One day 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

      Walk north from Parque Fundadores in the early evening when the street is at its liveliest, and ignore timeshare and tour sellers. Allow 2–3 hours.

   2. Late morning

      Parque Fundadores and Portal Maya

      Come at sunset to see the plaza busy with families and street performers. Allow 45 minutes.

   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

      Choose an established, certified operator and check equipment carefully before booking. Allow Half a day.

   5. Late afternoon

      Paseo del Carmen

      Stop for a coffee here while waiting for the Cozumel ferry, a few minutes' walk away. Allow 1 hour.

   6. Evening

      Xcaret

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

Before you go

• Xcaret: Tickets are sold for specific dates; book online in advance in high season.

If it rains

• Swap in Río Secreto (South of Playa del Carmen): Tours run in small groups; book ahead and leave cameras behind, as phones are not allowed on most tours.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–17 hours of visiting over one day, 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

• 2 days in Playa del Carmen
• 3 days in Playa del Carmen
• 5 days in Playa del Carmen

Questions travellers ask