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For
anyone who has dreamed of finding the perfect powdery white, sandy
beach stretching along miles of turquoise blue water, Playa is the
place to be! The accommodations are known for being reasonably
priced, and the standard is high. The restaurants are
beautifully decorated and offer good service. From Playa del
Carmen it is easy to take the ferry to Cozumel. It is also a
convenient location from which to take one of the tours to visit
the various ruins in the area such as Chitchen Itza and Tulum.
These are only a few of the reasons that this sun-splashed resort
area has become one of the world’s top tourist destinations!
Originally
named Xaman-Ha (waters of the north) and known as the capital of
the Riviera Maya, Playa
del Carmen is located on the beautiful Caribbean
coast some 40 miles south of Cancun.
Playa
was once a sleepy Mexican fishing village, but has been
transformed into the world's fastest growing city. It is a favored
destination for an increasing number of world travelers, as well
as for thousands of day-trippers from Cancún and from Caribbean
cruise ships.
The
town is laid out so that the main street, Avenida Juárez,
leads to the zócalo (town square) from Highway 307. As it
does so, it crosses several numbered avenues that run parallel to
the beach, all of which are multiples of 5. Quinta Avenida (5th
Avenue) is closest to the beach. It is closed to traffic
from the zócalo to Calle 6 (and some blocks beyond, in the
evening). This avenue bustles with hotels, restaurants, and shops.
With mariachi
musicians entertaining in the streets, Playa is reminiscent of the
colonial towns of Mexico.
Almost
all of the town is north and west of the zócalo.
Immediately south are the ferry pier and a Resort Hotel. Beyond
this southern edge of town are the airstrip and the golf course
development called Playacar, with many private residences and
resort hotels.
The
beach at Playa is one of the most beautiful on the coast, with
white sand and sparkling, clear water. A distinct advantage
of this resort paradise is its compact size, which allows it to be
easily covered on foot. Playa contains the most
vibrant and popular nightlife on the Riviera Maya.
A
visit to Playa is never dull! If your visit to Playa
del Carmen coincides with a full moon, you could
camp on the beach and enjoy one of the celebrations the
inhabitants hold in its honor. Playa
provides an enormous variety of water activities
throughout the year, ranging from swimming on the beach to more
strenuous sports such as windsurfing, snorkeling, sailing or
diving at the nearby reefs. There is also an 18 hole golf
course designed by Robert Von Hagge. Skydiving from Playa is
another possibility.
Playa
del Carmen’s natural features, beauty, and spectacular beaches,
its enviable geographical location and its blend of sea and jungle
make this destination on the Mexican Caribbean a favorite of
visitors from all over the world.
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