Playa del Carmen      

Area Information

Playa del Carmen or just " Playa " is a city on the move. The once sleepy village of Playa del Carmen doubled twice in population in the last few years, mainly due to Europeans who discovered the alabaster-white beaches, gentle surf, coral reefs and slow lifestyle were the equal of the more expensive island of Cozumel just across the straits. Playa's dock is the pier for the 'people ferry' to Cozumel, so it's only a short trip over to snorkel or dive on Cozumel's incredible coral reefs.

The strong foriegn influence has created a unique vagabond traveler ambiance. Numerous outrageously delicious restaurants provide sustenance and several foreign-owned hotels raise the standards of service to exacting levels. Combine that with a relaxed Mexican-Caribbean feeling and a sprinkling of American free- spirits and you've got Playa. It's definitely not the place to 'get away,' but it is a place to enjoy marvelous beaches by day and a lively nightlife in the evening. The mix of backpackers, archeological buffs and New Age sun worshippers makes Playa very interesting and worth some time.

Getting Around

To get to Playa, 68 km (42 miles) south of Cancun, take a bus from the station downtown (about 1 1/2 hours). If you're in the hotel zone, you could negotiate a fare with a Cancun taxi driver to scoot you down.

The main road into town, Av. Juarez or Av. Principal, depending on whom you ask, leads you right to the ferry dock and the pedestrian-only 5th Avenue, running perpendicular to the beach. It boasts many hotels, stores and restaurants. The bus station is right there at Av. 5 and Juarez and is a hub for further journeys down to Tulum, Chetumal and Belize. Many hotels are within easy walking distance from the bus and the street in front of the station is full of men on large yellow tricycles (triciclos), who will ride you and/or your luggage cheaply to your hotel in a Mexican version of a rickshaw. If your hotel isn't close or you have to go on the back streets of Playa, get a cab right there. In 1994, in response to the growing popularity of the town, the streets were torn up for sewer and water lines. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough money left to repave them. Consequently, many of the new streets look as if the American Air Force has been using them as target practice with 500 lb smart bombs. The water-filled potholes in the unpaved roads outside of the oldest part of town make traffic crawl and require zig-zagging to the max.

Famous Fifth Avenue
All along its busy promenades lined with handcraft stores -a mere sampling of Mexican and international creativity- and on the city's famous Fifth Avenue, meeting place of extravagant characters, visitors can taste the delicious local dishes at any of numerous sidewalk cafés, where a marimba, trio from Veracruz or heavy rock band entice diners inside.

This once sleepy fishing village, ensconced in the very heart of the Riviera Maya, is now one of the fastest growing communities in the world. It has a first-class hotel infrastructure and all the services of a cosmopolitan tourism destination. On the horizon, the hazy outline of the legendary island of Cozumel beckons. Regularly scheduled ferries take visitors to Mexico's largest island and world renowned diving site, where turquoise blue waters entice divers to discover the coral wonders hidden beneath the surface.

Playa del Carmen, magic, eclectic and yet steeped in tradition is the doorway to those who want to enjoy the natural beauty and culture of the Mayan World, explore the region, mingle with its people and discover the parks of the Riviera Maya. Today, the new alternative to traditional tourism is eco-adventure travel that offers everything from walks through exuberant jungles to millenary cenotes (sinkholes) and Mayan villages, cave diving in the underground river systems that riddle the Yucatan Peninsula and visits to solitary lagoons, refuge of monkeys and other marvelous wildlife.

Beautiful beaches

After an active day, there is nothing like a massage on the beach, an aromatic bath, therapies to sooth the spirit and mud treatments to eliminate toxins and relieve tension. Although a fascinating kaleidoscope of color created by nature and rich cultural diversity by day, this corner of the Riviera Maya is renowned for its nightlife. The streets, discotheques and bars are animated with live music of all genres: from ska, reggae and hip-hop to blues, Afro-Brazilian, techno and house. The energy traps everyone in this non-stop party that no one escapes from 'til dawn.
Travel Information

Practicalities
The post office is three blocks back from the beach on Av. Principal, with the police station (9/87-3-02-91) right next door and the Centro de Salud Medical Center across the street. You'll find Tourism information on Av. 5 near the central plaza. Several hotels rent bicycles, but get a mountain bike to dodge the water-filled cenote-like potholes and sandy streets.

The majority of the banks are located on Av. Juarez, most have an ATM. (ATMs disperse mexican pesos). Recently Banamex opened another branch on the corner of Ave. 10 and Calle 12, also boasting an ATM. Check or ask around as new banks and cash machines are popping up daily. There are several Money Exchanges (Casa de Cambios) located in Playa, so exchanging money should not be a problem. Exchange rate can vary daily and from place to place. Most shops and restaurants will accept american dollars.

There are plenty of 'minisupers' (corner grocery stores) and fruit shops located in Playa, as well as a few 'large' supermarkets (Super San Francisco being the most popular due to its location on 30th). Some supermarkets also accept credit/debit cards.

The ferry to Cozumel has a schedule that changes constantly. If you're going over, just ask about times at any of the ticket booths scattered around the plaza. Try to get a ticket on the WJ Mexico, a fast waterjet (25 minutes). The Xel-H or Cozumelero takes 45 minutes.

For shopping, the stores of Playa's Av. 5 and surrounding sidestreets offer an eclectic assortment of hand-made pottery, arts and crafts both local and from all over Mexico, gifts and New Age paraphernalia.

Adventures

Most of Playa's activities involve the water - the beaches are fabulous for swimming, snorkeling, or diving. There are numerous dive shops around. Try the Tank Ha (Ha means water in Mayan) dive shop at the Maya Bric Hotel. The Abyss Dive Shop at the Blue Parrot Inn - Calle 12 North on the Beach offers a variety of dives geared to meet each divers needs: from beginners to experts.

Golf is available in Playacar on an 18-hole course designed by Robert Von Hagge. Beachcombers could hike north and make a whole day of it, relaxing in one or two beachside restaurants along the way. Wear a hat and much sunscreen.

Playa del Carmen's Most Inimitable Villa Resort and Spa Experience

Hidden in a small village of Playa Xcalacoco just outside Playa del Carmen, along the pearlescent sands of the Riviera Maya, Ikal del Mar is a seaside refuge extending deep into the primitive Mayan tropical forest. The 30-villa property and its stunning spa present the epitome of Mayan Riviera beach unpretentious luxury, exuding the ambience of an exclusive private Playa del Carmen villa or opulent residential compound.

Touted as "a sexy, eco-conscious hideaway in the jungle" by Travel + Leisure magazine, our Riviera Maya resort's design respects and accentuates the pristine qualities of its dramatic jungle and seaside setting. Intimate and serene, features blend seamlessly into the dense tropical foliage, dining is available both indoors and outdoors, and yoga classes and spa treatments overlook coastal splendor.

Ikal del Mar translates from the Mayan as "poetry of the sea." Embracing this motif, references to famous poets such as Alberti, Neruda and Dario can be found throughout the property, along with an abundance of other unique touches: Temazcal, a beach-side Mayan-style sauna, incorporates massage, chants and prayers to cleanse holistically the body, spirit and mind; a "tropical butler" delivers iced face towels poolside; bed linens are changed several times a day; and a "dine anywhere, anytime" policy invites guests to feel perfectly at home in these luxury Playa del Carmen villas, dining or imbibing poolside, on the beach or even aboard the resort's charter boat.

The Ikal del Mar experience provides a priceless and rare escape: a simple guest book serves for check in; no motorized vehicles or cell phones are allowed on property; no artificial lighting mars the lush tropical setting or dims the star-lit sky; impersonal villa numbers or employee badges are not to be found; and guests are never asked to sign restaurant bills, an honor code guides hotel policy. "We offer the ultimate luxury - being disconnected," said Nicolas Dominguez, General Manager.

Guests are personally welcomed upon arrival to our Playa del Carmen resort and led through the tropical forest paths to be greeted at their villa with special house wine and local fruits. The palapa-roofed, stucco bohíos, or villas, are decorated with an eye to the sophisticated simplicity of Mayan aesthetics, utilizing natural materials throughout: louvered-mahogany doors and windows, sisal rugs, and canopy beds with hand-stitched Egyptian cotton linens. Bath areas are especially spacious with indoor and outdoor showers, his-and-hers sinks and closets, and Molton Brown amenities.

Luxurious Playa del Carmen Resort Amenities

Ikal del Mar's lush tropical ambience presents an exceptional setting for special events, augmented by a full-service spa and to Azul, a premier ocean-side gourmet Playa del Carmen restaurant and cocktail lounge. For tasteful and intimate beachside events luxury accommodations that include private villas and a Presidential Suite. The boutique resort is also home, the distinctive spa-resort will provide every necessary service for a worry-free and spectacular occasion. Learn more about our Playa del Carmen resort amenities.

Recreation and Rejuvenation

Enliven your senses with an indulgent massage, facial or body treatment at the Mayan Spa, a full-service holistic haven offering privacy, luxury and superlative treatment in a serene indoor-outdoor setting. For the active and athletic, Hatha yoga classes are offered daily in our seaside yoga studio, which also houses a fitness room. Playa del Carmen's fine shopping venues are easily accessible from the resort, as are the area's golf courses and ancient Mayan ruins. More robust recreational activities include scuba diving, cenote diving, snorkeling, horseback riding and deep-sea fishing. Learn more about Ikal del Mar's resort recreational activities.

Unforgettable Playa del Carmen Seaside Wedding Celebrations

Experience a dream wedding and honeymoon destination in Playa del Carmen with Ikal del Mar's distinctive blend of setting, style and service. Our oceanside courtyards provide ceremony capacity for up to 150 guests, with start-to-finish gourmet catering also available. Discover more about our complete wedding services

Playa del Carmen, where Riviera chic meets Caribbean cool, is the ultimate landscape of pleasure. Once a tranquil village known by the Mayan people as Xaman Ha, it has grown into a truly cosmopolitan and international destination. Days are long and leisurely, spent people watching at sidewalk cafés or lingering in world-class shops. At night the city comes to life, until the party’s end is signaled by the light of the next morning’s sun as it crests over the horizon.

Learn to love life in another language
Cosmopolitan, diverse, bustling, 5th Avenue is a pedestrian-friendly avenue that lives up to its namesake. Visitors from around the globe shop the endless upscale boutiques or for the more traditional huipils and huaraches. Restaurants, cafes and lounges provide a range of cuisine from Caribbean spicy to Continental gourmet. After the sun sets, the sounds of traditional jazz or Mexican music invite some in for an intimate evening, while salsa and merengue rhythms convince others to indulge in a night of carefree abandon. Playa del Carmen is a true garden of earthly delights.