14 Must See Attractions in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is a vibrant city in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. Located between Cancun and Tulum on the glistening Caribbean coastline, this tourist destination is hugely popular with national and international visitors… and with good reason!

Here, you’ll find some of the best beaches in the world, plus ancient archaeological sites, adrenaline-pumping activities, and an abundance of natural wonders.

Grab your luggage and your pesos — here are the 14 must-see attractions in Playa del Carmen.

1. Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue)

Photo Credit: JessicaGirvan

• Address: Quinta Avenida, Gonzalo Guerrero, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo
• Opening Hours: 24 hours

Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue in English) is the life and soul of Playa del Carmen. The pedestrianized street runs parallel to the beachfront and is home to countless bars, restaurants, cafes, and stores.

During the day, stroll along 5th Avenue to pick up souvenirs and enjoy the street performers. Once night falls, 5th Avenue truly comes to life, and you’ll be spoiled for choice with cozy cocktail bars, bustling restaurants, and live music venues.

2. Frida Kahlo Museum

• Website: museofridakahlo.org.mx
• Address: Calle 8 entre 5ta Avenida y el Mar, Centro, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo
• Opening Hours: 10.00 am – 8.00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday / 10.00 am – 7.00 pm Wednesday

Frida Kahlo is Mexico’s most famous artist, and her former home in Mexico City is one of the country’s top attractions.

Playa del Carmen pays homage to Kahlo with a museum dedicated to her life and work. Spend an hour here learning how her work influenced Mexican society in various ways, including gender, class, race, and postcolonialism.

The exhibits, which are in English and Spanish, feature stories about the artist’s life and prints of her most iconic works.

3. Playacar Beach

• Address: Playacar Playa Del Carmen, Quintana Roo
• Opening Hours: 24 hours

Playa del Carmen is home to several beautiful beaches, and you’ll never be far from a stretch of powdery white sand during your stay. Playacar Beach is one of the best and is just a few minutes from the city center.

Playacar is an upmarket gated community home to many of the city’s expats and wealthy local families. The beach, however, is public but tends to be much quieter than those closer to Downtown Playa del Carmen, so you’ll likely have a sizeable section of the beach all to yourself.

There aren’t many amenities nearby, so bring water and snacks. Don’t forget to pack your snorkel, too — this is an excellent spot for exploring the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.

4. Xcaret Park

Photo Credit: posztos

• Website: xcaret.com
• Address: Carretera Chetúmal Puerto Juárez Kilómetro 282, Solidaridad, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo
• Opening Hours: 8.30 am – 10.30 pm daily

This Riviera Maya theme park is a can’t-miss day out for families and thrill-seekers who want to learn more about indigenous Mexican culture. The park is dedicated to the Mayan culture that existed from as early as 2,000 BC, and you’ll find over 50 natural and cultural activities at this park.

Nestled in the Mayan jungle, you can enjoy lots of adrenaline-fueled adventures, including snorkeling among coral reefs, ziplining through the jungle, hiking to ancient ruins, and zipping along narrow trails on ATVs.

5. Isla Mujeres

For a true taste of tropical paradise, visit Isla Mujeres. This Caribbean island is located off the coast of the Riviera Maya and is an easy day trip while visiting Playa del Carmen.

Choose from hopping on the ferry to cross the crystal clear waters to Isla Mujeres. Or, for a hassle-free day where all the logistics are handled for you, take a boat tour instead. Boat tours typically include round-trip transfers from your accommodation and will stop off en route to snorkel.

Once you’re on the island, check out Playa Norte for what’s considered to be the best beach in all of Mexico. Several beach clubs are dotted along the coastline if you like to lounge by the sea in ultimate luxury.

6. Rio Secreto

Photo Credit: nikitich viktoriya

• Website: riosecreto.com
• Address: Carretera Federal Libre Chetumal – Puerto Juárez Km 283.5, Ejido Sur, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo
• Opening Hours: 9.00 am – 2.00 pm daily

The Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico is famous for its underground rivers and cenotes (freshwater sinkholes that are popular swimming spots). Rio Secreto is one of the best places to experience this natural phenomenon, and it’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced before.

Take a guided tour to safely discover this underground cave system and its stalactites and stalagmites that date back thousands of years.

7. Cenote Chaak Tun

• Website: chaaktun.com.mx
• Address: Av. Benito Juarez 7-km 4, Ejidal, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo
• Opening Hours: 9.00 am – 3.00 pm daily

There are thought to be around 7,000 cenotes throughout the Yucatan Peninsula, and it can be tricky to decide which one to visit if you’re short on time. Cenote Chak Tun is the only freshwater swimming hole located in the heart of Playa del Carmen, so it’s a great option if you don’t want to travel far.

To see the best of Chak Tun, take a 2.5-hour guided tour that includes two flooded caves and a dry one. You’ll have the opportunity to take a refreshing cenote swim and snorkel during your visit — prepare to be dazzled by the spectacular caves while you do!

8. Mayan Ruins

Photo Credit: Chao Kusollerschariya

The Yucatan Peninsula is home to hundreds of Mayan ruins that give visitors a glimpse of what life was like for the indigenous Mayan people who originate from this part of the world. If you’re interested in history, don’t miss the opportunity to visit these unique ruins:

Chichen Itza

• Address: Carretera Acceso Za Chichen Itza, Tinum, Yucatán
• Opening Hours: 8.00 am – 4.30 pm daily

Chichen Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World, which is why around two million people visit each year. At its peak in around 600 AD, the ancient city was home to 30,000 people, and the archaeological site is awe-inspiring. The ruins are 2.5 hours from Playa del Carmen, so consider staying in the nearby city of Valladolid so you can reach the ruins early and beat the queues.

Tulum Ruins

• Address: Zona Hotelera Tulum, Tulum, Quintana Roo
• Opening Hours: 8.00 am – 5.00 pm daily

Tulum Ruins are easy to reach from Playa del Carmen by ADO bus or taxi, making them the perfect day trip option. This archaeological site is perched on a cliff with the Caribbean Sea as its backdrop, making it one of the most picturesque ruins in the region. Allow 1-2 hours to explore, and again, try to go early to avoid the crowds (and the midday heat).

Coba Ruins

• Address: Coba, Quintana Roo
• Opening Hours: 8.00 am – 4.00 pm daily

Head inland to discover the Mayan city of Coba, one of the largest ancient sites in this region of Mexico. The ruins include the towering Castillo Pyramid, which is one of the few sites that still allow visitors to climb the stone steps to the top of the temple. Other notable features include the limestone roadways, which run for an impressive 50 miles.

9. Xel-Ha Water Park

• Website: xcaret.com
• Address: Carretera Chetumal Puerto Juárez Km 240, locales 1 & 2, módulo B, Quintana Roo
• Opening Hours: 8.30 am – 6.00 pm daily

This natural waterpark is another of the Xcaret theme parks and is a fun place to cool off in the region’s famous hot weather. You can easily spend a full day here swimming and snorkeling in the inlet that flows into the Caribbean Sea, and you can even dive from a zip line… if you dare!

10. Akumal

Photo Credit: Polly Dawson

• Address: Carretera Tulum, Yodzonot, Cancún, Quintana Roo

If swimming with sea turtles is on your bucket list, Akumal is the place to make those dreams come true. This laid-back beach community is home to Green, Hawksbill, and Loggerhead turtles, and it’s possible to swim and snorkel with them in the clear blue water just off Akumal’s coast.

11. Cozumel

Cozumel is another great day trip option and is highly recommended for scuba diving and snorkeling. This rugged island can be reached from Playa del Carmen by ferry in just 30 minutes, or you can join a catamaran tour if you prefer to travel in style.

Cozumel’s reef is part of the Mesoamerican Reef — the second-biggest barrier reef system in the world —and you’ll discover a multitude of marine life under the ocean’s surface when you scuba or snorkel here.

Once you’ve finished exploring the underwater world, head into the center to fill up on tasty tacos (everywhere on Cozumel accepts USD) before getting the ferry back to the mainland.

12. Cirque du Soleil JOYÀ

• Website: cirquedusoleil.com
• Address: Carretera Federal, Cancun – Chetumal Km 48, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo
• Opening Hours: 11.00 am – 7.00 pm Monday / 11.00 am – 9.00 pm Tuesday to Saturday

Cirque du Soleil is a global phenomenon, and millions of people have seen the company’s jaw-dropping shows. Playa del Carmen is home to JOYÀ, the first resident Cirque du Soleil show in Mexico, and it’s an experience that you won’t soon forget.

The show is about a teenager and her grandfather traversing an enchanted jungle, and you’ll be blown away by the death-defying stunts, high-flying acrobatics, and firey surprises.

13. Coco Bongo

Photo Credit: Chad Zuber

• Website: cocobongo.com
• Address: Calle 12 Norte, esquina con Av. 10 Norte, Col. Centro, Gonzalo Guerrero, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo
• Opening Hours: 10.00 pm – 3.00 am Tuesday to Sunday

Speaking of unforgettable entertainment, Coco Bongo is another event to add to your vacation itinerary. This all-inclusive cabaret and club is a stand-out venue in Playa del Carmen’s nightlife scene, and you’re guaranteed a wild time. Expect dancing, live music, celebrity impersonators, acrobatics, and more. A ticket to Coco Bongo includes an open bar to ensure the party keeps going until the early hours.

14. Xplor Park

• Website: xcaret.com
• Address: Carretera Chetumal, Puerto Juarez Km 282, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo
• Opening Hours: 8.30 am – 10 pm Monday to Saturday

Xplor Park is another popular Xcaret adventure park and holds the title of the world’s most visited zip line park.

There are six adventurous activities to choose from, including amphibious vehicles, cenotes, a 5-in-1 water slide, and, of course, the zip lines. If you love the sound of combining adrenaline-fueled activities with Mexico’s iconic nature and culture, this is the attraction for you.

Get Ready to Be Captivated By Playa del Carmen

From the moment you land at nearby Cancun airport, you’ll feel Mexico’s magic taking hold. Which incredible attraction will you visit first on your next trip to Playa del Carmen?