My favorite place for long stays in the Yucatan peninsula. It’s a bustling place, with plenty of things to do and many good options for AirBnBs.
Visit April / May 2022
It was time for the beach again and I had wanted to see what Playa del Carmen would be like as a place to stay for a while. I had passed through before, usually on the way to other places, but had never actually stayed. Overall I had a great time, and planned to go back in the winter.
I was in Playa for about 6 weeks and stayed in several different places during that time. My favorite location was on Calle 30 between Ave 5 and 10, which is steps from Quinta Avenida and not far from Calle 38 and the beach. They’re building a Super Chedraui next to the Deportivo, which should be really nice once it’s done. I split my grocery shopping between the Walmart, the Soriana, and the OXXO on the corner.
One disappointing thing to me was the amount of sargassum seaweed on the beaches most of the time I was there. I knew it was an issue at times along the Riviera Maya at certain times, but I thought it wouldn’t be too bad yet. I’ll have to write another post about it.
Getting Around
The ADO bus is a good option for getting to and from the airport in Cancun, and there are 2 terminals in Playa. I found that you need to be a little vigilant when you’re catching a bus though. They were often running late, and once I missed a bus because I wasn’t standing right by the gate. The driver basically pulled in and out again without stopping, even though he saw me waving as he was pulling out.
There’s no Uber in Riviera Maya unfortunately, but the taxis were ok. Prices are posted in some of the heavily trafficked parts of town, but the quotes I would get from individual cabbies seemed to vary widely. Evidently there’s a WhatsApp taxi service that some people use, but I didn’t try it this time.
Recommendations
- Dining on Calle 38
- Evening drinks on the beach at The Carmen or INTI
- The Grand Hyatt for coffee or a meal at La Cocina
- TATA beach club (next to Mamita’s)
- The market at Palacio Municipal on the weekends