Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is a resort city along the Caribbean Sea in the southeastern state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. It is part of the municipality of Solidaridad and had a population of just over 300,000 as of 2020, including many immigrants.

The city is a popular tourist spot in Mexico's Riviera Maya region, growing at a fast rate of 7.5% each year. It is one of Latin America's fastest-growing communities, as recognized by Guinness World Records. In 2016, it was the tenth-most popular international travel destination for travelers from the United States, with over one million visitors passing through the city the following year. Although the main airport is Cancún International Airport, located about 70 kilometres away, the city itself is known for its white sand beaches, turquoise waters, coral reefs, and surrounding rainforests.

The downtown area centers around Quinta Avenida, a lively street filled with shops, clubs, and restaurants. The weather stays hot all year, with summer and winter breaks being the busiest times for tourism.

Geography

Playa del Carmen is located in the Riviera Maya, stretching from south of Cancún to Tulum and the Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve. Many cruise ships stop at the nearby Calica quarry docks, about six miles south of the city. The Xcaret Eco Park, a Mexican-themed park, is just south of the town in Xcaret.

Climate

In October 2005, Hurricane Wilma passed over Playa del Carmen, causing damage and fewer tourists for a short time. Most of the damage was fixed within weeks. The area has a tropical savannah climate (Aw), with the rainy season from June to November. Summers are hot, and nights stay warm all year.

Demographics

Playa del Carmen is a lively resort city situated along the Caribbean Sea in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. It belongs to the municipality of Solidaridad. In 2020, the city was home to just over 300,000 people, including many immigrants who have made it their new home.

Tourism

Playa del Carmen started as a small fishing town. Tourism grew when a ferry service began, connecting it to Cozumel, an island known for scuba diving across the Cozumel Channel.

Sports

Playa del Carmen is home to Inter Playa del Carmen, a football club founded in 1999. The team plays in the south group of the Segunda División Profesional, which is the third tier of Mexican football.

The World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba is a golf tournament held at El Camaleón Golf Club. It was part of the PGA Tour and took place from 2007 to 2023. Since 2013, winning this tournament has given golfers full rights for a PGA TOUR win.

In popular culture

Playa del Carmen has been a popular place for TV shows. The telenovela Peregrina takes place there. The Canadian show Real Housewives of Vancouver showed Playa del Carmen in two episodes. The Amazing Race and The Celebrity Mole were also filmed there. The UK reality series Geordie Shore featured the city as well. In the American series Spies in Disguise, a character hides in a hotel in Playa del Carmen.