Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is located on the Mexican Caribbean coast, 40 miles south of Cancun. This area, known as the Mayan Riviera, is an ideal destination for weddings, honeymoons or just to relax in a gorgeous setting. Playa del Carmen's original name was Xaman-Ha or waters of the north;. Playa del Carmen's location and natural beauty make it the perfect vacation spot for travelers of all ages and all budgets.
Playa del Carmen used to be a tiny fishing village, but the increasing rarity of unspoiled beaches, such as the one found there, have put it on the map as a vacation destination. Technically, Playa del Carmen is made up of the village area and the resort area. Both of these combined allow the traveler to experience the quaint charm of small town village life in this part of the world while experiencing all of the luxuries of a resort.
Accommodations vary from small seaside cabanas and large and luxurious four star resorts. Because of this, the savvy traveler can tailor his or her vacation exactly to their needs. Depending on the time of year, well appointed vacation rooms can be as little as $60 a night. There are also many places to please the palate. Playa del Carmen offers many different types of cuisine, from the adventurous to more simple manifestations of traditional Mexican cuisine.
A visitor to Playa del Carmen will never be at a loss for something to do. The Tank Ha Dive Center of Playa del Carmen offers scuba diving classes, the first of which is free if you are a guest of the Hotel Riviera Caribe Maya. All of the diving instructors are fully certified, guaranteeing safe, educational fun. In addition to diving near the shore, they also offer cavern diving for the more adventurous visitor.
Golfers can visit the Playacar Golf Club to play on the beautifully designed course that is surrounded by and integrated with the natural beauty of the surrounding tropical jungle and Mayan ruins.
The Mayan ruins offer their own entertainment in the form of a fascinating history. A short trip away from Playa del Carmen, guests of the beautiful seaside community can visit the spellbinding ruins of the Mayan cities. Xcaret, an eco-archaeological park, is adjacent to Playa del Carmen. Xcaret boasts a natural aquarium, underground rivers, horseback riding, and the once in a lifetime opportunity to swim with dolphins! They also have a botanical garden, a chance to see regional wildlife and a museum celebrating the local history.

Sara Moen is a travel journalist and the editor of Playa Maya News located in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, updated daily with local news, tours, real estate and hotels in Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya.