6 Things to do in Playa del Carmen

All over the world, people know about Cancun. However, the locals and some fortunate tourists know a secret most people don’t. That secret is called Playa del Carmen. It is one of the fastest growing cities in all of Latin America. Playa del Carmen is a small but animated city with a remarkably great deal of things to do. Considering this, it should come as no surprise that this small but growing city has so many unique attractions. If you’re new to the area and are looking for things to do, we’ve got you covered.

Here are 6 Playa del Carmen attractions for newcomers to try out and enjoy.

1. SAYAB Planetarium

This new planetarium just opened a couple of months ago. Astrophysicist, José Vicente Hernández is the well-experienced coordinator of the planetarium. He puts on a variety of shows he calls “Circus of Physics”. Be prepared to wowed by the wide variety of shows available. There’s even virtual reality available! Don’t forget to check out the astronomical observatory to see the amazing celestial bodies that exist in our galaxy.

2. Live Theater

Have you ever seen a live play in person? Here’s your chance. Open Monday-Sunday, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, Playa del Carmen’s theater has a play going on all the time.

3. 5^th Avenue

If you come to Playa del Carmen, you absolutely have to visit 5^th avenue. It is basically the main street where all of the most popular bars, restaurants, and stores are located. To top that off, it connects to the beach located about 100 yards away.

4. Art Festivals

If you are the artsy type, then Playa del Carmen is for you. There are art festivals going on all the time at different locations.

5. Cozumel Island

Located about half an hour off the coast of Playa del Carmen is the beautiful island of Cozumel. The ferry, departing from downtown Playa del Carmen, costs roughly 10 bucks. Over 2 million tourists visit this island to go snorkeling, diving, fishing, or simply to enjoy its white-sanded beaches.

6. Beach Clubs

If you’ve never been to a beach club, let me explain how it works. You pay for access to a personal bed and a directional sun umbrella. Usually, it costs a few hundred pesos, depending on how close it is to the beach (usually less than 3-7 yards away from the water).

Pay money to go to the beach!? Before you stop reading, let me clarify that all of the money you pay to access the bed+umbrella actually functions bar+restaurant credit. So basically, you lay down on your bed, just a few yards from the water, and then a server will come to you. He then takes your order of a margarita and shrimp ceviche, and delivers it right to you and places it on a table alongside your bed. Does it get any better than that?

As you can see, Playa del Carmen is the perfect way to expand your vacation to Cancun. While it may be smaller than Cancun, it has a very large personality. Come see for yourself what makes Playa del Carmen one of the fastest growing cities in Latin America.