Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is, in many ways, the capital of the Riviera Maya. That is, of the long stretch of coast, from Cancun to Tulum, that developed in response to Cancun. In many ways, it has always been seen as a mirror and improvement upon the Cancun that developed since the early 1970s. More of this and less of that, but overall, a more down-to-earth, natural, and ecological place - for vacation or for life. In fact, so many people have relocated - permanently or semi-permanently - that Playa del Carmen is today one of the most internationally diverse places in the country. 

Part of the appeal is that Playa del Carmen is just 45 minutes from the Cancun International Airport, probably always to be one of Mexico\'s least expensive airports. But today, the connection by Tren Maya makes it even more appealing. That trip is a little bit longer at about an hour and 20 minutes.   

People come for the beach, and for the ferry to Cozumel. The iconic Quinta Avenida is a full blown shopping district, but there are today shopping malls and night spots too. People don\'t realize, but the city is home to some 300,000 residents today. They can walk to the famous cenotes and underground rivers, and even ancient cave systems. The town is famous for the snorkeling, scuba diving, paddle boarding, and tours of the neighboring wildlife reserves.

There are resorts, but even they tend to market themselves as boutique hotels, and the smaller vacation rentals mostly do the same. Playa del Carmen caters to all tastes and budgets and historically, all kinds of travelers have been welcome. 

If you\'re not arriving from the Cancun airport, the new one in Tulum is only a little over two hours, coming from the other direction. Still, lots of people will arrive by bus or van from either location, and the trip is just as appealing. If you happen to be in Playa del Carmen, the same Tren Maya connects you not just with the Riviera Maya, but with lots of the peninsula, ever more appealingly beyond the horizon.