Located on the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen is one of the best places to visit in Mexico. It used to be a very small and hippie town but it has now grown to become one of the largest cities in Quintana Roo.
It’s also famous for its location near all the all-inclusive resorts, theme parks and the stunning Cozumel.
From the downtown area to the beaches and day trips, everything you need to know about Playa del Carmen and what to do there is here.
1. Food tour in Playa del Carmen
This is the best thing to do in Playa del Carmen when you just arrived.
Food tours are always a great activity but this one in Playa del Carmen really sets the standard.
You will meet the guide on the 5th avenue and go to several local spots where you can try quesadillas, tacos, enchiladas, drinks and even get dessert.
I absolutely loved this tour because the guide gave us a lot of information about Playa del Carmen and its development in recent years and the food we tried was incredible.
The best thing is that you get to try a lot of things you would never have tried otherwise (or even knew existed). This includes corn mushroom, fruit and street food.
Click here to see the availability and prices.
2. Parque Los Fundadores
This is the main park in Playa del Carmen. It’s located on the waterfront, near the ferry to Cozumel and the 5th avenue.
Here you will find the Nuestra Senora del Carmen Church which is beautiful with its white facade, the statue of Carmen herself as well as the stunning Mayan portal statue.
The Mayan portal statue is the most famous structure in Playa del Carmen and an excellent photo spot.
Make sure to walk through it and down to the beach. From the park you can’t always see that there is a bit of a beach but there is!
3. Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue)
The 5th avenue is the most famous avenue in Playa del Carmen. Here you will find loads of cafes, restaurants, bars and shops.
It’s very lively, especially in the evening and a great place to check out if you want to go out.
PRO TIP: Since this is the touristy area, prices are a bit higher up so keep that in mind.
4. Free walking tour
If you want to learn more about Playa del Carmen and Mexican history and culture, this free walking tour is ideal.
It starts in front of the ADO bus station, on the Quinta avenida, and lasts 90 minutes.
The guides are very friendly and they will take you around Playa del Carmen to show you all the main sites as well as some street art.
It’s particularly interesting because they tell you about the history of the town but also the Mayan culture (which is something very important to understand in Mexico).
The tour is free to book but like any free tour around the world, this is tip-based. Regardless, it’s still a very affordable activity!
Click here to book the free walking tour.
5. Discover the street art
Playa del Carmen is a paradise for street art lovers. There are so many murals everywhere! Just have a walk around and you’ll find them. It’s very pretty and interesting.
You can even find some surprising ones like the one in the photo with Jean Reno (who is a French actor).
I also particularly liked the murals of Pinta o Muere (a street artist that you will also find in Bacalar and Holbox) with Kukulkan, the Mayan serpent god.
6. Go on a day trip to Cozumel
This is by far the best thing to do in Playa del Carmen and if there is only one thing I could recommend, that would be it!
Cozumel is an island near Playa del Carmen. It’s home to one of the best reefs in the world and is an excellent place to go snorkelling and scuba diving.
From Playa del Carmen, you can take the ferry to Cozumel. Tickets can be booked online here. It only takes 45 minutes and is very easy.
Once you arrive, you can have a walk around San Miguel de Cozumel, the main square and get a delicious coffee at COZ Coffee Roasting Company.
In the afternoon, I recommend doing this snorkelling tour. It’s great value for money and you get to check out 3 different snorkelling spots (including El Cielo) and then go for a swim at a beautiful beach.
Guacamole and beers are also included which is a plus!
This was one of the best snorkelling experiences of my life and I’ve done it in Australia, Thailand, Bali, Costa Rica and more, so that’s quite a statement.
El Cielo is particularly beautiful and it’s such a magical experience to see all the starfish!
7. Go to XPlor Park
There are a lot of theme parks around Playa del Carmen and in all honesty, they are all great but XPlor is simply exceptional!
It’s a great place to visit for everyone, whether you like adventures or resort holidays.
You can book your tickets online here.
I’ll admit that it seems quite expensive at first but it’s actually excellent value for money because you get access to the park and all the attractions (zipline, buggies, cave swimming…) but also unlimited food and drinks.
The lunch buffet is amazing. There is so much choice and it’s all delicious. You also get unlimited snacks and drinks during the day which is great.
The attractions themselves are a lot of fun because it’s a mix of activity and natural wonders. For example, there are several ziplines, a hammock zipline and a lot of water activities like kayaking in a cave or cave swimming.
You will love it!
Click here to see the availability and prices.
8. Visit the cenotes
There are many cenotes around Playa del Carmen and they are great places to visit in the afternoon to cool down.
Now the only issue with cenotes in the Yucatan peninsula is that there are so many of them that sometimes it’s hard to choose which one to go to!
But here are some cool ones that are worth checking out: Kantun Chi, Cenote Chaak Tun and Cenote Azul.
9. Go to Playa 72 (free beach)
A lot of beaches around Playa del Carmen are beach clubs and don’t get me wrong, they are great, but there is often an entrance fee or a minimum tab.
If you are on a budget but still want to go to a beautiful beach, head to playa 72, which is located on the 72th street (hence the name).
You can park in the streets nearby and then walk the sandy path to the beach.
Once you arrive you will discover the beautiful beach and you can stay there for free. It can get a bit busy since it’s a popular spot amongst the locals but it’s still beautiful and there is a nice sunset.
10. Coco Bongo
You may have heard of Coco Bongo in Cancun since that’s one of the most famous nightclubs in the world but there is also one in Playa del Carmen!
Coco Bongo is a nightclub that offers a complete experience with shows (which can be Moulin Rouge, circus and musical style) as well as a disco nightclub experience.
Tickets can be bought online here and will give you access for the whole night. It also includes drinks, snacks and access to the beach club.
If you like to party and do something fun in the evening, that’s definitely for you!
Click here to see the availability and prices.
11. Go to Ecopark Kantun Chi
Kantun Chi is an eco park located 25-minute drive from Playa del Carmen. It’s very easy to get there if you have your own car.
There are a lot of options in terms of cenotes between Playa del Carmen and Tulum but Kantun Chi is one of the best in my opinion.
The reason for that is that most cenotes only have one cenote and charge a high entrance fee anyway.
At Kantun Chi, the entrance fee is a bit higher but you get access to not 1 but 5 cenotes.
All of these cenotes are unique and it includes caves and open cenotes which gives a very complete experience.
You will also get access to kayaks (included) at all the cenotes so you can go for a swim, relax on the hammocks or kayak a bit.
12. Visit Rio Segreto
Rio Segreto is one of the most unique natural caves with underground rivers in the area. It’s part of an ecopark which means the infrastructure is great.
To visit, you need to book a guided tour. Due to the nature of the attraction, this cannot be visited by yourself.
The tour includes a visit with a walk and swim in the underground river.
The great thing about Rio Segreto is that there are stunning stalactites, it’s a real cave with incredible features.
Click here to see the availability and prices
Now that you know everything about the best things to do in Playa del Carmen, it’s time to go and enjoy!
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