Things to Do in Playa Del Carmen

Playacar is a gated community just south of Playa del Carmen, Mexico, which is known for its all-inclusive resorts and private beachfront villas. It's ideal for those who want to stay right on the sand and still be close to the excitement of Fifth Avenue. Playacar’s wide and not-too-crowded beaches are some of the nicest in Playa.

Playacar's resorts have gourmet restaurants, gorgeous pools, and offer a wide range of amenities for a relaxing and luxurious stay. Some of the big names that you’ll find here include Riu, Palace, and Occidental. Carved into the jungle, Playacar’s challenging 18-hole golf course is one of the top courses on the Riviera Maya. The neighborhood is also home to a bird aviary, an open-air shopping plaza, and a small group of Maya ruins.  

Most visitors to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula arrive at Cancun International Airport, which is 45 to 60 minutes north of Playacar by car depending on traffic. If you’re vacationing in Playacar, chances are your resort will offer transportation options, or you can book a shuttle from the airport or rent a car there. Taxis are readily available to take visitors to and from Playa del Carmen’s bus station and downtown.

Playacar can be visited year-round. Winter sees large numbers of tourists, and the weeks before and after Easter are some of the busiest. Other times of the year are less crowded. From May to October, expect higher-than-average humidity and a chance of wet weather.

If you love to shop and want a mall experience that differs from what you’ll find back home, you don’t have to go any farther than Plaza Playacar. This small open-air Spanish colonial–style mall is full of shops that guarantee authenticity and quality. In addition to artisan crafts and Maya clothing and embroidery, you’ll also find T-shirts, key chains, and other souvenirs.

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.

Stare in awe at more than 60 drawings that seem to pop off the wall, and become one with the art at the aptly named 3D Museum of Wonders. Owner and artist Keith Wenner once worked for NASA as a graphic artist and was commissioned to draw for the Vatican. Bring a fully-charged camera, as the illusions are only fully revealed in photographs with visitors included in the art.

The 3D Museum of Wonders offers plenty of space for families and groups. Prebook skip-the-line admission tickets to avoid lines, especially in peak season (winter). 

The 3D Museum of Wonders is located on 10th Avenue between 8th and 10th streets in downtown Playa del Carmen. Most visitors walk, bike, or take a taxi to the museum. Limited street parking is available in the area around the museum.  

The museum is open from 9am to 10pm daily, and there isn’t really a bad time to visit. If you want to avoid the crowds, arrive in the morning. Winter brings large numbers of travelers to Playa del Carmen, and the weeks before and after Easter are some of the busiest. The museum is air-conditioned and enclosed, so it makes for a comfortable escape from the heat or rainy days. 

Set aside some time to stroll along Playa del Carmen’s famous Fifth Avenue, located just one block from the 3D Museum of Wonders. This bustling pedestrian street provides easy access to the beach and is lined with loads of shops, restaurants, cafés, bars, and clubs. 

Dive into the depths of the Yucatan’s longest subterranean cave system at Nohoch Nah Chich outside Cancun. Exploring this enormous cenote studded with stalactites and stalagmites offers the experience of a lifetime for diving enthusiasts, while nondivers can swim and snorkel in its freshwater rivers and pools. 

Nohoch Nah Chich, whose name is Mayan for “giant bird cage,” is an easily accessible cenote popular for diving day trips with certified diving guides from Cancun and Playa del Carmen. It’s part of the Yucatan’s vast Sac Actun cave system, which extends for more than 216 miles (348 kilometers) and stretches 5 miles (8 kilometers) inland. At Nohoch Nah Chich you can learn about the formation and history of the underwater caves that the ancient Maya believed were sacred portals to the underworld. 

You can visit the cenote independently or on a day tour from Cancun or Playa del Carmen that may also include rappelling, ziplining, and a ride in an all-terrain vehicle. If you want to avoid renting a car in Mexico, you can opt for a tour that includes round-trip transportation from your hotel. 

The main entrance to Nohoch Nah Chich is in the Maya community of Rancho San Felipe, about 2.8 miles (4.6 kilometers) south of Cenote Dos Ojos on Highway 307. It’s accessible either by private tour or your own transportation. 

Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich is open year-round and cenote tours operate in all weather conditions. Winter brings large numbers of travelers to the Yucatan; during this time, plan to arrive early to beat the crowds.

While at Nohoch Nah Chich, set aside some time to explore Rancho San Felipe and meet the residents of this modern-day Maya community. The ranch belongs to a Maya family that has lived in this remote jungle location for over 30 years. Experience a traditional purification ceremony led by the village shaman and taste homemade classic Maya fare.   

Cirque du Soleil has brought its award-winning magical theater to Mexico's Riviera Maya with Joya, the troupe's first resident production in Latin America. From dazzling theatrics and incredible acrobatics to otherworldly costumes and death-defying stunts, this fantastical show is truly an unforgettable experience. 

Prepare to be wowed. Cirque du Soleil's Joya combines outstanding performing and culinary arts to impress the audience's five senses. The intimate, 600-seat theater's setting is as dramatic as the show itself"”whose storyline draws on the heritage, history, and culture of Mexico"”and is hidden away in the Riviera Maya jungle above a giant cenote. There are ticket options to suit all budgets, from show-only seats and cozy tables to a VIP package replete with a gourmet 3-course dinner experience, preshow entertainment, Champagne, and priority seating for the main attraction..

Teatro Cirque du Soleil is located at the Vidanta resort on the Riviera Maya, just outside Playa del Carmen and Cancun. Many ticket packages include round-trip transportation from area hotels.

Joya's performance schedule varies seasonally. Generally shows are at 6pm, 8pm, and 9:15pm depending on the day of the week and the time of year. If you are having dinner before the performance, arrive at the theater about 90 minutes before show time; for non-dinner tickets, arrive 40 minutes before show time.

Inspired by the migratory journey of the monarch butterfly, Joya chronicles the adventures of its eponymous teenage protagonist and her alchemist grandfather, unraveling the mysteries of a fantastical jungle and the secrets of life along the way. The 70-minute show includes troops of mythical half-human, half-animal creatures; music and theatrics inspired by Mexico's rich history and heritage; and unbelievable contortions, trapeze, handbalancing on canes, and other acrobatics. 

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.

Still relatively unknown to tourists, Cenote Chaak Tun is one of Playa del Carmen’s best-kept secrets. Here, you can learn about the formation and history of the caves, and hear stories and legends of the ancient Maya. Visit the cenote independently or as part of a guided tour that explores two underground rivers. Travelers who want to avoid the hassle of renting a car in Mexico can opt for a tour that includes transportation.

 

Cenote Chaak Tun sits at the end of Avenida Juarez, just several minutes from downtown Playa del Carmen. It’s accessible either by private tour or arranging your own transportation.

Cenote Chaak Tun can be visited year-round. It receives about half the visitors of some of the larger cenotes in Riviera Maya, so you can visit just about any time without having to worry about crowds. Tours of the cenote operate in all weather conditions.

While in Playa del Carmen, take a stroll along Fifth Avenue, a bustling pedestrian street lined with shops and restaurants, and visit Fundadores Park, the city’s main square or zocalo. The 52-foot (16-meter) beachside Portal Maya sculpture and Our Lady of Carmen church are also must-see attractions. And, of course, set aside some time to visit the beaches.

Located just off the ferry dock, Fundadores Park (El Zocalo) 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.

   

The perimeter of El Zócalo is lined with shops selling local crafts that make great souvenirs and gifts; popular hotels; a bandstand; Our Lady of Carmen church; the arched beachside Portal Maya sculpture; and a playground for kids.

Visitors can also see a performance of the Papantla Flyers ritual, most commonly associated with the Papantla, Veracruz, area of Mexico, during which four men tied to ropes descend from a 98-foot (30-meter) pole while a fifth remains on top playing a flute.

Fundadores Park sits just outside of the ADO Bus Station on Fifth Avenue between Avenida Benito Juarez and the ferry dock. If you take a bus into the city, it’ll likely be the first place you see. If you’re staying in downtown, it’s an easy walk to El Zócalo.

 

Playa del Carmen’s El Zócalo can be visited year-round and it’s almost always crowded. If you want to try and beat the crowds, plan to arrive early in the morning before the shops open. It’s also a good place to watch the sunrise.

At the front of the park, a beachside sculpture depicts a man and women clasping hands in a spiral of wind and water to form an archway. Portal Maya stands over 50 feet (15 meters) high and commemorates the December 2012 end of the Maya calendar. Visitors to El Zócalo can walk around the piece to see it up close.

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. 

Most Rio Secreto tours leave from Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Tulum, and other Riviera Maya destinations. At the nature reserve, you can tour the underground river, visit the famous Crystal Caves, and learn about ancient Maya legends. Combo tours combine a visit to Rio Secreto with other activities, such as an early-access visit to the Tulum ruins, a mountain biking excursion, or an ATV tour. 

The Rio Secreto underground river is located in Playa del Carmen, in the Quintana Roo region of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. By road, it is roughly 20 minutes from downtown Playa del Carmen, 45 minutes from Tulum, and one hour from Cancun. Many tours include round-trip transportation from Riviera Maya hotels, but you can also get there by taxi, rental car, or shuttle bus. 

Rio Secreto is busiest from December through April, when the weather tends to be sunny and warm. There are fewer crowds during hurricane season (May through October), but be sure to check the weather for storms if you plan to participate in outdoor activities.

Mexico’s Caribbean Quintana Roo region is full of attractions, both natural and man-made. Nearby Playa del Carmen is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, and shopping. The Maya ruins at Coba, with a 138-foot-high (42-meter-high) stone pyramid, are also a must-see. The archaeological sites of Tulum and Chichen Itza are also great spots to explore. For an island getaway, visit the shores of Isla Mujeres or Cozumel. 

Travelers looking for large scale, all-inclusive resorts with epic views of the Mexican Caribbean coastline will find plenty of options in Riviera Maya. Stretching from Playa del Carmen in the north to Tulum in the south, this scenic stretch of sandy landscape is famous for its status as one of the top beach vacation destinations. While Riviera Maya is ripe with plenty of standard big-name resorts, visitors will also find charming and unique boutique hotels tucked among the sands, as well as private luxury villas and high-end yacht rentals. 

Despite a serious number of tourists making their way to this coastal local, travelers will find plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in less crowded quarters. Whether it’s jet skiing or snorkeling, swimming with dolphins, zip-lining, riding horses or going on a tour of the nearby tropical jungle visitors have their pick of activities on both land and sea. 

Intrepid travelers can test their limits—and their nerves—while navigating the channels of Sac Actun Cenote System—the longest underground river network in the world. Located in the jungles of Tulum, visitors descend into the river via an ominous looking rock well, complete with a well-worn wooden ladder. Because it’s rather remote and difficult to access, Sac Actun proves an ideal destination for travelers looking to explore the beauty and mystique of Mexico far away from the crowds. 

Known by locals as the Pet Cemetery because of the large number of animal fossils, Sac Actun Cenote holds a spiritual place in Mayan tradition and offers travelers spectacular views of hidden waterfalls, dark caverns dripping with stalactites as they swim through fresh water streams. Snorkeling options are also available for those looking to check out the scene even further below the surface.