Playa del Carmen is a world-famous resort, built in the place of the exuberant Yucatán forest, and is located on the edge of crystal-clear, warm water. In 1562, the area originally known as Xaman Há was conquered by Francisco Montejo, who founded a settlement in the place where Xel-Há is now located. It is finally during the 19th century that the activity develops there, around camps of exploitation of precious wood; then the War of the Castes pushes back towards the coastal fringe part of the expropriated population of the peninsula. The village grew little during the 20th century, remaining mainly a fishing village. Attracted largely by word of mouth, an army of travellers arrived in the early 1980s from Europe, the United States and Latin America. Tourism development began, and was soon followed by investors and real estate developers who, in 20 years, transformed this small village into a large city with 200,000 inhabitants. Playa del Carmen has become a seaside resort where people come to spend the week from all over the world: it is considered cool, festive, trendy and sporty (for diving).

What to visit Playa Del Carmen?

When to go to Playa Del Carmen?

When to go to Playa del Carmen? The year is divided into three periods in Mexico, and therefore in Playa del Carmen. The best time to go to Playa del Carmen is from April to June and from September to November. The intermediate period is due to the school vacations in July and August. The tourist "boom" period extends from December to March or April, depending on the dates of the Holy Week. The boom means higher prices and reservations, but also a wider range of activities for tourists. Mexico is a very festive country. Many religious and popular festivities take place each month. For the National Independence Day, on September 15-16, the scene where Miguel Hidalgo called for the uprising in 1810 is re-enacted throughout the country. On November1st and 2nd, the Day of the Dead, all families celebrate their dead, nothing like All Saints' Day, it is a joyful and colorful celebration. Every year, in January, in Playa del Carmen, it is BPM Festival, famous electronic music festival.

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Weather all year round

Playa del Carmen, like the rest of Yucatán, has a tropical climate with a rainy season that sees 90% of the rainfall, from June to October. The rains are even more important in the south where a dense forest flourishes. The dry season in the peninsula is between November and May.

Budget

Although considerably more expensive than Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico remains a relatively inexpensive country despite inflation. In Playa del Carmen, the higher quality hotels also offer rooms at very interesting prices. As for meals, it is very easy to eat "local" for a few euros! The currency is the Mexican peso, which is easily exchanged and paid for by credit card in the city and especially in the resorts like Playa del Carmen. The tip is 10% of the final bill at the bar or restaurant.

Procedures

European Union citizens do not need a visa to travel to Mexico and therefore to Playa del Carmen. The only formality to enter the Mexican territory is to fill out the Mexican State Tourist Card (Forma Migratoria Multiple/FMM), which is provided upon arrival at the airport in Mexico. This card gives you the right to stay in the country for a maximum of 180 days. You must be careful not to lose it, as it is required at the time of departure. You must also be able to show a return ticket and have a passport valid for the entire duration of your stay.

Health

To go to Mexico and thus to Playa del Carmen, it is recommended to be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis and hepatitis A. Those planning a more adventurous stay in remote areas should also plan to protect themselves against hepatitis B, typhoid and rabies as a preventive measure. Vaccination against yellow fever is not mandatory, except for travelers coming from an exposed area in Africa or Latin America. Beware, insect bites are easily infected in tropical environments and you should be careful with minor injuries. Be sure to avoid bites mainly by wearing proper clothing and using repellents. Finally, the most common health problem you may face is diarrhea... If you decide to eat in the markets or on the street, be aware that hygiene is often poor. So make sure that the food is well cooked and avoid raw vegetables in these places. In a more formal restaurant, there are no more risks than elsewhere.

How to go to Playa Del Carmen? Our advice & tips

Mexico is a huge country and it is impossible to discover it in a single trip. Tour operators mainly propose stays of about ten days around a theme (the Mayan culture, Aztec sites...) or a region (the Pacific, Yucatán, Chiapas, the capital and its surroundings).

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Well served, Mexico is a generally safe country for solo travelers. The wave of drug cartel violence and social repression generally spares tourists; neither the criminals nor the state want to attract too much publicity. However, tourists can be easy prey, especially on the subway, in cabs, or on the street after dark. The usual rules of caution apply: do not show your camera, your "banana" or your wallet.

It is very easy to travel by plane in the country, as most cities have an airport. There is also a very good network of long distance buses with cheap fares. However, depending on the route, to save time and avoid long hours in the bus, the plane is often more interesting. Please note: with the emergence of low cost airlines on certain routes, air and bus fares are sometimes identical.

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Discover Playa Del Carmen

When to travel?

When to go to Playa del Carmen? The year is divided into three periods in Mexico, and therefore in Playa del Carmen....
Read more about it

Weather forecast

Playa del Carmen, like the rest of Yucatán, has a tropical climate with a rainy season that sees 90% of the rainfall...
Read more about it

Budget

Although considerably more expensive than Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico remains a relatively inexpensive country des...
Read more about it

Formalities

European Union citizens do not need a visa to travel to Mexico and therefore to Playa del Carmen. The only formality...
Read more about it

Health

To go to Mexico and thus to Playa del Carmen, it is recommended to be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomy...
Read more about it

How to travel by yourself?

Well served, Mexico is a generally safe country for solo travelers. The wave of drug cartel violence and social repre...
Read more about it

How to get organized?

Mexico is a huge country and it is impossible to discover it in a single trip. Tour operators mainly propose stays of...
Read more about it

Getting around

It is very easy to travel by plane in the country, as most cities have an airport. There is also a very good network...
Read more about it

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