Isla Cozumel, which has common departures day by day and could be booked on the ferry terminal solely in the future forward of journey. Making reservations beforehand additionally means you will not need to take care of vacationer touts and different pier-side hassles.
5. Costume casually
Go away your denim denims or excessive heels at residence: the style fashion in Playa del Carmen is low-key and informal. Laid-back backpackers and well-heeled vacationers alike are likely to sport singlets, board shorts and flip-flops by day. It is completely nice to put on a linen shirt and cargo shorts to a luxurious dinner and even an evening out at Coco Bongo.
The feminine gown 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 need to put on. Deliver a light-weight jacket for cold nights in case you’re touring within the wet season.
6. Stroll in every single place, and search out the facet streets
One in all Playa del Carmen’s successful traits is its walkability. With an environment friendly grid structure, it is a compact metropolis that is straightforward to navigate on foot. Many 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 site visitors and extra native hideouts you will discover.
7. Lease a motorbike to go beach-hopping
Playa del Carmen is not fairly as eager on two-wheeled transport as Tulum – but. But it surely’s getting there. Town now boasts a city-wide bike-sharing system, with lime inexperienced BiciPlaya bikes for lease from quite a few kiosks dotted round city. Obtain the app, and you can unlock a motorbike and bop round city for simply M$129 ($6.77) per day.
Commercial
The perfect bike path within the metropolis runs alongside Tenth Avenue, parallel to the seaside, from Playacar residential space to Avenida Constituyentes. You will typically discover pedestrians spilling onto the bicycle lane, so go slowly. Keep away from driving on the primary avenues, as drivers are likely to disregard cyclists.
8. Drive with warning and be taught the site visitors guidelines
In the event you’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 value than your preliminary quote.
There is not lots of site visitors in Playa del Carmen itself, however when you enterprise to the 307 Federal Hwy, you will discover a fixed barrage of autos, significantly at peak hours. Be careful for the “TOPE” indicators, as there are extra velocity bumps than you may rely, even on the freeway itself. Keep away from driving at night time, because it’s arduous to see all of the velocity bumps and potholes at nighttime.
9. Watch out of the place and whenever you withdraw money
Though bank cards are accepted at increasingly small companies, Playa del Carmen nonetheless runs on money, and you may want small payments to get pleasure from 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 the perfect charges. Word that not each ATM is secure to make use of in Playa del Carmen, as there have been circumstances of card cloning and counterfeit notes. Keep away from the ATMs on Fifth Avenue, and all the time use an ATM inside a financial institution fairly than one on the road. We suggest taking money out at Cancún airport upon arrival for peace of thoughts.
Apparently, banks and ATMs are likely to have lengthy strains on the center and finish of each month. That is when locals receives a commission, and lots of of them are desperate to withdraw their earnings. ATMs not solely have a protracted 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 just isn’t anticipated in informal cafes and native joints the place you order on the counter, although most have a tip jar in case you’re feeling beneficiant.
Word that costs listed on menus in Mexico signify the whole value; neither taxes nor suggestions are alleged to be added. Some eating places provide a urged sum for suggestions, which is ok; others sneak the guidelines into the whole value, which isn’t. Be sure to all the time examine your invoice rigorously.
11. Be taught some Spanish to mix in
Hassling is frequent on the streets of Playa del Carmen, particularly alongside tourist-clogged Fifth Avenue and Parque Fundadores. Positive, you will get by with out talking a phrase of Spanish as English is usually 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 every week on the town, join an intensive Spanish class on the established Worldwide Home Riviera Maya. If you have already got a fundamental stage, be a part of within the free dialog evenings run by Chichén Itzá Language Faculty to satisfy new folks and enhance your language expertise over cocktails.
12. What to find out about cartel exercise in Playa del Carmen
An unlucky string of shootings has plagued Playa del Carmen in latest months, sounding alarm bells within the tourism business. Two Canadian vacationers had been shot lifeless in Lodge Xcaret in January 2022, and the supervisor of Mamitas Seaside Membership was discovered murdered in the identical week. The Mexican authorities have admitted an rising presence of drug-related crime in Playa del Carmen.
Be aware that the crimes listed below are normally organized and cartel-related, and violence tends to be focused fairly than random acts of terror. Playa del Carmen, for essentially the most half, is secure for vacationers and expats who avoid illicit actions. The one manner 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.
You will need to all the time hold your wits about you and keep vigilant. Preserve 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 navy
Do not be stunned to seek out navy troops and police automobiles whizzing via the streets of Playa del Carmen: latest incidents have brought on 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 to your paperwork, be sure to have your rental contract and legitimate driver’s license inside straightforward attain. In the event you’ve violated a site visitors rule, there’s an opportunity you will be requested to pay a nice. 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 a substitute. This manner, you will not be feeding corruption, and the nice will normally price 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 justifiable share of petty theft and robberies, which are likely to occur at night time. Solo vacationers ought to keep away from getting drunk alone or taking medicine on the streets. Stick together with your group in case you plan on late-night shenanigans. Regulate your drink, and do not settle for drinks from strangers.
15. Concentrate on frequent scams
Mexicans are a pleasant bunch – but it may be arduous 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 do exactly nice. 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 “good friend” 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 gives to wash the chicken 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 worth 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 an inclination to cost vacationers greater than residents, so examine with a neighborhood to suss out how a lot you must pay. At all times agree on a value 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 which you could contact via WhatsApp.
17. Do not drink the faucet water
The water in Playa del Carmen just isn’t potable, and you must by no means drink water from the tap. It’s OK, nonetheless, to brush your enamel utilizing it, and lots of discover native faucet water acceptable for rinsing greens, cooking pasta and washing rice. The water served at eating places is all the time purified consuming water, and so is the ice, so be at liberty to ask for a vaso de agua whenever you dine out.
A number of firms in Playa del Carmen ship giant 20-liter barrels of purified water proper to the doorstep. It’s also possible to top off at any OXXO comfort retailer on the town; there’s one at virtually each nook within the city heart.
