Settling into Playa del Carmen
¡Hola de nuevo a todos!
After a couple weeks transition, we’ve now eased ourselves into the laid back, relaxed lifestyle of Playa del Carmen. Lots of beach days, fish tacos, plantain chips, banana Nutella empanadas (as good as they sound), and aqua frescas later and we’ve come to the realization that this place agrees with us. We do recommend venturing away from downtown into the less glitzy and a bit grittier “local” areas for a more authentically Mexican experience. La Quinta Avenida (5th avenue) is the heart of the lively tourist district with an endless variety of restaurants, entertainment, and shopping. It’s a bit overwhelming though and quite expensive. Ultimately, we prefer a little more authentic, less hectic experience where we can slow down, get to know our hosts, and gain a deeper understanding of their culture and way of life. But if you’re up for a party, a nearly endless variety of great food, people watching, or getting your souvenir shop on, La Quinta is the place to be.
All of Play del Carmen’s beaches are a treat but we did find a bit of a gem in Punta Esmarelda. What makes this beach so special is the cenotito (little cenote) that comes bubbling out of the ground just a few yards from the shore. This beach has a strong local vibe with lots of families, kids, and a decidedly Mexican party atmosphere especially on weekends. The cenotito, like all cenotes seems to exude a magical aura that makes you want to jump in and embrace the gods. It’s obvious why the Mayans considered cenotes so sacred.
Between hiking up and down La Quinta, beach time, and stuffing our faces with delicious Mexican food, we did manage some more out of town adventures. Our next one led us to the archeological site of Ek Balam. More on that next time. And we do hope you’ll join us next time, until then hasta luego!
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