Playa del Carmen is a vibrant coastal paradise on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, offering a perfect mix of adventure, relaxation, and culture. I’ve explored every corner of this stunning destination, from its pristine beaches to its bustling Fifth Avenue (Quinta Avenida), and I’m here to share the absolute best things to do in Playa del Carmen.
Whether you're craving turquoise waters and white sand beaches, looking to dive into cenotes (natural sinkholes), or eager to explore ancient Mayan ruins, this Caribbean gem has it all. You can snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of Xcaret Park, take a ferry to Cozumel, or immerse yourself in the lively Playa del Carmen nightlife. Foodies will love the authentic Mexican street food and beachfront dining, while shoppers can browse artisan crafts and high-end boutiques.
For thrill-seekers, there’s scuba diving in the Mesoamerican Reef, ATV jungle tours, and even skydiving over the coastline. History buffs can take a short trip to Tulum or Chichén Itzá, two of the most iconic archaeological sites in Mexico.
In this guide, I’ll break down the must-visit spots, hidden gems, and travel tips that will make your trip unforgettable. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or a month, these Playa del Carmen activities will help you make the most of your time in paradise.
Why Stay in Playa del Carmen: 3 Key Reasons
- It has beaches with turquoise waters that we travelers greatly appreciate (as long as the sargassum allows it)
- Being a top destination, there is a wide range of hotels and it has all the amenities to enjoy your stay.
- And finally, its location will allow you to explore (almost) the entire region and its main attractions on day trips.
Playa del Carmen must-sees
Strolls along Quinta Avenida, its busiest street, sculptures, beaches, excursions and restaurants where you can eat tacos and toast with margaritas. Sounds good, huh? Here are the best things to see and do in Playa del Carmen:
1. Fifth Avenue
Stroll down Fifth Avenue , the heart of Playa del Carmen's nightlife. It is a pedestrian street full of shops, bars and restaurants and it is undeniable that it is the main artery of Playa del Carmen and that leaving without stopping by would be a crime.
If you want to have a drink in a cool place with good prices, we recommend the Tropical restaurant , where there are very tempting happy hour offers and some of the best margaritas in the city.
2. Frida Kahlo Museum
On this trip we didn't visit Mexico City, and I couldn't fulfill my dream of visiting Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul. Buuuut in Playa del Carmen there is a museum dedicated to Frida ! We booked the tickets on Tripadvisor (15€) and we weren't disappointed at all. The entrance fee includes a guided tour and thanks to the girl who accompanied us throughout the tour we learned a lot about the extravagant and brilliant artist.
→ We were inspired to write 20 curiosities about Frida Kahlo .
3. Go to the beach, something to do in Playa del Carmen yes or yes
The beach at Playa del Carmen, on the other hand, was quite disappointing, especially because there was a lot of sargassum when we visited and we couldn't enjoy it as we would have liked (but hey, nature rules).
We were told that Xpu-ha Beach is a good alternative to Playa del Carmen, although when we went there we didn't find any free public access, so we decided to go back home and enjoy the pool (apparently they charge 50 pesos and it may be worth it). In this part of Mexico there are many people who take advantage and charge for access to the beach, the fact is that the beaches are free, but if you have to cross private property to get there they may ask you for a little money.
4. Eating: one of the joys you can have in Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is the perfect place to enjoy the good Mexican life : try the typical dishes of the local cuisine, and have a margarita (or two). And if you want to end the night dancing, an almost legendary place is the Salón Salsanera Raíces … get moving! Oh, the food in Mexico is so delicious!
If you want to eat some good tacos , take note of these names: El Fogón and El rey de los tacos . Soon we will tell you about more places where you can eat well and cheaply in Playa del Carmen.
→ We tell you about other restaurants where you can eat in Playa del Carmen (good and cheap) .
Remember to get the Revolut card ( with a €10 promo ) to avoid commissions when paying and withdrawing money abroad
5. Parish of Our Lady of Carmen
Another thing to do in Playa del Carmen is to stop by the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen , a typical all-white Mexican church, the small lighthouse on the main beach, with its characteristic exterior staircase, or of course, the PLAYA DEL CARMEN sign , in Fundadores Park.
6. Cenote route from Playa del Carmen
Near the city are some of the most beautiful cenotes in the entire Riviera Maya, such as Cenote Azul . Entry costs $10. Another cenote that we were recommended to visit and that is also close to Cenote Azul is Cenote Jardín Edén .
7. Mayan Portal
Take a photo with the Maya Portal , a statue by José Arturo Tavarez Padilla that represents two figures, one male and one female, forming a kind of arch. It is an icon of the city and is located in the Parque Fundadores. It is undoubtedly one of the best things to see and do in Playa del Carmen.
Take out IATI travel insurance with a 5% discount here . Whatever your destination, save yourself trouble and don't take any chances.
8. Stay at Anah Suites
As we said before, it's a good place to find super cool accommodations at good prices. We stayed at the Anah Suites , a complex of beautiful apartments that we booked through Airbnb. Check out this and other accommodation booking platforms.
9. Swim with turtles in Akumal
Another recommended place is Akumal , although in recent years it must have undergone a brutal change due to tourism and it is no longer what it was. Its main attraction is being able to swim with turtles . When you arrive, the tourist circus is set up and you will not be able to access the beach without going through the ticket office (100 pesos per person).
We ended up parking (for free) in the parking lot of the Lol Ha restaurant , which, in exchange for spending money at the restaurant (no minimum consumption), has access to the beach for free. Here, for 40 pesos you get entry and a coke. Don't forget to bring your own snorkeling goggles because renting them is a rip-off, and yes, there are turtles!
We wouldn't say it's a must-see place, but we found what we were looking for: one of the three statues of Gonzalo Guerrero (it's inside the property of the Lol Ha restaurant itself).
10. Best Day Trips from Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is a perfect base to explore some of the top sites in Riviera Maya:
› Tulum
Playa del Carmen is perfectly located for exploring other interesting areas of Riviera Maya. You can't miss a trip to Tulum , with its famous Mayan ruins . We spent 3 days there, and this is all you can do in Tulum in that time. But if you don't have a car or want to visit in a day, you can sign up for a day trip from Playa del Carmen to see the essentials.
› Cozumel
The excursion that is usually the most popular among local travel agencies is Cozumel . Although you can also do it on your own, all you have to do is take a ferry that will take you to the island in about 40 minutes (it costs 390 pesos round trip). You can get there with the Ultramar ferry and there you can do the most outstanding activities during the day.
› Holbox
Another cool excursion (although we recommend going and staying at least 3 days) is the one that takes you to Holbox . The ideal is to go on your own and stay a few days, but if you don't have time you can always book this excursion to Holbox from Playa del Carmen .
› Sian Ka'an
The Sian Ka'an nature reserve will please all those who love the environment. It is not very close (110 km approx) but it can be a nice and different day trip. If you have several days in Playa del Carmen it is a good idea to take a road trip there.
› Coba
However, if archaeological sites are your thing , a very interesting (and very visited) one is Cobá , especially if you are not going to see any more Mayan ruins, apart from obviously Chichén Itzá. You can go on your own by renting a car (get up early!) or sign up for this tour to Cobá which also includes a visit to a cenote.
› Chichen Itza
And of course, the great Riviera Maya excursion, the one that everyone should do: go visit Chichen Itza . You can do it on your own ( here we give you all the info ) or sign up for one of the tours that take you to see one of the 7 wonders of the world like this one.
Here is our selection of the best 20 things to see and do in Playa del Carmen . As you can see, it is a destination where getting bored is almost impossible.
