Best things to do in Playa del Carmen (México): a travel guide with everything you need to know

Playa del Carmen (or just “Playa” when you gain confidence) was not one of our favorite destinations in the Riviera Maya by far due to the type of tourism it is oriented to (and the amount of tourists it receives) but it has two advantages that make it attractive: beautiful beaches that can be accessed free of charge (something that is becoming increasingly scarce in the Riviera Maya) and that it is a good base (due to the gastronomic, nightlife and lodging offer) to visit places in the area such as the island of Cozumel, Tulum, Cancun or one of the 7 Wonders of the World, Chichen Itza. As a bonus, it invites you to explore some of the most impressive cenotes in Yucatan, not only swimming but also diving, a unique experience that this part of the world offers you.

In this guide we tell you what things to see and do in Playa del Carmen and surroundings with practical suggestions, specific itineraries for a day, a weekend or up to 4 days, where to stay (and where to avoid staying) and even where to eat to facilitate the organization of your trip in the area.

Basic facts for traveling to Playa del Carmen

Language: Spanish

Currency: MXN ($) Mexican Peso (1$ equals 20$ MXN approx.). Check the updated exchange rate here

Population: 304,942 (in 2020)

When to visit: You can go all year round although the ideal time to go is during the dry season (November to April); you can also go during the rainy season (May to October) since it doesn’t rain every day or all day but you have to take into account that there is a higher probability of hurricanes between June and November. We tell you more about when to visit Playa del Carmen in this section of the blog.

How long to stay: From one day to visit the beaches to several days using Playa del Carmen as a base to enjoy all that the Riviera Maya and the Yucatan Peninsula have to offer. In this section we share specific itineraries for Playa del Carmen to help you organize your trip.

How to get there: There are many direct international flights to Cancun and from there you can go by ADO bus, Taxi or in your rental car(renting a car is an excellent option if you are going to visit several points of the Riviera Maya) to Playa del Carmen in just over 1h. We recommend you to use flight comparators like Skyscanner and Kiwi and be flexible with the dates to get the best possible flight price. More details in this section of the guide.

Visa: With a US, Canadian, European or UK passport it is not necessary to obtain a visa. Upon arrival in Mexico, it will be enough to show your valid passport, and depending on your departure date, you will be given up to a maximum of 180 days. Although Mexico does not require a passport with at least 6 months validity, some airlines do, so it’s better to comply.

Where to stay: Ideally, you should stay in the downtown area, between Parque de los Fundadores and Punta Esmeralda, for example in one of the Icono Playa apartments where we stayed at Randomtrip. We detail more where to stay, where to avoid staying and recommend specific accommodations in Playa del Carmen in the blog section Where to stay in Playa del Carmen.

What to bring: A good travel insurance (in this link we give you a 5% discount on the one we always carry) and here is the list of what you must have in your backpack for this trip

How to get around: The best option is walking (downtown and beaches) or for longer trips and to explore the surroundings, rent a car to move around freely or on organized tours. More info on how to get around Playa del Carmen in this section of the blog.

How much it costs: From 800 pesos (40$/day) per person (approx.) depending on the type of accommodation, meals and how much you want to explore the surroundings. More budget information in this section of the guide.

Internet connection: If you are visiting for a few days, your phone supports eSIM and you don’t want to complicate things, we recommend Holafly eSIM (unlimited data, 5% discount with the code RANDOMTRIP) or Airalo eSIM (limited data, but cheaper, 15% discount with the code RANDOMTRIP15). Otherwise, the cheapest way is to get a local SIM (we recommend Telcel). More info here

Vaccines: there are some recommended vaccines if you travel to Mexico, you can check them here

Time zone: UTC -5.

Where is Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, one of the most important tourist destinations in the Riviera Maya and the second most populated city in the state of Quintana Roo, is located in the northeastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula, in southern Mexico, on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. Here you can see its location on a map:

And in this other map you can see Playa del Carmen closer and other places of interest in the Riviera Maya and the Yucatan Peninsula such as Cancun, Tulum, Valladolid, Holbox, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres…

When to visit Playa del Carmen

To choose the best time to visit Playa del Carmen you have to take into account 3 main factors: weather, tourist demand and sargassum. Here we detail when to visit Playa del Carmen based on them.

Weather in Playa del Carmen

The weather in Playa del Carmen, as in the entire Mexican Caribbean, is mainly divided into two seasons:

• Dry season (November to April): less chance of rain, milder temperatures (it is still hot). The winter months (December to March) usually have the best weather, although depending on the year this may vary, and during December and January it is common for “nortes” (north winds) to arrive with somewhat cooler winds and sporadic rains that can sometimes even cause port closures for boats, affecting tours.
• Rainy season (May to October): it rains more, it is warmer and there is a probability of hurricanes (the official hurricane season is from June to November).

The ideal time to visit Playa del Carmen is during the dry season, to have a better chance of good weather and less chance of hurricanes, from December to April.

Here is a summary table of the weather in Playa del Carmen to give you an idea of what you can expect:

Playa del Carmen weather chart, with temperatures and rainy days per month:

Month	Minimum temperature	Maximum temperature	Water temperature (average)	Amount of sargassum	Rainy days
January	18º	28º	27º	Under	6
February	18º	28º	26º	Under	5
March	19º	30º	26º	Medium	5
April	20º	31º	27º	High	5
May	22º	32º	28º	High	8
June	23º	32º	28º	High	12
July	22º	32º	29º	High	12
August	22º	32º	29º	Medium	13
September	22º	31º	29º	Medium	16
October	22º	30º	29º	Under	14
November	20º	29º	28º	Under	8
December	19º	28º	27º	Under	6
Month	Minimum temperature	Maximum temperature	Water temperature (average)	Amount of sargassum	Rainy days

Sargassum in Playa del Carmen

Another problem that affects Playa del Carmen and other areas of the Mexican Caribbean is the famous sargassum that invades the shore of the beaches and changes the landscape from a postcard beach to a less appetizing one. Sargassum usually appears between April and October, although like everything else, it depends on the year.

Sargassum is a floating macroalgae that moves with the currents. It has its important function in the ocean (for example, it produces oxygen through photosynthesis and is a habitat for different species). On the other hand, an excessive amount of sargassum can generate problems in the ocean itself (for example, if it sinks it can suffocate corals).

In theory it has always existed in the Gulf of Mexico, but since 2011 it began to increase its area, and from then on large quantities of sargassum began to arrive on the shores of the Caribbean beaches, disfiguring them and producing a nauseating odor.

The amount of sargassum that arrives and the months during which it appears varies from year to year, being very difficult to predict: normally the sargassum season goes from April to August, but for example in 2023 it started to appear already in February.

The Mexican government and businesses/hotels have several initiatives to try to mitigate the effects of sargassum, such as cleaning the beaches or even installing anti-sargassum nets/barriers in the sea, but they are not 100% effective so the ideal is to avoid the months with more risk of sargassum if your goal is to travel to the Mexican Caribbean to enjoy its beaches.

If you want to check the updated status of the different beaches of the Mexican Caribbean, there is the Facebook page Red de Monitoreo del Sargazo de Quintana Roo, which frequently updates the data (although not always), in Viajefest or in Sargassum Monitoring. We also recommend searching for Instagram stories by location to see “real time” images of the beaches you plan to visit.

Tourist demand in Playa del Carmen

The times of highest tourist demand (and therefore, when we will find more people, more lines, more expensive prices and more complications to go to the most famous restaurants or places) are:

• Summer (June to October):in addition to being school vacation time in many countries and increasing demand (and prices), it is the rainy season.
• Easter Week (March/April)
• National Holidays (November, December)
• Christmas and New Year’s Eve

So we recommend you to avoid those dates if you want to enjoy the city more calmly and with better accommodation prices.

Important festivities in Playa del Carmen

If you want to be in Playa del Carmen for the biggest parties of the year, don’t miss out:

• Carnival (February): parades and shows recreating the cultural richness of the Yucatán peninsula. There are also local food stands, games and open-air concerts.
• Spring/Autumn Equinox at Chichen Itza (March and September): the length of day and night are equalized and an optical illusion is observed on the side wall of the pyramid, which in the shape of a snake descends until it reaches the head carved at the base of the temple. Every year thousands of tourists and locals come to see it because it is something spectacular.
• Sacred Mayan Journey (May): recreation of an ancient Mayan tradition in which canoeists depart from Xcaret to the island of Cozumel (sanctuary of the goddess Ixchel), in hand-carved wooden canoes and dressed in traditional costumes.
• Summer Solstice (June): June 21, the longest day of the year, is the day the Mayas considered to bring abundance and fertility. Nowadays the Fire Ceremony is celebrated in different points of the Mayan Riviera, also in Playa del Carmen.
• Feria del Carmen (July): Mexican festival dedicated to the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of fishermen and sailors, where during 10 days there are various events and activities such as folkloric dances, art exhibitions, craft and local food stalls.
• Mayan New Year (July): the Mayan year begins on July 26 and ends on July 24, so July 25 is considered a day to be dedicated to reflection, meditation and purification of the spirit for which festivities are held that include the typical food of the country, dance and music.
• Independence of Mexico (September): September 15th is the celebration of the country’s independence and crowds of people gather in the plazas to give the “cry of independence”. After the shout at the Municipal Palace, restaurants, bars and nightclubs take advantage of this occasion to organize activities in Playa del Carmen and parties that last all night long.
• Day of the Dead Celebrations ( October 31, November 1 and 2): although the Yucatan Peninsula is not the region of the country with the most deeply rooted Day of the Dead traditions, you will be able to see some celebrations in Playa del Carmen (more tourist oriented, though). If you go to Playa del Carmen at the end of October or beginning of November, take a look at this tour that takes you to Valladolid and to a cenote, sacred to the Mayas, to experience these special days.
• Playa del Carmen Foundation Festival (November 14): cultural and sports activities in town
• Riviera Maya Jazz Fest (November): free admission jazz festival held every year in late November and early December in Playa del Carmen.
• Christmas (the last 2 weeks of December): it is becoming more and more common and desirable to go to spend Christmas (taking advantage of the children’s vacations) in the Caribbean, so at this time of the year there are usually more tourists.
• New Year’s Eve (December 31) and New Year (January 1)

Summary: Best months to visit Playa del Carmen

Based on the above, if you are looking to visit Playa del Carmen with less people, good weather and reasonable prices (except in the weeks of high tourist demand), the best months are November, December, January and February, being that March to May is also a good time although hotter and with a higher probability of sargassum.

How to get to Playa del Carmen

There are plenty of direct international flights to Cancun so we recommend you use flight comparators such as Skyscanner and Kiwi and be flexible with dates to get the best possible price.

Playa del Carmen is located just over 1 hour from the city of Cancun, so it is easy to get there:

• By Taxi: this is probably the least economical option, although if you are a group of 3 or 4, it may be worthwhile as it will take you directly from your accommodation to Playa del Carmen.
• In a rental car: renting a car is an excellent option to avoid depending on transportation. Driving around the Yucatan Peninsula is generally easy and safe, although you should carefully read the rental conditions because in Mexico there is a lot of confusion with the different types of insurance and you can get a surprise when you arrive to pick up the car. At Randomtrip we rented a car and picked it up directly at the Cancun airport and everything went great, we tell you about it in the Transportation section.
• By bus: any of the ADO buses that run along federal highway 307 connecting Cancun with Tulum can drop you off in Playa del Carmen. There are two ADO terminals in Playa del Carmen (the alternate and the tourist one, being the tourist one the closest to the beach), and there are buses from Cancun to both. You can buy tickets online here

How to get from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen

If you arrive at Cancun airport and want to go directly to Playa del Carmen without going through Cancun city, it is also possible:

• By Bus: The ADO bus company connects the airport with Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The ADO leaves from all airport terminals and takes you directly to Playa del Carmen, leaves about every 30min between 7:00 and 23:00, and costs 250 MXN (you can buy tickets online here).
• By Taxi/Uber: at the airport you can only catch official cabs, Uber is not allowed. Cabs to Playa del Carmen cost between 800 and 1000 MXN.
• Private transfer: if you prefer, you can hire a private transfer from the airport to your accommodation in Playa del Carmen, so that it will be waiting for you when you arrive at the airport. We hired this service upon our arrival in Cancun to Puerto Morelos, and it worked perfectly. The 6-seater vehicle from Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen costs about 1300 MXN, so it can be an economical option if you are several people.
• By rental car: if you are going to visit several places in the Riviera Maya or the Yucatan Peninsula, it can be a good option to rent a car so you don’t have to depend on transportation. Driving around the Yucatan Peninsula is generally easy and safe, although you should carefully read the rental conditions because in Mexico there is a lot of confusion with the different types of insurance and you may be surprised when you arrive to pick up the car. At Randomtrip we rented a car and picked it up directly at the Cancun airport and everything went great, we tell you about it in the Transportation section.

Do I need a visa to travel to Mexico?

For people with USA, Canada, UK and European passports it is not necessary to obtain a visa. Upon arrival in Mexico, it will be enough to show your valid passport, and depending on your departure date, you will be given up to a maximum of 180 days.

Although Mexico does not require a passport with at least 6 months validity, some airlines do, so it’s better to comply.

Are there required vaccines to travel to Mexico?

There are some recommended vaccines if you travel to Mexico, you can check them here

How many days to dedicate to Playa del Carmen

At least one day to visit some of its beaches, although two days would be ideal to visit several and enjoy them. Playa del Carmen can be an excellent base to visit other parts of the Riviera Maya or even as a beach destination if you are looking for a vacation of doing nothing, so you can stay as many days as you want.

In this section we share specific itineraries of Playa del Carmen to help you organize your trip.

Things to see and do in Playa del Carmen

To make it easier for you to plan your trips around Playa del Carmen, we have divided the places in 3 zones: Playa del Carmen, places around Playa del Carmen and places in the Riviera Maya that you can visit from Playa del Carmen as a base.

Map of Playa del Carmen

As we told you, we have divided the places in three zones (Playa del Carmen, Surroundings, and places in the Riviera Maya that you can visit from Playa del Carmen) and we have put each zone in a different color to make it easier for you to identify them. It’s all on a Google Maps map that you can take with you on your smartphone to use during your trip.

La Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue)

La Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue) is a pedestrian avenue, a couple of kilometers long, where much of the commercial and leisure offer for tourists is concentrated and is the reference point in the center of the city. It runs parallel to the sea , so while you dodge garish neon lights, bars inviting their audiences in English with the music of the summer (or of summers past for nostalgic people), fast-fashion and kitsch souvenir stores, and several multinational chain restaurants (that make you wonder if you are still in Mexico), you can relax your eyes (and your mind) in the turquoise blue that appears at the end of the street between one block and the next.

We’re not going to kid you, Randomtripper, we found Fifth Avenue to be an aberration (it gets better as you get further away from Founders Park). Every time we stepped on it to get to or from the ocean, we felt like we were going against the tide among an avalanche of people in a hurry to relax where curiosity about the country (and the people) they came to drowned in the last happy hour margarita. The type of tourism to which Quinta Avenida (and, in general, Playa del Carmen) is oriented is very much in line with what we believe is wrong with the way tourism is done, a mass tourism of fast consumption that uses and abuses resources, leaving very little in return to the place it visits (and above all, to its local population).

But the truth is that Quinta Avenida reflects the soul of Playa del Carmen and, although we do not advise you to stay here if you intend to rest, we recommend crossing it, at least once during the day and once at night, to feel the rhythm of the center of (what has become) the city.

Parque de los Fundadores and the Mayan Portal

The Parque de los Fundadores is the heart of the city. Located between Fifth Avenue and the Caribbean Sea (more specifically, Fundadores Beach), this plaza is home to the famous sculpture of the Mayan Portal, the most emblematic of the city that has become an icon of the Riviera Maya .

The work of art is 16 meters high and is made of 60 tons of bronze in which two figures, a male figure pushed by a wind spiral, and a female figure pushed by a water spiral, form an arch. The portal also includes several elements of the Mayan culture such as the rings of the Ballgame, present in most of the archaeological sites you visit. It was created by Mexican artist Arturo Tavares Padilla and was inaugurated on December 21, 2012, a date on which some people feared the end of the world, representing hope in the beginning of a new era.

The name “Parque de los Fundadores” comes from the fact that the first Mayan settlers of what was once a “Villa de Pescadores” (Fishermen’s Village) settled here. It was the first meeting point of the communities and the first center of the town, when Playa del Carmen was not yet a major tourist destination but a humble fishing village. November 14, 1902 is taken as the date of foundation of Playa del Carmen because of the first official document in which Playa del Carmen is mentioned by that name.

If you look closely, you will see several names engraved on the benches scattered around the square: it is a tribute to the first 29 residents of Playa del Carmen, who to honor the patron saint protector of fishermen and sailors, the Virgen del Carmen, built a small chapel in her honor, the chapel of Nuestra Señora del Carmen which you can also see in the square and whose great feast in her honor is celebrated in July.

In the center of the square there is also a kiosk that used to be a fresh water well for the inhabitants of that fishing village of yesteryear.

In this square you will see movement at any time of the day and most of the night, since in addition to the busy Fifth Avenue begins here, the ADO bus station and the ferry dock for Cozumel, from where thousands of people leave and return every day, especially during the high tourist season, are also very close by.

In addition, at sunset you can watch the daily Aztec dance and offering, with percussion and typical pre-Hispanic costumes, and the incredible spectacle of the voladores de Papantla, a spectacular ritual that we saw whenever we could in various parts of the Yucatan peninsula.

At night there are usually open air shows under the Mayan Portal, from music, acrobatics, fire juggling and even dance shows.

Playa del Carmen Beaches

The cleanliness, the color, the quality and the free access to the beaches of Playa del Carmen surprised us for good. In Playa del Carmen you have several options of beaches with free access to enjoy the sea.

Now, when planning your visit to Playa del Carmen, keep in mind the sargassum, a floating macroalgae that moves according to the currents that usually appears between April and October, although like everything, it depends on the year. It is a problem that affects several areas of the Mexican Caribbean, which invades the shore of the beaches and changes the landscape from a postcard beach to a less desirable beach. We detail you more in the section of the guide When to visit Playa del Carmen

Here are the different options of beaches you can go to in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Parque de Fundadores (or Fundadores Beach) and Playa del Carmen (or Main Beach)

Being the beach just behind the Portal Maya and where the ferry dock for Cozumel is located, Playa Fundadores is not exactly a quiet beach. Playa del Carmen’s eponymous main beach runs all the way to the Constituyentes Pier (and the small beach of the same name).

It is usually one of the most crowded beaches and not the best place to lay out your towel to relax, but it is the best place to contemplate the blue Caribbean Sea, have a drink under one of its palapas or take a quick dip before or after attending a show at the Parque de los Fundadores.

The access is very simple, from Fundadores Park itself, you can’t get lost.

Mamitas Beach

Playa Mamitas is a beautiful beach of fine white sand, public access but unfortunately, the beach clubs have invaded it with hammocks so there is less sand to lay your towel on. If you are interested in spending the day, when we went there they were asking 800 pesos for the use of the hammocks and umbrella.

Access is from 28th Street.

Beach 38

Playa 38 is another beach with free access and plenty of space to lay out your towel, umbrella and bring your drinks and food for the day.

The access is, as its name indicates, through 38th Street.

Pelicanos Beach

Playa Pelícanos is a very nice beach although quite crowded, and also known for being an inclusive beach (it has access for people with functional diversity) and with a blue flag.

Access is from 44th Street

Beach 72

The further you go away from downtown Playa del Carmen, the easier it is to find fewer people on the beaches, which are equally or even more spectacular. Playa 72 is an excellent option. It is one of the few beaches where pets are allowed, so it is common to find people with their pets here.

The access is, as its name indicates, through 72nd Street.

Beach 88

Immediately after 72, you will find Beach 88 (you can walk from one to the other along the sand), with restrooms, changing rooms and showers at the entrance (you pay 5 pesos).

The access is, as its name indicates, through 88th Street.

Punta Esmeralda Beach

Playa Punta Esmeralda is a public beach where many local people usually come. It has the particularity of having right there a small cenote whose waters flow directly into the sea, making it a unique beach because of the mixture of fresh water with sea water.

Precisely because of this unique environment, the shade provided by the palm trees and trees next to the cenote, the shallow water and the small natural pools that are formed between the cenote and the sea, it is a beach that makes the delight of the kids and you will see it frequented by many families.

Access is through Esmeralda Street

Playacar: beach, resorts and the secret ruins of Xaman-Hà

Playacar is a beautiful beach where some of the most exclusive resorts in Playa del Carmen are located, such as the Palmaïa The House of AïA (luxury resort with pools, spa and beauty center), the Viva Azteca by Wyndham or the Royal Hideaway Playacar (with its infinity pool and two-level solarium).

Very close to this beach are the “secret ruins of Xaman-Hà” whose name means “water from the north” due to its location by the sea. The small archaeological zone has three buildings hidden among the Caribbean nature, of which it is known that the Mayan populations that lived here in the Preclassic period, between 1200 and 1500, carried out religious and community activities.

Admission is free and it is ideal to reach the archaeological site on foot or by bicycle.

Street art in Playa del Carmen

Another plan you can do in Playa del Carmen is to get lost in its streets in search of street art, to take pictures or simply to appreciate these works of art.

Frida Kahlo Museum

Even though the famous Casa Azul where Frida Khalo was born and lived most of her life is in Mexico City’s bohemian Coyoacán neighborhood, it doesn’t mean you can’t learn more about the world’s best-known Mexican painter in Playa del Carmen.

In the middle of Quinta Avenida in Playa del Carmen is the Frida Kahlo Riviera Maya Museum, a small museum with several interactive pieces where you can learn about the life and work of this iconic artist.

The museum also does various activities such as workshops for kids so if you are traveling with your family, keep an eye on the museum’s instagram account or facebook page when you go to see what’s going on the days you are in Playa del Carmen.

Hours: Monday to Friday between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm. However, the last access is at 7:00 pm.

Price: 320 pesos/adults and 50 pesos/children under 11 years old. Free admission for children under 5 years old. Buy your ticket to the Frida Khalo museum in Playa del Carmen here.

Diving in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is an ideal destination to dive because here, in the Yucatan Peninsula, you can do some unique dives in the world such as diving in a cenote!

In Playa de Carmen Inês dived with Good Vibes Diving and we can’t recommend them more as they totally do justice to their name: a constant good vibes from the moment you arrive until you leave and, very important, no compromise in professionalism, care and equipment in excellent conditions.

I did two dives in cenotes, in the Chac-Mool cenote and in the Kukulkan cenote and it was an incredible experience.

Our divemaster was Luca Bacchetta, a very experienced diver specialized in cave diving and I can honestly say that it was one of the best briefings I have ever had before a dive. Luca even gave us a “visual briefing” seeing where we would be diving, but at the surface, changing our perception, not only from the cenote while we were diving but also from the surface of the Yucatan peninsula, learning a lot.

Being a unique dive and the first time diving in a cenote, not in the open sea that when you look up you see the surface, I was a little apprehensive initially but Luca explained in detail the route and the specificities of each dive, he solved our doubts and infected us with his passion for the cenotes.

More than a dive, I felt it was more like an tour, up and down the water, where we learned a lot and had a great time so, if you are a certified diver, I can’t recommend it more.

Besides cenotes, there are other interesting dives you can do from Playa del Carmen such as the famous bull shark dive (in winter) or even go to Cozumel, a seabed paradise.

• Book your double dive with bull sharks here: only suitable for divers with advanced AOW level.
• Book one or two dives in Punta Maroma here

If you want to enjoy the cenotes, something unique, but don’t dare to dive, why not enjoy it with snorkeling?

• Book your tour to five here

Things to see and do around Playa del Carmen

Xpu-Ha Beach

Located 30 minutes south of Playa del Carmen, Xpu-Ha beach is considered one of the most beautiful in the Riviera Maya. Its name comes from the Mayan “estuary between two waters” and its shallow waters are very inviting.

With little waves, turquoise waters and fine white sand, it would be paradise if it weren’t for the fact that it is a rather crowded beach, especially in high season, and for the “but” in this paradise, or as we like to call them at Randomtrip, a “but paradise”.

Although the beaches are federal zone and therefore free of charge, the road to get to Xpu-Ha beach is not and, as such, to access the beach you must pay 100 pesos to walk one of the two roads of approximately 1 km distance. This entrance fee includes access to the restrooms, showers and parking but does not include any drinks or hammocks, which you will have to pay separately if you want to rent. The restaurant has live music every day from 14:30h.

Paying to go to the beach was something that shocked us a lot as it is a common practice in Tulum (where it is practically impossible to go to the beach without paying) but something we were not used to in this northernmost part of the Caribbean.

How to get to Playa Xpu-Ha from Playa del Carmen:

• By cab: this is probably the least economical option, although if you are a group of 3 or 4, it may be worthwhile as it takes you directly from your lodging to the archaeological site without stops.
• In a rental car: renting a car is an excellent option to avoid depending on transportation. Driving around the Yucatan Peninsula is generally easy and safe, although you should read the rental conditions carefully because in Mexico there is a lot of confusion with the different types of insurance and you may be surprised when you arrive to pick up the car. There is parking at Xpu-Ha beach
• By public transportation: bus to Tulum from Playa del Carmen (Avenida 20 with Calle 2), ask the driver to drop you off at Xpu-Ha Beach.

Xcalacoco Beach

Just 10 minutes from Playa del Carmen, Xcalacoco beach (Mayan for “twin coconuts”), a beach renowned for its water quality and cleanliness.

It is an ideal beach to spend the day as it is not in the city, so it is less crowded and busy, but not far from Playa del Carmen and easy to reach in a short time. There are all kinds of services on the beach, from beach bars and beach clubs where you can eat and drink, umbrellas and even a massage palapa.

It is a beach that does not usually have so much sargassum due to breakwater barriers that were installed to maintain a gentle swell but at the same time, it acts as a barrier against sargassum (the famous floating macroalgae that usually invades the beaches of the Caribbean from April to October).

How to get to Playa Xcalacoco from Playa del Carmen:

• By cab: this is probably the least economical option, although if you are a group of 3 or 4, it may be worthwhile as it takes you directly from your accommodation to the beach without stops.
• In a rental car: renting a car is an excellent option to avoid depending on transportation. Driving around the Yucatan Peninsula is generally easy and safe, although you should read the rental conditions carefully because in Mexico there is a lot of confusion with the different types of insurance and you may be surprised when you arrive to pick up the car. There is parking at Xcalacoco beach
• By public transportation: bus to Cancun from Playa del Carmen, ask the driver to drop you off at “la coca” (the Coca-Cola warehouse) and walk more than 2 km to the beach.

Xcacel Beach, Sea Turtle Sanctuary

Arriving at Xcacel Beach was an incredible surprise! It is located about 40 minutes south of Playa del Carmen, and is a complete paradise: fine white sand, turquoise waters protected by the coral reef, no vendors or services, and at least for the moment, not many people.

We owe this paradise to the local people, who came together to protect the area when it was sold, like so many other coastal areas in the Riviera Maya, for the construction of hotels (which privatize the beach and do not allow access to the beach unless you stay at their hotel).

In this case, apparently, the governor at that time sold the beach to the Meliá group (from Spain) and other developers; being at that time one of the beaches in the area where local people could go freely, the population took it as an offense and got together to prevent the project and protect the area. You can read some info about the project here.

The importance of this beach also lies in the fact that it is one of the nesting areas for sea turtles (of the 7 species that exist in the world, all in danger of extinction, 6 are present here on the Mexican coast). For this reason, the beach is currently part of a Natural Protected Area and is a Turtle Sanctuary, so the turtles are prioritized and areas of the beach are closed according to the season to protect the turtle eggs.

This also implies control and surveillance of access, which is paid (with symbolic prices for local people), with the following prices (in our case as foreigners, 110 MXN per person):

For your visit, don’t forget to bring plenty of water (it is forbidden to bring food and alcohol, although if you bring food you are allowed to eat it at some tables at the entrance, before reaching the beach), sun protection (there are no shades on the beach), towel and swimsuit, sunglasses, and your snorkeling equipment (the reef is not far away, and you can see small fish and hopefully a turtle).

Price of access to Xcacel Beach:

• Foreigners: 110 pesos
• Mexicans: 58 pesos
• Quintana Roo residents: 33 pesos
• Locals in nearby towns (Chemuyil, Tulum, Akumal): 13 pesos

Xcacel Beach Schedule:

• Open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 16:00 (at 15:45 you must leave the beach).

How to get to Playa Xcacel:

• With your own vehicle: simply put in your GPS this point and drive to the site (it is easy, just follow federal highway 307, the intersection for the Xcacel is about 15 min north of Tulum). The access is not paved and is in fair condition, so drive with caution. There is a parking lot at Xcacel included with the entrance fee.
• By combi from Playa del Carmen: any of the combis (vans that operate as local transportation) that pass along the main road (federal highway 307) to the south can drop you off at the intersection, so just get out on the road and stop for any vans you see (they pass by a lot and you rarely have to wait long). It involves crossing the road – which has 2 lanes on each side and a maximum speed of 100km/h – so be very careful when crossing. You have to walk a little to the right of the junction to cross in the area where there is no high central barrier separating the lanes. To return is to do the same in the reverse direction.
• By cab from Playa del Carmen: you also have the option of taking a cab, although it will be much more expensive and you will have to arrange a pick up at a specific time or keep the phone number to call and be picked up.

Cenotes near Playa del Carmen

There are an estimated 8000 cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula so wherever you are, there will be one nearby to explore and in Playa del Carmen there are quite a few. Cenotes are cavities with water connected by subway rivers and there can be open, semi-open or subterranean. For the Maya, cenotes were considered sources of life and an entrance to the underworld.

Before visiting a cenote, activate your responsible tourist mode and remember:

• Do not use sunscreen or mosquito repellent before entering the cenote to best preserve it (and the life that lives in it);
• Do not leave garbage (and if you find any, pick it up), especially if you bring something to eat, in the cenotes where eating is allowed;
• Visit the cenote during the week and early or late in the day (if possible) to avoid crowds of people that have a negative impact. The largest influx of people in the cenotes is usually on weekends (especially on Sunday) and between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm.
• Bring your own snorkeling equipment(although in most cases you can rent it there) and a waterproof camera to record your adventures in the cenotes (at Randomtrip we carry a Gopro Hero 12 Black).

Here we tell you about the main cenotes that you can easily visit from Playa del Carmen. If you don’t have much time and want to visit several cenotes in one day, in this tour from Playa del Carmen you can visit 5 cenotes. Click here for more details and book in advance if you are up for it.

Chaak Tun Cenote

Just 10 minutes from Playa del Carmen, the Chaak Tun cenote, formerly known as “Cuevas Las Brujas”, is a subterranean cenote and its name comes from the Mayan “Chac”, which means Rain, and “Tun”, Stone, that is, stone rain or water that comes from the stone. It is part of the Sac Actun subterranean river and its waters are crystal clear and host a lot of biodiversity.

It is a very beautiful cenote, quite crowded and visited in several tours, with a display of labyrinths and rock formations where you can see stalactites, stalagmites and columns above and below the water.

The cenote has three caves that you can visit: the Pixan cave (a small cave where the roof collapsed and where you access the cenote through stairs), the Xibalbá (much larger, formerly used for Mayan rituals and sacrifices) and finally the Aluxes cave.

It is not possible to tour the cenote caves on your own but on a guided tour that you can book here in advance.

How to get there from Playa del Carmen: By cab; by bus north from Playa del Carmen (Highway 307, ask the driver to drop you off at the stop closest to the Chaak Tun cenote and walk a few minutes); or in your rental car (an excellent option for not depending on transportation) since it has parking.

Schedule: Monday to Saturday from 9:00h to 15:00h and Sundays from 9:00h to 13:00h.

Price: 50 pesos/adult; 32 pesos/child and includes access to the cenote, use of mandatory equipment (snorkel kit, aquatic lamp, wetsuit and life jacket), locker to store your belongings and tour guide (who will take you on the tour and tell you more about the history and geology of the site). Book your guided tour to the Chaak Tun cenote here

Chikin-Ha Park, three cenotes in one visit

25 km from Playa del Carmen is the Chikin-Ha park where you can visit 3 cenotes in one visit. The one that gives its name to the park, Chikin-Ha, is a semi-open cenote and one of the most sought after by those who want to dive because of its system of connected caves. It has two entrances and a depth of up to 15 meters.

Cenote X’Tabay is a shallow open cenote (between 2 to 8 meters), ideal for snorkeling, where its fauna and flora stand out. In fact, it is very possible that you may encounter a turtle! There is also a zip line that crosses the cenote.

Finally the Taak-Bil-Ha cenote, a cenote for Mayan ceremonies (included in the tour, not in the general entrance fee) and diving, so it is not possible to swim in this cenote. You can go in to see it and take pictures since the islet with trees in the center stands out.

How to get there from Playa del Carmen: By cab; by bus to Tulum from Playa del Carmen (Avenida 20 with Calle 2, ask the driver to drop you off at the Chikin-Ha cenote and walk a kilometer and a half); or in your rental car (an excellent option for not depending on transportation) since it has free parking.

Hours: Every day from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Price: The general entrance fee to the 3 cenotes is 350 pesos/person (free entrance for children under 3 years old). If you want to rent snorkeling equipment there it is 50 pesos. If you want a 2 h tour that includes a Mayan ceremony, visit to one more cave, bike ride, zip line, snorkeling equipment and lunch it is 750 pesos/person. If you also want to do rappel, the complete package would be 1000 pesos/person. You can book your entrance to the 3 cenotes in advance at this link.

Cenote Azul

One of the most popular cenotes in the Riviera Maya, Cenote Azul is located 25 km from Playa del Carmen. It is an “L” shaped open cenote that resembles a large pool with several levels of depth, and therefore ideal for families as it can be enjoyed both by children, in shallow areas, and by adults, in deeper areas.

Snorkeling is ideal in the blue cenote where you can see a lot of biodiversity. If you don’t bring your own snorkel equipment you can rent one for 70 pesos.

How to get there from Playa del Carmen: By cab; by colectivo to Tulum from Playa del Carmen (the cenote is located at kilometer 266 on Highway 307 from Cancun to Tulum. Ask the driver to stop in front of the Barceló hotel complex and the cenote is located after Cenote Cristalino and Cenote Jardín del Edén); or in your rental car (an excellent option to not depend on transportation) since it has parking.

Hours: Every day from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm

Price: General admission is 150 pesos/adult and 100 pesos/ 4 to 7 years old. If you want to rent a BCD it is 40 pesos and snorkel kit 70 pesos.

Crystalline Cenote

Very close to Cenote Azul is Cenote Cristalino, an open cenote whose name comes precisely from its crystal clear waters where it is ideal for snorkeling. Being an open cenote, the sun reflects on the transparent waters while you swim and you can contemplate the fauna and flora. If you are lucky, in addition to several fish, you may see a turtle!

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In the crystal clear cenote you can explore three open cenotes and a small cave and it is a very crowded cenote so if you travel to Playa del Carmen in high season and want to visit this week, try to do it early (or late) on a weekday.

How to get there from Playa del Carmen: By cab; by colectivo to Tulum from Playa del Carmen (the cenote is located on Highway 307 from Cancun to Tulum. Ask the driver to stop in front of the Barceló hotel complex and the cenote is very close); or in your rental car (an excellent option to not depend on transportation) since it has parking.

Hours: Every day from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Price: General admission is 200 pesos/adult and 150 pesos/ 4 to 7 years old. If you want to rent a snorkel kit it is 70 pesos.

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RandomTIP: The prices and schedules of the cenotes are very changeable and although we try to update the guide as best as possible, some cenote prices and/or schedules may have changed, so we advise you to check on site for updated information.

Rio Secreto Caves

Rio Secreto (or Pool Tunich in Mayan) is a Natural Reserve made up of a group of galleries (of nature’s art with its stalactites and stalagmites) and subway rivers of approximately 40 km, the longest (in its kind, not flooded) of the entire Yucatan peninsula.

Of all its extension, only 10% is suitable for the 7 different ecotourism tours. In this adventure, besides contemplating the impressive caves, you will be able to see several species of flora and fauna that have adapted to the scarce sunlight and you will be able to see bats! You will also be impressed by the extensive tree roots that have managed to reach the subway lagoons in search of water for their survival.

How to get there from Playa del Carmen: By cab; by bus to Tulum from Playa del Carmen (the entrance to Rio Secreto is located on Highway 307 from Cancun to Tulum. Ask the driver to stop at Rio Secreto and walk to the entrance); or in your rental car (an excellent option to not depend on transportation) since it has parking.

Hours: Every day from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Price: General admission is $89/adult and $44.50/children 4-11 years old. The entrance fee includes a guide in Spanish, wetsuit, waterproof shoes, vest, helmet with flashlight, towels, food, drinks and locker to store your belongings. Buy your tour to Rio Secreto here

Things to see and do in Riviera Maya and Yucatan Peninsula from Playa del Carmen

Many people use Playa del Carmen as a base to explore the area, and make tours from there. If this is your case, here are some of the most typical ones.

Taking into account that you are in one of the most touristic destinations in the country, we recommend you, especially if you are traveling during peak tourist seasons, to book the tours in advance when planning your trip. To see what each tour includes, just click on the corresponding link for each of the tours mentioned.

Chichen Itza

How can you go to Playa del Carmen and not visit one of the 7 Wonders of the World? Contemplate the imposing pyramid of Kukulkan and all that the archaeological site has to offer, getting closer to the Mayan cosmology and learning about this rich civilization.

The archaeological site of Chichen Itza is located just over 2 hours from Playa del Carmen, so if you get up early you can make a day trip and take advantage of the trip to visit more places.

Buy your tour to Chichen Itza with Spanish guide in this link which also includes entrance to the cenote Chichi Kan or this other one where you can enjoy the wonder of the World at dawn with entrance without queues.

In addition to Chichen Itza, from Playa del Carmen you can visit other archaeological sites (some with even greater historical importance) less known than the Wonder of the World, such as Ek Balam or Coba.

How to get to Chichen Itza from Playa del Carmen:

• By Taxi: this is probably the least economical option, although if you are a group of 3 or 4, it may be worthwhile as it takes you directly from your lodging to the archaeological site without stops.
• In a rental car: renting a car is an excellent option to avoid depending on transportation. Driving around the Yucatan Peninsula is generally easy and safe, although you should carefully read the rental conditions because in Mexico there is a lot of confusion with the different types of insurance and you can get a surprise when you arrive to pick up the car. At Randomtrip we rented a car and picked it up directly at the Cancun airport and everything went great, we tell you about it in the Transportation section.
• On a Tour:
  • like this tour to Chichen Itza with Spanish speaking guide
  • this one at sunrise with entrance without queues
  • or this very complete tour for people passionate about the Mayan culture as it includes a visit to Chichen Itza, the Mayan ruins of Tulum, the city of Coba and the cenote Ik-Kil.
• If in addition to Chichen Itza, you want to explore other lesser known or visited archaeological sites such as Coba, Ek Balam, Yaxunah or Uayma
  • this tour includes a visit to Chichen Itza and Ek Balam (one of our favorite archaeological sites in Yucatan)
  • this other tour includes visit to Chichen Itza, Coba ruins and Ik-kil cenote
  • this tour to Chichen Itza and the less visited area of Yaxunah
  • this tour includes a visit to Coba and a cenote
  • or this other tour to Ek Balam and the colonial jewel of Uayma (including entrance to the Chichikan cenote).

Cozumel

Cozumel is the island just in front of Playa del Carmen and can be reached in only half an hour by ferry. Known for its spectacular seabed, in Cozumel we dive in the second largest barrier reef in the world among underwater caves covered with a thousand colors, we contemplate huge starfish along with elegant eagle rays and turtles (from a distance and without touching), we swam in fine sand beaches and turquoise waters (although in most cases with a fee at a beach club), we saw crocodiles and flamingos in an area of the island that bears little resemblance to the tourist bubble dedicated to cruise ships that we felt upon arrival. In our complete guide to Cozumel we give you practical tips on where to go, what to do in Cozumel, what to avoid so as not to fall into tourist traps and even where to eat.

Best things to do in Cozumel (México): a travel guide with everything you need to know to visit this Caribbean island

How to get to Cozumel from Playa del Carmen:

There are two companies that operate the ferry route between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel, Ultramar and Winjet (at Randomtrip we did the trip with Ultramar), and they alternate departing one boat of each company from hour to hour, and ticket prices range from 290 pesos each way (about 16$) for adults (230 pesos each way for children) and discounts for residents of Quintana Roo (from 170 pesos each way for adults and 110 pesos each way for children). Here you can buy your tickets in advance for Ultramar with Civitatis (confirm on the Civitatis page as it may vary, and also confirm if you have to exchange the voucher for the tickets when you arrive at the port, as well as the schedules that change according to the day or month):

• Ferry from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel
• Ferry from Cozumel to Playa del Carmen

If you prefer not to go to Cozumel on your own but on a day trip to Playa del Carmen and back with transfers to various points on the island, snorkeling and lunch included, then take a look at the:

• Day trip to Cozumel island from Playa del Carmen

Tulum

Tulum boasts one of the most visited archaeological sites in the country, the Mayan Ruins of Tulum on the shores of the Caribbean Sea and offers other attractions that invite travelers to stay a few days longer as a succession of fine white sand beaches lined with palm trees and a turquoise sea that make up the idea we have of Caribbean paradise. However, enjoying this paradise comes at a price (and sometimes too high). In our complete guide to Tulum we tell you what you can visit in Tulum with specific itineraries for one, two or three days, with practical suggestions, where to sleep and even where to eat on your trip to the area.

Best things to do in Tulum (México): a travel guide with everything you need to know

How to get to Tulum from Playa del Carmen:

Tulum is about 65km (50 minutes) from Playa del Carmen and the best options to get there are:

• By bus: ADO bus company connects directly from the airport to Tulum. It has several frequencies per day (check them on the official website, where you can also buy tickets online), takes about 2h30 and costs 420 pesos per person. The ADO will drop you off at the ADO terminal in Tulum, and from there you will have to walk or take other transportation to your accommodation. A cab from here to our accommodation in Tulum town cost us 100 pesos, to the hotel zone more (probably between 300 and 500 pesos).
• By Taxi: there is also a cab service, it will probably be much more expensive, but if you are a group of 3 or 4 it can be worth it as it will take you directly to your accommodation and without stops. If you are several people, you can also hire a private transfer from Playa del Carmen to Tulum – at Randomtrip we used this service once to go from Cancun airport to Puerto Morelos (not in Playa del Carmen) and it worked perfectly.
• By rental car: if you are going to visit several places in the Riviera Maya or the Yucatan Peninsula, it can be a good option to rent a car so you don’t have to depend on transportation. Driving in the Yucatan Peninsula is generally easy and safe, although you should carefully read the rental conditions because in Mexico there is a lot of confusion with the different types of insurance and you may get a surprise when you arrive to pick up the car.
• For an tour, if you only want or can invest one day to visit Tulum from Playa del Carmen, we recommend:
  • Tour to the Mayan ruins of Tulum, the Mayan city of Coba and a dip in a cenote ( round trip from Playa del Carmen).
  • Tour to the Mayan ruins of Tulum, visit to the famous Tulum sculpture “Come to the Light” and two hours in cenotes ( round trip from Playa del Carmen).
  • A very complete tour for people passionate about the Mayan culture as it includes a visit to Chichen Itza, the Mayan ruins of Tulum, the city of Coba and the cenote Ik-Kil.
  • And finally, in this tour you will not only visit the Mayan ruins of Tulum but also the caves of Rio Secreto.

Reserve Siam Ka’nn

Very close to Tulum is the Siam Ka’nn reserve, a protected natural area with a lot of biodiversity (among the species that live there are turtles, dolphins and manatees). You can visit (and enter) the reserve in two ways: from Muyil or from Punta Allen, which are quite far from each other. Muyil is next to federal highway 307, while Punta Allen is at the end of the road in Tulum’s Hotel Zone. The latter area is, we were told, very little visited and wilder, an ideal plan if you want to “get away from the World”,

How to get to Siam Ka’an Reserve from Playa del Carmen:

• If you want to know this pearl of nature, Siam Ka’nn reserve, from Playa del Carmen, this tour takes you to know the reserve with a boat ride through Boca Paila where you can see several species of birds, dolphins and turtles and finally you will know the paradisiacal corner of Punta Allen. Book here your tour to Sian Ka’an
• If you prefer this other tour more focused on the beach of Punta Allen, contemplate a trip to the paradise of Punta Allen with a dip in crystal clear waters, snorkeling and lunch.

How to get to Siam Ka’an Reserve from Tulum:

• Both entering through Muyil and Punta Allen, both sides offer boat tours (either through the mangroves or out to sea), which tend to be expensive. If you are interested, check out this half-day or full-day tour.

You can read more about the reserve in the section we dedicate to it in the Complete Guide to Tulum.

Kaam Luum Lagoon

Kaam Luum Lagoon is a large freshwater lagoon with crystal clear waters, where the plan is to go to spend the day (or at least a few hours). In the center it has a deeper cenote (85 meters deep and 25m in diameter), which is easily detected because the color changes from emerald green to darker blue.

How to get to Kamm Lumm Lagoon from Playa del Carmen:

• If you want to visit this impressive lagoon, from Playa del Carmen, this tour takes you not only to the lagoon but also to the Mariposa and Chen-Ha cenotes. Book here your tour to Kamm Lumm + Cenotes from Playa del Carmen.

How to get to Kamm Lumm Lagoon from Tulum:

• Just follow federal highway 307 south from Tulum, the Kaam Luum lagoon is about 15 min. If you don’t have your own/rented car, you can stop any colectivo (shared vans) on the main road heading south.

Bacalar

Although it is about 3:30 hours away from Playa del Carmen and no longer part of the Riviera Maya, Bacalar ended up becoming our favorite place in this part of Mexico so we had to include it as a must-see. Beyond the impressive freshwater lagoon that conquered two sea lovers like us at Randomtrip, in Bacalar the slow-paced town where tourism has not yet stepped too hard caught our attention. We explored the lagoon of the seven colors by sailboat, by pontoon at sunset, by kayak and swimming, getting to know its points of interest, its spas (free and paid) and, above all, enjoying its calm turquoise waters. In our complete guide to Bacalar we tell you what to do in Bacalar with practical suggestions, specific itineraries for a day, a weekend or even 3 days with activities to explore the lagoon, where to sleep and even where to eat so that your trip to Bacalar is as special as ours has been.

Best things to do in Bacalar (México): a travel guide with everything you need to know

How to get to Bacalar from Playa del Carmen:

• Go by private cab (we imagine it is quite expensive).
• Rent a car for the 3:30 hours from Playa del Carmen to Bacalar.
• Go by bus (ADO): there are several frequencies per day so you could go and return on the same day getting up early (check them on the official website, where you can also buy tickets online).
• Go on an tour like this one to visit Bacalar ( round trip from Playa del Carmen).

Puerto Morelos

Puerto Morelos, about 30 minutes from Playa del Carmen, is a small fishing village where you can snorkel and with an amazing beach in a more relaxed atmosphere. The reef is just a few meters from the shore, so you can explore part of its seabed on your own, although if you want to see the best parts, inside the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park, you will have to go on a guided tour (like this one).

If you have never dived and would like to, Puerto Morelos presents ideal conditions for a first time. Book your scuba diving baptism in Puerto Morelos here.

How to get to Puerto Morelos from Playa del Carmen:

Puerto Morelos is only half an hour from Playa del Carmen, so getting there is easy and it is an excellent day trip option.

• By Taxi: this is probably the least economical option, although if you are a group of 3 or 4, it may be worth it since it takes you directly from your lodging to the beach of Puerto Morelos.
• In a rental car: renting a car is an excellent option to avoid depending on transportation. Driving in the Yucatan Peninsula is generally easy and safe, although you should read the rental conditions carefully because in Mexico there is a lot of confusion with the different types of insurance and you may be surprised when you arrive to pick up the car.
• By bus: any of the ADO buses that run along federal highway 307 connecting Cancun with Tulum can drop you off in Puerto Morelos. The bus will drop you off in the town area next to the highway, and from there you can pay for a cab or take a colectivo to the beach (it costs only 10 pesos per person and they leave every few minutes).
• On an tour
  • This tour picks you up at your accommodation and takes you to Puerto Morelos to snorkel for an hour, enjoy the beach and have lunch on the beach.

Cancun

Being the tourist epicenter of the Mexican Caribbean and its most populated city, Cancun offers several beaches, restaurants, shopping and partying to those who visit it. Like Playa del Carmen and unlike Tulum, most of Cancun’s beaches have some kind of free access, and being just over 1 hour away from Playa del Carmen, it is an easy and accessible option to spend a day out. Despite the amount of constructions and resorts in its hotel zone, the cleanliness, color, quality and free access of Cancun’s beaches surprised us for good, offering several possibilities to those who choose it as a vacation destination: days of sun and beach, days of exploring the Mayan culture and the most biodiverse nature in its surroundings or a mix of both.

In our complete guide to Cancun we reflect all what to see and do in Cancun with practical suggestions, itineraries from 1 to 4 days, what to see in the surroundings and how to get there, how to move around, where to sleep and even where to eat (avoiding tourist traps) so you can make the most of your trip to the Mexican Caribbean.

Best things to do in Cancun (México): a travel guide with everything you need to know

How to get to Cancun from Playa del Carmen:

Cancun is just over 1 hour from Playa del Carmen, so it is easy to get there:

• By Taxi: this is probably the least economical option, although if you are a group of 3 or 4, it may be worthwhile as it will take you directly to the area you want in Cancun.
• In a rental car: renting a car is an excellent option to avoid depending on transportation. Driving around the Yucatan Peninsula is generally easy and safe, although you should carefully read the rental conditions because in Mexico there is a lot of hassle with the different types of insurance and you can get a surprise when you arrive to pick up the car. At Randomtrip we rented it directly at the Cancun airport and everything went great.
• By bus: any of the ADO buses that run along the federal highway 307 connecting Cancun with Tulum can drop you off in Cancun. The ADO can drop you off at all Cancun airport terminals or downtown Cancun, leaves about every 30min between 7:00 and 23:00, and costs 130 MXN (you can buy tickets online here). If you want to go to the beach in the Hotel Zone, you will have to go from the ADO terminal there by another bus (the local bus R2 for example, although if you go with a lot of luggage you may have problems), or by Uber/Taxi. Yes, in Cancun there is Uber.
• In a one day tour (round trip from Playa del Carmen) that takes you to visit the main points of downtown and some of the beaches of the hotel zone of Cancun.

Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres is the island located in front of Cancun, just 20 minutes away from Cancun by ferry. Isla Mujeres boasts of being the island where the first rays of sunshine of all Mexico are born, which is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mexican Caribbean, Playa Norte, and that gives away dips between fish and turtles. Of course, its proximity to Cancun has turned Isla Mujeres into a small paradise that has been, like so many others in the Mexican Caribbean, partly privatized and exploited to the maximum for the large influx of tourists it receives every day. Even so, it is possible to enjoy its attractions and incredible beaches escaping from the crowds and without suffering too much economic prejudice, if you know how and where.

In our complete guide to Isla Mujeres we tell you what to see in Isla Mujeres, the best options where to stay, how to get around and practical tips on what to do to avoid falling into tourist traps in this beautiful Mexican Caribbean island.

Best things to do in Isla Mujeres (México): a travel guide with everything you need to know to visit this island from Cancun

How to get to Isla Mujeres from Playa del Carmen:

After arriving in Cancun, you should know that the ferry ride to Isla Mujeres from Cancun takes about 20 minutes (depending on the swell on the day of the trip, it may take a little longer) and the company that operates this route and with which we went on Randomtrip is Ultramar. Ticket prices range from 270 pesos each way (about 16€) for adults (200 pesos each way for minors) and there are discounts for Quintana Roo residents (from 100 pesos each way for adults and 66 pesos each way for minors).

You can catch the ferry to Isla Mujeres from Puerto Juarez or from various points in Cancun’s Hotel Zone:

• Playa Tortugas: It is located here at km 6.5 of Blvd Kukulcan. You can buy your round trip ticket to and from Isla Mujeres from Playa Tortugas, in advance, at this link.ferries depart from 9:30h to 18:00h from Playa Tortugas to Isla Mujeres and from 10:30h to 19:00h from Isla Mujeres to Playa Tortugas.
• Playa Caracol: It is located here at km 9.5 of Blvd Kukulcan. You can buy your round trip ticket to Isla Mujeres from Playa Caracol in advance at this link. Ferries depart from 9:45 am to 6:15 pm from Playa Caracol to Isla Mujeres and from 10:30 am to 7:00 pm from Isla Mujeres to Playa Caracol.
• Puerto Juarez: It is located here at km 4 of Kukulcan Blvd. You can buy your round trip ticket to Isla Mujeres from Puerto Juarez in advance at this link. It is the most used option by local islanders and Cancun locals. Ferries depart from 5:30 am to 11:00 pm from Puerto Juarez to Isla Mujeres and from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm the next day from Isla Mujeres to Puerto Juarez.

You can buy your tickets in advance for Ultramar with Getyourguide (confirm on the Getyourguide page as it may vary):

• Roundtrip ferry from Cancun to Isla Mujeres

If you only want or can invest one day to visit Isla Mujeres from Playa del Carmen, we recommend you:

• Tour to Isla Mujeres on catamaran from Playa del Carmen
• Premium Catamaran Tour to Isla Mujeres from Playa del Carmen
• Tour to Isla Mujeres Garrafon Park from Playa del Carmen

Contoy Island

Isla Contoy is a small island north of the famous Isla Mujeres that is home not only to one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mexican Caribbean but also its last unspoiled paradise. Getting to this paradise involves going on an organized tour from Cancun or Isla Mujeres (it is not possible to go on your own) as the island is included in the Isla Contoy National Park, created precisely to protect the island and its surroundings.

At Randomtrip we did a combined tour with Kaankun Tours that included Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres from Cancun and we highly recommend it. You will find all the information you need about the best time to go to Isla Contoy, prices, national park rules to make your experience very special in our Isla Contoy specific guide.

How to get to Isla Contoy (Mexico) from Cancun: a guide to visit the last paradise in the Mexican Caribbean

How to get to Isla Contoy from Playa del Carmen:

To get to Isla Contoy you have to go on an organized tour from Cancun or Isla Mujeres, although many operators also pick you up at your accommodation in Playa del Carmen. You can’t go to Isla Contoy on your own or directly from Playa del Carmen, you will always go through Cancun as the boat will leave from there. At Randomtrip we went with Kaankun Tours and we highly recommend it. Isla Mujeres is about 20 minutes from Cancun and Isla Contoy is 1:30h from Isla Mujeres.

Swimming with whale sharks

Did you know that you can swim with the biggest fish in the world from Playa del Carmen? Yes, one of the most sought after tours in the Riviera Maya in summer is whale shark watching and snorkeling. If you want to have the chance to see one of these gentle giants that can measure up to 12 meters, the biggest fish in the world, you can do it here only in the summer months (you can book your tour here) . Some years the first sightings occur in May but if you want to be sure, try to go to Playa del Carmen between June and September.

At Randomtrip we did not do this activity in the Riviera Maya since we were in Playa del Carmen at the end of the year, in December (although we had the opportunity to swim with the whale shark in a responsible way on the other coast, in Baja California Sur, in February) but we ask that if you go to the Riviera Maya in spring and summer you do it in a responsible way, with an agency that promotes sustainable tourism and not animal abuse. Unfortunately, we read many bad experiences with whale shark tours in various parts of the Riviera Maya, so be very well informed of the values and rules of the company you choose, and let them know first of all that you are looking to do the activity in a responsible way.

The tour usually costs from 2800 pesos per person, includes snorkeling with the whale shark, relaxing on a beach, drinks and sandwiches on board and lunch, and usually lasts about 8-10 hours.

Book your whale shark snorkeling tour from Playa del Carmen in this link

Be wary if the agency does not respect the official measures and prohibitions in the whale shark watching and/or swimming activity, among which:

• When contracting the activity, the tourist should not be guaranteed to observe or swim with the whale shark.
• In the activity there must be a maximum of 10 tourists per boat (not exceeding 12 meters) and a maximum of 120 boats at the same time in the authorized area. There will be two shifts to leave the dock: 7:00h and 9:00h and must be out of the authorized area at 14:00h maximum.
• If there are less than 5 whale sharks in the water and more than 5 boats, the activity is restricted to whale shark watching only and swimming is not allowed .
• In case there are conditions for the dive, the entrance to the water will only be done by a guide with up to two tourists maximum (who will take turns) keeping a minimum distance of five meters from the whale shark. The number of “water entries” per group of tourists will be a maximum of two. The activity per boat is for a maximum period of 30 minutes.
• It is mandatory that, upon entering the water, both the guide and the tourists wear a life jacket, snorkel equipment, fins and mask.
• Under no circumstances may physical contact be made with whale sharks and wildlife specimens. Harassing, touching, riding or harming the whale shark in any way is prohibited.
• Do not use sunscreen that is not biodegradable. In addition, you should apply sunscreen at least half an hour before the activity.
• The consumption of alcohol, drugs or any psychotropic substance during the entire activity is prohibited.
• Do not obstruct the course of the whale shark with boats or swimmers.
• Do not use “propulsion” motors or small paddle boats (kayaks, lifeboats, etc.) to swim near whale sharks.
• Do not use flash or any artificial lighting in the water or recorders, megaphones or any device that produces noise or sounds.
• Do not throw or dispose of any type of waste.
• Do not feed the shark or any of the marine species during the activity.
• Use of drones prohibited except with special permission granted by the authorities.

Please, if you see non-compliance with any of these measures, report it immediately.

You can book your whale shark watching and snorkeling tour at this link.

Official source of these measures and restrictions: Management Plan for Non-Extractive Use through Observation and Swimming in the Whale Shark Concentration Zone, located between Isla Mujeres, Puerto Juárez, Chiquilá and Holbox Island, in front of the municipalities of Lázaro Cárdenas, Benito Juárez and Isla Mujeres of the State of Quintana Roo of Semarnat (Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources).

Holbox

Although it is not in the Caribbean Sea but in the Gulf of Mexico and is not part of the Riviera Maya, we had to include the small island of Holbox in the plans to visit from Playa del Carmen. With some of the most beautiful beaches we enjoyed in the Yucatan, waters that glow at night thanks to their bioluminescence and the possibility of meeting the world’s largest fish in the wild, the whale shark, Holbox has plenty of reasons to understand why it attracts more and more tourists. It invites you to stroll along the fine sand, among waves and mangroves, and let sunsets turn into sunrises in one of its beach bars. In our complete guide to Holbox we tell you what to see on the island in the Gulf of Mexico, when to go, where to sleep, which restaurants to go to (and not to go to) and we tell you what we wish we had read before setting foot on the island about its lesser-known B side (and avoid being disappointed at times).

Best things to do in Holbox (México): a travel guide with everything you need to know

How to get to Holbox from Playa del Carmen:

• You will have to go to Chiquilá (the port from where the ferries to Holbox depart) from Playa del Carmen, by bus with ADO, by private transport or by car(here you can find the best price to rent a car in Cancun or anywhere in Mexico). The trip from Playa del Carmen to Chiquilá takes about 1h50 hours. If you go by car, in Chiquilá there are several parking lots on the main street and they cost 12h/50 pesos and 24h/100 pesos with 24h security. The ADO from Playa del Carmen to Chiquilá takes about 2 hours and tickets cost around 350 pesos. You can buy your ADO bus ticket at this link
  • When you get to Chiquilá, you will see that there are two ferry companies to Holbox , one every half hour: 9 Hermanos and Holbox Express. On the outward journey it takes half an hour to reach the island, on the return journey 45 minutes, as it depends on the tides and wind.
• If you only have one day to get to know the island, this tour to Holbox Island from Playa del Carmen takes you to the main points of Holbox and brings you back to your hotel in Playa del Carmen on the same day.

Where to stay in Playa del Carmen (and where not to sleep)

At Randomtrip we stayed in one of the Icono Playa apartments, three blocks from the beach and the Parque de los Fundadores (where the famous Mayan portal is located) and with supermarkets and restaurants next door but, at the same time, not in the heart of Fifth Avenue and its constant movement and noise (day and night), which made it ideal to rest. From there we walked to all the beaches and places we visited in Playa del Carmen.

When looking for accommodation, and taking into account that the streets and avenues are numbered and sequential (avenues from 5 to 5, streets from 1 to 1), the area where we recommend you to stay is between 30th Avenue and the beach, and between 1st and 50th Streets.

The only two areas in the center where we would not recommend you to look for accommodation would be: in the middle of Quinta Avenida as it is a very noisy street where most of the nightlife in Playa del Carmen is concentrated and in the Colossio neighborhood (from 50th street), the only neighborhood that we were not recommended to stay when we visited Playa del Carmen for being more unsafe at night, and that even during the day had much less people and felt a little lonely, so if you can avoid choosing your accommodation here.

Our Icono Playa studio was comfortable and centrally located, there was a building with a rooftop pool, a bonus we appreciated at the end of the day and in the morning, and the wifi was great.

Beyond the Icono Playa apartments, where we stayed, at Randomtrip we recommend the following accommodations in Playa del Carmen for comfort, location and value for money:

• Condo Kiaraluna (from 50$/night): apartments for 2 persons in a quiet area to rest at night but close to Fifth Avenue and the beach.

• Hotel Casa de las Flores (from 52$/night): simple and comfortable rooms in a hotel with a small swimming pool and garden

• Luxury Studio in Playa Rooftop/Pool/BBQ/Gym By Yeah (from 86$/night): studios with balcony ideal for two people in building with gym and rooftop pool and free parking, ideal if you rent a car to tour the Riviera Maya and base in Playa del Carmen.

If you want to stay within walking distance of the beach (and you have more budget), we recommend the following accommodations:

• The Carmen Hotel Oceanfront (from 114$/night): rooms and suites a few steps from the beach, the hotel includes two restaurants, breakfast included and outdoor swimming pool

• The Taj Oceanfront and Beachside Condo Hotel (from 168$/night): suites (some with jacuzzi) in gardens steps from the beach in a hotel with two swimming pools and free parking (ideal if you bring a rented car to tour the Riviera Maya).

• Penthouse with private Jacuzzi (from 252$/night): although it is not right in front of the beach, this penthouse for up to 6 people is very well located to enjoy all that “Playa” has to offer and has a private Jacuzzi, so we think it is a great plan if you come with a group.

• Mareazul Beach Front Condos (from 384$/night): ideal if you are traveling with a group of friends or family as they are apartments and villas from 4 to 10 people in what is, in our opinion, the best area of the beach.

If you have chosen Playa del Carmen for a sun and beach vacation and you want to stay in the area where we found the beaches to be the best in the area and in an all-inclusive resort, here are the best all-inclusive resorts in Playa del Carmen. Some examples:

• The Royal Haciendas Resort & Spa, ideal for families, in front of an incredible beach.

• Catalonia Playa Maroma, in the heart of Punta Maroma, one of the best beaches, ideal for relaxing.

• Wyndham Alltra Playa del Carmen, in the heart of downtown, ideal for those who want nightlife beyond all-inclusive

• Palmaïa The House of AïA, one of the most exclusive and luxurious resorts in Playa del Carmen, this complex with pools, spa and beauty center is located in front of the stunning Palancar Beach.

Please note that all prices mentioned may vary according to season and type of room and/or apartment.

If you are not convinced by any of these options or if they are no longer available, we recommend you to click on this link, click on “See hotels on the map” and search for the area we recommend.

Where to eat in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen has a wide variety of restaurants, both local and international, and in our opinion, the offer is much better than in the Hotel Zone of Cancun. Here is a list of the restaurants we visited and recommended or were recommended to us:

• La Cochi Loka: cheap and good place with cochinita pibil in all its variations (tacos, panuchos, tortas, quesadillas…).

• Romeo Trattoria Pizzeria: excellent Italian restaurant where we went several times because of the good food and the excellent service.

• Osteria de Roma: another Italian restaurant that we loved. We tried the lasagna and the spaghetti carbonara and both were delicious. We highlight the live music in the evening by an adorable older couple and the house mascot who is a very friendly Labrador.

• Ay Taco: excellent local food place with classic tacos, excellent tacos al pastor.
• ALUX: we didn’t get to go but many people recommended it, a restaurant inside a subway cenote-like cave. It has more international food and high prices, geared towards tourists.
• La Cueva del Chango: we didn’t get to go, but it is a nice and highly recommended Mexican food restaurant.
• Tierra Verde: an excellent option if you are looking for vegan food

Playa del Carmen Itineraries

Here are some suggestions for itineraries in Playa del Carmen for various amounts of days. As we indicated, to get to know Playa del Carmen and its beaches you won’t need more than 1-2 days, but if you use Playa del Carmen as a base and/or come with the intention of relaxing, you can extend your stay here to more days or weeks and there are many things to see and do.

Things to see and do in Playa del Carmen in 1 day

If you only have one day in Playa del Carmen, we recommend the following:

• Visit the Parque de los Fundadores, the Portal Maya and the beach located right there.
• Walk along Quinta Avenida and eat some cochinita tacos at La Cochi Loka.
• Visit some of the other beaches that we recommend in the guide.

Things to see and do in Playa del Carmen in 2 days

With 2 days we recommend:

• Day 1: the plan of the 1-day itinerary
• Day 2: tour/visit (Cozumel, Chichen Itza, Tulum…)

Things to see and do in Playa del Carmen in 3 days

With 3 days we recommend:

• Day 1: the plan of the 1-day itinerary
• Day 2: tour/visit (Cozumel, Chichen Itza, Tulum…)
• Day 3: tour/visit (Cozumel, Chichen Itza, Tulum…)

Things to see and do in Playa del Carmen in 4 days

With 4 days we recommend:

• Day 1: the plan of the 1-day itinerary
• Day 2: tour/visit (Cozumel, Chichen Itza, Tulum…)
• Day 3: tour/visit (Cozumel, Chichen Itza, Tulum…)
• Day 4: relax in one of the recommended beaches

Transportation: Getting around Playa del Carmen

There are several ways to get around Playa del Carmen, being that the most common if you are staying in the center as in Randomtrip is walking:

• Bicycle: you can rent a bicycle to move to the beaches, although not all areas seemed to us very suitable for it.
• Rented motorcycle: there are several options to rent a motorcycle in Playa del Carmen, which can be a good option to visit places nearby and in the surroundings. Our intention was to rent one, but the high prices (from 600 pesos per day, about 30$) and with insurances that barely covered anything (for example, if the bike is stolen you have to pay its full value) made us decide to go around on foot and/or by rented car.
• Rented car: If you dare to drive in Mexico, having your own vehicle to explore the area is an excellent option with which you will gain a lot of freedom, especially if you are not going to visit only Playa del Carmen and want to explore the surroundings as well. In our case we rented the car directly at Cancun airport with Premier Car Rental (420 pesos/day, deposit from 5000 pesos – depending on the type of car, excess of 10% of the value of the vehicle, approximately 20,000 pesos) and everything was perfect. Find the car at the best price on DiscoverCars.
• Colectivos (shared vans), is the transportation used by local people and quite cheap, if you want to move to accessible places from the federal highway 307, it is the cheapest option.

How to have internet in Playa del Carmen

To always have internet on your smartphone, the easiest and most convenient way (if your phone supports eSIM) is to buy an eSIM from Holafly, which has unlimited data (you get a 5% discount with the code RANDOMTRIP), or to buy an eSIM from Airalo, cheaper but with limited data (15% discount with the code RANDOMTRIP15)

The other option, cheaper but more cumbersome, is to buy a local SIM, which we recommend is from Telcel (the main telecom company in Mexico, with more coverage).

Safety: Is it safe to travel to Playa del Carmen?

Being one of the main tourist destinations in Mexico, and the main destination within the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen is totally safe. As we indicated in the section on Where to stay to choose the area where to stay, when we visited Playa del Carmen we were advised locally to be more careful in the Colosio neighborhood especially after sunset, which we did and we did not feel unsafe at any time.

Honestly, the assaults that we experienced in the area are totally legalized, that is, we felt robbed and cheated in the price of accommodation and restaurants in relation to other places in Mexico, which did not correspond, neither in one case nor in the other, at all with what we paid, but the truth is that the area is safe from any kind of theft.

In any case, we always have our Iati travel insurance (which also covers our belongings) as in all our trips and gives us more peace of mind. If you contract your travel insurance in this Randomtrip link, you will get it with a 5% discount.

Money in Playa del Carmen: cards, tips to save on commissions and tips

To pay and withdraw money in Mexico while minimizing fees, we recommend the 2 cards we use in our case:

• Revolut: with the standard version up to 1000$ without commission on card payments (remember to always pay in local currency – Mexican pesos). Up to 400$ of withdrawals at ATMs without commission, from then on commission of 1%.
• N26: with the free version you can pay with your card without commissions in an unlimited way. For ATM withdrawals, you pay 1.7% commission, which you can eliminate by paying for the monthly plans You (the one we use) or Metal.

It is important to keep in mind that although your card does not charge a fee for ATM withdrawals, ATMs in Mexico do charge a fee for their use. The ones that charge the least are Banamex (31 pesos, 1.7$), Banco Santander (34 pesos, 1.8$) or Banco Azteca (34 pesos, 1.8$), so when withdrawing money try to withdraw as much as possible to save money.

Another important issue when withdrawing money at an ATM in Mexico: many times the ATM will ask you if you want the transaction to be done in local currency (Mexican pesos) or in your own currency (in our case, it was euros): always choose the local currency option, otherwise, it will apply an unfavorable exchange rate and you will be overpaying (as a hidden commission).

The above also applies to card payments (although the option almost never appears, on several occasions also when paying with a card in establishments we were shown an amount in euros instead of pesos). In our case it almost always happened to us with the orange CLIP terminals. If this happens to you, ask the person to charge you in Mexican pesos.

A bad practice in Mexico is that in any business where you want to pay with a card, they have the habit of asking you for your card and do the whole process themselves, passing you the terminal only to enter the PIN (in Mexico they call it “firma” or NIP). This means that sometimes, depending on the type of terminal, you do not see the amount and/or you are charged in the original currency of your card instead of in Mexican pesos – making you lose money because an unfavorable conversion is applied. Always ask nicely to be allowed to see the process to make sure you are charged the correct amount and in local currency.

Finally, some establishments charge an extra commission for payment by card (the times it happened to us, it was 5%), they always tell you before and if you do not see it when confirming the amount. In those cases, it is better to pay with cash.

Tipping: The tipping culture is very well established in Mexico, and although it is not and cannot be obligatory by law, it is in practice, since it is frowned upon not to leave a tip. It is recommended to leave a minimum of 10% (usually you will be asked at the time of payment, and if you pay by credit card, the terminal usually gives you the option of adding 10, 15 or 20% as a tip).

How much does a trip to Playa del Carmen cost?

Making a budget is complex as it depends greatly on your type of trip: how many plans you want to include in your trip, if you are going to go to restaurants or cook to save money, the type of accommodation you are going to use… In any case, so you can get an idea, we leave below the average prices and what we consider as average price per day (we reiterate that these are ORIENTATIVE prices and may vary at any time):

• Flights/transportation within Mexico: from 1200 pesos (60$) for a round-trip domestic flight from other areas of Mexico. Use flight comparators like Skyscanner and Kiwi to find the best price.
• Transportation: buses from 20 pesos/way (1$), car rental from 400 pesos/day (20$).
• Accommodation: from 900 pesos (45$)/night for a room with private bathroom or small apartment with kitchen. Find accommodation of all types and prices on Booking, with up to 15% discount.
• Restaurants: a multitude of options between 100 and 1000 pesos (between 5 and 50$) per person, for all tastes.

In total, a weekend trip (2 nights) to Playa del Carmen can cost you between 800 and 1200 pesos (between 40 and 60$) per person per day, with the cheapest lodging options, eating out in cheap restaurants and moving around on foot or by public transportation.

Useful Apps to get around Playa del Carmen

• Google Maps (Android / iOS): is the one we use to save/classify all the places we want to go/we have been and as a GPS both to orient ourselves in the city and if we rent a car. You can see other people’s opinions of the places, photos, restaurant menus, telephone numbers to contact them, etc. You can also open our map with all the places included in this guide.
• Maps.me (Android / iOS): application similar to Google Maps but works offline (although Google Maps can also work offline, it works better) and in many cases has information that Google Maps does not have.
• Windy (Android / iOS / Web): essential app for our trips. It allows you to see forecasts of rain, clouds, wind, etc. to help you plan your days based on the weather (as there are places that lose a lot depending on the weather). Obviously the forecasts are not 100% reliable.

Tips for traveling to Playa del Carmen as a responsible tourist

• Be responsible when visiting a place: a large influx of people to a certain site can have a negative impact so respect the rules, do not climb the tree/monument you are visiting, do not paint on its walls, avoid touching and, out of respect for the rest of the people visiting the place, do not make noise or “monopolize” the place with your photos.
• Take care of natural and archaeological monuments and respect existing rules.
• If you rent a car, respect the speed limits on highways.
• Avoid the use of plastic and do not throw garbage away
• Don’t be an accomplice of animal abuse, that is, any attraction where animals are in captivity and/or used for human entertainment (like, for example, the Playa del Carmen Aquarium). In Playa del Carmen this type of aberrations are especially widespread but there is one where children are invited to play with baby tigers (whose teeth and nails are previously extracted) in the middle of Quinta Avenida that broke our souls and to which we have filed a complaint. We still do not understand how it is possible that this type of aberrations continue to exist with the approval of the government.
• Respect other people: don’t play your music loud; pick up your trash; don’t throw cigarette butts, etc. Leave the place better than you found it.
• Always travel with travel insurance: medical expenses, theft or problems with your plane on a trip can cost you a lot of money, so the ideal thing is to take out travel insurance. At Randomtrip we always use IATI and we recommend it. If you purchase your insurance through this link you have a 5% discount.

Checklist: what to pack in your backpack/suitcase for Playa del Carmen

Here is a list of must-haves you can’t forget to take with you on your trip to Playa del Carmen:

• International plug adapter such as these as they use type A plugs (those with two flat parallel pins).
• A  reusable water bottle like one of these to carry water with you all the time and void single-use plastic.
• Water Shoes as these ideal to carry always with you to avoid hurting your feet when entering the water or not touching the ground.
• Snorkel kit (mask and snorkel) like this, a must to bring on this trip and contemplate the seabed. Besides being more hygienic because you do not share your snorkel with anyone, in several places they do not rent the equipment and, even if they do rent, with a couple of times you already amortize the price of your own kit.
• Water proof dry bag like this one, very useful to keep your photographic equipment, cell phone and wallet safe from getting wet on the boat (whales sometimes blow near the boat or even hit the water with their fin or tail near the boat, and water can reach the boat).
• UV protection T-shirt like this because in some parts of the Mexican Caribbean it is forbidden or not recommended to use sunscreen / sunblock because its composition damages the marine ecosystem.
• Quick-drying towel such as one of these, which, in addition, does not take up much space in the backpack/suitcase.
• A hat or a cap (like this one) and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun
• A good camera to register your adventures. At Randomtrip we carry a Sony ZV-E10 and a Gopro Hero12 Black (for underwater pictures)
• A Power bank: taking so many pictures will drain your batteries, so it’s always a good idea to carry a good powerbank. At Randomtrip we travel with these 2 (Anker 20000 mAh and  Anker 10000 mAh), which allow us to charge both our phones and our cameras.
• Sun screen: the sun is strong in Baja California Sur so it is a must to take care of your skin. Always look for a Coral Friendly Sunscreen, i.e. one that protects your skin without harming marine ecosystems by avoiding ingredients such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are harmful to corals. Nor that it has been tested on animals.
• Mosquito repellent: like this one, it should have at least 15% deet
• First aid kit: In our first-aid kit there is always a medicine against seasickness (such as biodramine for seasickness on boats), antibiotics, anti-diarrhea medication (and a probiotic to recover more quickly), antihistamines, painkillers and antipyretics and, of course, travel insurance. If you hire your travel insurance with IATI using this link you will get a 5% discount

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Did you imagine so many things to do in Playa del Carmen and surroundings beyond going to the beach? What are you waiting for? If you have any questions, leave them in the comments! Bon Voyage, Randomtripper!