A pleasant town but packed with tourists

Trip Start Feb 09, 2008

122

Trip End Dec 26, 2008

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Flag of Mexico Playa del Carmen, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Sunday, February 10, 2008

I spent a couple of days in Playa just relaxing on the beach and cooling off in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea, followed by football on the beach in the evening. Lined with palm trees and the beautiful turquoise waters of the Caribbean, these pure white sand made a nice place to chill for a couple of days. The town has become a popular tourist destination with many fine hotels, restaurants and bars lining Avenida 5 (also called La Quinta) which is a block back from the sea. This long pedestrianized strip is packed with tourists with many others over looking you from the fine restaurants and bars above. If its pristine beaches that you after then this is a required stop if your visiting this part of Mexico.

Playa Caribe

Playa Caribe

Accommodation

You`ll have no problem in finding a room if you turn up with out a reservation. But most places along Avenida 5 are not budget friendly with prices starting at $400 Peso, but I can imagine that many would be noisy due to the bars. The streets of Calle 4,6,8,10,12 and 14 have many budget friendly guest houses with in 2-3 blocks of Avenida 5.

Transport

The central bus station is conveniently placed at one end off Avenida 5 two blocks from the ferry's for Cozumal. Buses leave every 30 - 40 minutes for Cancun or south to the ruins at Tulum.

Ferry's leave every hour for Isla Cozumal at a cost of $10 dollars. There are two companies that run every other hour so when purchasing your ticket just get a one way, as its no cheaper to buy a round trip. This way you have the option of a ferry every hour when you decide to come back, rather than every other hour had you brought a return ticket with that company.