It was barely a few years ago that Playa del Carmen was a fisherman's village called Xaman Ha, with sandy streets surrounded by ocean and tropical forest.
The sea, the sand, the jungle, the people, the history and the location have all melded together to create an alluring atmosphere that feeds the growth of this dynamic community. Located on the Yucatan Peninsula in the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico; Playa del Carmen sits on the Caribbean Sea opposite the island of Cozumel, only 45 minutes from the Cancun International Airport, and is in the center of the Riviera Maya, which stretches from the Cancun Airport to Tulum and the Sian Kaan Biosphere Nature Preserve. Playa del Carmen has become the jewel of the Mexican Caribbean with vacationing, shopping, dining, adventure and entertainment options abounding in this multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual community. Vacationers can enjoy water sports, fishing, eco-tourism, jungle excursions, exploring cenotes and Mayan ruins, or just relaxing on white powdery sand beaches gazing at translucent jade-tinted waters while listening to lilting Caribbean rhythms.