A
Quick Overview of Mexico
Acapulco
Has It All
As
'the largest city in the world' Mexico City has more than a bit of excitement
in store for you
Beaches
and Weather in Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya Mexico
Become
a Castaway on Cozumel
Cancun:
Mexico at its Most Luxurious
Crystal
Blue Waters and Mayan Civilization of Cancun
Exploring
Old Town In Puerto Vallarta
Guadalajara,
Guanajuato and Merida Travel Guide
Lesser
Known Yet Fabulous: Puerto Aventuras
Lets
Go To Mexico - 5 Great Mexico Vacation Destinations
Mexico's
Island of Cozumel
Your
Vacation in the Riviera Maya
Playa
del Carmen - A True Gem in the Riviera Maya
Puerto
Vallarta Dreaming
The
macabre 'Island of the Dolls' is calling you to visit
Things
That You Should Know About Cabo San Lucas
Vacation
in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Vacation
in Calmer, Gentler Puerto Morelos
Vacation
Rentals in Akumal
Millions of people a year flock
to Playa del Carmen, and the Riviera Maya, to escape cold weather, get
a reprieve from work pressures, and take time off for serious rest and
relaxation. The major attractions to the area are the white sandy beaches,
the amazing crystalline waters, the laid back Caribbean attitude, and the
warm tropical weather... read
more
Playa
del Carmen - A True Gem in the Riviera Maya by Sara Moen
Originally named Xaman-Ha (waters
of the north) Playa
del Carmen is part of the Mayan World. Located on the crystal
blue waters of the Mexican Caribbean, Playa del Carmen is just 40 miles
(60 kms.) south of Cancun. Playa, as it is known as to locals, is the perfect
spot from which to explore the fascinating sites of The Mayan Riviera.
Playa del Carmen is known for its miles of white sandy beaches, phosphorescent
Caribbean waters, and its laid back attitude. Playa del Carmen is a place
for those in search of a unique visit, vibrant people, amazing Mayan culture,
and an overall travel experience that you will never forget. So come and
enjoy everything Playa del Carmen and The Riviera Maya has to offer; you
will not be disappointed The once quiet seaside village of Playa del Carmen
has doubled in population over the past few years, mainly due to foreigners
such as Europeans, South Americans, Americans and Canadians who have discovered
this little slice of paradise. Playa del Carmen is a place to enjoy amazing
beaches, and the famous cenotes by day and trendy eateries, bars, and restaurants
by night. The eclectic mix of backpackers, archeological experts, dive
junkies, and young hipsters makes Playa del Carmen an incredibly unique
and interesting place.
Due to its location, Playa
del Carmen, is a veritable hub to outer lying ruins, dive spots, and the
concept of "La Ruta Maya". You will not find La Ruta Maya on your travel
map or even in your travel guide because it is not a set route but a concept.
Originally the Ruta Maya was to be a new idea in traveling: a specific
mapped out area connecting major Mayan archaeological sites and nature
preserves throughout southern Mexico and some Central American countries.
In reality La Ruta Maya has become to include the Mexican states of Chiapas,
Yucatan, Campeche and Quintana Roo, all of Belize and Guatemala and parts
of Honduras. Now travelers who are hoping to experience these amazing parts
of Mexico and Central America flock to Playa del Carmen as their window
into the Mayan World. Because of where Playa is located there are bus routes
through out Mexico and Central America that originate in the area.
So, many people come to the
area and use Playa del Carmen as their "home base" while they travel onto
Palenque, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, or some other far reaching destination.
The amazing archeological
sites sprinkled through out the region such as Tulum, Coba, Ek Balam, and
Chichen Nitza are major attractions to people coming to visit the area.
Bringing archeologist's, graduate students, and self proclaimed archeological
buffs from all over the world. Visiting one, or several, of the ruin sites
is a MUST DO when visiting the area. The area is so rich in history and
culture it would be a real shame to miss out on learning a bit about where
you are. In addition to amazing archeological sites, there are multiple
natural wonders scattered through out the Riviera Maya. For example the
Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve near Tulum. Sian Kaan is an ecotourism and
educational center, and it serves as a model for sustainable development
in sensitive tropical ecosystems. They offer tours and accommodations which
in turn fund their research. So if you want to check it out, it is worth
looking into and it is an incredible project to support.
There is also Xel-Ha and
Xcaret, ecotourism theme parks both of which are located between Playa
del Carmen, and Tulum. They offer both fun in the sun, and wildlife conservation
which in turn is a great combination. Crococun is a Park and Regional Zoo
located north of Playa del Carmen. Originally designed to farm crocodiles
to create a sustainable resource it is now a conservationist park. The
kids are sure to love it with its crazy monkeys, beautiful parrots, rare
Mayan dogs, local deer, and of course tons of crocodiles!
Another must see while in
the area is Aktun Chen where you will have a chance to learn about local
flora and fauna, and our famous cenote system, with a specialized guide.
There are countless attractions
both large and small through out the area that will appeal to all levels
of travelers and visitors. Long before Playa del Carmen became a hotspot
vacation destination the area was known around the world to dive aficionados
as a truly top notch location for under water exploration. They discovered
years ago that under the watchful eyes of the ancient Maya in the warm
Caribbean waters off the Yucatan Peninsula exists a truly amazing underwater
world: where divers can explore the reefs of the Riviera Maya swimming
with turtles and schools of Tarpon. They drift along the coral covered
walls of famous Cozumel Island named by Jacques Cousteau as one of the
best dive spots in the world. And they discover the incredible serenity
of daylight cavern diving in the famous Mexican Cenotes - the worlds largest
fresh water system formed over tens of thousands of years ago. So if you
are certified dive "junkie" or if you want to join the onslaught of underwater
explorers we suggest you contact some of the best divers in the area. If
diving isn't your thing, and you would prefer to float on top of the water
looking down, there are countless snorkel spots that are truly exceptional.
Akumal is a great snorkel
spot with the amazing Yal Kul Lagoon, and Half Moon Bay , both of which
have had countless sea turtle sightings. Yal Kul Lagoon is a mixed water
lagoon, with sweet water from the underground river system, and an inlet
from the Caribbean allowing the sea water to mix with the sweet water.
This creates a kind of shimmery oil effect that is rare to see, and in
turn creates an eclectic variety of underwater creatures, and coral to
check out. Half Moon Bay is located off of La Buena Vida, a perfect place
to grab a bite, enjoy a happy hour libation, or lounge on the beach as
you intermittently snorkel the reef in search of the famous Akumal turtles.
In addition to these two amazing snorkel locations any dive shop, hotel,
or tour company offers snorkeling excursions to more remote areas. One
worth checking out is the Ocean Adventure Tour , which offers high speed
F1 ocean transport, cenote exploration, snorkeling, local fare, and cocktails.
It is a great way to enjoy
an afternoon enabling you to experience a multitude of activities in a
cool laid back way.
Fat Cat Catamaran Tour is
another great way to check out the area, based out of Puerto Aventuras,
Fat Cat offers a fun version of a "booze cruise". With the tunes blasting,
the beer flowing, and a brand new 50 foot luxury catamaran how can you
go wrong? You can lounge on deck, kick back under the shaded area, take
a turn on the boom net, and snorkel in hard to reach destinations. Not
to mention the unbelievable beaches you will get to visit! For those of
you who like to go motorized, one of the longest running tours in the area,
ATV Explorer , is a total blast. Located in the jungle just West of the
beach a few minutes south of Playa del Carmen, ATV Explorer offers a great
introduction to the area.
Blasting through the jungle
on your own ATV you will see a Mayan ruin, experience local fauna and flora
(keep you eyes peeled for the crazy monkeys on Monkey Loop), and dive into
one of the freshest, deepest cenotes in the area. As you can see there
are countless things to do and see while visiting Playa del Carmen and
The Rivera Maya. From remote cave dives, to amazing archeological sights,
not to mention the bright blue Caribbean and white sandy beaches, you are
sure to take home memories that will last you a life time!
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