| Only 35 Miles South of Cancun International Airport on Highway 307 lies the quaint and traditional town of Playa Del Carmen. Endless white sand beaches and dazzling aquamarine waters of the
Caribbean Sea combine here with the charm of a traditional Mexican village to make Playa the perfect spot for sun seekers looking for Cancun's beauty without the hustle and bustle.
The heart of Playa del Carmen is the bustling 5th Avenue (Avenida Quinta), a pedestrian walkway over a mile long. It is filled with shops of every description, restaurants of every nationality, hotels in every price range, and authentic Mexican hospitality. The south end of 5th Avenue leads to the
ferry dock to Cozumel Island with
ferries arriving and departing every 30 minutes for the 20 minute trip to the island. The north end of 5th Avenue brings more of an international flavor to Playa del Carmen as many European
restaurants and hotels have opened in the past two years and the architecture has moved from traditional Mexican to a modern cosmopolitan atmosphere. Endless hours can be spent here lingering over a great meal, listening to the upbeat music, or just stopping by for a quiet drink. Only a block from the beach, 5th Avenue is in itself a destination point for many.
Playa means
Beach,
that's what
Playa del Carmen is all about. The endless beaches in Playa del Carmen are a good place to meet people, especially around the Blue Parrot Hotel or Captain Tutix nightclub or on the North end along Mamita Beach. Most of the chairs are rental only, and many of the women are topless. Almost everyone has an Indonesian sarong which doubles as a beach towel. The beach bars with their swinging chairs and the
Blue Parrot
Fire Dancers attract a wide variety of beach lovers.
There are many side trips only 20 minutes to 2 hours away from Playa del Carmen that can satisfy the adventurous
spirit. For example there are
jungle tours,
fishing trips,
and many more adventures. The water spirits will like the dive
centers of
Tank-Ha
and
Sealife Divers,
as well as deep-sea fishing, windsurfing and kite boarding.
The historical and fascinating Mayan ruins at
Tulum. are
only an hour away.
Xcaret
and
Xelha
are great
water parks for the whole family. You'll wish you had another
week to see and do everything.
Visit these web sites for more information:
Loco Gringo,
Maya News,
Playa
Info,
Playa Map,
Cancun Maps,
Cancun South. |
