Playa del Carmen is a bustling little city on the Caribbean coast on the Yucatan peninsula located mid-way between Cancun and the obscure little Village of Tulum. Playa del Carmen seems to have qualities of both.
Playa del Carmen, Mexico has packed beaches and slow beaches.
The Little, Big City and its Famous Fifth Avenue
Playa is small enough to be less expensive than its northern neighbor of Cancun, but large enough to offer any kind of amenity one might want. From high-end resorts, spas, and restaurants to family-oriented and kid-friendly amenities, this city aims to please.
At first, we weren’t sure that it was what we were expecting. But, the more we got to know the place, the more we realized it’s not just a beach town for spring-breakers. It’s also a town for families with young children, retirees, and expats of every age escaping snowy climates.
Playa del Carmen is experiencing a surge of population growth. Like so many beach areas in Mexico, it has become a well-known destination so building construction is on a tear. Be it studios, 1- and 2- bedroom condos, or luxury apartments, it’s a struggle to keep up with demand. The trend in Playa is not for high-rise projects, and many residential projects in the building stage will only be three- or four-stories high. And, many of the projects are within two or three blocks of the beach.
One of the main attractions in Playa is Fifth Avenue, a boulevard that parallels the coastline and has about any kind of shopping or restaurant you could ask for. This boulevard is a popular hang-out for expats, tourists, and locals, and a happening place about any time of day or evening.
Crowds stroll the street in Playa del Carmen’s 5th Ave.
Fifth Avenue is where people go to see and to be seen. Outdoor patio cafes, trendy contemporary restaurants, and colorful taco houses . . . French bakeries . . . Gucci and Rolex stores . . . The further south you stroll, the fancier the stores become. This boulevard stretches almost three miles and we covered all of it several times because there’s so much to see. The area is well patrolled by Mexican police during the day and night.
A Few of Our Favorite Places to Eat in Playa del Carmen
Playa is large enough that one can find about any kind of food or restaurant. Some are local or regional chains, and some are well-known international chains. Coffee shops would be a good example.
The Cave of The Monkey restaurant is located in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Oatmeal at La Cueva del Chango
Ah Cacao is a local coffee shop which also happens to serve chocolate and pastry specialties. And right down the street is a local Starbucks.
For breakfast places, a local and visitor favorite is La Cueva del Chongo (or cave of the monkey). Although there’s indoor seating, most people prefer to sit outside under the huge trees and watch the colorful birds flit from tree to tree or see a shy iguana peek out from one of the huge branches. My favorite favorite dish was the oatmeal mixed with chia seeds, pepitas, fresh coconut, red grapes, and sweet papaya. Phenomenal! One bowl of this wholesome goodness kept me full for almost an entire day!
100% Natural is an awesome restuarant in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Another great breakfast and lunch place is the appropriately named 100% Natural. It’s located on Fifth Avenue, just around the corner from where we stayed. It has a variety of plant-based specialties for those looking for vegan and vegetarian options. Their colorful real-fruit smoothies are served in giant goblets. They are delicious, filling, and big enough to share.
For dinners, we ate at Eat Italy a couple of times. And we could go back and eat there again because they have some really delicious choices. White tablecloths, excellent menu choices, and reasonable prices, Eat Italy was one of our favorite restaurants.
One night, we had dinner with a small group of people we had met at the Mexico City conference the previous week. When we arrived at the resort, we were lead through the elegant lobby, through the artistically maintained gardens, and up the wide staircase to the Samurai,
The Samurai Restaurant in Playa del Carmen
a beautiful Japanese restaurant that overlooks the azure waters of the Caribbean. From that setting, we could see the twinkling lights of Cozumel in the distance and watch cruise ships as they head to their next port. After dinner, we listened to a young and very talented violinist play the most gorgeous rendition of remixed classical favorites. The entire evening was truly a memorable experience!
Our Lodging in Playa del Carmen
Occasionally, it can be difficult to find places to stay in a touristy beach town. We wanted a local vibe, that would be clean, safe, and within our price range.
The Kinbe Hotel is all of that and more. We looked forward to coming home each night after long days of exploring and sightseeing. Family owned and operated, it’s a comfortable, cozy, and sparkling clean little hotel conveniently tucked away between the white sand beach and Fifth Avenue. In other words, it’s half a block from both.
The Kinbe is a boutique hotel 1/2 block off of Fifth Ave. in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
The street in front of Kinbe is narrow and one-way, so most traffic is pedestrian or bicycles. Although it is next door to a trendy restaurant and nightclub, our room was still quiet. We could hear some music in the evenings, as was mentioned in some of their reviews but it didn’t bother us, and we slept well on the comfortable king bed.
Our comfortable king bed in the Kinbe Hotel in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
It has a swimming pool and there’s also an upstairs deck for enjoying the outdoors. Our room had high ceilings and a glassed archway above the front entryway door to let in plenty of sunlight. Modern lighting, glass shelving, natural décor with inlaid natural rock, a closet large enough for suitcases, and a safe for valuables add to the convenience and appeal. The front desk staff speak English and
made our arrangements for our shuttle service to the airport and our all-day tour to Chichen Itza, one of the New Seven Wonders of The World.
El Castillo, also known as the Temple of Kukulcan, dominates the center of the Chichen Itza archaeological site in the Mexican state of Yucatán.
Follow us on social media!
No comments yet.