14 Best Things To Do In Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Here is my list of the top things to do in Playa Del Carmen, a charming town on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico!

Playa Del Carmen is a colorful town on the coast of Quintana Roo, Mexico.

It sits on the shores of the warm Caribbean Sea and has a more authentic, laid-back vibe than its neighbor, Cancún.

There are Mayan ruins nearby for history buffs, delicious local eateries for the foodies, and lots of fun water activities and day trips for beach lovers.

You can find quiet streets and busy nightclubs. Mingle with fellow travelers in the town center, or hang out in the more local neighborhoods to escape the crowds.

My partner and I recently spent 3 days in Playa Del Carmen. While that isn’t very long, we were able to get a feel for the area and try some of the best things to do in Playa del Carmen!

Read my Travel Guide to Playa Del Carmen for handy tips to use throughout your stay.

14 Best Things To Do In Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Here are the best things to do in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.

Most of these things you can do within walking distance of the town center. Bicycle rental is also a great way to get around. Most hotels have bike rentals available!

For further activities and day trips, join a guided tour or rent a car. I’ll link to any relevant tours that include transport throughout this post.

Otherwise, you can easily rent a car and explore on your own for the day. We did this for a day trip to Chichén Itzá and loved it.

So let’s dive into the best things to do in Playa Del Carmen!

1. Walk along La Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue)

La Quinta Avenida, or Fifth Avenue, is the main tourist street in Playa Del Carmen.

It’s loud, busy, and bursting with energy. Even if you’re not the biggest fan of crowds, strolling along the iconic street is a must-do.

Visit early in the morning for a more mellow atmosphere. Or head here at dinnertime if you want to make the most of the opportunities for dining, drinking, dancing, and shopping.

2. Relax in the tide pools at Punta Esmerelda

This was possibly my favorite spot in Playa Del Carmen. Playa Punta Esmerelda is located at the very north of the city.

It’s a beautiful beach with soft white sand and swaying palm trees. It’s also a very local area, so it’s mostly families hanging out at Punta Esmerelda.

There is a small stream that leads to a crystal clear tide pool and natural cenote behind the beach. Here you can relax in the refreshing water, wade in the shallow pool, and find some shade!

man in the tide pools at playa punta esmerelda

3. Explore the jungle by ATV

Another one of the best things to do in Playa Del Carmen is join an ATV tour.

The Yucatan Peninsula is surprisingly undeveloped for such a touristy destination. Surrounding popular places like Playa Del Carmen, Cancún, and Tulum, there are miles and miles of untouched, tropical jungle.

When you join an ATV tour, you can get off the tourist trail and cruise through the dense Mexican jungle with a guide.

After riding the muddy trails, your guide will take you to a secluded cenote for swimming.

Explore the Yucatan jungle on an ATV tour!

4. Take a day trip to Chichén Itzá

If you’re visiting Playa Del Carmen, it’s worth taking a day trip out to Chichén Itzá.

This famous Mayan temple complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. And it’s only about 2 hours from Playa Del Carmen!

So I think it’s totally worth seeing the incredible and iconic landmark during your stay.

You can hire a car and drive yourself to Chichén Itzá, or join a guided day trip that includes a stop in Valladolid and a cenote swim.

chichen itza day trip yucatan mexico — Visit the world-famous Chichén Itzá near Playa Del Carmen!

5. Visit a nearby cenote

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is filled with cenotes. These underground caverns and sinkholes have turquoise water that is gorgeous for swimming.

Some popular cenotes near Playa Del Carmen include:

Cenote Azul
Cenote Chaak Tun
Gran Cenote
Rio Secreto
Jardin del Eden
Cenote Chac Mool
Cenote Cristalino

Every cenote is different. Some have stalactites and stalagmites, some have scuba diving. Some are huge and deep, others are small and shallow.

It’s also worth checking entry fees. Some cenotes are free and hidden, while some require you to book an expensive guided tour or a park entry.

So I recommend researching which cenotes you want to visit before you set out. This saves you from driving around and wasting time!

Whether you visit a cenote on a guided tour or drive yourself, definitely make a trip to swim in one while you’re in the Yucatan.

We visited Cenote Azul which is about 25 minutes away from Playa Del Carmen towards Tulum.

cenote azul things to do in playa del carmen — Cenote Azul – it’s actually huge and this is just one section of it

6. Go paddleboarding at sunrise

Paddleboarding is a fun way to explore the coastline of any beach town.

Aloha Paddle Club in Playa Del Carmen has paddleboard rentals and tours so you can hit the water.

They have sunrise sessions, morning sessions, and sunset sessions. Though in my experience, it’s always worth getting up early for sunrise!

7. Eat some authentic Mexican food

Eating Mexican food is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Playa Del Carmen.

Many eateries around La Quinta Avenida will be westernized, but you can still find local dishes at most restaurants.

For a more authentic experience, just walk away from the tourist centre!

We found a tiny local spot near our hotel called Arabe that had barely any tourists there. The tacos were fresh, delicious, and cheap.

Other places that were slightly more expensive and crowded, but still delicious, were Don Sirloin and La Cueva Del Chango.

local restaurant in playa del carmen mexico

8. Join a local food walking tour

Another way to connect with the local cuisine is a guided food tour!

I’m sometimes hesitant to book guided tours because I don’t want to spend money, but I never ever regret the experience when I do it.

Local guides are always friendly and can teach you some cool knowledge about their country and culture. And they will take you to the best places that other tourists may not know about.

So if you’re a foodie, it may be worth joining a guided walking food tour with a local.

9. Find the local food trucks

Here is another fun Playa Del Carmen activity for foodies!

The city actually has some amazing food trucks where you can indulge in some delectable food.

Gourmet Park is a small and trendy food truck spot with cocktails and a great vibe. It’s a bit far from the tourist center, but easily reachable with a car or taxi.

There are a few other food trucks scattered around the city, such as Tacos Locos Food Truck and the Truck House.

10. Admire the street art in Colosio

Colosio is a neighborhood just north of the main tourist center in Playa Del Carmen. It still has a few resorts, expats, and travellers, but it also has lots of locals and families.

There is so much gorgeous, colorful street art around here. Spend some time walking around and admiring the cool murals. They are everywhere and so easy to find!

It’s also nice to just walk around these quieter, less touristy streets.

Our hotel, Suites Cielo y Mar, was located up here on Calle 80. This is a wonderful area to stay in if you prefer a more relaxed atmosphere as opposed to the town center.

11. Rent a bike

Biking is such a fun way to get around Playa Del Carmen.

Lots of hotels around Playa Del Carmen have bikes for hire, so I highly recommend exploring on two wheels for a day.

The main tourist street of La Quinta Avenida is pedestrian-only. But follow that same road north and eventually it turns into a quiet and scenic path that is perfect for biking.

Our hotel was located on Calle 80, a 40 minutes walk from the town center. So renting bikes for the day made it super easy to zip into town for meals and sightseeing.

12. Spend the day at Xcaret

Xcaret is an iconic theme park about 15 minutes away from Playa Del Carmen by car.

It has underground rivers, cenotes, viewpoints, and water activities. You can check out wildlife, stay at one of the resorts, and have a fun day out in the sunshine.

There are a few theme parks around Playa Del Carmen, with Xcaret being a favorite among families.

13. Or spend the day at Xplor Park

Not far from Xcaret is Xplor Park, another theme park that you can visit on a day trip from Playa Del Carmen.

Xplor Park is more adventurous than Xcaret, with zip lines, amphibious vehicles, caves, tubing, rafting, and more.

This is a fun option for groups of friends or families who want some thrilling rides and activities in nature.

Book your ticket to Xplor Park online in advance!

14. Have a beach day

Playa Del Carmen is completely lined with beaches on the coastline. It looks like one super long beach, but it is technically separated into smaller sections.

Popular beaches along the Playa Del Carmen coast include Playa Mamitas, Playa Coco, and Playa Pelicanos.

Some beaches are named based on their closest street number, such as Playa 72 and Playa 38.

All the beaches are public and free! The further away from the main tourist center you get, the less crowded and more local the beaches get.

If you want the best beach conditions, avoid Playa Del Carmen between April and August! The beaches will unfortunately be covered in brown seaweed at this time.