Playa del Carmen /Tulum
Playa, as locals call it, is located on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, about 40 miles south of Cancun. Discovered by those craving white beaches, gentle surf and outdoors activities, this once sleepy fishing village has retained its small-town charm. Buildings are low-rise, and the atmosphere is still authentic. When the sun goes down, the temperature goes up. Bars get into full swing around midnight, and Avenida Quinta transforms from a family-friendly pedestrian way to a sizzling hot spot.
I will say that when we first went, it was a wonderful small town. Since that time, eighteen years ago, the town has exploded! It still retains many of the charms, but it is now clearly a much larger community.
Tulum, a breathtaking stretch of sand along Mexico’s eastern coast. In contrast to the mega-resorts of neighboring Cancun and the Riviera Maya, the places to stay in Tulum are all eco-friendly and laid-back. You'll spend your days here eating fresh fish tacos, doing yoga overlooking the water, and reading in a palapa on the beach. The main draw is Tulum's gorgeous beach, one of the best in Mexico, plus the casual vibe of downtown—these two distinct areas, about a 20-minute drive apart, are where you'll spend all your time. And unlike other beach getaways in Mexico, Tulum has several things to see, from historic ruins and the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve to world-class shops and restaurants. We have watched this small town from no electricity to solar and wind power to full power electricity and AC.
