The best places to visit in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Playa del Carmen, a vibrant coastal resort town on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, is renowned for its stunning beaches, lively nightlife, and rich Mayan culture. The town has an upbeat atmosphere, with some excellent shops, bars and restaurants and beaches. It’s also a great base for exploring the wider Rivera Maya area.

After spending 2 weeks in the city, we’ve created a guide on the top things to see and do in Playa del Carmen. From the bustling atmosphere of downtown Playa to the beautiful beaches of the south, incredible cave cenotes and must-see Xcaret Park, you’ll find plenty of inspiration for your own trip.

All of the attractions in our guide are located in the Playa del Carmen area or are easily accessible in a 30-minutes-or-less drive from town. Continue reading to discover some of the best places to visit in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Fifth Avenue

Fifth Avenue is the heart and soul of Playa del Carmen. It’s a long street of bars, shops and restaurants with options for every taste and budget. No matter what time of the day you visit, you’ll find endless crowds of tourists soaking in the atmosphere. The street is lit up with colourful paper decorations, and whilst touristic, it has a lot of charm and a good atmosphere.

Visit Fifth Avenue during the day for a quieter shopping experience. You can then return on an evening to experience the lively nightlife scene. There are some fantastic tacos and tequila bars.

Parque Los Fundadores

Located between Fifth Avenue and the beach, Parque Los Fundadores is Playa del Carmen’s main square. It’s a gathering place for locals and tourists and is host to everything from live Mayan shows to food stalls, festivals and music performances.

The intricately designed Portal Maya statue is what you’ll instantly recognise when you arrive at Parque Los Fundadores. Look closely and you’ll see detailed sculptures of sea-life, Mayan icons and mermaids. The arch is also where you’ll get to experience a live Mayan show. Visit on an evening and you’ll get to watch traditional dances, costumes and the traditional ‘Dance of the Voladores’.

Playa del Carmen Beach

Playa del Carmen public beach is the city’s main beach. It stretches the full length of the tourist area, from Parque Los Fundadores to the resort area to the north. The beach is the go-to place to relax in Playa and it’s busy at any time of the day. You’ll find upbeat beach bars along the wooden promenade, people playing volleyball and views of ferries arriving and departing at the port.

Playa del Carmen Beach may not be as beautiful as others in the area, but the atmosphere, particularly at sunset, makes it a must-see beach during your visit.

Paseo Del Carmen Shopping Centre

If you’re looking to shop during your time in Playa del Carmen, stop by Paseo Del Carmen Shopping Centre. Modern, shaded and with nice cafes and snack spots at its centre, it’s a great place to hang out day or night. You’ll find everything from European high-street brands such as Pull and Bear, Zara and Calzedonia, to American favourites Victoria Secret, Oakley and Old Navy.

Playa del Carmen’s nightlife

Playa del Carmen’s nightlife scene is one of the best in Riviera Maya. It’s not as wild and party heavy as neighbouring Cancun. However, the selection of upbeat bars, restaurants and street-side taco stalls guarantee a lively atmosphere no matter the day of the week you visit.

Playa del Carmen has a nightlife scene to suit everyone. Walk down Fifth Avenue, browse the shops and grab a drink in a rooftop cocktail bar. Alternatively, head to a lively beach bar and end the evening in a nightclub.

Coco Bongos

Speaking of nightlife, you won’t find a better party destination in Playa del Carmen than the famous Coco Bongos club. Located in the heart of the city, this world-famous nightclub has a line-up of Broadway-style shows, festivals and DJ events. It’s popular with adults of all ages! People rate the club for its visual effects and high production value.

They offer various drinks packages and tables for the show and disco, all of which can be booked on their website.

Cirque Du Soleil Joya

Speaking of evening shows, we chose to visit Playa del Carmen’s Cirque du Soleil Joya show and highly recommend it. It’s a show from the world-famous Cirque du Soleil group, which originally started in Las Vegas and now has shows around the world. Everything from the enchanting venue deep in the Mayan jungle, to the quality of the performances, make this a must-see if you want to celebrate a special occasion during your visit.

‘Joya’ tells the story of a rebellious teenage girl who discovers the interesting world

of her alchemist father. He passes her his knowledge of history, culture and

tradition through a series of colourful performing arts scenes, special effects and exhilarating circus acts.

Cirque Du Soleil Joya tickets are a little expensive when bought directly with the venue. We recommend using the Get Your Guide app to buy discounted tickets – you just have to be flexible with the date you visit.

Xcaret Park

Xcaret Park is not only one of the top places to visit in Playa del Carmen, it’s one of Mexico’s top-rated attractions. A sprawling eco-park with traditional Mexican shows, arts, Mayan ruins and adventure activities, it’s a place that’ll keep you entertained from early morning until late.

Top things to do at Xcaret Park include swimming in a series of underground rivers, wandering its aviaries and aquariums and snorkelling in the lagoon. There are also some nice places to relax. Have a nap in a hammock, swim in a natural rock pool or sip a cocktail on the beach. A visit to Xcaret is a fun day out no matter your age.

The park is located only a 15-minute drive from the centre of Playa del Carmen.

Xcaret at Night

Xcaret is not only worth visiting during the day. Stay until the evening or book separate tickets to its Xcaret Mexico Espectacular show, and you won’t be disappointed. It’s a breathtaking night show that highlights the richness of Mexican culture, history, and traditions. Held in a huge arena, the performance takes you on a journey through Mexico’s vibrant past, from ancient Mayan civilization to contemporary Mexican folklore. The show has a cast of over 300 performers, including dancers, musicians, and actors.

Xplor

Xplor is one of the best places to visit in Playa del Carmen for an adventurous day out. Whilst Xcaret Park focuses on culture, shows, animals and the natural environment of Riviera Maya, Xplor is all about adventure activities. It’s excellent for adults, adventurous kids and anyone that loves activities such as ziplining and ATVs. Xplor is located right next to Xcaret Park in the Playa del Carmen area and requires a separate ticket.

As an all-inclusive park, food and drink is included at Xplor. You also have access to all activities at the park. Top things to see and do here include a thrilling water slide, underground river rafting and swimming, an amphibious ATV trail, and the top attraction, jungle ziplines. The ziplines at Xplor are the highest and longest in the region!

Ultramar ferry

Staying in the Playa del Carmen area and fancy a daytrip? Hop aboard the Ultramar ferry in the centre of town and enjoy a cruise across to the island of Cozumel. The modern Ultramar ferries have excellent reviews. They’re fast, efficient and the sea-views along the way make it an attraction in itself.

One of our highlights of our Cozumel ferry crossing was listening to live acoustic music as we cruised along the water.

Cozumel

Once you disembark the Ultramar ferry, you’ll set foot on the beautiful island of Cozumel. Known for its gorgeous white-sand beaches and coral reefs rich with sea-life, it’s an island with a lot to see and do. You can choose to cosy up on a lounger in a beach club with unlimited food and drinks.

Alternatively, join one of the many boat tour options and spend a day cruising around the snorkelling reefs and national park beaches. A third option is to do what we did and hire a jeep. After wandering around the shops and sites of the main town, we spent the rest of the day cruising around the island stopping at remote beaches.

Hiring a car gives you a lot of freedom to explore Cozumel and you can avoid the expensive taxis. Whatever you decide, you can’t go wrong on a daytrip to this picturesque tropical island. It takes only 40-minutes to get to Cozumel from Playa del Carmen.

Kantun Chi Ecopark

The jungles surrounding Playa del Carmen are packed full of caves, underground rivers and natural sinkholes called cenotes, which have formed over millions of years. Mexico has over 6000 of these unique pools, and you can find some of the best cenotes a short drive from Playa del Carmen.

To see lots of different types of these natural pools in one place, along with access to facilities such as showers, bathrooms and snack bars, head over to Kantun Chi. This scenic and fun eco-park has been built around the natural setting of the jungle. It gives you access to 5 different cenotes, relaxation areas, kayak activities and more.

In our experience, the entry fee is well worth it. It has far fewer crowds than public ‘free’ cenotes.

Other cenotes

In addition to Kantun Chi Eco- Park, there are some other top-rated cenotes in the Playa del Carmen area that are worth checking out. They can all be found within a short drive of the downtown area. Some are open pools in a jungle setting; others are in cool shaded areas under a cave.

We recommend exploring at least 2 or 3 cenotes in the Playa Del Carmen area. The top cenotes to visit include:

• Cenote Azul
• Cenote Jardin del Eden
• Cenote Cristalino
• Rio Secreto
• Cenote Chikin Ha

Playacar Beach

Playacar Beach is a serene stretch of coastline located just south of Playa del Carmen’s bustling downtown area. Known for its powdery white sand and crystal-clear turquoise waters, the beach is rated as one of the best in the area. It’s part of the upscale Playacar gated community, which is full of luxury condos and 5-star hotels. If you’re staying in Playa del Carmen, there’s a good chance your hotel is right on Playacar Beach.

Spend a morning or afternoon on the beach and try a variety of activities; from sunbathing and swimming to snorkelling, water sports and beachside strolls.

Playacar and Playa Del Carmen Mayan Ruins

Nestled within the lush landscapes of the Playacar resort area, the Playacar and Playa del Carmen Mayan ruins offer a glimpse into the region’s rich and ancient history. These archaeological remnants, though small in scale compared to other Mayan sites, are easily accessible from the beach. There are two sets of ruins in the area, and you can access both within a 5-minute walk. They’re completely free to visit.

Playacar Shopping Plaza

Another top thing to see in the Playacar area is Playacar Shopping Plaza. This small collection of shops, bars and restaurants is a nice place to wander around for an hour or so. You can grab some cheap attire such as beachwear and water shoes. Alternatively, buy some affordable snacks at the 7/11 or grab a cocktail in one of the balcony beach bars. The plaza has colourful paper decorations and a traditional Mayan design.

Chaak Tun Cenote

Chaak Tun Cenote is one of the top places we visited Playa del Carmen. Lesser known than many of the area’s cenotes and natural attractions, it’s tucked away in a jungle setting away from the beachfont. The complex has two underground cenotes that are enclosed within caverns, and to see them, you’ll need to join a guided tour.

Book a tour slot online and head to Chaak Tun for a guided tour of its mystical, dimly lit chambers. The cenote features impressive stalactites and stalagmites, and its crystal-clear waters are perfect for swimming. The guide will take you through the cave complex, providing you with fascinating insights into the geological formations and the historical significance of cenotes in Mayan culture.

Thanks for reading our guide on the best places to visit in Playa del Carmen. We hope we’ve inspired you with attraction ideas and you can now make the most of your stay in one of Mexico’s most loved beach towns.

The Playa del Carmen area is a great base for exploring Riviera Maya and you’re never too far away from a fun daytrip, cenote, beach or taco bar. It has quickly become our favourite Riviera Maya destination!

If you have any questions about any of the places we’ve featured, be sure to post a comment below.