Renowned Residential Area of Playacar Makes Perfect Vacation Spot

Below is an overview of the renowned residential area of Playacar just south of Playa Del Carmen. If you’re looking for a resort area that has both a relaxing and social atmosphere this area is likely a great option for you!

This is a very diverse area with travelers from around the world, with a good mix of Europeans and Americans. All-in-all the resorts in this area are in a great location just 45 minutes from the Cancun Airport and about 3 minutes driving distance from the upbeat town of Playa Del Carmen. The resorts are clean, the pools are relaxing and the service and entertainment are great. You’ll have your pick between luxury resorts and more authentic family-type resorts.

The 11-15 resorts in this area are within a 15-30 minute walk or 3 minute taxi ride to the shops and restaurants on Fifth Avenue in Playa Del Carmen. The resorts in this area are All-Inclusive and located closely side-by-side. You are able to walk up and down along the beach past the resorts, giving you great scenic variety. You are given a colored wrist band that let’s the resorts know which resort you are staying at.

Five Riu Resorts are spread along the beach in this area, including Riu Palace Mexico, Riu Palace Riviera Maya, Riu Playacar, Riu Yucatan, Riu Tequila and Riu Lupita. When you stay at either Palace resort you are able to go to use the facilities and All-Inclusive perks at any of the other Riu Resorts. If you stay at any of the other four, you are able to use the facilities and All-Inclusive amenities at any of the four non-Palace resorts. It is an easy walk between any of the resorts, although the Riu Palace Riviera Maya is a bit secluded from the others. The Tequila and Lupita are not located on the beach.

Two Iberostar resorts are also located next to each other on this stretch of beach; The Iberostar Quetzal and Iberostar Tucan. When you stay at one you have resort privileges at both. Another chain that has presence in this area is the Viva Wyndham. You have the option to stay at either the Viva Wyndham Maya or Viva Wyndham Azteca and can use either facility as well. Other resorts in this area include The Reef Playacar, Sandos Gala Playacar, and the Sandos Playacar Riviera Hotel.

One of the bummers in this area is the eroding beaches. They are still beautiful and relaxing to walk along and enjoy, but unfortunately the large black multi-ton sandbags in the beaches at each resort put a bit of a damper on the scenery. This is the case at all of the resorts in this area, but some are better than others. They don't seem to ruin anyone's enjoyment of the crystal clear blue ocean though, so don't base your resort decision solely on that.

The pricing at these resorts is also very affordable. Reasonably priced Cancun deals can be found yearround at any of these resort chains on Deals2Cancun.com.

The Cenotes of the Yucatán Peninsula

In addition to the abundant opportunities available for divers and snorkelers on the Caribbean coast, there is another subsurface world worthy of exploring in the Yucatán Peninsula. Over time, sections of underground caves have given way in the form of sinkholes to reveal complex systems of waterways. With no other access to fresh water, the ancient Maya built their cities around these sinkholes, or cenotes, and believed they were entrances to the Underworld. Archaeological exploration has shown the Maya threw precious objects and sacrifices into the cenotes as a way to worship and appease their gods.

Today the cenotes are a hotspot for divers looking for a less traditional type of underwater exploration. What the cenotes lack in marine life, they make up for in stunning geological scenery. The crystal clear water makes for much better visibility than an ocean reef and reveals a jungle of stalactites and stalagmites. Divers can also experience the halocline effect, in which the heavier saltwater meets the fresh water above in a blurry layer.

An experienced guide is necessary for a trip to the depths of a cenote. Many of the dive shops in Cancun and Playa del Carmen offer dive packages to experience this unusual and magical world. But you don’t have to be a diver to enjoy this aspect of the Yucatán; countless adventure parks offer tourists snorkeling or swimming opportunities. It’s your chance to tell all your friends and family you’ve been to the Mayan Underworld and back!