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Xplor, Playa del Carmen

Outdoors · Playa del Carmen · Mexico

8 best outdoor things to do in Playa del Carmen

Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.

Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team

Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 2.0

Quick answer

Start with Mamitas Beach, Xcaret and Punta Esmeralda. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 26–33 hours across 4 areas; 2 are free.

Key facts

Places in this guide
8
Free entry
2
Time to see them all
26–33 hours
Areas
Mamitas and Calle 28–38, South of Playa del Carmen and Coco Beach and Punta Esmeralda

Outdoors in Playa del Carmen

Beach · Mamitas and Calle 28–38

1.Mamitas Beach

Bring your own towel and stay on the public sand to avoid beach-club minimum spends.

Time needed
Half a day
Cost
Free
  • Free
  • Couples
  • Outdoors
  • Iconic
Xcaret, Playa del Carmen
Photo: FeldBum, CC BY-SA 4.0

Theme park · South of Playa del Carmen

2.Xcaret

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

Time needed
Full day
Cost
Expensive
  • Kids
  • Iconic
  • Nature
  • After dark

Beach · Coco Beach and Punta Esmeralda

3.Punta Esmeralda

Visit on a weekday morning; the shallow pool is best for small children before it gets busy.

Time needed
2–3 hours
Cost
Free
  • Kids
  • Free
  • Nature
  • Outdoors
Xplor, Playa del Carmen
Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 2.0

Theme park · South of Playa del Carmen

4.Xplor

Wear secure footwear and leave loose items in the lockers; minimum height rules apply for some activities.

Time needed
Full day
Cost
Expensive
  • Active
  • Kids
  • Nature
Río Secreto, Playa del Carmen
Photo: Río Secreto, CC BY-SA 4.0

Nature · South of Playa del Carmen

5.Río Secreto

Tours run in small groups; book ahead and leave cameras behind, as phones are not allowed on most tours.

Time needed
Half a day
Cost
Expensive
  • Nature
  • Active
  • Rainy day
  • Kids

Nature · Puerto Aventuras area

6.Cenote Azul

Ask the colectivo driver to drop you at the entrance; go early before tour groups arrive.

Time needed
2 hours
Cost
Low cost
  • Nature
  • Kids
  • Active

Nature · Puerto Aventuras area

7.Cenote Cristalino

Pair it with Cenote Azul on the same morning; both are close to the highway.

Time needed
1.5 hours
Cost
Low cost
  • Nature
  • Active
  • Off the beaten path

Nature · Puerto Aventuras area

8.Cenote Jardín del Edén

Bring a mask; the visibility is excellent, and divers often train here.

Time needed
2 hours
Cost
Low cost
  • Nature
  • Active
  • Photo spot

Grouped by area

Outdoors in Playa del Carmen by area
AreaPlacesTime needed
Mamitas and Calle 28–38Mamitas BeachHalf a day
South of Playa del CarmenXcaret, Xplor and Río SecretoFull day + Full day + Half a day
Coco Beach and Punta EsmeraldaPunta Esmeralda2–3 hours
Puerto Aventuras areaCenote Azul, Cenote Cristalino and Cenote Jardín del Edén2 hours + 1.5 hours + 2 hours

Booking and timing

Of these 8, 2 free, 3 low cost, 3 expensive. Book ahead for Xcaret, Xplor and Río Secreto. The longest visit is Xcaret; group the rest by area to save travel time.

  • 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.

How to fit them into 6 half-days

Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.

  • Half-day 1 (Mamitas and Calle 28–38): Mamitas Beach, at least 3 hours.
  • Half-day 2 (South of Playa del Carmen): Xcaret, at least 6 hours.
  • Half-day 3 (South of Playa del Carmen): Xplor, at least 6 hours.
  • Half-day 4 (South of Playa del Carmen): Río Secreto, at least 3 hours.
  • Half-day 5 (Coco Beach and Punta Esmeralda and Puerto Aventuras area): Punta Esmeralda → Cenote Azul, at least 4 hours.
  • Half-day 6 (Puerto Aventuras area): Cenote Cristalino → Cenote Jardín del Edén, at least 4 hours.

The best months to be outside

  • April: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 3 rainy days, busy crowds. Hot and mostly dry, with calm seas; sargassum may begin to appear.
  • March: highs of 30°C (86°F), about 4 rainy days, very busy crowds. Warm and dry; spring break and Easter make it one of the busiest months.
  • February: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 5 rainy days, very busy crowds. Dry and pleasant, with Carnival parades along the seafront in some years and high hotel demand.

The neighbourhoods they are in

  • Centro and Quinta Avenida — The pedestrian heart of town, two blocks from the beach
  • Mamitas and Calle 28–38 — Beach clubs, boutique hotels and a busy stretch of sand
  • Coco Beach and Punta Esmeralda — A calmer residential area at the northern end of town

More of Playa del Carmen

All things to do in Playa del Carmen · Where to stay · When to go.

Questions travellers ask

+Where should I start in Playa del Carmen?

Mamitas Beach. Playa's most famous beach, at the end of Calle 28, has fine white sand, turquoise water and a well-known beach club, plus public sections where you can lay your own towel.

+Which of these are free in Playa del Carmen?

Mamitas Beach and Punta Esmeralda.