Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen rests on the eastern coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, about 70 km south of Cancun. All the action revolves around Quinta Avenida or “Fifth Avenue,” the town’s main pedestrian thoroughfare located just off the beach. Packed with all manner of stores, bars, and restaurants, it transforms into a buzzing hotspot at night.

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef off Playa’s shore—the world’s second-largest reef system—offers a wealth of scuba-diving and snorkeling options for beginners and masters alike. Catch a fascinating glimpse of the area’s incredible rainbow of underwater life, including tropical fish, turtles, manta rays, and dolphins.