At the heart of Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen Playa del Carmen is packed with things to see and do: beautiful beaches, stunning cenotes, fantastic natural wonders, and amusement parks… So, where do you start? Here are some of “Playa´s” highlights:
1. Stroll around the Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue is where all the action occurs. This pedestrian street extends for over three miles, featuring small hotels, hostels, shopping malls, boutiques, art galleries, and nightclubs, where you will experience the “Playa´s” iconic lifestyle.
2. Spend the day at one of its many rooftops
Enjoy the sun, great music, delicious food, refreshing cocktails, and the spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea that can be seen on the rooftops of some of the boutique hotels, most of them located on Fifth Avenue.
3. Enjoy a beach day
Playa del Carmen´s beaches consistently take center stage, topping every visitor’s to-do list. The destination offers the perfect beach for every traveler, whether you’re in search of solitude at a secluded beach or want to see and be seen on lively strips where people-watching is the main attraction.
![Photo by user playadelcarmen_, caption reads
[🇺🇸] 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 of the @Mexican.Caribbean is something you don’t do every day. That’s why it’s important to carefully choose the 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 to share those 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 with on the #beach. 🐚 Do you know who you're coming with? 🙃
[🇲🇽] 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗮𝘀 del @VisitCaribeMexicano es algo que no se vive todos los días. Por eso es importante escoger muy bien la 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻̃𝗶́𝗮 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 para compartir esos 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝘀 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 a la orilla del mar. 🐚 ¿Ya sabes con quién vas a venir? 🙃
📸: @waterproject
#MexicanCaribbean #CaribeMexicano](https://d3qvqlc701gzhm.cloudfront.net/full/1e2fa48d6c347edaf07aa8a5260664264e5a1adb7a9214b38a85357891c0166a.jpg)
4. Visit the “Parque Fundadores”
This park is a must-see for anyone walking down Fifth Avenue. Its origin dates back to the 50´s when “Playa” was just a small fishing village and the park served as a meeting point for locals. Today, the park is the place where locals and tourists converge to appreciate the different shows that are offered there, such as the Mayan dancers or the flyers of Papantla; besides being the perfect place to take a souvenir photo, with the imposing Caribbean Sea and the Maya Portal (an enormous sculpture) in the background.
![Photo by user playadelcarmen_, caption reads
[🇺🇸] The 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗹 portrays a couple joining hands to frame the view of the @Mexican.Caribbean Sea. 🐠 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘆 you’ll also appreciate many details, such as a ball game, dolphins and many faces. 🔍
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁 in this work of art? 👁️
[🇲🇽] Las manos de una pareja se unen para crear el famoso arco del 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗮, enmarcando la vista al mar del @VisitCaribeMexicano. 🐠 𝗦𝗶 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗮 además encontrarás un sinfín de detalles, como un juego de pelota, delfines y muchos rostros. 🔍
¿𝗤𝘂𝗲́ 𝗼𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝘀 en esta obra de arte? 👁️
📍 #ParqueFundadores
📸: @hillaryhollmann
#MexicanCaribbean #CaribeMexicano](https://d3qvqlc701gzhm.cloudfront.net/full/c2560eee86eb32c42684cbeff3cc1f326bcc326c914d01098397f9588ee195bd.jpg)
![Photo by user rivieramayamx, caption reads
[🇺🇸] I'd follow you with my eyes closed if you take me by the hand to the most 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 in the @Mexican.Caribbean! 💙 Whom did you think about after reading this? Tag them in the comments. 👇🏻
[🇲🇽] ¡A ti te seguiría con los ojos cerrados si me llevas de la mano a los más 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘀 𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀 del @VisitCaribeMexicano! 💙 ¿En quién pensaste después de leer esto? Etiquétalo en los comentarios. 👇🏻
📍 Portal Maya, @PlayadelCarmen_.
📸: @murph_holbox
#MexicanCaribbean #CaribeMexicano](https://d3qvqlc701gzhm.cloudfront.net/full/252dbea18229eb6edabe93a9068a421de7348de130cef3288f274e4868bb299f.jpg)
5. Explore the cenotes
Just minutes away from downtown Playa del Carmen, you´ll find the pristine cenotes Jardín del Edén, Cristalino, and Azul. Scuba dive, snorkel, or simply let yourself float in its refreshing waters and admire the beautiful landscape, besides the flora and fauna that have made these sceneries their habitat.
6. Interacting with the wildlife
Interact with wildlife like never before! Scuba dive with bull sharks (November to March); swim with sea turtles in Akumal or crocodiles in a cenote. Remember that you are entering the habitat of these species, so we ask you to be a responsible traveler and follow the advice of our Responsible Traveler Guide.
IMPORTANT: In order to scuba dive you must present a diving certification.
![Photo by user playadelcarmen_, caption reads
[🇺🇸] There's nothing like seeing marine life in its natural habitat. #SeaTurtles especially transmit such peace with their gentle swimming and friendly personality. We know that whenever you have the chance to be close to them, you'll do so with 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲. 🐢✨
[🇲🇽] No hay nada como admirar la fauna marina en su hábitat natural. Sobre todo cuando se trata de las #TortugasMarinas, que transmiten tanta paz con su tranquilo nado y personalidad amigable. Sabemos que siempre que tengas la oportunidad de convivir con ellas, lo harás con 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗼 𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗼́𝗻.🐢✨
📸: @thew0rld_is_yours
#MexicanCaribbean #CaribeMexicano ](https://d3qvqlc701gzhm.cloudfront.net/full/9e08282f9cc5a47926f51268a16237a5a5233c4df7e3f0be22374452a0859fda.jpg)
7. Have fun in some of its natural or amusement parks
Riviera Maya is home to endless parks, where both children and adults will experience moments of great excitement. There is something for everyone: extreme parks, water parks, theme parks, nature parks, adventure parks… You choose! Slide in a zip line, drive off-road vehicles on hidden trails, swim across an underground river, learn about Mayan culture interactively, and much more.
8. Experience its nightlife
The fun doesn’t end at sunset! Between mariachis, live music, hip-hop dancers, and the latest hits of the moment, the “Quinta” comes to life at dusk. If you want to dance until dawn, you can’t miss the famous Calle 12, where most of the nightclubs and bars are located.
If you’re looking for family-friendly night experiences, we recommend booking a dinner-show experience. Not to be missed include Joyá by Cirque du Soleil and Mexico Spectacular by Xcaret.
9. Pampering your palate with its culinary options
Being a cosmopolitan destination, “Playa´s” restaurants offer almost every kind of international cuisine: traditional Mayan dishes, Mexican delicacies, American, Canadian, Peruvian, Colombian, Thai, Italian, Argentinian, Belgian, French, among others.
Here you will find several restaurants, from casual to the most lavish ones.
10. Make a day excursion to an archaeological site
The Mexican Caribbean is dotted with more than 19 archaeological sites, and Mayan vestiges. In the Riviera Maya, a region that straddles Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, you’ll find some of the most impressive ones, such as Tulum and Cobá.
