One of my favorite beaches along the Yucatán Peninsula, and the third largest city in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, Playa del Carmen provides image after image of white sand beaches backed by the crystal clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean. It’s a beach lover’s paradise, a lovely tourist town with a delightful beachfront promenade.
Unlike the neighboring resort destination of Cancun, Playa del Carmen has yet to be overrun by large resorts, American-themed shopping malls and multi-lane highways. Instead, it’s Playa’s relaxed beach town vibe that attracts visitors to the city and keeps them coming back time and time again.
One of the most impressive archaeological sites in all of Mexico is located within a few hour’s drive of Playa del Carmen. Chichén Itzá is the most well-restored of the Yucatán Maya archaeological sites and one of the new seven wonders of the world. Day tours to the ruins are a popular activity and the site is almost always crowded.
And if you’re craving a bit more tranquility the island of Cozumel awaits. Located just 12 miles (19 km) off the coast of mainland Mexico, the Caribbean island of Cozumel is ranked among the top five dive destinations in the world and a popular port-of-call for Caribbean cruise ships. Isla Mujeres also makes a great day trip destination.
