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Things to do in Playa del Carmen

Things to do in  Playa del Carmen

Welcome to Playa del Carmen

With vibrant reefs and laid-back Caribbean cool, Playa del Carmen is a favored diving destination offering plenty of ways to enjoy the coast along the Yucatán Peninsula. See what’s beneath the waves on a dive or snorkeling trip, explore fresh-water cenotes, or visit a family-friendly nature park. The walkable town center is packed with boutiques, cafes, and lively nightclubs, and there are ancient Maya ruins and a thick jungle close enough for an afternoon excursion. With a central location on the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen makes the perfect home base for visiting resort towns, villages, golf courses, and picture-perfect beaches up and down the coast.

Top 15 attractions in Playa del Carmen

Tulum

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Tulum, the site of a Pre-Columbian Maya walled city and a port for Coba, is one of the best preserved coastal Mayan cities in the Yucatan, in tandem with Chichen Itza and Ek Balam. Highlights of this archaeological site include the Temple of the Frescoes, which has spectacular figurines of the 'diving god.'More

Rio Secreto Nature Reserve

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Rio Secreto, or the “Secret River,” is a series of caves carved out by the flow of an ancient underground river in Mexico. While the reserve is most famous for its large half-sunken cavern—a popular diving spot—you can also explore eerie passageways, swim in the river, and admire dripping stalactites, stalagmites, and colorful mineral formations.More

Isla Mujeres

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Isla Mujeres (the “Island of Women”) is known for its rich marine life and pristine beaches. Here you can snorkel at Manchones Reef, scuba dive in the Cave of Sleeping Sharks, or stretch out on the white sands of North Beach (Playa Norte). On land you’ll find bustling nightlife, with oceanside bars and restaurants serving fresh seafood.More

Chichen Itza

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One of the New 7 Wonders of the World, Chichén Itzá is among Mexico's most visited and iconic archaeological sites. Known for its main central pyramid, this impressive Maya site—once the ceremonial center of the Yucatán—also features temples, ball courts, and a cenote (freshwater sinkhole).More

CoCo Bongo Playa del Carmen

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From circus performers swinging from the ceiling and dancers crowding the floor, to celebrity impersonators and Broadway-style musicals, Coco Bongo is a nightclub unlike any other. At the Playa del Carmen location, you’ll find extravagant stages, multiple bars, VIP table service, and a dance floor known to rock through the wee hours.More

Mayan Ruins of Coba (Zona Arqueológica de Cobá)

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In the heart of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula lie the ruins of Coba (Zona Arqueológica de Cobá), an ancient Maya city considered to be one of the most important settlements in Mesoamerican history. During its peak between AD 500 and 900, Coba housed 50,000 residents and was the central terminus for the complex Maya system of roadways. The jungle site is still being excavated, but visitors can experience the already discovered remains of thesesacbes, or stone causeways, as well as a number of engraved and sculpted monuments.More

Fifth Avenue (Quinta Avenida)

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The pedestrian-only Fifth Avenue (Quinta Avenida) runs parallel to the ocean in downtown Playa del Carmen. This bustling tourist strip provides easy beach access and is within walking distance of shops, restaurants, bars, and clubs. Lining Fifth Avenue are shops aplenty, including those selling artisan crafts, fine jewelry, and cigars.More

Xcaret

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With unparalleled access to the Caribbean Sea and all of its bounty, a visit to the Xcaret eco-archaeological park is a must when on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Snorkeling, ziplining, river rafting, exploring underwater rivers, and hiking tropical trails through jungle ruins are all options within this natural adventure park, which gives fast access to many of Cancun’s greatest attractions.More

Cenote Chaak Tun

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At Cenote Chaak Tun, outside Playa del Carmen, venture inside hidden subterranean caves that the ancient Maya believed were sacred portals to the underworld. Follow the beam of your headlamp into an enormous cenote, where centuries-old stalactites drip from above, and swim and snorkel in its fresh water rivers and pools.More

Xel-Ha

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Named after a Mayan word meaning “the place where the waters are born,” the Xel-Ha aquatic park encompasses 14 acres (5.7 hectares) of jungle and ocean just south of Playa del Carmen. A must-visit family-friendly attraction, Xel-Ha is home to cenotes, a lazy river, fish-filled lagoons, and other natural attractions.More

3D Museum of Wonders

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Jump into the art at Playa del Carmen’s 3D Museum of Wonders. Created by a visionary American artist, this interactive museum is truly in a genre and mind-bending class of its own. It doesn’t take long for reality to blend with illusion, and pretty soon you’re splashing beneath a waterfall, surfing a wave, or trapped inside a bubble.More

Fundadores Park (El Zócalo)

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Located just off the ferry dock, Fundadores Park (El Zócalo) is the center of Playa del Carmen. This beachside park sits along Playa del Carmen’s famous Fifth Avenue, and it’s the main square from which the rest of the tourist area branches out. From El Zócalo you’ll have a gorgeous view of the ocean and easy access to the beaches.More

Frida Kahlo Museum (Museo Frida Kahlo)

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Explore the life—and contextualize the legacy—of Mexican surrealist artist and feminist icon Frida Kahlo at Playa del Carmen’s Frida Kahlo Museum (Museo Frida Kahlo). At one of the city’s first cultural spaces, learn about Kahlo’s work, illness, and tumultuous relationship with Diego Rivera by way of interactive and sensory exhibits.More

Kantun Chi Ecopark

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Built around the cenotes and jungle of the Riviera Maya, the Kantun Chi Ecopark is a subterranean playground of cenotes, underground caves, and grottoes. Filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and ancient columns, it offers a unique way to explore the dramatic natural scenery and learn about the region’s long Maya history.More

Xplor Park

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Set in the middle of the Yucatan jungle, Xplor Park allows visitors to experience Mexico’s environmental treasures firsthand. Here you can raft down a stalactite-filled underground river, swim in cenotes, ride in an amphibious vehicle, or zipline above the canopy. There’s also a nighttime option to explore after dark.More
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Trip ideas

Top activities in Playa del Carmen

Jungle Buggy Tour from Playa del Carmen Including Cenote Swim
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Playa del Carmen Buggy Tour with Cenote Swim and Mayan Village Visit
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Tulum Guided Tour, Magical Cenote, Lagoon Snorkeling and Beachside Lunch
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Chichen Itza, Cenote Ik Kil, and Coba Ruins Day Trip All Fees Included
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Best ATV Tour, Ziplines and Cenote Swim with Lunch and Transport Included
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Cirque du Soleil® JOYÀ Admission Tickets
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Cirque du Soleil® JOYÀ Admission Tickets

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Half-Day Sea Turtle and Cenote Snorkeling Tour from Cancun & Riviera Maya
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VIP Chichen Itza Private Tour
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VIP Chichen Itza Private Tour

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Luxury Sunset Sailing Cruise in the Riviera Maya with Light Dinner and Open Bar
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All Inclusive Catamaran Tour to Isla Mujeres, from Cancun to Riviera Maya
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Tulum Ruins Visit and Swim in Two Different Cenotes Guided Tour
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What people are saying about Playa del Carmen

Our Family Had a Blast
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Karl_A
, Apr 2023
Our Family Had a Blast
Jony was a fantastic guide, very knowledgeable and his English was impeccable.
The Pickup at Terminal 2 in Cancun took about one hour to arrange, but Kerima did help us get the  Mini Van Driver.
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Lorna_F
, Feb 2023
The Pickup at Terminal 2 in Cancun took about one hour to arrange, but Kerima did help us get the Mini Van Driver.
We paid for a round trip, so we will have to see if that goes smoothly.
Private transport to and from airport by Abbi
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Randy_M
, Feb 2023
Private transport to and from airport by Abbi
Abbi was in time, great sense of humor and spoke English.
Tour was 14 hours long
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LaTosha_F
, Dec 2022
Tour was 14 hours long
Nobody spoke English in Holbox.
The Best Day Ever.
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Leslie_B
, May 2023
The Best Day Ever.
Coba was equally as beautiful and there is a wealth of knowledge to see there.
Great excursion, with a few suggestions
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Rami_A
, May 2023
Great excursion, with a few suggestions
Juan explained the historic and cultural backgrounds of the places we were going to see before we got there.
Excellent, safe, affordable transportation between Cancun airport and Playa del Carmen hotel zone
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Meiko_W
, Apr 2023
Excellent, safe, affordable transportation between Cancun airport and Playa del Carmen hotel zone
They all spoke English fluently.
Great guides, good food, and lots of fun.
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Michael_H
, Apr 2023
Great guides, good food, and lots of fun.
We got to see Tulum, spend some time on a private beach, traveled to Coba, had lunch, toured the ruins, and ended the day with a swim in an underground cenote.
Chichen itza and cenote tour
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Nadia_A
, Mar 2023
Chichen itza and cenote tour
After that you go to Chichen Itza and get 2 hours to visit.
Do not have to panic with viator’s help!
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Julie_L
, Mar 2023
Do not have to panic with viator’s help!
We were told who to see and where to meet, so it was easy!
Excellent tour with Amigo Tours and Marco
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Eldon_W
, Mar 2023
Excellent tour with Amigo Tours and Marco
Good to see the difference and good to see Amigo Tours doing something good for the Mayan people.
Yummy Food & Stories
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Rachel_H
, Feb 2023
Yummy Food & Stories
We also got to see some of the amazing street art in the neighbourhood and had pictures taken throughout.
A must if you want to visit Chichen Itza at its best
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Neale_D
, Jan 2023
A must if you want to visit Chichen Itza at its best
Very impressed that Amigo Tours is investing in a new archeological site close by which we got to visit.
UNREAL EXPERIENCE!!!!