Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, on Mexico's Riviera Maya south of Cancún, has grown from a small fishing village in the 1990s into the Yucatán's most cosmopolitan beach town — a city of 300,000 with a pedestrian beach promenade (Fifth Avenue/La Quinta Avenida), excellent cenote diving, ferry connections to Cozumel and a more genuinely local atmosphere than the Cancún hotel zone. La Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue), the main pedestrian strip, runs parallel to the beach for several kilometres, lined with restaurants, boutiques, tour operators and cenote swimming spots. The beach itself is good, with crystal-clear Caribbean water. Ferry connections to Cozumel Island (35 minutes, multiple departures daily) give access to one of the world's top 10 dive sites. The Xcaret eco-archaeological park, the Xel-Há water park and the Xplor adventure park are major family attractions on the Riviera Maya. The cenotes accessible from Playa del Carmen (Dos Ojos system, Gran Cenote, Chac Mool) are among the finest in the Yucatán. Tulum ruins (45 minutes south), Cobá (90 minutes) and the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve are excellent excursions. The food scene has developed significantly — excellent Mexican and international restaurants throughout the town. Playa's nightlife centres on La Quinta and the beach clubs, with a mix of Mexican and international clientele.