Fun things to do on your Playa del Carmen vacation
Relaxing at the beach in Playa del Carmen
There are so many fun things to do on vacation in Playa del Carmen! Here is a brief discussion of some of the most popular activities in the Riviera Maya along with our personal observations. We hope this helps you with your trip planning. In Playa you can do everything from relaxation and romance to all-out adventure and exploration! Feel free to email us for more information, but be sure to save enough time for plain old relaxation! You may also want to check out some of our Guest Comments to see what they enjoyed on their vacations. There are also some low cost suggestions in my blog post, Inexpensive Things To Do In Playa del Carmen.
One of the things we recommend to all of our guests is that they order the Playa del Carmen map from Mapchick (and maybe one of the others as well). Their maps are much more than maps, they are very detailed guides to the entire Riviera Maya, including activities, restaurants and beach clubs. They are very inexpensive and will make planning your trip lots of fun. There is also a FaceBook group called 'Playa del Carmen Vacation Lovers' that you will find very active and beneficial with tons of ideas and thoughts, suggestions and comments on numerous topics. Feel free to join the group and get involved in the conversations.
One of the things we recommend to all of our guests is that they order the Playa del Carmen map from Mapchick (and maybe one of the others as well). Their maps are much more than maps, they are very detailed guides to the entire Riviera Maya, including activities, restaurants and beach clubs. They are very inexpensive and will make planning your trip lots of fun. There is also a FaceBook group called 'Playa del Carmen Vacation Lovers' that you will find very active and beneficial with tons of ideas and thoughts, suggestions and comments on numerous topics. Feel free to join the group and get involved in the conversations.
Spending the day at the beach in Playa del Carmen
Of course, one of the best ways to Escape from normal life is to spend the day hanging out at one of the beautiful beaches that Playa has to offer and soaking in the sun. You may not realize how many options you have for spending a day at the beach. To us, there are three categories of "beach experiences". First, and probably most popular, is spending the day at one of the beach clubs "in town" on the long stretch of beach that starts at the south end at the ferry pier. Or, you can bring your towel or the chairs in the condo and camp out on your own in front of them like most of the locals. But many prefer to select a beach club for their chairs and umbrellas, food and drinks, as well as other "facilities". :) In general, the closer to the pier you are, the less expensive and more laid back you will find the beach clubs. Further north, closer to Constituyentes, they get a little more trendy, which normally equates to more expensive. People watching at these beaches is exceptional. It will take you 10-12 minutes to get to the beaches closest to the ferry from the condo. You can then walk north for several miles.
Second, you can choose to DIY by taking the umbrellas and beach chairs in our condo to a secluded beach in Playacar. This is a long, beautiful stretch of beach, definitely within walking distance from the condo through the little wild area by the guard gate. We love to use the cooler and pack up snacks and beverages and relax on this peaceful beach, where there won't be the crowds of the beach in town. The only problem is a lack of "facilities". It takes between 7-10 minutes to walk to this beach depending on how fast you navigate through the little pathway.
Last, I would encourage you to break out of Playa a bit and explore some of the other beautiful beaches up and down the coast of the Riviera Maya. There are so many to choose from! If you ordered the maps/guides from Mapchick, you can use those to research and find the right one for you, as well as detailed instructions on using colectivos to get around, located in the binder in the condo. We recently tried a couple of new beach clubs down the highway, you can read about them on our blog post (coming soon). Our favorite day trip to a beach is a visit to Puerto Morelos to go snorkeling on the beautiful reef. The beaches of Tulum are also pretty incredible. Enjoy!
You can see some pictures of some of these in our Beach Picture Gallery.
Second, you can choose to DIY by taking the umbrellas and beach chairs in our condo to a secluded beach in Playacar. This is a long, beautiful stretch of beach, definitely within walking distance from the condo through the little wild area by the guard gate. We love to use the cooler and pack up snacks and beverages and relax on this peaceful beach, where there won't be the crowds of the beach in town. The only problem is a lack of "facilities". It takes between 7-10 minutes to walk to this beach depending on how fast you navigate through the little pathway.
Last, I would encourage you to break out of Playa a bit and explore some of the other beautiful beaches up and down the coast of the Riviera Maya. There are so many to choose from! If you ordered the maps/guides from Mapchick, you can use those to research and find the right one for you, as well as detailed instructions on using colectivos to get around, located in the binder in the condo. We recently tried a couple of new beach clubs down the highway, you can read about them on our blog post (coming soon). Our favorite day trip to a beach is a visit to Puerto Morelos to go snorkeling on the beautiful reef. The beaches of Tulum are also pretty incredible. Enjoy!
You can see some pictures of some of these in our Beach Picture Gallery.
Visit the Mayan Ruins
Mayan Ruins - the main pyramid of Ek Balam from 2010
Another popular activity in the area is a visit to one of the many Mayan ruins. There are many small ruins actually in Playa del Carmen, a few are along 5th Avenue. There are also some nice small buildings in the Playacar neighborhood. You will see one when you take that path through the wooded area where it opens up to the beach.
The closest Mayan city of ruins is in Tulum. These are about an hour away and are easy to visit from Playa. These are the only ruins on a cliff and are quite striking. (Arrive early before the tour buses and take sunscreen and an umbrella for shade). About two hours from Playa are the ruins of Coba. These are large, beautiful ruins spread out across many acres. We like to use the bikes to get to the different buildings. The tallest pyramid here is still open to climbers and one of the reasons it is so popular. Three hours away are the famous Chichen Itza Ruins. Well-known worldwide for their size and beauty, this is one of the most popular sites in the Yucatan. But you can no longer climb the large pyramid here.
Also about 3 hours away from Playa del Carmen are the ruins of Ek Balam. These are smaller and closer together than the ruins of Coba, but every bit as stunning. There is also a large pyramid to climb with a 360 degree view of the jungle. These ruins are newly discovered and still being uncovered, which is one reason why they are our favorite. There aren’t many crowds here yet either. We combined a tour of Ek Balam with a night in the colonial city of Valladolid for a romantic weekend experience.
You can certainly DIY trips to the ruins (like we did) but if you want to hire a tour company to do that, we highly suggest www.Yucatreks.com. We've met the owners of this company and many of our guests have used them for their tours. They only take small groups and have excellent reputations for their service.
Check out our photos and a description of our trip to Coba and Ek Balam on our Trip Report. You will also find some good information on all the area ruins here.
The closest Mayan city of ruins is in Tulum. These are about an hour away and are easy to visit from Playa. These are the only ruins on a cliff and are quite striking. (Arrive early before the tour buses and take sunscreen and an umbrella for shade). About two hours from Playa are the ruins of Coba. These are large, beautiful ruins spread out across many acres. We like to use the bikes to get to the different buildings. The tallest pyramid here is still open to climbers and one of the reasons it is so popular. Three hours away are the famous Chichen Itza Ruins. Well-known worldwide for their size and beauty, this is one of the most popular sites in the Yucatan. But you can no longer climb the large pyramid here.
Also about 3 hours away from Playa del Carmen are the ruins of Ek Balam. These are smaller and closer together than the ruins of Coba, but every bit as stunning. There is also a large pyramid to climb with a 360 degree view of the jungle. These ruins are newly discovered and still being uncovered, which is one reason why they are our favorite. There aren’t many crowds here yet either. We combined a tour of Ek Balam with a night in the colonial city of Valladolid for a romantic weekend experience.
You can certainly DIY trips to the ruins (like we did) but if you want to hire a tour company to do that, we highly suggest www.Yucatreks.com. We've met the owners of this company and many of our guests have used them for their tours. They only take small groups and have excellent reputations for their service.
Check out our photos and a description of our trip to Coba and Ek Balam on our Trip Report. You will also find some good information on all the area ruins here.
The Island of Cozumel
On a clear day you can see the island of Cozumel just offshore
Many people like to take the ferry to Cozumel for the day. This can be fun if you want to snorkel at one of the parks or reefs near the shore. We sometimes like to rent a car and drive around to the other side of the island where the waves crash against an iron shore. No swimming on that side of the island, but it is beautiful with some fun bars and restaurants. There is no electricity on that side of the island, so everything closes down when the sun sets.
The ferry is about $16-$18 USD per person one way. There are two different ferry companies, and they take turns with one running almost every hour. Don’t buy a return ticket until you are ready to come back. You buy your tickets at one of two booths right outside the ferry boarding area. The ride over takes 30-45 minutes. It is actually not something we do very often because the shopping and restaurant area is the same as Playa, without the travel time. But it can be fun.
The ferry is about $16-$18 USD per person one way. There are two different ferry companies, and they take turns with one running almost every hour. Don’t buy a return ticket until you are ready to come back. You buy your tickets at one of two booths right outside the ferry boarding area. The ride over takes 30-45 minutes. It is actually not something we do very often because the shopping and restaurant area is the same as Playa, without the travel time. But it can be fun.
Cenotes
Cenotes are underground caverns of fresh water
Cenotes (3 syllables) are the sinkholes that have formed all over the Yucatan in the limestone crust of the earth. In them you will find beautiful, crystal clear water along with small fish and some interesting underwater formations. Be prepared, though, the water is cold!
You have many options if you want to visit a cenote. You can find them in some of the large, organized theme parks such as Hidden Worlds, or you can DIY it. Most have a small entrance fee (except the large parks which have a big fee!).
One of the closest to Playa are the cenotes Cristallino and Azul. These and 3 others are all located about 15 minutes south of Playa on the west side of the highway. These are shown on the Playa del Carmen fold out maps you can purchase from Mapchick. We take a colectivo and watch for a small sign across from the Barcelo Maya resort. There isn’t much food, but they do have snacks and some have restrooms. If you’ve never seen one, they are worth a visit. Be sure and take bug spray as you will be walking a bit in the jungle to get to each one.
You have many options if you want to visit a cenote. You can find them in some of the large, organized theme parks such as Hidden Worlds, or you can DIY it. Most have a small entrance fee (except the large parks which have a big fee!).
One of the closest to Playa are the cenotes Cristallino and Azul. These and 3 others are all located about 15 minutes south of Playa on the west side of the highway. These are shown on the Playa del Carmen fold out maps you can purchase from Mapchick. We take a colectivo and watch for a small sign across from the Barcelo Maya resort. There isn’t much food, but they do have snacks and some have restrooms. If you’ve never seen one, they are worth a visit. Be sure and take bug spray as you will be walking a bit in the jungle to get to each one.
Golf
The Riviera Maya has many beautiful golf courses.
The Hard Rock Golf Club Riviera Maya is a Robert von Hagge beautifully designed course and our condo overlooks it's 4th fairway. It's an all-inclusive course, which means you pay one price and that includes a la carte breakfast, 18 holes of golf (w/cart), snacks and beverages from the cart girls (including beer and drinks), and lunch afterwards (burgers, wings, beer, etc.). It is a beautiful, challenging course and lots of fun to play. They do have golfclubs available for rent, if you dont want to bring your own, but I also have a full set of clubs in our condo that you are more than welcome to use. I try to leave some old golfballs, tees, etc. in the bag, but you will need to bring your own glove/shoes with you (and maybe some spare golfballs, if you tend to lose alot of them). Call their clubhouse to ask for current rates and to set your teetime: 984 873 4990
There are also many other great golf courses along the Riviera Maya. Just search "Riviera Maya Golf Courses" to learn more.
There are also many other great golf courses along the Riviera Maya. Just search "Riviera Maya Golf Courses" to learn more.
Swim with the Dolphins
This is a very controversial activity, but we have done it so I thought I would share. There are several in the area, most popular are Puerto Aventuras (the one we did) and there is one at Xel-Ha. My daughter and I did one of these and loved every minute of it, but we are huge animal lovers. I know, some people discourage visitors saying that the animals are mistreated and held captive. We saw no sign of that and felt that the trainers adored their animals. Of course, you never know. For us, it was a once in a lifetime experience and has created a strong desire in us to protect the oceans and their habitats. So I feel that the experience creates a lot of goodwill towards the species. But you can do your own research and make your own decision. We cherish our DVD and memories of the visit.
Snorkeling along the Riviera Maya
Snorkeling in Akumal with fish, rays and turtles
Snorkeling is an easy and popular activity in this area - and one of our favorite things to do on our visits to Playa. The best snorkeling experience, in our opinion, is between Cozumel and Puerto Morelos. Our favorite snorkeling spot used to be in Akumal snorkeling with the turtles, however that area has gotten so overrun with tourists (and tour operators) that the reef is suffering and it is a hassle just to get to it. There is still excellent snorkeling at the lagoon in Akumal called Yal-Ku, and also at Xel-Ha (the ecopark) and off of Cozumel. You can also take a boat trip to several local snorkeling spots or a catamaran trip - dive shops are everywhere, just pop in and ask them about trip, or contact our concierge through NASPlaya. You can rent snorkel equipment easily in town at any of the dive shops, although most tours will include them. We keep a few mask and snorkel sets at the condo, but they are used often so test them first in the pool to select one that may fit you best. If you don't know how to snorkel, you can use these masks and snorkels to practice in the pool, and the kids will love them. This is one of our favorite activities and one we highly recommend everyone try in Playa.
Akumal and Yal-Ku
View of the main beach of Akumal Bay
Akumal is a sleepy little town about 35 minutes drive south of Playa. And it used to be one of our favorite ways to spend the day when we wanted to spend time in the sun, and relax and snorkel. Now the reef is taking a hard hit from the crowds visiting to swim with the turtles, and people are complaining about the crowds. But it still might be something that you want to try. You can get there by taxi (about $25-$35 USD) or you may choose to take a colectivo. We hop on the colectivo in Playa and tell the driver "Akumal Playa, por favor".) Be sure and include the term PLAYA, which means "beach", or they may drop you at a resort with the name Akumal in it. You don't want that.
The colectivo driver will pull over on the west side of the highway and drop you off and you will use the overhead walkway to get to the other side of the highway, then walk to the beach. Just 4 or 5 blocks' walk towards the water and through the white arches will take you to the main beach. Just slightly to your right is a wonderful restaurant, Lol Ha. Really good food and unbeatable views, right on the water. Don't let any of the vendors stop you on the way to the water with their claims that you need to buy a tour or hire a guide to snorkel. That's not necessary.
The water here is much calmer than the main beach in Playa del Carmen, so this is a nice beach for young children. There is a dive shop near the hotel on the water that will rent you snorkel equipment and tell you where people are seeing the turtles today. Normally the turtles will be hanging around the turtle grass (Duh!) and around the boats tied up near the shore. There is a reef further out where you will see a variety of fish, although it is not as nice as it once was due to all of the traffic. Just keep your eyes open and look down, and you will get to see turtles and other wonderful things like stingrays, barracudas, angel and parrot fish, etc.
Another good snorkeling spot in this area is Yal-Ku lagoon. I like it less because the water is colder and deeper, but my husband loves it. You will need to take a cab from the arches to the lagoon, it's quite a walk. There is a small entrance fee, around $8-$10 USD and basic facilities. Mark loves it here and I like it a lot, but I prefer the ocean to the lagoon. Try it and let us know what you prefer.
The colectivo driver will pull over on the west side of the highway and drop you off and you will use the overhead walkway to get to the other side of the highway, then walk to the beach. Just 4 or 5 blocks' walk towards the water and through the white arches will take you to the main beach. Just slightly to your right is a wonderful restaurant, Lol Ha. Really good food and unbeatable views, right on the water. Don't let any of the vendors stop you on the way to the water with their claims that you need to buy a tour or hire a guide to snorkel. That's not necessary.
The water here is much calmer than the main beach in Playa del Carmen, so this is a nice beach for young children. There is a dive shop near the hotel on the water that will rent you snorkel equipment and tell you where people are seeing the turtles today. Normally the turtles will be hanging around the turtle grass (Duh!) and around the boats tied up near the shore. There is a reef further out where you will see a variety of fish, although it is not as nice as it once was due to all of the traffic. Just keep your eyes open and look down, and you will get to see turtles and other wonderful things like stingrays, barracudas, angel and parrot fish, etc.
Another good snorkeling spot in this area is Yal-Ku lagoon. I like it less because the water is colder and deeper, but my husband loves it. You will need to take a cab from the arches to the lagoon, it's quite a walk. There is a small entrance fee, around $8-$10 USD and basic facilities. Mark loves it here and I like it a lot, but I prefer the ocean to the lagoon. Try it and let us know what you prefer.
Shopping!
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I know, I know - everyone makes fun of me for enjoying shopping on vacation in a tropical paradise! But I can't help it! There are just too many fun places to explore. Honestly, I don't buy that much, but it is fun to look around. You will find a wide variety of shopping to be done in Playa - everything from high end designers in modern shopping plazas to craft items made by local artisans. One of our favorites is shopping for silver jewelry all up and down 5th Avenue - it's kind of a "must do" for the ladies. Be sure and bargain here. I also love the beautiful, colorful textiles that Mexico is famous for - you will find those up and down 5th as well. Of course, the further away from 5th Avenue you go, the lower the prices. My favorite jewelry store is called Yulunga, and it is located on Calle 14 just a few stores west of 5th Avenue. Veronica makes many of the pieces you will find here and they are beautiful and well priced.
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Massages!
One of my favorite things to do in Playa is get a relaxing massage! They are so much more affordable than back at home. During low season they get especially inexpensive - and the couple rates are even better. Yes, some are better than others, but they are always worth the $25 - $35 rate. Sometimes I like to get a massage on the beach and listen to the waves, but lately I have been enjoying massages in town in the AC. It's nice and cool, and it just feels more relaxing to me without all of the other noises that come with a beach location. And no sand stuck to the massage oil when you are done. Sometimes I like to treat myself to more than one!
We also enjoy pedicures from Kristine's on 10th - just outside the main guard gate from the condo. You will walk by them every time you walk to and from town. Very nice, air conditioned spa with massage options as well!
We also enjoy pedicures from Kristine's on 10th - just outside the main guard gate from the condo. You will walk by them every time you walk to and from town. Very nice, air conditioned spa with massage options as well!
Take a Cooking Class!
We found a new fun thing to do on our trip in April, 2015 - a cooking class! There are a couple of cooking classes you can take while vacationing in Playa, but I can't imagine anyone doing a better job than Chef Coty! My best friend and I signed up for a class and enjoyed every single minute. I took a cooking class before in San Miguel de Allende at a famous school for tourists. It was such a disappointment that I was hesitant to try again, but I really wanted to experience some local food and learn to cook it at home. Chef Coty really takes time with you and, unlike my experience in San Miguel, we did almost all of the cooking ourselves, then ate our own dishes. It was nice to have a sous chef in the back doing some of the chopping for us, but all the actual cooking was done by us, which we enjoyed and helped us to learn. Chef Coty is entertaining, bright, funny and warm. Another couple was in our class with us and this was their second class. Chef Coty also offers private chef services to cook at the condo, and I know that anything she prepares would be delicious! Visit her website at cookinplaya.com.
