Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Playa del Carmen?
Should you spend 1 or 2 weeks in Playa del Carmen?
Many visitors spend three to seven days in Playa del Carmen during their visit. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because there's so much to see and do. This town offers a number of attractions to explore, including scuba diving and snorkeling, the beaches, the nightlife, and the beautiful scenery.
Playa del Carmen is a popular resort town that is filled with luxury resorts and stunning coastline. The area has world class diving and snorkeling as well as jungles and famous nightlife venues. Vacationers flock here to relax and enjoy the paradise-like setting.
Do you have one or two weeks to visit Playa del Carmen? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one week enough time in Playa del Carmen?
One week is more than sufficient for a beach trip to Playa del Carmen, giving you the freedom to set your own pace. Go scuba diving or snorkeling, relax at the beach, take advantage of the local nightlife, and admire the wonderful scenery on your own schedule. Then, unwind at your hotel or use Playa del Carmen as a hub for some nice day trips in the surrounding area.
How to spend a week in Playa del Carmen
Scuba diving and snorkeling around Playa del Carmen is world-class, and is one of the main reasons why so many visitors come here. Spend a day exploring the beauty of the surrounding underwater world. There's not a lot to see right off of the beach, but there are plenty of snorkeling excursions in the area that take you to beautiful reefs. The diving is world class as well and you'll find wonderful reefs, bull sharks, and hidden gems.
A few tour suggestions include:
- VIP Tulum Private Tour with snorkeling in breathtaking Cenote ($169)
- Scuba Diving in Cozumel Island ($220)
- AQUA WONDER (Half-Day Aquatic Tour in Tulum with Snorkeling and Meals) ($119)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. It rivals some of the country's best nightlife and you'll find plenty of venues to choose from, ranging from dive bars to swanky cocktail lounges. Head to the main walking street for some of the most active venues.
Playa del Carmen is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the town, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. It's a compact and very walkable town. La Quinta is the main strip and it's pedestrian-only.
The beautiful beaches await you in Playa del Carmen, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. The area is filled with world class beaches, long stretches of white sand, and beautiful blue water. You might even stumble across a sea turtle or two while you're swimming.
A few tour suggestions include:
- 4 Different Cenotes & Beach from Playa del Carmen ($154)
- Discover Scuba Diving & Beach Club with Transportation In Riviera Maya ($150)
- Tulum Guided Tour, Magical Cenote, Lagoon Snorkeling and Beachside Lunch ($169)
Playa del Carmen is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. From beautiful beaches to inland jungles, this is a truly stunning destination.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Tulum Express by Coba Sunset ($89)
- Outdoor Combo Tour: ATV with Waverunner or Speedboat from Cancun and RivieraMaya ($79)
- Tulum Ruins and Playa del Carmen Sunset ($69)
The public transit in Playa del Carmen is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the town quite easily and affordably. There are local buses, collectivos and the ADO bus.
Don't miss La Quinta Avenida during your trip to Playa del Carmen, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. You'll find a good number of overpriced tourist restaurants in the area, but if you do some research you'll also find amazing and authentic Mexican food as well. There is everything from food trucks to fine dining that offer ceviche, tacos, or burritos. There are also plenty of places to grab pizza or burgers.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Playa del Camen Vegan Mexican Food Tour ($84)
- Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour ($78)
- Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Playa del Carmen ($120)
Known for it's hiking, Playa del Carmen sees plenty of visitors looking to get outdoors. Spend a day exploring the natural beauty and scenery on a nearby hike. There are well marked trails in the area that get you out in nature or take you along the coastline.
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
Shopping in Playa del Carmen is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. Much of the shopping is geared towards the tourists, but you'll find some local items, interesting galleries, and colorful markets to explore.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Shopping Tour & Tulum Mayan Ruins ($11)
- Combo: Cenote Casa Tortuga and Shopping Tour ($59)
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
After you've explored most of Playa del Carmen, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Day Trip to Isla Mujeres with Lunch ($219)
- Coba & Tulum Ruins Day Trip from Cancun or Riviera Maya ($149)
- Chichen Itza Day Trip from Riviera Maya ($80)
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
With plenty of hiking trails and viewpoints around Playa del Carmen, you'll need another day to experience the gorgeous hiking trails that you haven't seen yet. Either head out in a different direction, or pick up where you left off before.
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
Is 2 weeks enough time in Playa del Carmen?
Two weeks is more than enough time to see the activities and enjoy the beach in Playa del Carmen. Many visitors prefer to spend three to seven days here, so more time would allow you to experience scuba diving and snorkeling, the beaches, the nightlife, and the beautiful scenery at your own pace. We have a few suggestions of things to do while you're visiting, and then take a day trip if you're looking to explore further around the area.
Play del Carmen, Mexico
How to spend 2 weeks in Playa del Carmen
With 2 weeks in Playa del Carmen, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy everything the town has to offer at your own relaxed pace. You'll want to spend plenty of time snorkeling or scuba diving, relaxing on the beach, hiking, and hopping around the bars and clubs. You can also relax at your hotel, or casually explore this town looking for hidden gems. Also, consider taking some day trips to nearby destinations where you can explore more of the region.
A few trip suggestions:
- Day Trip to Isla Mujeres with Lunch ($219)
- Coba & Tulum Ruins Day Trip from Cancun or Riviera Maya ($149)
- Chichen Itza Day Trip from Riviera Maya ($80)
- Half-Day Private Day Trip From Akumal to Cancun ($84)
- Private Day Trip in Playa del Carmen area for 4 hours ($143)
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Playa del Carmen, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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