Hot spots in Playa del Carmen, Mexico?

I'm going to Playa del Carmen in August. Can you recommend any must see/do activities and places? Are there any things/places I should avoid?

Lot of things to do in the area - 5th ave in Playa del Carmen has a ton of shopping and many restaurants and bars. If you are looking for "hot spots" for night life and such just walk down 5th ave. until you find one that looks appealing to you. I personally would avoid Senior Frogs, by the ferry dock since it's a total tourist trap and drinks are crazy expensive. But if that's your thing or you want the t-shirt then feel free. I know that there is (was?) a disco in town that is in a cave, never been to it but I have seen it and it looked pretty cool. Sorry I can't remember the name.

If you want to dive, or snorkel you can catch the ferry to cozumel from Playa, at the dock on cozumel you 'll find tour operators that will take you out.

For ruins, Tulum is ok - very close easily accessible but usually very crowded and everything is generally roped off, nice beach though. IF you are not into ruins then go see this one, you can leave your resort after breakfast and be back for lunch. Coba, much, much bigger than Tulum, older and not as well cleared/restored. Coba, will be much less crowded than Tululm, you can climb most of the pyramids Coba and enjoy some impressive views . Chichen Itza, very well restored. Very large, very impressive site worth the day off the beach. Ek Balam, medium sized site, the main pyramid is very impressive and still has a great deal of original stucco at the entrance to a tomb. There are many smaller ruins as well but unless you are a total ruin buff or find yourself right there then I wouldn't bother.

Also, in the area you may be able to see sea turtles hatching at that time of year. See if you can find info on the "Fundacian Ecologica Bahia Principe Tulum". For a $20 donation they took me out in May to watch a turtle lay her eggs. It was very impressive and it's nice to have professionals there so you know that you are not harming the turtles and that your money goes to support preservation project. There may be other programs in the area too, not sure may be Xel-ha or Xcaret? I think that Xcaret has a swimming with dolphin program. I have not done that myself but it may be something to consider.

Also, if you are comfortable with driving don't be afraid to rent a car. The tour operators will stress how dangerous it is but trust me it's not. If you are used to driving in a big city in the US or Canada then this area is a piece of cake. The drivers are way more courteous. Left turns are a little tricky sometimes, since locals sometimes pull off the road on the right to make a left. (all part of being courteous I think, they don't want to block the road). And speed bumps watch out for those, they sometimes appear out of nowhere! It's hard to get lost, there's just not that many roads. The toll road between Cancun and Chichen Itza is expensive but very well maintained, gas up when you can though sometimes gas stations can be hard to find. Renting a car can save you some serious coin relative to the tour busses.

If you are not staying right in Playa Del Carmen, the colectivo is a great way to get to town and back. Don't bother with a taxi unless it's late at night.

Last thing - assuming that you are landing at Cancun airport, there's going to be people handing out little booklets called "cancun tips" - they'll have one for the Mayan Riviera too - take one. It's full of coupons, maps and info on things to do in the area. Those same people might also try to sell you a time share too but I always just take to booklet. :) ENJOY!

I went to Xel-Ha (lagoon, beautiful) for a few hours on an excursion. Very gorgeous and wish I could have spent a whole weekend there. Google "Xel-Ha". Report It

I'm planning on going in July/August as well. Rockin' Mel S gave an INCREDIBLE answer. My hours of research were just covered in a few paragraphs!!! Report It

go to the beach for hot spots...

Riu Taquila is the best resort ever!!!!

Unfortunately, Playa is a resort town---so there aren't a lot of "hot spots." But it is a must visit. The reosrts offer a lot. There are outdoor activites like Coba which I highly recommend. You can look at the pyramids similar to Chichen Itza (closer to Cancun). You should visit 5th Ave. area in Playa---great shopping. Have fun---a beautiful part of this world.

You should not miss the Mayan ruins in Tulum...about 30 minutes south of Play del Carmen. If you have more time...travel to Chichen Itza to see a Mayan city.

Be careful. Where are you staying? One place to be cautious of is the Occidental Grand Xcaret. www.brentmidlock.com