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Playa
del Carmen is located in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, in the center
of Mexico's famous Mayan Riviera. In a sense, there are two Playa del Carmens:
the town of Playa del Carmen and the Playacar resort. Playa del Carmen is
a formerly tiny fishing village that has quickly grown into one of the most
popular tourist destinations on the Mexican Caribbean. Its beautiful white
sand Caribbean beaches and international flair draw travelers from around
the world. Playacar is connected to Playa del Carmen near downtown. Playacar
is an 875 acre golf course community where you'll find large beach front hotels,
all inclusive resorts, an 18 hole championship golf course, and attractive
homes and undeveloped lots for sale.
A Different Kind of Adventure
The unique harmony of Playa del Carmen is generated by its village-like
atmosphere and the smiling face of its people. Although Playa del Carmen is
becoming a very popular destination for travelers, the town has maintain its
original charm and townspeople's integrity.
Playa del Carmen still has the tranquil and hassle free lifestyle it is famous
for. Travelers to Playa del Carmen can enjoy a wide range of activities,
from scuba diving to shopping and more.
Playa del Carmen offers the kind of service and hospitality
provincial Mexico is so well known for. You'll find mi casa es su casa
the prevailing attitude, whether you book a rustic beach front cabaña
or a 5-star hotel surrounded by lush, tropical gardens. Playa del Carmen offers
both Hotel Riviera Caribe Maya is a perfect midpoint between theses to extremes.
While Hotel Riviera Caribe Maya is affordably priced, the hotels rooms and
suites offer amenities like air conditioning, cable television and telephones
which are rare in Playa del Carmen's moderate hotels. Hotel Riviera Caribe
Maya is well located to make it easy to enjoy
Playa del Carmen and the rest of the Yucatan.
If you're concerned about your meals, don't be. Playa del Carmen's
restaurants are as varied as its hotels and offer traditional Mexican food,
fresh seafood, pastas and other continental cuisine. Playa del Carmen's pedestrian
avenue, Quinta Avenida, is lined with sidewalk cafes, each with its own unique
atmosphere and charm.
In
the evening you can sip tropical cocktails at a waterfront bar, dance the
night away to live music, or join an impromptu beach party bonfire. Shoppers
looking for that special gift will find it here, since handicrafts from over
the country are available in Playa del Carmen on Quinta Avenida.
Quinta Avenida
Scooting around Playa del Carmen to find a good place to eat lunch or take
a dip, or better still, for a dip and then lunch, is a grand way to get to know
it. The town's main thoroughfare is known as Quinta Avenida, or Fifth Avenue.
Apart from a few beach front cafes, Fifth Avenue is Playa del Carmen's restaurant
row, with dozens of restaurants, breakfast nooks and cafes to choose from. .Since
Playa del Carmen's downtown is only about twenty blocks long, it's fun to stroll
down Quinta Avenida and check out where to dine. There are wide ranges of boutiques
along Quinta Avenida which feature an eclectic mix of handicrafts from all over
Mexico and Guatemala. The specialty shops feature masks, embroidered or batik
blouses, dresses, and silver, shell and amber jewelry.
The Caribbean
The reef off Playa del Carmen breaks the waves heading in to shore, which
means good snorkeling, diving, swimming and even good wading. For anyone who
has not donned scuba gear before, Playa del Carmen is a good place to try it
out. Introductory dive courses teach the basic of scuba in a pool, then students
are taken out to explore the Playa del Carmen reef for a couple of hours. Most
dives, like the reefs, are relatively shallow (about 12-15 m/40-50 ft) which
means divers can stay underwater longer.
Cozumel
Island
From Playa del Carmen, it is only a hop, skip and a jump to Cozumel Island.
Twin-hulled ferries depart from the Playa del Carmen dock every hour and it
takes about 40 minutes to make the crossing. Conveniently, the ferries arrive
in the heart of the Cozumel, where tourists can find dive shops (Cozumel's main
attraction) or shop in duty-free stores. Cozumel is so close that many people
go over from Playa del Carmen for breakfast, rent a scooter and motor around
to see the island's sights.
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