Welcome to Playa del Carmen.
A few years ago Playa del Carmen was a fishermen village with sandy streets called Xaman-Há,which just attracted adventure loving tourists and travellers that came for the virgin nature and the calmness. There was no electricity, no purified water; there were no telephones.
The working days were from sunrise to sunset. At night any excuse was good enough to have a party by the sea in any of the small local restaurants or bars of the town.The small fishermen village beside the port where the boats to Cozumel used to leave, surrounded by the majestic Mayab forest and the amazing turquoise waters of the Mexican Caribbean was the magnificent setting for this peculiar Caribbean town so far from the civilization, with europea-asio-afro-american influence; a simple life in harmony with nature.
Now Playa is the largest town in the Riviera Maya, having grown extensively since being a fisherman's village. Thanks to a few laws that restrict the height of buildings, Playa has managed to maintain its quaint atmosphere. It has not been overrun by big hotels stealing all the beautiful ocean views.
Location
Playa del Carmen is located in Yucatán on the Riviera Maya, right opposite the island of Cozumel and south of Cancun. International flights arrive at the airports of Cancun as well as Cozumel. It is only a 50 minute drive from Cancun and Cancun International Airport (CUN), which can either be done by taxi or by bus. Tulum is only a 40 minutes drive south, and ferrys to the island of Cozumel can be taken in the centre of Playa del Carmen.
Time Zone
Central Standard Time year around.
Climate
Playa del Carmen enjoys sunny, sunny days. The semitropical climate is year round. The average temperature ranges from 75-90 degrees year round, although it can get chilly on windy winter days.
Electric Currency
The electric current all over Mexico is the same as in the US.
Phone Calls
There is still government tax on long distance calls in Mexico, so if you plan to call home, it is more economical to call collect, since a charge paid in other country cannot be taxed in México.
Language
Spanish is the national language in Mexico, although in all touristic locations English is spoken in most shops, restaurants, hotels and public places.
Money & Banks
Credit cards, US dollars and travelers cheques are accepted almost everywhere. It is advisable to convert some dollars into pesos at your bank or at the airport before arrival for small purchases. Banks are open from 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM. Monday through Friday and closed on holidays.
Valuables
A safe deposit box is available at the hotel for jewelry, cash, cameras or other valuables.
What to See and What to Do
The possibilities are never-ending. Visit Cancun, Merida, Chichen Itza, Tulum, Xel-Ha, Cozumel, Coba, Isla Mujeres, Golf, Snorkeling, Beach life, and much, much more. |
