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Located along Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, Playa del Carmen has developed its own particular brand of European elegance. This little enclave is quickly gaining a reputation as the place to go. El Zócalo serves as the hub of activity for the surrounding neighborhood.
Like beachside communities in the Mediterranean, such as Nice, the eclectic small public plaza is easily accessible on foot. Playa del Carmen is a well-known tourist hotspot, yet the town retains a friendly, genuine vibe that draws in those searching for a multifaceted vacation.
Its proximity to some of the best Mayan ruins in Mexico, coral reefs, and cenotes, with its walkable streets and conveniently accessible beaches, make it a popular destination for sun-seeking families.
But when is the best time to visit Playa del Carmen? Here’s our take.
Why You Should Visit Playa del Carmen
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Playa del Carmen used to be a sleepy fishing community frequented by beachgoers. Playa’s beach is still present, but the emphasis has shifted to the city’s more modern attractions.
As it has expanded, more wealth and comforts have been made available to the city’s diverse population. Playa del Carmen’s 5th Avenue is where you’ll find the city’s burgeoning restaurant scene and a plethora of unique boutiques, relaxing spas, and fashionable clothing and accessories stores.
One of the local Mayan ruins is always at the top of visitors’ must-see lists. The ruins of Chichen Itza are the most well-known, followed by those at Tulum.
Coba and Ek Balam, two Mayan sites, are conveniently close to Playa del Carmen. You may avoid the crowds of tourists and explore other less well-known Mayan sites. As a result of everyone’s preoccupation with the beach, the area’s colonial heritage is often forgotten.
You may go back and explore cities from the late 1500s and early 1600s. Merida, Izamal, and Valladolid are three of the finest examples of Spanish colonial urban planning that you may see.
A day trip or weekend excursion to one of these cities can significantly enrich your experience. Playa del Carmen is the perfect place to start exploring the region’s Mayan, colonial, and contemporary cultures.
The Maya civilization, which formerly flourished here, inspired the area’s current moniker, the Riviera Maya. The descendants of the Maya still reside in the region today.
Playa del Carmen even has native speakers of Mayan, so you may catch them speaking the language throughout town. The city of Playa has evolved into a modern metropolis, yet the remnants of Mayan culture and more traditional ways of life are still abundant there.
The Best Time to Visit Playa del Carmen
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The best time to visit Playa del Carmen is between December and April, its prime season when the weather is warm and the crowds are heavy.
Playa del Carmen has peak, low, and shoulder seasons for tourists. The peak season is the same as the peak season in the rest of the sunbelt, but it is jam-packed in Mexico. Playa del Carmen and the rest of Mexico will likely see more tourist traffic after the holidays.
People from all over the world, from schoolchildren on a winter vacation to college students on spring break, will swarm to Playa del Carmen to enjoy the city’s famed white beaches and the nearby Mayan ruins.
Due to the surge in visitors during the peak season, the cost of transportation, lodging, and meals at resorts that provide all three will rise accordingly, especially around the holidays.
Warm days and chilly nights usher in the new year as tourists continue to swarm Playa in search of winter solace. Three Kings’ Day is celebrated widely throughout Mexico on the first Sunday of January.
Rosca de Reyes, a cake traditionally eaten on the feast day, may still be found for sale at Playa del Carmen’s supermarkets and bakeries, despite the city’s lack of a solid tradition-based culture.
Easter is in April, so expect more visitors then. During Semana Santa, when many Mexicans take their yearly Easter vacation, coastal tourism booms. The first sargassum seaweed blooms may also be seen on the shores.
The churches in Playa may be empty throughout Holy Week, but on Easter Sunday, they are packed with worshippers. The Riviera Maya Film Festival is a weeklong event in the middle of April that has free screenings all across town.
Cheapest Time to Visit Playa del Carmen
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO – DEC. 26, 2019: Men dressed in traditional indigenous Mayan warrior costumes perform on famous 5th Avenue in the entertainment district of Playa del Carmen in Riviera/Ronnie Chua/Shutterstock
Visit Playa del Carmen during the shoulder seasons if you’re on a limited travel budget. Playa del Carmen is the most visited city in the Riviera Maya, particularly between December and April.
Clear blue sky and comfortable low temperatures at night are the norms, but so are hefty price tags. And during the winter and spring holidays, the streets are so crowded that they burst their bindings.
Even though it will be scorching hot, the shoulder months of July and August offer lower prices and fewer tourists than the rest of the year.
There may be some rain and power outages during a tropical storm, but the sun will always come out between the storms. The people celebrate the Festival of the Virgin of Carmen with great fervor in the middle of July.
During the festival, the women dress in huipils with embroidered designs and parade with gilded statues of their patron saint. The Palacio Municipal is the location of various cultural activities, mariachi performances, and live music acts during the Feria del Carmen.
Playa continues to see a significant number of summer tourists even during July, which is often one of the year’s hottest months.
The sweltering heat and days filled with precipitation herald the approach of tropical storms. The last pieces of sargassum seaweed have finally washed up on the beaches.
Least Busy Time to Visit Playa del Carmen
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Playa del Carmen is at its least crowded during the shoulder seasons, which run from May to June and September to November.
If you want to avoid crowds, the shoulder seasons are the ideal time to go. Because of the sweltering heat, the risk of tropical storms, and the presence of Sargassum, a more recent plague, tourists often avoid the area at this time of year.
Since 2011, large quantities of this kind of seaweed have been seen washed up on the coastlines of a significant portion of the Caribbean, including the Riviera Maya.
June marks the beginning of the rainy season, characterized by bright, sunny days interspersed with brief downpours, which tend to occur in the late afternoon. The number of tourist visits continues to be very low, and prices have dropped to their lowest point of the year.
Even though September is peak storm month, you may frequently see the sun in between downpours. Tourists tend to stay away when there is a risk of plane delays, blackouts, or floods.
The 15th of this month is Mexican Independence Day, celebrated by donning red, white, and green face paint and shouting “Viva Mexico!” in the streets.
Visit Palacio Municipal to see El Grito, a recreation of the war cry. One of Mexico’s most significant celebrations, the Day of the Dead, takes place during the first week of November.
The Da de Muertos festival in Xcaret is well worth the steep admission ticket, even if the festivities in Playa pale in contrast to those in other Mexican towns. Locals typically gather at the municipal cemetery around midnight, and there are a few smaller marches down Fifth Avenue.
Worst Time to Visit Playa del Carmen
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The months of June and July are the very worst time to visit Playa del Carmen. There are periods of the year when the beaches here are at their best.
The reason is it’s “seaweed season” during these months. During the summer, sargassum blooms may cause extensive damage to the coastlines from Belize to Cancun.
There will be moments when the beach is so littered with floating objects that you can’t see the sand for all the trash. The temperatures and precipitation are both at their peak during this period.
The rainy season in this part of Mexico officially starts in June. Precipitation levels often peak at around 90 mm in October after rising to over 80 mm earlier in the year. An umbrella is highly recommended.
Playa del Carmen has scorching temperatures and almost terrible humidity in the summer. Yet, thousands of tourists from Mexico and other countries visit the country every summer.
It may rain, but the sun always comes out in between downpours. Take advantage of Playa’s mild summer nights by attending the annual event in honor of the town’s patron saint, la Virgen del Carmen, which takes place that month.
Things to Consider
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO – JANUARY 10, 2017: Crowd of tourists along city streets. Approximately 2 million tourists per year visit Playa del Carmen and its surroundings/Fotos593/Shutterstock
There are a few things you really must know before visiting Playa del Carmen:
- The greatest defense against credit card and bank card fraud is not using them. Instead of utilizing an ATM, you find on the side of the road or at a hotel, use one inside a bank.
- Don’t overpack. Wear wedge sandals for a fancy dinner instead of stilettos, which are dangerous on cobblestone streets, and flip-flops throughout the day.
- Remember to bring environmentally friendly sunblock! Sunscreens in resort gift stores may cost as much as 500 pesos, or about 30 USD, since they are considered luxury commodities, and the use of non-environmentally friendly sunscreen is prohibited in several local parks.
- If you’ve ever been to Mexico, you’ve probably experienced Montezuma’s Revenge, also known as the unpleasant traveler’s diarrhea. The healthy bacteria in your system may be cultivated, and the terrible curse can be avoided by eating yogurt every morning.
- Don’t forget to try some authentic tacos! Don’t eat at taco vendors that have no customers, however. It’s a positive indicator that the seller has been there for a long and is safe to eat from if the locals are congregating around it.
- Hydrate well, especially between alcoholic beverages like piña coladas and tequila shots.
- Like the locals, the sun in the Mexican Caribbean is welcoming and pleasant, but it must be given due respect to avoid being burned. Be careful to reapply sunscreen every two hours to protect your skin from the sun and avoid getting a nasty burn that might spoil your trip.
- If you plan to take a tour or have an adventure-filled day in one of the local eco-parks while in Playa del Carmen, you may save money on entrance fees by booking online at least 14 to 21 days before your arrival.
- One of the most exciting and cheap things to do in Playa del Carmen is swimming in a cenote. The underground river system below the Yucatan Peninsula collapsed sections of the limestone bedrock to construct these stunning swimming holes thousands of years ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about visiting Playa del Carmen:
What language is spoken in Playa del Carmen?
Although Spanish is the official language, English is spoken by the vast majority of the population. The tourist industry employs many bilingual Mexicans who know English, Spanish, and even Mayan. Communicating with staff at the hotel and retail outlets should be simple.
What currency is used in Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen uses the Mexican Peso as its currency. However, American dollars and major credit cards are accepted at most restaurants and tourist hotspots.
Before your trip, stop by a local bank and exchange money for pesos. The exchange rates offered by banks are often far more favorable than those provided by your hotel or the exchange firms on 5th Avenue.
Can I travel to Playa del Carmen without a visa?
Tourist visas are not required for visitors from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, and most European Union member states staying in Mexico for fewer than 180 days.
Europeans from other countries are allowed to remain for up to 90 days. However, non-US nationals who transit to the United States may be required to get a US visa.
Is tap water in Playa del Carmen safe to drink?
No. Even in resorts, hotels, and other accommodations, Playa del Carmen’s tap water is unsuitable for human consumption. Bottled or filtered water is easily accessible and is what you should drink.
Do you tip in Playa del Carmen?
You should give them because it’s expected of you, but if you’ve been pleased with their work, you may express your gratitude by giving more. In Mexico, tipping hotel staff is not customary, although it is common practice in tourist hotspots like Playa del Carmen.
Should I bring cash to Playa del Carmen?
Even though credit cards are increasingly accepted at smaller enterprises, you’ll need tiny amounts to enjoy the local taco places, neighborhood pubs, and side-street stores in Playa del Carmen. You won’t receive the greatest exchange rates if you convert your money to pesos before you get to Mexico.
Is it safe in Playa del Carmen?
Those traveling to Playa del Carmen alone need not be concerned about their safety but should be aware of the risk of petty crime and scams in Mexico. Staying in busy tourist areas, booking hostels, and avoiding late-night strolls are good advice for those traveling alone.
What should I avoid in Playa del Carmen?
Cartel and gang violence are major causes of death and injury in Playa del Carmen. Although muggings are not widespread, you should avoid walking into unlit streets and alleyways late at night. Don’t go out on any late-night strolls.
So, What’s the Best Time to Visit Playa del Carmen
November through May, when hurricane season has over and the temperature has begun to drop, is the best time to visit Playa del Carmen.
Warmer temperatures are typical in the spring, although the humidity is much lower than in the summer. Ready to dive in? Pack your bags now and discover what Playa del Carmen has to offer!