Playa Del Carmen Travel Guide
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About Playa Del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is a resort city along the Caribbean Sea in the southeastern state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. It is part of the municipality of Playa del Carmen, and is around 68 kilometers away from Cancun. As of 2020, the city's population was just over 304,942, making it Quintana Roo’s second-largest city after Cancun. Playa del Carmen is a popular tourist destination in Mexico's Riviera Maya region. Its current growth rate is set at 7.5% per year. According to Guinness World Records, it is one of Latin America's fastest-growing communities. In 2016, the city was the tenth-most popular international travel destination for U.S. travelers, and more than one million tourists passed through the city a year later. Playa's main airport is Cancún International Airport, which is around 70 kilometres (43 mi) away. The area is known for its white sand beaches, turquoise waters, coral reefs, surrounding rainforests, and balnearios. The downtown area of the city revolves around Quinta Avenida, a busy pedestrian thoroughfare lined with shops, clubs, and restaurants.
Playa Del Carmen fun facts
- Playa del Carmen was once a tiny fishing village - it grew from 300 residents in 1995 to 150,000 today.
- The famous Fifth Avenue (Quinta Avenida) is the heart of the city's tourism scene.
- The island of Cozumel, reachable by ferry, is one of the world's top diving destinations.
- Playa del Carmen sits on the world's second-largest coral reef system.