Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is a shoppers’ paradise for everything from Mexican folk art to beachwear and designer brands. Browse through boutiques and galleries and shop in open-air malls like Paseo del Carmen, Quinta Alegria and Plaza Corazon. Windows display Brazilian, Indonesian and Mexican clothing and beachwear, international brands, imported perfumes, jewelry and a colorful array of colorful artesanía or handicrafts from all over the country.

If you are looking for Mexican souvenirs, you’ll find a variety of embroidered and hand-woven textiles, ceramics, silver, Huichol chaquira beadwork and brightly painted wooden fantasy animals known as alebrijes. Pick up a hammock or Panama hat from the Yucatán or shell and seed mobiles, lamps and jewelry made in the Zona Maya.

After a day at the beach or exploring the Riviera Maya, you’ll have an appetite and Playa serves up tempting world cuisine. Quinta Ave and neighboring streets are full of options. Choose from traditional Mexican and Yucatecan dishes, Thai, French or Italian favorites, Argentinean grilled steaks and Caribbean seafood. You’ll soon become a connoisseur of gelato, pastries and Mexican coffee in the many open-air cafes.

As soon as dusk falls, the rhythm picks up along la Quinta. Thousands of lights glimmer in the trees, candles are lit, and the musicians strike up. Mariachi and jarocho bands serenade diners and the sounds of reggae, jazz, salsa and rock issue from bars.

Candlelit beach bars, roof terraces, dance clubs and stylish hideaways draw a crowd and are the places to see and be seen in Playa.

For a family day out, Playa has several very different museums to visit. The exhibits at the 3D Museum of Wonders on 10th Avenue are 3D drawings and famous paintings decorating the floors, walls and ceiling that create optical illusions.

The L’Aquarium has 45 spectacular aquariums on three floors of the Plaza Corazon Mall on 5th Ave and Calle 14 (the entrance is on Calle 14). Exhibits showcase the coral reef and other marine ecosystems and there are more than 200 species of multicolored fish and marine creatures.

On 5th Avenue and part of a restaurant of the same name, the Frida Kahlo Museum celebrates the life and work of this iconic Mexican artist. It features paintings and sketches by Frida, multimedia displays and work by local artists inspired by her.

The ancient Maya were the first to settle in Playa del Carmen and the crumbling temples of Xaman-Há can still be seen in different parts of town and in Playacar, the resort community to the south of the ferry dock. During the Post-Classic period of Mayan civilization (A.D. 900 – 1521) Xaman-Há and nearby Pole were trading ports and embarkation points for the sacred island of Cozumel, site of the shrine of Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of fertility and childbirth.

To learn more about this amazing civilization, their art and architecture, visit the archaeological sites of Tulum and Cobá in the Riviera Maya, Muyil in Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve and Chichén Itzá, Uxmal and Ek Balam in the neighboring state of Yucatán.

For endless fun, the Riviera Maya’s most famous eco and adventure parks are just south of Playa del Carmen. Discover attractions including underground rivers and caves, lagoons and inlets for snorkeling, zip line circuits, Maya ruins and regional wildlife. Enjoy an evening show that is a celebration of Mexican history, music and dance.

Jungle adventure parks are the place for exciting zip lining flights, cave exploration, ATV drives, swimming and snorkeling in cenotes. Others offer kayaking, horseback riding and bike trails.

Rio Secreto is a chain of caves with impressive stalactites and stalagmites. There are more amazing caves and cenotes between Puerto Aventuras and Tulum, including Aktun Chen and Dos Ojos.

Or how about swimming in a turquoise lagoon or inlet that is literally a huge natural aquarium where snorkelers come face to face with colorful fish from the nearby reefs.

Go beach hopping one day and find your favorite stretch of white sand. Popular spots in the Riviera Maya are Punta Maroma, Xpu-Ha, Akumal and Tulum.

The Mesoamerican Reef runs south along the coast and wherever your snorkeling and scuba adventures take you, you’ll see a wealth of colorful marine life. There are incredible reefs to explore off the coast of Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras and Akumal. Don’t miss the island of Cozumel, one of the world’s dive capitals. The magnificent coral reefs are home to 500 species of fish. Some reefs are suitable for snorkeling and others are for advanced open water divers.

Nature lovers can plan an eco-tour to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. This huge reserve protects jungles and coastal wetlands that are habitats for over 350 species of birds and rare creatures including the jaguar, howler monkey and manatee.