Playa Del Carmen: Sights You Won’t Want to Miss!
Mexico is an extraordinary place. I spent seven, blissful days in a classy, adults-only resort in Playa Del Carmen — fittingly called The Royal.
Playa Del Carmen is located in Riviera Maya, a popular vacation destination for young people.
A gorgeous turquoise pool glistened in the center of the resort next to a soft, sandy beach. A smaller, quieter pool was nestled a bit further away from the hustle-and-bustle. Visitors could escape the noise and the foot traffic, curl up with a new book, and just enjoy the tranquility there. Those who know me, even just a little bit, know that I am not that person. I like to spend my time where the action is—the large, lively pool hosted most of the resort’s daily events and it was always packed. I stretched out by the water and sunbathed while the friendly staff brought me drinks; I’m not sure it gets much better than that. I met so many great people by that pool and still keep in touch with some today.
If you’re thinking about heading to Mexico— whether it be Playa Del Carmen or another area— I HIGHLY recommend you stay at an adults-only resort.
No, that’s not just the teacher in me wanting to avoid small, screaming children on vacation like vampires avoid garlic (OK, maybe that’s part of it), but my sister and parents agreed that it was a much better experience than our previous kid-friendly ones. For instance, the food is of much higher quality and the restaurants serve finer cuisine. The daily activities and nightly entertainment are aimed toward the 18+ crowd (aka less cheesy and more pleasurable). The icing on the cake is that there are usually more bars AND they stay open later!
One night, a group of us wanted to leave the resort and “go out with the locals” in Playa Del Carmen.
One of the men from The Royal’s entertainment crew actually took us out to a club on famous 5th Avenue called The Blue Parrot and 
we paid for all-you-can-drink bottle service. That was a crazy night. I mean, how often do you get to roam the streets with perfect strangers in a foreign country? You have to take advantage of those wild moments and live life to its fullest (but also be smart because being kidnapped isn’t very fun, I’m sure).
I could literally write about my trip to Playa Del Carmen all day.
There is just so much history and beauty in Mexico. I went on a biking tour, did a tequila tasting (Lord help me), snorkeled, dove in an underwater cave, sailed on a catamaran, toured ancient ruins, and so much more! Below, I’ve highlighted some of my favorite things to do in Mexico— a land of adventure and wonder.
At Your Resort – Things to Do:
-Hone your S
panish speaking skills.
-Take a ride on a catamaran; most resorts offer this for free.
-Rent/reserve a cabana on the beach for a day—this may be free at some resorts, but not most.
-Befriend the bartenders and give them a tip on the first day of your trip— they’ll treat you like royalty for the rest of your stay!
-If your resort offers a fitness center, USE IT.
-Wake up early to get a lounge chair and coveted spot at the pool. This is a very serious matter.
-Participate in the activities your resort offers. Ask for a schedule if you’re unsure of the events.
-Make dinner reservations at all of the restaurants your resort offers. Dress up nicely when you go out to eat.
–Don’t drink the tap water. Don’t brush your teeth with it either; use bottled water to wet your toothbrush. You’ll get sick anyway, but hey, it’s worth a try!
Outside of Your Resort – Things to Do:
-Swim in a cenote! A c
enote is like an underwater sinkhole or cave.
-Visit the ancient Tulum ruins (try to NOT do this on a 100 degree day if possible).
-Explore Fundadores Park and see the Portal Maya Statue.
-Stroll down 5th Avenue to shop, dine, dance, or simply people watch.
Do you have any recommendations of your own? Leave a comment below!
P.S. Justin Bieber was thrown out of Tulum six months prior to my trip to Playa Del Carmen. Not surprisingly, he tried climbing onto the ancient ruins which is, obviously, a big no-no. Don’t do that.
P.P.S. Mexicans are repulsed by the thought of tequila shots– they don’t understand why people would drink tequila in such a manner. Apparently, tequila is meant to be sipped and enjoyed– basically, the way the rest of the world treats fine wine.
Find more photos on instagram and read about my trip to Austria here.