2 days in Playa del Carmen

Day by day

1. Day 1: Quinta Avenida and Parque Fundadores and Portal Maya

   Quinta Avenida, Parque Fundadores and Portal Maya, Reef snorkelling and diving and Paseo del Carmen, then Xcaret in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Quinta Avenida

      Its southern end is lined with souvenir shops, pharmacies and big-brand stores, while the stretch north of Calle 20 has more restaurants, cafés and small boutiques under the trees.

   2. Late morning

      Parque Fundadores and Portal Maya

      The seafront square at the foot of Quinta Avenida is the town's gathering place, with the large bronze Portal Maya arch sculpture framing the sea, the small white church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen nearby and a tall pole where Papantla Flyers (voladores) often perform their ritual descent.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tacos al pastor

      Taquerías on Avenida 10, Avenida 30 and in Colosio, where prices are lower than on Quinta Avenida.

   4. Afternoon

      Reef snorkelling and diving

      In season, usually from about November to March, bull shark dives are offered off Playa, and turtles are common on the shallow reefs.

   5. Late afternoon

      Paseo del Carmen

      It is a quieter, air-conditioned-shop alternative to the busier stretches of the avenue.

   6. Evening

      Xcaret

      Bring a change of clothes for the evening show and buy tickets online in advance for a better price.

2. Day 2: Mamitas Beach and Punta Esmeralda

   Mamitas Beach, Punta Esmeralda, Xplor and Río Secreto, then Calle 12 in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Mamitas Beach

      It is lively all day and is the setting for the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival.

   2. Late morning

      Punta Esmeralda

      It is popular with local families at weekends and has a relaxed feel compared with the central beaches.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Cochinita pibil torta

      Morning stalls and loncherías away from Quinta Avenida, usually until they run out.

   4. Afternoon

      Xplor

      A night version runs some evenings.

   5. Late afternoon

      Río Secreto

      Visitors walk and swim through chambers of stalactites and stalagmites in a protected natural reserve.

   6. Evening

      Calle 12

      The main club street near Quinta Avenida, with large dance clubs and bars open late.

Before you go

• Xcaret: Tickets are sold for specific dates; book online in advance in high season.
• Xplor: Book ahead online; day and night tickets are sold separately.
• Río Secreto: Reserve a tour time in advance, especially in high season.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 27–36 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.9 hours in December to 13.4 hours in June.

Getting between stops: Walking. Most visitors walk everywhere in the centre; Quinta Avenida and the beach run side by side for several kilometres.

More or fewer days

• One day in Playa del Carmen
• 3 days in Playa del Carmen
• 5 days in Playa del Carmen

Questions travellers ask