Learning more about the rich history of Playa del Carmen!

Before being called Playa del Carmen, the name of this region of the Mexican Southeast, it was known as Xaman Há, which means "Northern Water", (although there are those who say that it also means "the black wind of northern water"), which in pre-Hispanic times it was a small fishing village. It was one of the first towns seen by the Spanish conquerors at the beginning of the 16th century. It has a privileged location in front of the island of Cozumel and it is believed that it may have been one of its embarkation ports. It was an extensive settlement of masonry constructions and platforms for houses made of wood and palm, whose inhabitants were mainly engaged in fishing and agricultural activities.

During the first stage of the campaign to conquer Yucatán, Alonso Dávila, lieutenant of Francisco de Montejo, founded the Spanish settlement of Salamanca de Xamanhá in this place, the second in the entire Peninsula; however, it had to be abandoned in 1529 due to food shortages and the poor conditions of the Spanish soldiers who were there.

It was not until colonial times that the town received the name of Playa del Carmen, due to the founding of the chapel of the Virgen del Carmen. However, for a long time the area was relegated because it lacks mineral deposits such as gold or silver, and its soil is not so fertile for massive plantations.

Although at this time, it was a resting point for pirates of the Caribbean, who devastated the Spanish galleons in their transit to Cuba.

However, it was not until the 20th century when a group of fishermen, coconut palms and gum extractors settled in the region, being the first settlers of what we know today as Playa del Carmen.

In the 1980s it barely had 1,500 inhabitants, but tourism development attracted people from all over the Republic, to the extent that according to the 2010 Inegi census, there were 159,310 inhabitants. As of 2017, it is estimated that the population of Playa del Carmen, the head of the municipality of Solidaridad, amounts to more than 300,000 people.

Main Festivities

Playa del Carmen is a city with a cheerful personality, where nature and life are enjoyed. This is reflected in the festivities that the city has, ranging from the eclectic Carnival of Playa del Carmen to the solemnity of the Sacred Mayan Journey.

These are the most important celebrations in Playa del Carmen:

Playa del Carmen Carnival. It takes place at the end of January, there are shows and parades where they recreate the Mayan culture.

Festival of the Virgen del Carmen. It is celebrated in July, and it is one of the most important events for the municipality of Solidaridad since it is the patron saint of the town. On this date the Feria del Carmen is also held to commemorate said celebration.

The Guelaguetza. Playa del Carmen and Oaxaca twinned by the Guelaguetza, in April the Guelaguetza Expo in Playa del Carmen is received in the Civic Plaza on July 28, where you can find handicrafts and products from Oaxaca as well as being able to enjoy typical music and dances from that region.

Sacred Mayan Journey. It takes place in November, it is a ritual where hundreds of canoeists set sail from Xcaret towards the sanctuary of the goddess Ixchel, in Cozumel. They travel to listen to the message of their deity, to return to Playa del Carmen to transmit it to the Mayan people, who hope to find out what fate has in store for them. The participants of this recreation make the spiritual value of the Mayan roots feel, rowing kilometers to reach their goal. Thousands of tourists witness this spectacular event every year.

Riviera Maya Jazz Festival. With artists of the highest quality, Playa del Carmen, together with the state and municipal authorities, and the work of the Riviera Maya Tourism Promotion Trust, plus the participation of hoteliers and tourist servers, managed to capitalize on the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival, as one of the most relevant events in the world of this musical genre, the festival has grown considerably, both in technology and in logistics and quality, in order to provide a better experience for attendees; "This evolution represents a watershed for the jazz scene in Latin America."

Carmen Fair. It is carried out together with the celebrations of July 6 for the Virgen del Carmen. It is a party that lasts about 10 days where people from Playa and tourists gather to enjoy music, good food and the company of family and friends. It is one of the new Playa traditions.

Frida Kahlo Museum in Playa del Carmen

The Frida Kahlo Museum is located on Fifth Avenue in Playa del Carmen ‒it couldn't be anywhere else in the Riviera Maya‒. This site dedicated to the beloved Mexican artist is both a museum and a restaurant.

Visiting the Frida Kahlo Museum in Playa del Carmen is a joint sensory experience that will help you discover the passions and torments of this artist. So that you will be able to understand his life for a moment. For that purpose, museography uses different tools: touch screens, audio, video mapping, object boxes, art installations, infographics, as well as samples, of course, of her main paintings.

The Frida Kahlo Riviera Maya Museum is divided into nine rooms. The first begins with a timeline where his days are mixed with historical events in Mexico. Some headphones in the adjoining room are in charge of recreating the tram accident that in 1925 devastated her body, condemning her to despondency ever since.

Later, a video mapping follows where bed and loneliness are the protagonists. A convalescing artist begins to paint to save herself, and the viewer attends that incipient pictorial universe, under the newly discovered protection that colors brought with them.

The love relationship he had with Diego Rivera is revealed in a separate space. It is enough to look at the facsimiles of the letters that she dedicated to him with her singular style, to understand that the affection felt by the muralist was not a reason for peace in her life either.

Also, there is another room dedicated entirely to her brushstrokes: reproductions in light boxes serve as luminous witnesses of her work ‒there are no original oil paintings in this museum‒, but their absence is compensated with information and a sincere tribute not only to the public figure, but to the human being.

A tourist attraction that you must visit in Playa del Carmen.

Live a full diving experience in Playa del Carmen!

On the eastern edge of the Yucatan Peninsula, divers can find magical cenotes and beautiful reefs at Playa del Carmen in the Caribbean Sea. The dive sites features beautiful caverns and healthy reef systems off the sandy shores. Playa del Carmen is home to a wide variety of marine life, from huge sharks to small macro creatures. Also, the biggest attraction in terms of wildlife are the female bull sharks that grace the area with their presence from November to March. There are also eagle rays, loggerhead turtles, and green turtles found nearby.

When to dive in Playa del Carmen There is no bad time to dive in Playa del Carmen. In fact, the water temperatures remain constant throughout the year and only cool slightly during the winter months. On average, the water temperature varies between 77 and 82ºF (25 and 28ºC) in Playa del Carmen.

3 places to dive in Playa del Carmen

Cozumel is undoubtedly one of the essentials to immerse yourself in the depths of Mexico. Located in front of Playa del Carmen, this island offers several options for both professional divers and beginners who want to learn to dive in one of the most beautiful places in the world for it.

You can visit the Santa Rosa Wall and see the incredible giant manta rays, groupers and sea turtles or try Columbia, which with its shallow depth is ideal for beginners and allows you to see a large number of corals, sponges, turtles and, occasionally, nurse sharks. Also, if you combine it with a dive in Playa del Carmen, you will be able to see bull sharks, another of the key species of this diving mecca.

Holbox Island is a somewhat unknown paradise in Cancun that, little by little, is becoming an increasingly tourist destination. What makes this destination something special is that, in addition to destinations where you can see coral reefs, turtles, fish and others, we can visit the whale shark that is found there.

The best season to see and dive with the majestic whale shark is between June and August, although Holbox offers great diving experiences all year round.

El Cielo is the place where you can enjoy a peaceful and simply beautiful diving experience in Mexico, we recommend visiting Cielo. It is a magical place, with transparent and turquoise waters, its white sand and hundreds of starfish to see on the seabed.

Activities for children in the Riviera Maya

That traveling to the Riviera Maya implies getting to know paradise up close is indisputable. Whether that trip to the Riviera Maya is a complete success, will depend on whether you take into account the essentials in the Riviera Maya that we propose below.

So take note of our recommendations for traveling to the Riviera Maya about things that are essential for your trip and the unmissable places to see in the Riviera Maya that you cannot miss.

Here we go!

Other things to do in the Riviera Maya with children consist of nature excursions and even a dip to see marine species.

The activities for children in the Riviera Maya are varied, so we recommend that you inform yourself in depth to enjoy your trip to the fullest.

Excursion to cenotes in Riviera Maya One of the first things that are recommended as essential in Riviera Maya are the cenotes. So if you wonder which are the best cenotes in the Riviera Maya, keep reading!

These gifts of nature, present throughout the Yucatan peninsula, make up one of the treasures to explore on your trip to the Riviera Maya.

With fresh and crystal clear water, the cenotes will allow you to enjoy a refreshing swim while you go back in history by closely observing its hundreds of stalactites and stalagmites.

Cenote Ik kil: one of the best cenotes in Riviera Maya. You can discover this essential cenote in the Riviera Maya on our Chichen Itzá & Ek Balam tour and on the Chichén Itzá & Valladolid tour.

➥ Cenote Discovery: one of the most beautiful cenotes in the Riviera Maya, although less well known. You can visit it alone with the Cenote Discovery tour or combined with a quad tour through the jungle.

Why is the Riviera Maya the best destination for your next vacation?

One of the most relaxing places will always be at the beach. So keep in mind that the Riviera Maya is one of the most coveted destinations in Mexico and has everything you may need for a vacation full of relaxation and luxurious comforts surrounded by exuberant nature.

The Riviera Maya is one of the most incredible places in Mexico. Full of wonderful natural attractions with a strip of 80 miles of fine white sand beaches, bathed by the fresh and crystalline waters of the Caribbean Sea.

It is the second most visited tourist destination in Mexico.

There are many options available in the Riviera Maya, from themed dinners in caves, to cenotes, caverns, ecological parks, restaurants and archaeological sites.

The fame of the Riviera Maya as a beautiful paradise is well justified thanks to the picturesque towns and places that make it up.

This is where you will find the famous Playa del Carmen, the heart of the destination, as well as the modern Puerto Aventuras, the charming town and archaeological site of Tulum, the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, and the impressive and untouched Punta Allen, among many other unimaginable sites.

The Cancun International Airport, the second largest in Mexico, receives the millions of tourists who arrive at the Riviera Maya every year.

The Riviera Maya has impressive hospitality facilities with more than 50,000 rooms. Among them, the magnificent tourist complexes stand out, many of which offer the “all-inclusive” plan and are ideal for all types of tourists. Whether you are traveling alone, with your family or on business. This destination is aimed at all types of travelers.

The heart of the Riviera Maya is, without a doubt, the world-renowned Playa del Carmen, a place that offers endless attractions.

It is home to enchanting beaches (some considered the best in the world), a fabulous selection of hotels ranging from low-cost to luxury resorts, and an incredible variety of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.