Get the most out of your holiday with places to visit Playa del Carmen including insider tips from Casago. Discover the area’s most treasured beaches and popular sightseeing attractions with our guide to the best places to visit in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Beaches

Playa’s palm-lined beaches are some of the most magnificent on the Yucatan Peninsula. Featuring sparkling blue waters and miles of postcard-worthy views, these are some of the top Playa del Carmen beaches for splashing in the waves and unwinding under the sun.

Parque Fundadores

Parque Fundadores or “Founding Fathers Park” is a focal point in Playa del Carmen and a center of cultural activity. Bordered by Avenue Benito Juarez to the north and 5th Avenue to the west, this lovely park has a pirate-themed playground for kids, street vendors selling snacks and handicrafts, plus a nice selection of restaurants and shops. On any given day, you might catch a dance or musical performance by local artisans. This downtown beach gets crowded during holidays and weekends, and is a fantastic spot to relax, people watch or take part in a game of volleyball or soccer.

Calle 10 Beach

Revel in the beauty of the Caribbean’s stunning turquoise waters at Calle 10 Beach – another hot spot for sun lovers. This enticing stretch of shoreline is perhaps most famous for its abundance of trendy beach clubs — chic venues where you can enjoy live music while sipping on a frosty drink. Zenzi, El Pirata and Lido are among the area’s favored places to hang out. With most visitors patronizing the clubs, the rest of the beach is practically empty, so if you crave a quiet day by the surf, Calle 10 is an excellent option.

Mamita’s Beach

Mamita’s is arguably the liveliest of all Playa del Carmen beaches, drawing a younger crowd of party-loving 20-somethings. This beautiful, wide beach is the site of the annual BPM music festival and features two popular beach clubs that serve up delicious food, drinks and entertainment from the world’s top DJs. If you’re interested in watersports, this is the place to be. You’ll find Jet Ski and banana boats for rent, and there are parasailing and catamaran tours on offer.

Sightseeing

Playa del Carmen is packed with amazing sightseeing opportunities that showcase the Mayan Riviera’s immense natural beauty.

Places to Visit Rio Secreto

Welcome to the magical Mayan underworld of Rio Secreto – an underground river covered with thousands of stalactites and stalagmites. National Geographic rates Rio Secreto as one of the planet’s top 10 caverns, so be sure to add this eco-excursion to your bucket list! Admire geological formations dating back millions of years as you swim and hike through this dramatic natural wonder. Tours last approximately 3.5 hours and include wetsuits, lifejackets, a tasty Mexican lunch and informative guides.

Cenote Chaak Tun

The Yucatan Peninsula is dotted with thousands of gorgeous cenotes, or natural sinkholes formed in limestone bedrock. On the outskirts of Playa del Carmen, you can explore the translucent fresh waters of Cenote Chaak Tun, which is made up of three enormous caverns. Local operators offer tours that include either swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving. Since the water averages around 22 degrees, wet suits are provided! This family-friendly tour also features interesting details about Mayan cosmology and culture. Tip: bring a waterproof camera and keep an eye out for bats.

Parks & Attractions

Does your dream vacation include swimming with dolphins or zip-lining through lush jungle canopy? If so, earmark a day trip to one (or all) of these Playa del Carmen eco-parks.

Xcaret Theme Park

Xcaret Park is rated one of the best ecological parks on the Riviera Maya. Featuring world-class restaurants, cultural performances, dinner shows and tons of water-based activities, this theme park is a wonderful destination for the whole family. You can spend an entire day at Xcaret, swimming in underground lagoons, observing local wildlife, enjoying dolphin encounters or watching a mesmerizing horse show. There’s a huge butterfly pavilion and a Mayan village at this sprawling park, located a few miles south of Playa.

Xplor Park

Prepare for an action-packed day of thrilling adventure at Xplor Park! Zoom over the treetops on one of two zip-line circuits, plow through jungle on an amphibious buggy and then float or swim along the clear waters of an underground river. Every part of your jungle adventure promises adrenaline-pumping fun for both children and adults. Day passes include a massive buffet lunch, unlimited snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Bring a towel, a change of clothes and wear closed-toed water shoes. And most of all, get ready for a wet and wild day!

Xel-Ha Park

Xel-Ha Park is an oasis of emerald lagoons and natural inlets, providing the perfect backdrop for a variety of aquatic activities. Located 20 miles south of Playa, this natural park is a unique family attraction that invites you to explore underwater caverns, swim with tropical fish and dolphins, bike along jungle trails or try your luck with SNUBA (a combination of snorkeling and diving). Xel-Ha creates a Disney-esque setting, whether you choose to snorkel down the lazy river, take a glass bottom boat tour or get up close and personal with exotic flora and fauna. After working up an appetite, you can choose from four on-site restaurants at this all-inclusive park.

Enjoy the best places to visit in Playa del Carmen with CasaGo, Mexico’s leading vacation rental and property management specialist. For immediate assistance, we invite you to contact our friendly associates today!

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