The World's Best Beaches

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.

Beach at Tulum, Mexico / Photo (CC) by Chris

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.

Playa del Carmen / Photo (CC) by Aled Betts

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 come 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 throughout 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.

Playa del Carmen Hotel / Photo (CC) by Habitat Girl

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.

Playa del Carmen / Photo (CC) by David Grant

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 lifetime!

About the Author

Sara Moen is a travel journalist and the editor of Playa Maya News located in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, updated daily with local news, tours, real estate and hotels in Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya.

Article Source: GoArticles

Beaches and Weather in Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya Mexico / Sara Moen

Millions of people each 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.

The climate in the Riviera Maya is semi-tropical, with an average yearly temperature of 80° degrees Fahrenheit (26 ° Celsius), which can rise to 100° degrees Fahrenheit (37.7° Celsius) in the hot summer months. June first is official start of hurricane season and ends on November 30th. From November to April, which is considered high season here;it is hot and sunny during the day and cool and breezy at night.

February to May: February, March, April, and May are beautiful in The Rivera Maya. The Caribbean Sea is calm and clear and as summer approaches the water temperatures gradually rise. With warmer waters by May this is usually the time that the jelly fish, or "agua mala" come to our shores. So May is a perfect time of year to go cenote hunting! Nights can still be cool, but a sweater is rarely needed.

June to August: During the summer months Playa del Carmen and The Rivera Maya are hot, hot, hot! The humidity rises so afternoons are steamy and hot. We highly recommend you stay close to a water source. The Caribbean is so warm you can float the day away, and the cenotes stay at an even 78 degrees (25.5C) which is always refreshing. There is some rainfall in the afternoon and evenings, but it never lasts very long. The nights do not get much cooler so for a truly good night sleep air-conditioning and a good fan are highly recommended.

September and October: September and October are considered the height of the hurricane and tropical storm season. We also can get a fair amount of rain during these months, however it doesn't rain everyday. It is still hot and humid with days and evenings registering similar temperatures.

November to January: These are the coolest months in Playa del Carmen and the surrounding areas, which means it is warm and sunny during the day and cool and breezy in the evenings. Rain is very rare during this time of year, but evenings can bring temps in the high 60's (15.5C) so a sweater is recommended.

Warm weather wear: Playa del Carmen and The Rivera Maya's weather does not fluctuate that significantly though out the year. It is the tropics so lightweight cotton clothing, beach wraps (pareos),, and bathing suits are what you spend the majority of your time in. During the day, the climate is hot and light clothing, such as shorts and tank tops, are recommended. During the evenings you may need a light sweater or jacket depending on the time of year. For trips into the jungle, you should wear pants, long-sleeved shirts and shoes in order to fend off mosquitoes and other insect bites. Sturdy shoes should always be worn if you plan on going to see any archeological sights to keep you surefooted and able to explore.

Playa del Carmen / Photo (CC) by Antonio Meneses

Beaches and Beach Clubs in Playa del Carmen and The Rivera Maya

Nuddy Beach Club and Bar: Located both in Playa del Carmen and in Tulum, Nuddy beach, pronounced nudie, is the quintessential beach club with lounger beds, bathing beauties, trendy tunes, and buckets of beers. Located just south of Mamitas Beach in Playa del Carmen, and about a mile south of the ruins in Tulum, it is a great place to people watch and enjoy everything the Mayan Rivera has to offer.

Mamitas Beach: Located in Playa del Carmen, Mamitas Beach and Beach Club has been around for years, but after being severely damaged by Hurricane Wilma, it has received a major facelift, and it is a favorite beach spot for both locals and visitors. It has beautiful covered beach beds, beach volleyball, excellent beach access, great tunes, and a restaurant and bar on site. It is also the annual host for the fashion show produced by Fashion TV. The best way to get to Mamitas is by the access road on Avenue First South between 28th and 30th Streets.

Tukan Beach: Tukan Beach and Beach Club is located directly between Mamitas and Nuddy Beach. Recently it also had a major face lift similar to Mamitas. Actually Tukan and Mamitas kind of just meld together to create the ultimate beach experience. Beautiful beaches, beautiful people, yummy food, water sports, and premiere lounging spots, you will not be disappointed.

Coco Beach: Considered as the northern beach this is a bit of a jaunt from Playa Mamitas and Playa Tukan, Coco Beach is considered to be more laid back and less trendy then its sister beaches to the south. But keep in mind that it is getting developed and there is a beach club in the works for the upcoming season.

Xpu-ha Beach: Located just south of Puerto Aventuras you can access this amazing stretch of beach by a sign that reads "La Playa" on your left hand side. If you miss the turn you can go a bit further south and there is a very small access road just north of the Copacabana Resort. This stretch of beach is a true slice of heaven with palm trees sprinkled along the shoreline, excellent snorkeling, and various cafes and bars that you can grab a bite to eat or a cold beer. Although there are a few resorts that have access to this beach, they have yet to take over completely and you can definitely while away an afternoon relaxing, and enjoying this quiet and tranquil Caribbean beach.

Tulum Beach and Playa Paraiso: Just to the south of the Tulum ruins there is an incredible stretch of beach even less populated then Xpu Ha. There are small palapa style hotelitos and cabanas along this beach that you can stay in that are relatively inexpensive. At the same time there are also trendy and chic beach resorts such as Mezzanine that will pamper you silly. Tulum is a very popular spot for kite boarding so you are likely to see the skyline peppered with colorful kites on a windy day. Overall this is one of our favorite beach spots that is in our area.

Topless beaches in Playa del Carmen and The Rivera Maya: Although it is actually illegal to sunbathe nude or topless on Mexico beaches, in Playa del Carmen and the Rivera Maya, it is tolerated. Due to the major European influences in the area most beaches you will see topless sun worshippers trying to get as much sun on their bare bodies. There are also clothing optional resorts and spas that cater to couples who want to vacation in the buff. At some remote area beaches you can strip down and bare it all. Keep in mind that Mexican Nationals are a conservative bunch so respect the locals, and if you are in a remote area keep a beach wrap close by. In addition women should always practice caution and safety if sunbathing nude or topless in a tucked away location or low traffic area.

Enjoy your stay in Playa del Carmen!