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About Playa del Carmen in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico

Playa Del Carmen
Courtesy of VisitMexico
Playa del Carmen is a city on the coast of the Caribbean Sea in the north east part of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. Playa del Carmen has beautiful beaches, shores and waters. In the 2005 census, the city had a population of about 100,383 people and is still rapidly growing in population. There are many different activities and sights to see when you visit Playa del Carmen and guaranteed to leave you wanting to come back over and over again.  

A brief history of Playa del Carmen

Originally only a small fishing town, Playa del Carmen activity began with the passenger ferry service to Cozumel, an island across the Cozumel channel and world-famous scuba diving destination. While passing through, many people realized that it was a nice place to relax away from the crowds of other nearby towns with the same quality beaches and turquoise waters. 

Fast forward to today, Playa del Carmen is the center of the Riviera Maya concept which covers the area from Cancun to Tulum as well as the biosphere reserve known as Xcaret. As of the 2010 census the population in Playa Del Carmen was approximately 149,923 residents.

Tourism industry

Playa del Carmen has a subtropical climate which means that the weather ranges from warm to hot for most of the year. The average temperature over the year is about 80 degrees fahrenheit and the humidity is usually high. The sea is always tepid warm and perfect for swimming at any hour of the day. The coolest time of the year falls between November and January, and also the highest tourism season as the temperature is very comfortable and warm to cool at night. 

The location of Playa del Carmen is between Cancun and Tulum in the Riviera Maya. The town of Playa del Carmen is also a stop for several cruise ships which dock at the nearby Calica quarry docks that is about six miles outside of the city. 
Picture
The Xcaret Eco Park is a Mexican themed eco-archaeological park which is a popular tourist destination. The tourist activity in town centers around Quintana Avenida or Fifth Avenue. This is a pedestrian walkway that is only 1 to 2 blocks inland from the beach. Fifth avenue is lined with hundreds of shops, bars and restaurants. There are also many small boutique hotels along the avenue which provide easy access to great shopping and beach for your trip.  

The beaches of Playa del Carmen have white sand and the sea is turquoise colored waters yet remarkably clear. There are many day trips that you can take to see numerous tourist destinations and these range from swimming in a cenote to visiting Tulum and the ancient mayan ruins, like Chichen Itza. 

If you are looking for something more active you can try snorkeling along the second largest coral reef in the world or taking the ferry to Cozumel and renting a moped to tour the island. Hotels in Playa del Carmen range from large luxurious hotels and all inclusive resorts to small boutique hotels. Prices range from low to high with many options for whatever budget. Playa del Carmen is the kind of tourist destination that will leave you wanting to come back again and again and leave you asking yourself, how can I move here and become a permanent resident of this beautiful location.
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Travel information when traveling to Playa del Carmen

Airport: Cancun International Airport 
Address: Carretera Cancún-Chetumal Km 22, 75220 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
Local phone number: +52 55 5284 0400

Is a passport or travel visa required? This depends on your nationality and your country of origin. We recommend that you check with your travel agent or Mexican Consulate in your area to know what documents you require to travel to Playa Del Carmen.
Read about the next beach destination > or select another beach destination yourself using the quick links below:

Cancun | Cabo San Lucas | Puerto Escondido | Puerto Vallarta | Zihuatanejo | Ensenada | Mazatlan | Playa Del Carmen | Guaymas

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You may also like to view

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Chichen Itza, Meso Ruin
* One of the Wonders of the world
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Cancun, Mexico


Other beach destinations

  • Cancun
  • Cabo San Lucas
  • Puerto Escondido
  • Puerto Vallarta
  • Zihuatanejo
  • Ensenada
  • Mazatlan
  • Playa Del Carmen
  • Guaymas
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Photos used under Creative Commons from GOC53, katgrigg