When you think of Mexico the first images that pop in mind are the beautiful beaches, long stretches of sand and you lying back on a reclining chair drinking some cocktail with tequila. During our trip we made sure to stay in a coastal area for at least a week. We considered Puerto Escindido in Oaxaca as a lot of fellow travellers recommended it for the beautiful waters and a place where you can either relax or have a good time (depending on what you're looking for). However, we decided to visit Playa del Carmen (even though it's a tad touristy) as it's beautiful for it's Caribbean waters as well as being a great base location to go see nearby sites. Playa del Carmen is a charming location which was once a very small and secluded fishing town and now has become one of the leading tourist destinations, only an hour away from the craziness of Cancun. The main street 5th Avenue is where it all happens! However l recommend taking a few steps away from the main street if you want to find some true (and cheaper) Mexican cuisine and small souvenirs/shops.
Getting Around:
In the Quintana Roo we used Collectivo's which is pretty much like a taxi but a lot cheaper as anyone can jump in along the way. You just tell the driver where to stop approximately and they will let you off there. They are really easy to hail down from the main road for either direction.
The only place that l would recommend booking in advance is a (tour) bus to Chichen Itza, as it is about three hours away. The bus also visits several areas along the way such as the cenote Ik-Kil. You can book a bus 24 hour in advance from a variety of points within Playa del Carmen (they are always hailing you down) or even the main bus terminal.
Nearby Places:
** Calculated from Playa Del Carmen
- Tulum - 1hr (approximately 30pesos one way)
This is definitely a place worth visiting during your stay in the area. It serves as a site for the Pre-Columbian Maya walled city along the Caribbean sea. When visiting be sure to bring a large bottle of water, sunscreen and you're bathers. Amongst the ruins you can take the stairs down to the water and go for a quick dip (warning: extremely crowded).
- Akumel - 30min (approximately 20pesos one way)
This is a very small beach between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. It's a little more isolated compared to the others and a great place where you can find your own stretch of sand to relax and kick the ball around. There is a shop right as you enter the beach where you can rent out gear for the whole day for really cheap to snorkel. Akumel means "place of turtle" in Mayan language and hence during certain times of the year you are able to find them chilling by the shore.
- Chichen Itza - 3hours (price varies depending on tour)
Chichen Itza is a pre-Columbian city built by the Maya civilisation. It is also one of the seven wonders of the world, hence definitely worth visiting if you a relatively close. It is unbelievable. Compared to the other ruins that l had visited Chichen Itza had the most detail that was visible. You could easily spend hours exploring the historic city. However, it is the most visited place in Mexico hence there are A LOT of tourists here. Be prepared to be squeezing through crowds in 35 degree heat!
During our tour to Chichen Itza we got to visit the Cenote Ik-Kil, which is amazing. The view from the top is beautiful. Once you jump into the water you are so refreshed and the view from within there feels like you're in some paradise themed movie. The only thing is you have to take a quick shower before hand as you aren't allowed to have sunscreen or mosquito repellant on you as it may damage the water. So, if you're allergic to mosquitos - Good luck! My eye brow was the size of a golfball for a little while.
- Isla Mujeres - 1hour bus + 1hour by boat
Isla Mujeres is pretty much as close as you can get to paradise. You can walk out for ages and the water would still be sitting at your knees. Isla Mujeres is where we did a quick stop after swimming with whale sharks. If you're in the area between May - October l highly recommend swimming with the whale sharks, it is a dint in the wallet for budget travellers however definitely worth it. The 'Island of Women' was beyond my expectations, a beautiful relaxing location where you genuinely feel like you have arrived in the Caribbean. A few locals recommended to go to Isla Holbox where it is just as amazing however a lot less tourists. It's probably an extra hour in travel time.
There are so many other places that you can visit around this area, especially cenotes. There is a bunch of them nearby, l recommend buying a cenote map and trying to conquer as many as possible. Ask the locals as well where they recommend for you to go, they might know some hidden gems not to far away.
Any other recommendations near Playa del Carmen?
No comments:
Post a Comment