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Playa del Carmen is the heartbeat of the Mayan Riviera. It’s the perfect romantic escape offering stunning beaches, natural adventure, luxury accommodations, vibrant culture, and a thriving dining and nightlife scene.
Playa del Carmen boasts 75 miles (120 km) of shoreline in the Mexican Caribbean, featuring soft white-sand beaches, cenotes (deep natural wells or sinkholes), theme parks, and exclusive resorts nestled either in the awe-inspiring jungle or within the buzzing cosmopolitan atmosphere of its Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue).
The days in Playa del Carmen seem endless. Daylight brings sunbathing and swimming in turquoise-blue waters. At sunset, downtown restaurants await, offering a culinary experience ranging from traditional Mayan cuisine to international fare. Afterward, you can stroll its most emblematic street, Fifth Avenue, well-known for its high-end boutiques, local handicraft stalls, bodegas, and street performers.
Be sure to come back at night in search of a soirée. You will find all sorts of fun activities. However, the most popular places are those with open bars, featuring dance parties hosted by celebrity impersonators. There are also hippie mezcalerías, salsa dance clubs, and bars featuring trova (Cuban popular music).
Playa del Carmen is located 47 miles (76 km) from Cancún. You can travel, by land or ferry, from Playa del Carmen to other Caribbean paradises, such as Tulum, Cozumel, and Isla Mujeres.
The weather is perfect throughout the year, but the best time to visit is from December to June, when the humidity and heat are not as overwhelming.
Mexico is becoming increasingly popular as a destination for Americans and Canadians to get married and given the opportunity to get married surrounded by such stunning scenery, it’s not hard to imagine why!
If you want to get married in Mexico, there is nothing legal or technical stopping you from doing so; but you will need to plan ahead and get a few documents together, fill in a few forms and pay a few fees.
You don’t need to be resident in Mexico in order to get married here, you’ll just need a passport and your tourist permit, plus some other paperwork which may include chest x-rays and blood tests. You will need to have four witnesses present at the legal ceremony, and they must have valid identification: usually, a valid Passport is used, but other forms of government-issued identification are accepted. Your Marriage Certificate will be valid worldwide, but you should get your certificate “legalized” here to ensure it is legally accepted when you get back home.
For a modest fee, wedding planners make it easy for you to save on destination wedding packages, venues, photographers, transportation, and activities.
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Rivers, coves and Mexican design shape Hotel Xcaret México, a Riviera Maya resort where family time, adults-only spaces and park adventures can share one trip.
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Art workshops, rooftop pools and Mexican-inspired suites make Hotel Xcaret Arte a Riviera Maya escape for couples and guests aged 16 and over.
There are many ways to embark on a natural adventure, be thrilled by world-class entertainment, or simply relax on one of 16 extraordinary beaches in Playa del Carmen. Here are just a few.
Río Secreto: This nature reserve is categorized as part of Playa del Carmen's (and Mexico's) natural heritage due to the beauty of its underground cavern system, which is partially flooded with crystalline turquoise water.
Akumal: A designated sanctuary for marine species, this beach is located 37 kilometers (23 mi) from Playa del Carmen's downtown area. It’s an important spawning and nesting area for green and loggerhead turtles and is quite popular for snorkeling.
Cobá: Deep inside the jungle of Quintana Roo, this antique Mayan city is the biggest pre-hispanic settlement in Yucatan Peninsula. Its enormous importance can only be compared with Chichén Itzá.
Playa del Carmen's archaeological site, Xaman-Há, is located in Playacar, an exclusive resort area. Xaman-Há is Mayan for “water from the north,” since it is located on the shore.
Cirque du Soleil's Joyà: The Vidanta Theater was built specifically to house Cirque du Soleil's Joyà, which opened in 2014. The show finds its inspiration in Mexican culture and is Cirque du Soleil's first show housed outside of the U.S.
Bring your dates, your ideas, and the things that matter to you. Shape the trip with a travel advisor.
