Playa del Carmen, Resort city in Quintana Roo, Mexico
Playa del Carmen is a coastal town in Quintana Roo, Mexico, spreading several kilometers along the Caribbean shore. The central area sits between fine sand beaches and a dense row of hotels, residences, and shops that extend inland from the waterfront.
In the 1930s, the settlement consisted of a few houses and docks used by fishermen catching lobster offshore. The opening of ferry routes to Cozumel and later waves of tourism transformed the coast in a few decades.
Quinta Avenida runs parallel to the shore, where craftspeople sit under umbrellas offering jewelry made from carved shells and silver wire. Small shrines decorated with flowers and candles stand at intersections, marking promises or prayers tied to family traditions.
Direct buses run regularly from Cancún airport into the town center, covering the journey in about an hour. Many streets accommodate wheelchairs, but sidewalks change in height and surface, so watch for steps and uneven sections.
Iguanas roam freely along beach sections, basking on flat rocks and palm trunks while swimmers pass nearby. Beneath the ground, networks of freshwater caves called cenotes connect through narrow tunnels filled with clear water.
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