5 Secrets of Playa del Carmen
Say goodbye to the kids. Turn off your cell phone. It is time. Time to explore the off the beaten path charms of Playa del Carmen, located on the Riviera Maya.
By Lauren Engel
#1 Swim & Snorkel – Puerto Morelos
Skip the crowded snorkeling tours and instead pack up your gear and head to Puerto Morelos. From Playa del Carmen it’s $20 USD by taxi or save some money and take the colectivo (local bus) for $2 USD. You will discover a private paradise—miles of white sand beach and turquoise water that will feel like your own. Put on your fins and mask and walk backwards into the water. Swim out 500 yards or so and you will see hawksbill turtles swimming searching for food. Go out a little further and you will find angel fish and parrot fish darting about in a spectacular array of colors. The clarity of the water is unmatched. Be sure to bring an underwater camera so that you can capture the sea life on film.
#2 Day Spa - La Tortuga Spa
It is perfectly elegant. It is delightfully small. This little gem of a spa in Playa del Carmen is a wonderful break from the “tequila boom-boom” at the larger resorts along the Riviera Maya. With its Zen-like landscaping and Mayan-style buildings, you will feel relaxed from the moment the friendly doormen greet you. After check-in you will slip into a plush robe before your spa treatment. Try the Samunprai massage which is a traditional Thailandese therapy that soothes your aching muscles with a soft circular movement, using hot compresses with ginger, lavender, bay leaf and rosemary. After 80 minutes of bliss you will feel like you are floating above the ground. While La Tortuga Spa is a well kept secret, be sure to book your massage in advanced. You do not need to be a guest at the resort to enjoy the spa services.
#3 Dining - Karen’s Grill & Pizzeria
It is one part cantina. One part pizzeria. One part outdoor cafe. An odd mixture, indeed, but you will find the authentic Mexican food and Sicilian style brick oven pizza ranks above some of the most delicious in the world. Situated in the heart of Playa del Carmen, on the East side of 5th Avenue [Quinto Avenida], this open-air restaurant is a hot spot for listening to live music while people watching and sipping on what might be the most tasty margarita in all of Mexico. The bartender says the secret is in the lime. Grab a table near the street for the view of all the shoppers passing by. Stay for a while and some of the friendly servers might serenade you. Either that or they will give you a cerveza on the house.
#4 Juice Carts - Quinto Avenida
Seven days a week all along this main drag in Playa del Carmen, you will find hard-working locals operating juice carts that serve up healthy, fresh fruit drinks. Try the “Mucho Gusto” which blends the juices of coconut, guava, pineapple, mango and lime. This refreshing treat is so tasty that you might want to order two. Chances are you will not make it more than one block before you are slurping from an empty cup.
#5 Horseback Riding – Rancho Punta Venado
Right out of a scene in a romance novel, you can gallop down the beach and take your horse into the azure Caribbean water to cool down. You and your four-legged pal will be entranced by the guided scenic tour of lush jungles of the Riviera Maya. You will see butterflies and birds galore. Look closely and you might spot an foot-long iguana that the locals call “Iguana Wanda.” After your ride you are invited to spend the day at the beach club where you can enjoy the Rancho’s satisfying buffet lunch.
GETTING THERE. Head south from the Cancun airport 13 miles and you’ll end up in Puerto Morelos. Travel another 20 miles, and you’ve arrived in Playa del Carmen. The Mexican Caribbean is a 70-mile-long strip of white sand beaches and hotel-resorts running from the Cancun airport (more or less) to Tulum on the southern end.
Lauren Engel is based in Denver, Colorado where she travels extensively working in the Internet space for her company Digital Peabody/Unleaded Software Inc.