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Location Information:
Playa
del Carmen is a city on the coast of
the Caribbean Sea, in the northeast
of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.
The city is the seat of the
Solidaridad municipality. In the
2005 census, the city had a
population of about 100,383 people
and it is rapidly growing in
population. It is the third largest
city in Quintana Roo, after Cancún
and Chetumal. Originally a small
fishing town, tourism to Playa del
Carmen began with the passenger
ferry service to Cozumel, an island
across the Cozumel Channel and world
famous scuba diving destination.
While passing through, many people
realized that it was a nice place to
relax away from the crowds of Cancún
but with the same quality beaches
and turquoise waters. While its salt
water scuba diving cannot compete
with Cozumel, for the adventurous,
Playa del Carmen's fresh water
cenote diving more than makes up for
it.
Today Playa del Carmen, or just
"Playa" as it is colloquially
referred to, is the center of the
Riviera Maya concept, which runs
from south of Cancún to Tulum and
the Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve.
Playa is a stop for several cruise
ships which dock at the nearby
Calica quarry docks, about six miles
south of the city. The Xcaret Eco
Park, a Mexican-themed
"eco-archaeological park", is a
popular tourist destination located
just south of the town in Xcaret.
Tourist activity in Playa del Carmen
centers on Quinta Avenida, or Fifth
Avenue, stretching from Calle 1
norte until Calle 34, a pedestrian
walkway located just one or two
blocks inland from the beach, which
is lined with boutique hotels (Deseo,
Basico or Casa Ticul) , or with a
special mexican touch (Barrio
Latino, or La Tortuga) shops, bars,
and restaurants.
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