Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Top places to visit in Playa del Carmen
6 places worth your time in Playa del Carmen, with what each is actually like and when to go.
Last updated 2026-08-11
1. Quinta Avenida
Photo: Noticaribe · CC BY 2.0 · source
The pedestrian spine of the town, running parallel to the beach for forty blocks.
Watch outTimeshare touts posing as tourist information, offering free tours or transfers in exchange for a 'short presentation'.
2. Cenotes
Photo: Mycatkins · CC BY 2.0 · source
Freshwater sinkholes in the limestone, from open pools to full cave dives, all through the surrounding jungle.
- Map: Open in Maps
- Best time: Early, before tour groups
- Cost: MXN 150–500 entry
3. Tulum ruins
Photo: joiseyshowaa · CC BY SA 2.0 · source
A Maya walled city on a cliff over the Caribbean, an hour south.
4. Cozumel
Photo: joiseyshowaa · CC BY SA 2.0 · source
The island 45 minutes by ferry, with the reef wall that made it a diving destination.
5. Akumal
Photo: happyradish · CC BY 2.0 · source
A bay where green turtles graze the seagrass close in.
Watch outGuides at the entrance implying a paid tour is compulsory; public beach access exists and is free.
6. Xcaret and the eco-parks
Photo: wallygrom · CC BY SA 2.0 · source
Large managed parks combining cenotes, wildlife and performance, priced accordingly.
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