quinta avenida

5th Avenue (or Quinta Avenida in Spanish) is the backbone of downtown Playa del Carmen and offersthe majority of tourist attractions including shops, restaurants, and street entertainment.

Quinta Avenida runs from the same street as the Cozumel Ferry Pier and runs all the way through Playa Del Carmen and continues out of the center of town. Most of the tourists attractions are from Calle 3 sur (south 3rd Street) to about 40th Street. Hotel Bosque Caribe is therefore right in the middle of it and thus makes it easy for you to walk around and explore it.

Eateries here include everything from cheap fast food to upscale restaurants and cafes; the best people-watching is from outdoor seating. The shopping scene offers international luxury brands side by side souvenir shops, but the most interesting Mexican handicrafts await at boutiques. Since this part of town has little shade, it’s best to avoid the midday sun; instead, try an early-morning visit, then revisit at sunset to kick off an evening of dining, shopping, and bar-hopping.

caribBean beaches

From the turtle nests of peaceful Akumal to the party crowd at Mamitas Beach, Playa del Carmen has the most beautiful places to soak up the sun.

Playa Mamitas:This is one of the most popular beaches, at a 10 min. walk of Hotel Bosque Caribe. Access is free, and there are clean, well-maintained lounge chairs that you can use by if you order food and drinks. If you want to rent an umbrella or a lounger, or if you need to buy towels or snacks, go to Mamita’s Beach Club.

Playa Maroma:The sand is so white and the waters so clear that if you are watching from a distance, you can’t see the division between the sea and the sand. 14km away from downtown, Playa Maroma is popular and has a lot of services for tourists, but it is still a quiet and spacious beach.

Playa Akumal: Located to the south of Playa del Carmen, this beach is considered the quietest of the Riviera Maya, so much so that turtles chose it a thousand years ago as a nesting area in which to deposit their eggs. The turtles spawn in this place during the months of April and May,

Mayan heritage

Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula is home to a dazzling array of Mayan ruins, both large and small. Departing from Playa del Carmen, three of them can be visited within one day:

Chichen Itza:Declared a UNESCO World Heritage is an absolute must on a trip to the Yucatan. Arrive when it opens at 8am and discover this expansive Mayan city, built during the Classic period and abandoned during the 15th century.

Tulum:Perhaps the most dramatically situated Mayan ruins in all of Mexico, Tulum sits right on the edge of a cliff bordering the bright blue Caribbean, and was one of the last cities built by the Mayans.

If weather conditions are good, you can descend a staircase down to Paradise beach, considered one of the best beaches in the Riviera Maya.

Coba:Climb 130 steps to the top of the pyramid of Coba, home to the tallest Mayan structure in the Northern Yucatan. Located 45 minutes from Tulum, this site is a popular excursion for those wanting adventure as well as history. 

theme parks   

Cancun and the Riviera Maya are famous for their theme, adventure, and eco-parks. Some of these are world-class for the quality of their attractions, organization, and level of service. Choosing where to go will depend on your interests, budget, and the type of adventure you want to experience. Here are a couple of them:

Xcaret is one of the best-known and most popular destinations in the Mayan Rivera, and it’s a combination of a water park and a nature park. There are more than fifty attractions in this natural park where the theme is Mexico’s cultural traditions and folklore. 

Xplor is a zip-line park in the heart of the jungle, where you can do adventure activities with the most modern and safe equipment.

Xel-Ha is a waterpark all about marine life, snorkeling, nature in a cove that flows into the Caribbean Sea. 

Xavage, opened in 2019 is like Xplor but on steroids.Xavage is full of extreme activities, including a high ropes course, monster truck driving, and a jet boat ride. This is a park with intense and extreme adventures, be aware if you have health issues or if you are pregnant. There’s a minimum height requirement of 1.20 meters (4 ft) for most activities.