|
|
|
|
Sun, sea, sand and more sand…don't look further than Playa if
this is your idea of paradise. It's no surprise that over recent
years tourists have begun to flock here, but beach life is still
nothing but relaxed and the old Latin philosophy of mañana lives
on. Quinta Avenida is the main street and you can happily lose yourself
for several hours in shops selling Mexican crafts, amber jewellery,
tequila and designer clothes - before being enticed into one of
the bars for happy hour. But when all's said and done your main
reason for coming to Playa has to be for the beach - so head down
here and take your siesta under the warm Caribbean sun.
Plus points
Superb diving & snorkelling
Wonderful Caribbean climate
Most places within walking distance
Small, friendly school in idyllic setting
Proximity to Mayan ruins
By night the pedestrian walkway, Avenida Quinta, becomes a hive
of activity and you can either join in the festivities or just sit
back and watch the world go by. Early evening happy hour is the
time to sample some delicious tropical fruit cocktails or cold local
beers to your heart's content. If you want to hang out, catch some
sun, stroll the beach and then eat, drink and party the night away
in near perfect surroundings, Playa del Carmen is the place for
you.
No trip to the Yucatan would be complete without visiting the ancient
Mayan ruins of Tulum, with their stunning Caribbean setting, and
Chichén Itzá, set in tropical forest inland and with
a mystical sacred cenote. Day trips can also be taken to the beautiful
colonial city of Mérida and to the popular resort of Cancun.
City sights
Playa del Carmen has interesting Mayan ruins, but for truly magnificent
pyramids you'll have to visit Tulum, Coba and Chichen Itza.
Tulum: Is about a 45 minute ride (by bus, taxi,
or rental car) south of Playa del Carmen. Tulum is the only Mayan
city built directly by the sea. It's dated 400-900A.D. After exploring
the ruins and enjoying the spectacular view from the top EL CASTILLO,
you can take a refreshing dip in the Caribbean from the pristine
beach in front of the site.
Coba: Is about a 30 minute ride northwest of Tulum,
and well worth visiting. Unlike most archaeological sites on the
Yucatan Peninsula, Coba is in the middle of the jungle, and a totally
different experience. Take some mosquito repellent with you for
this one, as the moist jungle environment supports quite on insect
population. Also bring along some water, as you'll be doing a lot
of hiking. What will you see? The highest pyramid on the Yucatan
Peninsula, for one thing, (Nohoch Mul). You may see or at least
hear, howler monkeys and an incredible variety of jungle birds.
The top of the gigantic Temple of the Churches affords a fantastic
view of Lake Ma Can Xoc to the east and of Lake Cobo to the southwest.
You'll also see lots of stele, glyphs and sculptures, some showing
detailed relieves and complicated inscriptions. One stele is dated
November 30, 780 A.D. in Mayan glyphs.
Chichen Itza: Is probably the best known and most
visited of all the Mayan ruins and for good reason. Although it's
due west of Playa del Carmen, you'll have to go north to Cancun
to get the main highway to Chichen-Itza. It's about a three-hour
ride, so leave early to give yourself plenty of time to explore
this fascinating site. We recommend you hire a guide, or at least
buy a booklet to better understand what you are seeing. On your
way back to Playa you may want to walk through the delightfully
cool caves of BALANCANCHE, and if you have on accommodating taxi
driver, ask him to stop at one of the many beautiful cenotes (swimming
holes) along the way for on invigorating, fresh water swim.
Day trips
Cenotes are "sinkholes", in the heart of Yucatan's underwater
cavern region. It is pronounced 'say-no-tay' from ancient mayan
meaning 'sacred well'.
The northern part of the Yucatan peninsula has a vast number of
rivers that flow underground. Below ground, this peninsula is covered
with limestone and the water carves its way through the lime stone,
forming submerged caves. When a portion of earth above the river
or lake collapses, it tends to stay that way forming cenotes that
are actually windows to the rivers that flow beneath the ground.
You can find big and small cenotes, which are used by the locals
as swimming holes.
All archaeological sites associated with the Mayans are located
near cenotes. It seems the bigger the cenote the larger the site.
These cenotes played a practical role as a source of water not only
for the population but also for the indigenous wildlife that made
hunting easier. Maya civilization included these cenotes in their
religious rituals.
Cenotes are a unique opportunity to experience cavern diving and
snorkeling at its best. The best cavern diving can be done at Dos
Ojos, Azul and the Bat Cave. You must be cave-dive certified to
dive these underground rivers since it can get dangerous. Some specialized
equipment is needed to dive them safely.
While Playa may seem to have a lot to explore, a trip along the
'Riviera Maya' is even more exiting. There are many options for
travelling along the coast, buses leave hourly or you can grab a
rental car. The coast offers a delightful variety of secluded beaches,
huge resorts, Mayan ruins, cenotes, incredible dive locations (cave
and reef), lush jungle and all are within an hours drive from Playa
del Carmen: Cancun, Puerto-Morelos, Xcaret, Paamul, Puerto Aventuras,
Xpu-Ha, Yal-ku, Kantenah, Akumal, Xcacel, Xel-Ha and Tulum.
Nights out
At night you can visit any of the numerous bars in town where
the DJ play's reggae, rock, jazz or blues or join the frenzy in
one of the night clubs that play salsa, merengue, cumbia and other
styles of music. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy parties
on some nearby beaches.
Activities
Playa del Carmen is known throughout the world for its numerous
attractions, which include: snorkelling, diving, wind surfing, fishing,
golf, and horseback riding. The beaches themselves are spectacular.
Nowhere else will you find beaches so white and sand so soft. For
snorkelling and diving you have come to the right place. The water
is crystal clear and the area is home to numerous reefs. All of
which are teeming with an abundance of life. For something a little
different, try exploring some of the beautiful 'cenotes' (natural
wells) located around Playa del Carmen. Snorkelling and diving in
these wells is truly a once in a lifetime experience.
For those interested in the Maya, there is no better place to be.
Within just a few hours of Playa del Carmen are the impressive ruins
of Chichen Itza, Coba, and of course Tulum. There are numerous tours
plus an excellent bus service from Playa del Carmen, that will allow
you to get to anyone of these places very easily.
This area of Mexico is also well known for its abundance of wildlife.
Just south of Playa del Carmen are two wonderful parks/reserves (Xel-ha
and Xcaret) that allow the visitor the chance to see some of the exotic
plants and animals that live in this part of Mexico.
Where can I
find the…?
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 Centre 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 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 water-jet
(25 minutes). The Xel-H or Cozumelero takes 45 minutes.
For shopping, the stores of Playa's Av. 5 and surrounding side
streets offer an eclectic assortment of hand-made pottery, arts
and crafts both local and from all over Mexico, gifts and New Age
paraphernalia.
Useful websites
www.playadelcarmen.com |
|
