Discovering Playa del Carmen, Mexico's Next Big Thing

Playa del Carmen's popularity is growing more and more each year. It now ranks as the third-largest city in Quintana Roo and competes with Tulum as one of the Riviera's rendiest cities. The town is ideally located: close to Cancún’s international airport, but far enough south to allow easy access to Cozumel, Tulum, Cobá and other worthy destinations. So If you're looking for your next tropical destination download the Playa del Carmen Travel Guide and Offline Map now!

1.  Cenote Diving

What’s a cenote you ask? It’s an underground cave filled with fresh water. The Yucatan has tons of them—sinkholes that open up into underground rivers with the clearest water you’ve ever seen. If you have your PADI license, you can go scuba diving in these caves with a guide. Because there’s daylight near the entrance a more technical cave diving license isn’t required. Not a diver? No problem. You can also go snorkeling at most cenotes.

2. Visit Mayan Ruins

The ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum are located South of Playa del Carmen in the town of Tulum. A must-visit if you’re in the area.

Tulum was once a small but important port city for the Mayans. Along with impressive structures on the edge of a cliff, it has a beach below where you can swim too. Because Tulum is so popular, it can be crowded unless you arrive early in the morning. Coba is another Mayan site near Playa del Carmen which sees less visitors. You can still climb the pyramid there too.

3. Swim With Sea Turtles

Who doesn’t want to swim with sea turtles? I’ve always wanted to, that’s for sure. I got my chance at Akumal beach, 30 minutes South of Playa del Carmen. The shallow blue-green water here is home to Green, Hawksbill and Loggerhead sea turtles that you can swim with.

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Mexico, a Country of Diversity and Affordability

Mexico may not be the most reputable tourist destination but it still has its moments. There are plenty of fun things to do in Mexico. Below are a few amazing reasons why you need to visit there. Just remember to have a Mexico City Travel Guide & Metro Map Route Planner with you to make traveling easier and more time-efficient.

Affordability

Mexico is one of the most affordable vacation spots in the world today. Money that is barely enough for you to survive one day in a famous European is often enough to buy you a week of comfort and luxury in Mexico. Look for all-inclusive trips to Mexico on the Internet and you will be surprised at how cheap these travel packages are. If you really want to keep spending down, look for small inns in rural towns and eat where locals eat.

Beaches

Mexico has an abundance of fine beaches ranging from ones that offer peace and relaxation to those that present extreme watersports. The beaches lining the Gulf of Mexico are known to be amazing spots for snorkeling and jet skiing while those in the Western Coast house numerous resorts perched atop rocky cliffs, thus providing an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean.

Food

Mexican cuisine is quite unique. Its most popular dishes are its tacos and tamales but there are a lot more to taste if you just take the time to look. The inland cities of Oaxaca and Puebla, for example, are known for dishes accompanied by a sauce named Mole which is made with toasted chilies and chocolate. Coastal regions specialize in seafood dishes most notable of which is the Veracruz Style Snapper in which a whole snapper is prepared with tomatoes, chilies, and olives. Baja California, on the other hand, is renowned for the Fish Taco as well as serving the finest wines in Mexico.

Culture

Mexico’s vibrant culture is awe-inspiring. Mariachis are other entertainers can be seen performing on the streets. Local nightclubs and concert halls are often booming with rumba music. Handicrafts sold in numerous boutiques and stalls make for perfect souvenirs.

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