Life in Playa del Carmen happens outdoors, from swimming at sunrise to diving reefs, cenotes and day trips to Cozumel.
Beaches
Mamitas, Punta Esmeralda, Coco Beach, Playacar and Xcalacoco each have a different personality. Read our beach guide.
Cenotes
Chaak Tun is minutes from downtown, and Jardín del Edén, Azul, Cristalino and Dos Ojos are a short drive south. Read our cenote guide.
Diving and snorkeling
Local dive shops visit reefs and wrecks a short boat ride off the shore, with tarpon from about June to September and unbaited bull shark dives from November to March for certified divers.
Cozumel day trips
Fast ferries cross to Cozumel in about 40 minutes from the terminal next to Parque Fundadores, all day, all year. See our Cozumel guide and Xailing.
Golf
Playacar has the only course inside the city, with Mayakoba and several others along the coast. Read our golf guide.
Sport fishing
Sailfish peak in January and February and mahi mahi in March and April, with charters leaving from the beach and from Puerto Aventuras.
Kitesurf, paddleboard and kayak
The coast gets around 160 windy days a year, with March the best month for kitesurfing and August and September the calmest for paddling.
Cycling and running
Bike lanes, Sunday open-street events in Centro and the shaded trails of Parque La Ceiba.
Sea turtles
Green and loggerhead turtles nest on Playa del Carmen beaches from May to December, and Akumal Bay, 35 minutes south, is one of the best places to snorkel near turtles.
Adventure parks
Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xenotes and ATV Xperience are all close by.
Living near it
Playa Realtors is a licensed boutique brokerage based in Playa del Carmen, with an office in Tulum, and we have represented buyers in Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and across Quintana Roo since 2008. We never represent developers. If you are thinking about owning a home close to the beaches and outdoor life of Playa del Carmen, we can show you the neighborhoods that fit how you want to live. Plan on closing costs of 7 to 10% of the purchase price.
Keep exploring
- Things to do in Playa del Carmen
- Beaches of Playa del Carmen
- Cenotes near Playa del Carmen
- Golf in Playa del Carmen
- Parks and nature in Playa del Carmen
- Arts and culture in Playa del Carmen
- Shopping in Playa del Carmen
- Nightlife and entertainment in Playa del Carmen
- Playa del Carmen neighborhood guide
- Restaurants we recommend in Playa del Carmen
- Centro and 5th Avenue neighborhood guide
- Coco Beach neighborhood guide
- Playacar Phase II neighborhood guide
- Selvamar neighborhood guide
- Playa del Carmen properties for sale
- Talk to a buyer’s agent
