Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico Information
Tom Ogg

Language and Currency
What is Playa Del Carmen Like?
What is the Weather Like?
Where Does the Ship Dock?
Where is the Shopping?
What is There to Buy?
What is There To Do?
Is There Anything of a “Don’t Miss Quality?
Are There Any Great Restaurants or Bars?

Playa Del Carmen Port Reviews

Language and Currency

The official language of Playa Del Carmen is Spanish and the currency is the Mexican Peso, however some English is spoken and dollars are widely accepted.

What is Playa Del Carmen like?

Playa Del Carmen was once a sleepy little village on the Mayan Peninsula, however it has been discovered *primarily by Europeans) and has grown considerably over the last decade. The town is still quite quaint with its shopping streets, beaches and palapa restaurants. Playa Del Carmen is located about 40 miles south of Cancun and about ten miles north of Xcaret.

What is the weather like?

Playa Del Carmen is blessed with warm weather the year around. Be sure to wear a high spf rated sun screen if you are going to spend some time on the beach.

Where does the ship dock?

Playa Del Carmen is a tender port and the ships anchor quite a ways from the tender dock so expect a long ride. The dock is right downtown in Playa Del Carmen and one can walk from the tender to everything Playa Del Carmen offers.

Where is the shopping?

Playa Del Carmen's shopping area is located on 5th Avenue and goes for blocks. This is where you will find just about anything you could want.

What is there to buy?

Local arts and crafts, blankets, wood carvings, hammocks, panama hats, onyx carvings and collectibles (check out the chess sets) and lots more.

What is there to do?

Most folks are content to simply enjoy Playa Del Carmen's wonderful shopping, restaurants and beaches. There is a ferry to Cozumel (about 12 miles across the channel) that operates every 30 minutes or so. Try to take the ferry equipped with jets as it will cut the time to Cozumel in half. Also, a visit to Xcaret is well worth the effort to get there. You can simply grab a taxi from Playa Del Carmen and pay at the general admission gate to get in.

If you are not calling on Cancun and have not been there, then by all means try to visit this wonderful resort. There is a bus from the main bus station in Playa Del Carmen that operates up to Cancun (if you are on a budget) or you can negotiate for a taxi to take you and spend the day with you.(about $100 or so)

Is there anything of “Don’t Miss” quality?

If you have not been to Xcaret, then by all means I would assign it a "Don't Miss" quality.

Are there any great restaurants or bars?

Yes, The Blue Parrot Restaurant (on the beach in the hotel with the same name) and the attached bar, the Dragon Bar are legendary. It offers live music every day and is party central in Playa Del Carmen. There are also several excellent restaurants to enjoy while people watching.

Check out the shore excursions available in Playa Del Carmen.
Playa Del Carmen Shore Excursions

Playa Del Carmen Port Reviews
(Click on the Review you are Interested in Reading)

Aylene; Bus Tour of the Island
Tim and Dixie Herll; Great Shopping and Beaches
Jack & Melissa Loucks; Beaches Great; Shopping OK; Senor Frogs
Kathy Anders; Disappointed in Xcaret
Jeff Strader; Numerous Beach Resorts from Which to Choose
Lucy Johnson; Tips to Save Money on Xcaret Tour and Liquor
Rick; Traveled South by Taxi to Xel Ha
K. Boutte; Do Book an Excursion Like Tropical Jeep Safari
Kristina Trowbridge; General Overview with Lots of Good Suggestions
Danny L. Garcia; Beach Warning, But Great Place to Shop
Darren Burris; Tropical Jeep Safari Excursion Really Geo Trackers
David Daugherty; Suggestions for Great Beach Spot & Snorkeling
C.J. Bradshaw; Do a Cancun City Tour on Your Own
Bruce Wedding; Didn't Get Money's Worth at Xcaret but Enjoyable Town

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