Playa del Carmen, Mexico

A few years ago Playa del Carmen was a fishermen village with sandy streets called Xaman-Há, where just the tourists who love adventure and the specific travelers from any part of Mexico or the world, went to this place looking for the virgin nature and the calmness of the place. There was not electricity and purified water; there were no telephones. The working days were from sunrise to sunset. At night any excuse was good enough to have a party by the sea in any of the small local restaurants or bars of the town. The small fishermen village beside the port where the boats to Cozumel used to leave, surrounded by the majestic Mayab forest and the amazing turquoise waters of the Mexican Caribbean was the magnificent setting for this peculiar Caribbean town so far from the civilization, with europea-asio-afro-american influence where all the characters coming from different parts of the world soul and mind opened lived a simple life in harmony with nature.
As a tourist or by chance, the blend of cultures and the magic of the nature left this lifestyle, that for many people became a dream, a mark forever in the people who passed by. The secret spread out. Small and Charismatic hotels and restaurants keep on opening their doors to the young and adventure travelers from all around the world, who arrived at the town looking for the culture, the peace and the nature and constantly influenced in the evolution of the place.
Placed in Quintana Roo, the youngest state of the modern Mexico, Playa del Carmen is situated just 60 km from Cancun, the most successful tourist project of the Mexican Government with an International Airport, an hour from Cozumel and Tulum, two hours from Isla Mujeres and Coba.

The privileged geographical situation of Playa del Carmen and the tendency of tourism to visit this new and natural place, made of Playa del Carmen the main objective for tourists and investors; this gave as a result that cosmopolitan community grew and changed creating associations which give them more and better services trying to keep the essence of the town at the same time.
We can see that in the lifestyle of the citizens and in the multicultural influence in its architecture, music, sports, fashion, gastronomy and nightlife that have formed an eclectic Caribbean town.
The options you can find for accommodation go from the simplest to the most sophisticated and for all kind of budget, as well as all the gastronomical alternatives well known due to its wonderful quality and great variety of cusines and service.
Fanciful corners from other parts of the planet appear here and there.
Although most of the business and coffee shops are located in 5th Avenue you can find nice surprises in the adjacent streets. For the ones who love going shopping, the most important stores with articles from other countries which are combined with Mexican handcrafts such as amber, silver, wood and the colorful weaves.
Some of the hotels, bars and restaurants are located by the beach where you can enjoy of a wonderful day taking a sunbathe or just lying in the shade of a palm tree. Or if you wish, there are a great variety of activities to experience the most beautiful moments with this incredible nature. You can also choose a tour through the forest by jeep, motorbike, bike or horse, or if you prefer you can visit the Thematic Natural Parks or the majestic archeological sites, extreme sports or just a massage in the shade of a palm tree.

Diving on the open sea should be mentioned too, as well as snorkeling through the Great Mayan Reef, the second biggest reef in the world, not more than a hundred meters far from the beach. Diving through the caverns, unique situation in the world given due to the underground aquatic system in the Yucatan Peninsula, can be practiced here.
At the South of Playa del Carmen there is a place called Playacar, an all-inclusive private resort, there is a beautiful golf course, an aviary, which was created as an special place to preserve birds from the Southeast of Mexico, two shopping malls, some villas and residences.
The options you have for nightlife in Playa del Carmen are also extreme: you can find from romantic bars to very modern discos with Caribbean rhythms or the most modern electronic music.
If the visitors come in full moon days, they can surely enjoy a celebration in its honor. Generally these celebrations take place at the beach or by a natural well or in most of the bars and discos in town.