Playa del Carmen, Photo by Catherine Krantz
Playa del Carmen is one of the most attractive destinations in the Mexican Caribbean. Located in the heart of the Mayan Riviera, 68 km(42 mi) south of Cancun, it has an ideal subtropical climate with an average temperature of 25º C (77º F) and sunny days throughout most of the year. During the summer, the maximum temperature can reach 35º C (95º F).
At Playa del Carmen you’ll find beautiful beaches looking out onto theCaribbean Sea, which are ideal places to relax or do all kinds of water sports: snorkeling, windsurfing and even kitesurfing – a new and exhilarating extreme sport that combines surfing and parasailing. For those who like scuba diving, there are boats departing from the docks which offer exciting outings to the Great Mayan Reef, the second largest coral reef (system) in the world. There you can dive at depths of more than 10 meters (33 feet) among multicolored fish and coral that has existed for more than 500 years. Near Playa del Carmen you can discover Playa Paamul and Playa Paraiso, two beautiful beaches with calm waters and gorgeous ecological parks: Xcaret and Xel-Ha. Also nearby are numerous sinkholes where you can do rappelling and cave diving while exploring the amazing depths of underground river systems.
Come nightfall, we recommend that you take a stroll along Quinta Avenida, one of Playa del Carmen’s most happening areas. The avenue is lined with restaurants, bars, cosmopolitan nightclubs and a shopping mall with exclusive boutiques, clothing stores and jewelry shops.
Source: Mexico Tourism Board
