Playa del Carmen: Its Attractions and an Introduction

Thinking of things to do in Riviera Maya? Try visiting Playa del Carmen!

Playa del Carmen is located in the heart of Riviera Maya in Mexico. It makes as the top attraction in Mexico with a number of things you can do while in there and the worthy sceneries to see.

Playa del Carmen tours are widely available on the respectable tourist companies to let you enjoy your vacation with less worries. In the region, most people; local and tourist alike, see Playa del Carmen mainly because of their stunning beach clubs. Have a relaxing day or two at one of the beach resorts and let yourself be transported to a stress-free world away from the hustle and bustle of the city. A day at the beach is best spent at Playa del Carmen. 

If you want to talk a walk in Playa del Carmen, head on to the Fifth Avenue strip. Locally known as Quinta Avenida, this is a location for you see the locals and tourists.  The place is home to a number of shops and restaurants to dine and buy local products during the day. At night, Quinta Avenida transforms into a music entertainment spot, with diners and bars. 

Try the local foods sold along the strip. Try the tacos and other traditional culinary gems as well as international cuisines selling rampantly all throughout the place.

There are Ferry services that transfer tourists to another Caribbean island of Cozumel. This makes it for you to have an easy day tour at the island if you want to have a snorkeling and scuba diving activity. Also, you can have a walk at their ancient historical sites, the famous cenotes, and the ecological parks around Playa del Carmen. Just talk to your tour guide to set this trip. An advanced planned tour is an ease for you and your tour guides. 

At the south of playa del Carmen, you will see Playacar. Playacar is the top of the line development place in the region where you can spot a golfing activity for the day. If sports is your thing, especially golf, you’ll definitely enjoy their golf course in the area. Aside from the golf course, around Playacar are luxury resorts and exclusive residences.

Activities to Try in Playa del Carmen

You’ve arrived at Playa del Carmen! But are you ready of the activities to try in the fishing village of Mexico? Do you even know the most sought after activities and eager to experience it for yourself? Upon arriving at Playa de Carmen you must arrange and plan the things to want and have to do beforehand. To help you do that, we give you the list of the top activities in Playa del Carmen to help ease your travel plans. This will make you look forward for your Playa vacation!

When to Visit

Almost every season is a good season at Playa del Carmen, except on the months of September to December where there are chances of hurricanes. However, you can take a swim and dive into the Gulf almost every day of the year.

Activities to Try on the Beach

Beach lie is always perfect at Playa. You can take deep see fishing as preparation for the other water activities.  Try to catch a sailfish or a barracuda on its vast waters. For the adventurous you can do parasailing, kayaking or wakeboarding. Underwater sports are also a must try. Go scuba diving or snorkeling to see the beautiful underwater world beneath the sea. 

Of course, swimming and sun bathing don’t have to be excluded on the list. Enjoy the view of the sea and the shore as you take on Playa’s water and bask under the sun.

Land Activities

If you want to try land activities, Playa del Carmen fair or even surpasses other famous destinations for the many number of things you can do on its stunning land. 

See the Mayan Ruins. Take a walking tour as you see the ancient Mayan Ruins that define the culture, practices, and history of Mexico. Even go into the jungle, see the rainforest and the wide species of animals; from birds to the wild, and the plants and trees surrounding them. There are even ATV Jungle Tours offered by known travel companies of top tours in Playa del Carmen which you can hop on if you want a more easy way to tour the Playa del Carmen jungle.

Convinced enough? Now plan your Playa del Carmen tours today and be amazed of the many things you can do in this Mexican Village!

Chactun: A Long Lost Mayan City in the Mexican Jungle

A group of paleontologists have discovered a Mayan city in the rainforests of eastern Mexico, and they're trusting the revelation will bail them figure what prompted the ancient civilization's rice and fall hundreds of years back. The city, which paleologists have named Chactun or Red Rock, was in its prime between 600 and 900 AD, and is made up of 15 pyramids, different squares, homes and work places for upper class parts of social order, and ball courts, as said by Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History.

Around 40,000 individuals may have existed in Chactun throughout its prime, as said by Reuters. The city is blankets around the range of 54 acres of land area, and its closest neighbor is Xpujil, an antiquated Mayan town likewise in vestiges, in the vicinity of 10 miles away. The group that discovered Chactun was headed by paleontologist Ivan Sprajc, from the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts. Sprajc told Reuters that the city was totally secured in bush development and vegetation when they ran across it, yet that they have confirm that other individuals had gone to the city something like 20 to 30 years back. Sprajc said in the report that loggers and gum extractors were unquestionably as of recently there, on the grounds that they saw cuts on the trees. "What happened is they never told anybody." he added.

Chactun is a city buried in Yucatan's rainforest.

Sprajc and his group went on the chase for Chactun in the wake of taking a gander at some aerial photographs of rainforests in the Mexican state of Yucatan. "With aerial photographs examined stereoscopically, we found many features that were obviously architectural remains. From there we took the coordinates and the next step was to locate the ancient alleys used by tappers and loggers to reach the area."  Sprajc said. The used something like three weeks clearing a 10-mile way from Xpujil to achieve the Chactun, which has is separated into three divisions that each one have their own particular landmarks, the Institute said. Before each of the monuments, Sprajc said that his group has discovered fired offerings, which indicate that these may have been places for worship.

More research needs to be done to uncover why the city was abandoned. However the Mayans may have left because of demographic and atmosphere weights, or wars, the excavator told Reuters. At its biggest focus, the Mayan civilization stretched out from southern Mexico into Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The finding of Chactun happens a week after the lost city of Mahendraparvta was revealed in Cambodia.

Chactun will add to the number of reasons as to why you need to visit Mexico and uncover its rich culture. Not to forget the adventures you need to experience like exploring the underwater caves in Mexico and having to try cenote diving in one of its known cenotes.

Image credits: theverge.com

The Top Cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico

A cenote is a pit or sinkholes made naturally by forces in the earth. It’s a result of the collapsing of limestone bedrocks that exposes the groundwater underneath it. Cenotes are commonly associated with the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. 

Cenote originates from the Mayan word "dzonot" or "ts'onot" which means consecrated or sacred well. Cenotes were the fundamental source of new water for the ancient Mayan civilization. Mayans accepted the cenotes held therapeutic components and recognized a large number of them to be consecrated. They additionally accepted cenotes to be entries to the underworld and an approach to correspond with the divine beings. The Sacred  Cenote or Cenote Sagrado at Chichen Itza was utilized to perform human presents back then. 

These wonderful sinkholes are popular and are open to the public. Here, we have listed the best cenotes in Mexico at the Yucatan Peninsula to visit. 

1. Ik-Kil

Also called the "Sacred Blue Cenote", Ik-Kil is a perfectly clear, round in shape cenote. Found on the roadway between Chichen and Valladolid, this cenote is around the range of 130 feet deep. It is in the ballpark of 85 feet from the surface so you will stroll down a wooden stairway to reach the cenote. Ik-Kil is more famous with swimmers and snorkelers than divers. Just near it are restaurants and little palapa homes for those wanting to stay overnight. When in there, search for the waterfalls and the rich green vegetation hanging the distance down to the water.

2. Dos Ojos

Found about nine miles south of Tulum is the Cenote Dos Ojos also known as “two eyes”.  It was named two eyes because these are two round cenotes that looks like eyes. This is an extremely popular cenote and there is a cave underneath where jumpers can explore a vast 500 meters of the underworld. Did you know that IMAX shot a piece of their film "Journey into Amazing Caves" here?

3. Gran Cenote (Sac Aktun)

Having the name Gran / Grand, meaning great, this cenote is unquestionably a sight to see. Found just outside of Tulum, it is not difficult to see. The Gran Cenote has different regions for those who love to swim, to snorkel, and for scuba jumpers. Here, you’ll find fish and turtles and be extra of the stalactites abundant in the area to not hit your head.  Numerous individuals and visitors say this cenote is their favorite among others.

Mexicans and foreign visitors all look forward to visit the wonderful cenotes of the Mexican Caribbean. They may use the day swimming in the water, snorkeling, plunging, sunbathing or just simply unwinding. Arrange your cenote tours, visit a cenote now and connect with the old Mayan culture.

Image credits: amazingplacesonearth.com

Cancun Underwater Museum

Brace yourself for a new unique adventure trip at Mexico that even this early is creating murmurs along the place.

Sunken Museum

Have you ever experience submerging yourself underwater for a museum?  Probably not. Well, if you haven’t got that experience, let Cancun do it first for you. A new underwater sculpture garden will be established in Cancun, Mexico meant to be the largest underwater museums in the world. Named as “Silent Evolution”, the amazing exhibit covers more than 150 square meters of the clear waters of the Caribbean. Measuring 28 feet deep, the Silent Evolution is a perfect site for divers who want to witness great underwater scene.

Cancun Underwater Museum is composed of 400 clay statues installed on the sea floor. The person behind these sculptures is Jason de Caires Taylor, a renowned artist in his field. The series of figurative sculptures depicts the evolution of the Mayan people in a different perspective. 

Where is it located?

The Cancun Underwater Museum can be found in the State of Quintana Roo, in the waters between Isla Mujeres and Cancun. It is in the protected National Marine Park just a few minutes from the Manchones Reef. The closest airport is the Cancun International Airport. The best time to go is from November to April during the dry season.

The Secret Purpose

Aside from the perceived primary purpose of many about the establishment of this underwater museum which is to promote tourism at Cancun being an artistic developing area, the sculptures are constructed from a special material that aims to serve as a breeding ground for marine life. The statues serve as artificial coral reefs which helps boost the ecosystem in the area. Upon observation, this project is indeed a purposeful one, since it does not just want tourists to get amazed on the wonders of the sculptural models, but also to develop awareness among them that leads to conservation of the underwater ecosystem.

Witness also the eye-catchy transformation of the Mayan sculptures as coral reefs and marine plants start to grow in them.

Image credits: vistanature.com

Overview of Playa del Carmen

Playa Del Carmen, or simply Playa, is once a fishing village, now a hippy and trendy place in the Yucatan Peninsula at Mexico. It has gone about looking for support as the next Miami Beach by the locals. It is also considered to be the fastest growing place in the Caribbean, not to mention that it also has most of the fun you’ll ever get in the said area.

As Playa grows and grows even up to the present, more and more visitors from cruise ships arrive at the place. This calls for it being a popular tourism destination in Mexico. The beach scene greatly attracts most number of tourists everyday who are looking for excellent nightlife, beach fun, and tropical magnificence. This is located in the middle of Quintana Roo, only 45 minutes from Cancun, known for the Maya ruins. The location in the heart of Quintana makes it really accessible to all Mexico’s Caribbean coastline adventures.

Here are the most try activities that you should also jump in while in Playa Del Carmen:

Embrace yourself for a water adventure. Since Playa Del Carmen is known for it is beach location, you must try several beach trips. Water sports for the thrill-seekers are available; the list includes swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing and kayaking. For those who want to activate their adrenaline, try diving off the cenotes or the underwater caves. But if you’re looking for greater heights, it is highly recommended that you try sky diving. On the other hand, a great way to relax yourself is to indulge in fishing and boating at Puerto Adventuras. 

Experience fun-filled nightlife. Tourists do come at Playa not just for the waters, but also for a different taste of nightlife that it offers. Quinta Avenida served to attract most people because of its series of bars and restaurants to choose from. Taste the Mexico’s national distilled alcoholic drink, the tequila. Another option is to go into Blue Parrot, known for its rock acts with a beachside backdrop. 

Dwell into Mexico’s rich culture. As mentioned earlier, the central location of Playa makes it convenient to exploring the nearby place of Riviera Maya popular for its Maya ruins. Drive to the town of Tulum and Coba, two of the Mayan ancient cities. There you can find archeological structures and relics that was once a cradle of the rich Mayan culture.

Image credit: tripadvisor.com

Top Things to do in Riviera Maya

This. It seems that Mexico will never run out of places to offer for a spectacular vacation. Wherever you go, there are still a lot of new activities to try and places to stay. This is one good thing about Mexico—you’ll never get bored.

Riviera Maya is another tourist spot to consider. As you browse through the internet, you’ll see a lot about this place and how to make the most of your visit here. In any season and for all walks of life, Riviera Maya boasts a wide variety of fun stuffs and spots that will definitely make you want to book your flight here.

Here are some of the most popular places to visit and the accompanying activities that you must dare to try:

Travel back in time at Chichen Itza. This is one sightseeing tour that you’ll never regret. Chichen Itza is considered to be the ancient Mayan Empire capital holding majestic archeological buildings like the Temple of a Thousand Columns and Kukulcan Pyramid. Once declared to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World, experience with your eyes the cultural heritage of the Mayans at the heart of Yucatan Peninsula. 

Relax at Xcaret Eco-Archeological Park.  Being the “nature’s sacred paradise”, Xcaret is now considered a unique park in the world. If in other parks, you’ll see it simply as ecological or plainly archeological, well, consider Xcaret to be different. Here you’ll not just enjoy the Mayan atmosphere as this once served to be their place of purifying themselves, you’ll also get the chance to be in one with nature. Soak yourself in the goodness of the underground river and get entertained with a variety of stuffs like dolphin shows, bird and wildlife watching, and the majestic Mexican Show.

Get a Mayan Encounter at Coba. Immerse yourself in a fascinating adventure about Mayan culture in Coba, one of their oldest cities. Located inside a rainforest, fill your eyes to amazement with the highest pyramid in the peninsula. Visit also Pacchen, another Mayan community wherein you’ll get to try eco-tourism activities like rapelling and zip lining.

Entertain yourself at the Caribbean Carnival. All the way to Isla Mujeres, treat yourself for a night party made complete by variety of drinks like Margarita, Tequila, and Piña Colada. Have an absolute Caribbean evening with a full buffet dinner by the beach and be entertained with Caribbean Carnival shows. 

Image credits: mexicotoday.org