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Your
guide to quality accommodation throughout Mexico - Quintana Roo and the
Mayan Riviera
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Playa del Carmen
by Sara Moen
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to Mexico Travel Guide
Playa del Carmen is located
on the Mexican Caribbean coast, 40 miles south of Cancun. This area, known
as the Mayan Riviera, is an ideal destination for weddings, honeymoons
or just to relax in a gorgeous setting. Playa del Carmen's original name
was "Xaman-Ha" or "waters of the north". Playa del Carmen's location and
natural beauty make it the perfect vacation spot for travelers of all ages
and all budgets.
 Playa
del Carmen used to be a tiny fishing village, but the increasing rarity
of unspoiled beaches, such as the one found there, have put it on the map
as a vacation destination. Technically, Playa del Carmen is made up of
the village area and the resort area. Both of these combined allow the
traveler to experience the quaint charm of small town village life in this
part of the world while experiencing all of the luxuries of a resort.
Accommodations vary from
small seaside cabanas and large and luxurious four star resorts. Because
of this, the savvy traveler can tailor his or her vacation exactly to their
needs. Depending on the time of year, well appointed vacation rooms can
be as little as $60 a night. There are also many places to please the palate.
Playa del Carmen offers many different types of cuisine, from the adventurous
to more simple manifestations of traditional Mexican cuisine.
A visitor to Playa del Carmen
will never be at a loss for something to do. The Tank Ha Dive Center of
Playa del Carmen offers scuba diving classes, the first of which is free
if you are a guest of the Hotel Riviera Caribe Maya. All of the diving
instructors are fully certified, guaranteeing safe, educational fun. In
addition to diving near the shore, they also offer cavern diving for the
more adventurous visitor.
Golfers can visit the Playacar
Golf Club to play on the beautifully designed course that is surrounded
by and integrated with the natural beauty of the surrounding tropical jungle
and Mayan ruins.
The Mayan ruins offer their
own entertainment in the form of a fascinating history. A short trip away
from Playa del Carmen, guests of the beautiful seaside community can visit
the spellbinding ruins of the Mayan cities. Xcaret, an eco-archeological
park, is adjacent to Playa del Carmen. Xcaret boasts a natural aquarium,
underground rivers, horseback riding, and the once in a lifetime opportunity
to swim with dolphins! They also have a botanical garden, a chance to see
regional wildlife and a museum celebrating the local history.
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About the Author - Sara
Moen is a travel journalist and the editor of Playa
Maya News located in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, updated daily with local
news, tours, real estate and hotels in Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya.
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