Day Trips Near Playa

That you will always remember

How much time did you invest to achieve this trip that you really looked forward to? Surely you want to get the most out of every second of your vacation. If your destination is to the Riviera Maya, I recommend you to stay in Playa del Carmen, as it is located right in the heart.

Playa del Carmen itself is a very fun city with lots of shops and restaurants, but there is so much more to enjoy around. Near Playa, there are many beautiful places to visit, from the major cities like Cancun to small pristine beaches like Paa Mul. Some spots are not known by the majorities but are worth visiting. There are also Parks with activities for the whole family and shows to enjoy the Mexican culture.

In this map are all the places that you can see in a day, whether you are on a tour, or you rent a car.

7 Virgin beaches in Riviera Maya

If you are one of those looking for hidden spots to avoid the crowds, you have to go to the hidden beaches. They are Xcacel, Akumal, Boca Paila, Paa Mul, Isla Contoy, Xpu Há, Punta Maroma and Isla Blanca. Each has its charm and is perfect for a beach day in the Mexican Caribbean sun. In some of them, you can do activities like paddle yoga, snorkeling with sea turtles or kiteboard.

Read: Natural places you must visit in Tulum

3 Ancient Mayan Cities

Along the Peninsula, there are many archaeological remains. However, the most recommended are Chichen Itza, Tulum, and Coba.  The best way to enjoy them is through a guided tour, they include visits to cenotes and Mexican food restaurants.

Read: The best panoramic views of Quintana Roo

2 very colorful Caribbean islands

Separate at least one day to visit one of these islands, in addition to discovering new places, you will enjoy a relaxing boat trip. Cozumel, the largest of all; Here there is everything: restaurants, beaches, parks, adventure activities, etc. The best thing to do is go to “El Cielo,” a beach where you can see many starfish. Isla Mujeres, recently named Pueblo Mágico is a very colorful city with beautiful beaches, a perfect spot to eat seafood.

Read: Best Places To Snorkel In Riviera Maya

6 Parks with activities for the whole family

One of the main attractions of the Riviera Maya are its Parks, the most recommended are Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xplor, Xenotes, Xoximilco and the newest, Xenses. Each one has different activities that will make your vacations very fun, and most importantly, you can go with the whole family!

See more information about these Parks here.

4 Beautiful Natural Reserves

It is well known that southeastern Mexico has a great diversity of flora and fauna, if you are looking for places to enter the Mayan jungle and see its natural wonders, you have to visit these reserves: Sian Ka’an, Muyil, Yal-Ku and Contoy Island.

Read: The Mexican Caribbean paradise from above

2 Small charming ports

Puerto Morelos and Puerto Aventuras are two small towns located very close to Playa del Carmen. If you are looking for a getaway to a Pueblo Mágico to walk, eat seafood and snorkel in the coral reef, you must go to Puerto Morelos. If you want to tour a marina and take a yacht ride along the coast, you must go to Puerto Aventuras.

A colonial city

If you are looking for a picturesque place with a lot of history, you must go to Valladolid in Yucatan. This Pueblo Mágico is the ideal place to try the traditional Yucatecan food, swim in a cenote, walk among picturesque streets and visit the beautiful Church of San Servacio.

A big city

Finally, a visit to Cancun, the largest and most developed town of Quintana Roo. Here, in addition to its beautiful beaches and Hotel Zone, you can go to restaurants, large shopping malls and places in the center of the city that are worthwhile as Market 28 to buy handicrafts and the Parque de las Palapas.

What places on this list would you like to visit?