Travel Guide Playa Del Carmen
Former fishing village invested in the mid-1980s by tourists fleeing the rush of Cancún, Playa del Carmen has since become a seaside resort itself very tourist in the heart of a small tropical paradise. Located on the Caribbean Sea, in the Yucatán Peninsula, the destination offers fine sandy beaches and all the nautical and festive pleasures of a site dedicated to tourism. Take your travel guide with you. The beauty of the seabed delights scuba diving enthusiasts. The Yucatán Peninsula is home to a very rich flora and fauna. The municipality is divided into three distinct areas: the tourist area, to the south, a large beach lined with hotels and a golf course, the residential town, around Fifth Avenue where bars, restaurants and shops line up, and the Mexican town. And if you have the courage to leave the beach, the many tour operators offer their packages of activities, visits and excursions: Xcaret Eco Park water park, archaeological sites in XelHa, Tulum or Cobá, Cancún, another very touristy town on the peninsula, Sian Ka'an nature reserve, or Chichén Itzá, an ancient Mayan town. Finally, Playa del Carmen is the gateway to the island of Cozumel just across the street.
What to visit Playa Del Carmen?
Suggested addresses Playa Del Carmen
When to go to Playa Del Carmen?
When to go to Playa del Carmen? The year is divided into three periods in Mexico, and therefore in Playa del Carmen. The best time to go to Playa del Carmen is from April to June and from September to November. The intermediate period is due to the school vacations in July and August. The tourist "boom" period extends from December to March or April, depending on the dates of the Holy Week. The boom means higher prices and reservations, but also a wider range of activities for tourists. Mexico is a very festive country. Many religious and popular festivities take place each month. For the National Independence Day, on September 15-16, the scene where Miguel Hidalgo called for the uprising in 1810 is re-enacted throughout the country. On November1st and 2nd, the Day of the Dead, all families celebrate their dead, nothing like All Saints' Day, it is a joyful and colorful celebration. Every year, in January, in Playa del Carmen, it is BPM Festival, famous electronic music festival.
Weather at the moment
Playa del Carmen, like the rest of Yucatán, has a tropical climate with a rainy season that sees 90% of the rainfall, from June to October. The rains are even more important in the south where a dense forest flourishes. The dry season in the peninsula is between November and May.
Although considerably more expensive than Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico remains a relatively inexpensive country despite inflation. In Playa del Carmen, the higher quality hotels also offer rooms at very interesting prices. As for meals, it is very easy to eat "local" for a few euros! The currency is the Mexican peso, which is easily exchanged and paid for by credit card in the city and especially in the resorts like Playa del Carmen. The tip is 10% of the final bill at the bar or restaurant.
European Union citizens do not need a visa to travel to Mexico and therefore to Playa del Carmen. The only formality to enter the Mexican territory is to fill out the Mexican State Tourist Card (Forma Migratoria Multiple/FMM), which is provided upon arrival at the airport in Mexico. This card gives you the right to stay in the country for a maximum of 180 days. You must be careful not to lose it, as it is required at the time of departure. You must also be able to show a return ticket and have a passport valid for the entire duration of your stay.
To go to Mexico and thus to Playa del Carmen, it is recommended to be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis and hepatitis A. Those planning a more adventurous stay in remote areas should also plan to protect themselves against hepatitis B, typhoid and rabies as a preventive measure. Vaccination against yellow fever is not mandatory, except for travelers coming from an exposed area in Africa or Latin America. Beware, insect bites are easily infected in tropical environments and you should be careful with minor injuries. Be sure to avoid bites mainly by wearing proper clothing and using repellents. Finally, the most common health problem you may face is diarrhea... If you decide to eat in the markets or on the street, be aware that hygiene is often poor. So make sure that the food is well cooked and avoid raw vegetables in these places. In a more formal restaurant, there are no more risks than elsewhere.
Practical information
- When to travel?
- Weather forecast
- Budget
- Formalities
- Health
- How to travel by yourself?
- How to get organized?
- Getting around
Media
How to go to Playa Del Carmen? Our advice & tips
Mexico is a huge country and it is impossible to discover it in a single trip. Tour operators mainly propose stays of about ten days around a theme (the Mayan culture, Aztec sites...) or a region (the Pacific, Yucatán, Chiapas, the capital and its surroundings).
Discover our selection of travel agencies for this destinationWell served, Mexico is a generally safe country for solo travelers. The wave of drug cartel violence and social repression generally spares tourists; neither the criminals nor the state want to attract too much publicity. However, tourists can be easy prey, especially on the subway, in cabs, or on the street after dark. The usual rules of caution apply: do not show your camera, your "banana" or your wallet.
It is very easy to travel by plane in the country, as most cities have an airport. There is also a very good network of long distance buses with cheap fares. However, depending on the route, to save time and avoid long hours in the bus, the plane is often more interesting. Please note: with the emergence of low cost airlines on certain routes, air and bus fares are sometimes identical.
