Playa del Carmen as a Place for Living and Retirement

The Mexican Caribbean beach town of Playa del Carmen is located on the Yucatan peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo. Once a small fishing village, Playa (as it’s more often referred to) is now the second largest Mexican resort destination after Cancun. It is also the fastest growing city in all of Mexico — having surpassed Puerto Vallarta experienced an enormous influx of people during the late 90’s and early 20’s.

Playa del Carmen At-a-Glance:

Location Type

Beach

Population

100,000 (2005 Census) – and is, according to official figures, the fastest growing city in Mexico

Altitude

Approximately 45 feet above sea-level

Time Zone

Central Time

High/Low Temperatures

68F/20C (Nocturnal, Winter), 88F/31C (Daytime, Summer).
Year-Round Average 80F/27C

Rainy Season?

Playa del Carmen’s rainy season runs from late May to October each year, with tropical storms, and on occasions hurricanes, occurring here especially in the late summer months

Hurricanes?

Playa del Carmen is subject to Hurricanes from the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean

Local Economy:

Tourism, Fishing and, (of late) economic activities related to lifestyle and real estate

Expat Penetration

Moderate-High*

Cost of Living

Moderate-Higher*

Travel Guide

Guide to Playa del Carmen

*Relative to other foreign expat communities in Mexico

Playa del Carmen is part of the Riviera Maya — the stretch of beach-facing land between Cancun and Tulum. This resort town is, and always has been, more ‘down to earth’ and authentically Mexican compared to trendy, commercial and high-rise Cancun situated thirty miles north of here.

Its central location at the heart of the Mayan Riviera makes it a favorite for travelers, tourists and certain types of expatriates who are seeking the warm, laid-back lifestyle accentuated by pristine white-sand beaches and year-round warm turquoise waters for swimming, diving and snorkeling coupled with a multi-national, multi-ethnic and artsy atmosphere. Playa attracts visitors and expatriates from a more diverse range of geographical locations than Cancun: Playa has a more rustic, more toned-down approach to tourism and, for foreign residents, it offers a ‘more Mexican’ feel and atmosphere, whereas Cancun is more about package vacations, mall shopping and all-night-parties.

A fun and lively beach culture has sprouted up around Playa del Carmen that demonstrates the diverse blend of interests which become attracted to these shores. The expat community is equally diverse, with a particularly strong European following; and if you live here, you’ll become comfortable intermingling with multiple nationalities and the crucible of cultures and languages thrives within the sphere of a Mexican resort town that has moved far away from its fishing village roots.

Excellent Transport Links

Playa del Carmen is the main port for ferries connecting the Yucatan peninsula to Cozumel, the largest island off Playa’s coast and one of the world’s best scuba diving hot spots. Playa is also well connected by means of a modern highway to Cancun’s international airport (less than an hour away); and a small international airport on the Island of Cozumel. Plans are also afoot to build an international airport in Tulum, just a few minutes away from Playa del Carmen, to serve the Riviera Maya ‘corridor’ and take pressure off Cancun’s airport system, which is the second busiest airport in the country, after Mexico City. When completed, the mix of roads, airports and ferries will make the Riviera Maya one of the best connected regions in all of Mexico.

Cozy Beach side Living in Playa del Carmen

Although Playa has undergone a faster pace of development than any other place in Mexico over the past decade, the local authorities have taken care to retain the characteristics and atmosphere which attracted people here in the first place. For example, by city ordinance, new buildings cannot rise more than three stories in height. From the time Playa was a small quaint town with few developments and a tony populace, the local authorities were certain that they did not want to create “another Cancun” here and, even today, continue to make great efforts to ensure that the high-rise commercialization of Cancun stays thirty miles north of here.

The principal boulevard, Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue, and referred to by locals as simply “La Quinta”) is where a collection of boutique shops, bars, cafes and restaurants coalesce and make for an entertaining stroll as well as modern-day shopping and leisure experiences in a pleasant, outdoor setting.

Commercial retail centers have also been growing to accommodate the retiree/expat communities that have been moving in over recent years, as well as middle-class and affluent Mexicans who have become used to U.S.-style shopping facilities in other bigger towns and cities across Mexico. Today, you can find big name supermarkets including Wal-mart, Soriana, Chedraui, Sam’s Club and CostCo as well as brand-name department stores like Liverpool.

Actively Relaxing Experience

This location is synonymous with relaxation and diversion and, as one of Mexico’s premiere resort towns, both may be enjoyed in equal measures at Playa del Carmen.

For relaxing: walks along the beach, shopping, spas and massages, and simply taking time to enjoy the relaxed way of life that emanates in this part of the world; watching sunrises and sunsets, listening to a cacophony of wild birdsong, or letting the waves brush gently against your feet as you stroll along one of the many white sand beaches. The peak tourism season runs from November through to March. At other times of year, the beaches are quieter and you can enjoy the natural beauty of the coast without the significant influx of seasonal vacationers.

To exercise and engage with a more active lifestyle, tennis and golfing are easily accessible from here. Outdoor activities include first-class scuba and snorkeling (including some some of the finest SCUBA diving in the world, just across the water in Cozumel), sports fishing, sea kayaking and a plethora of other water-based activities including wind-surfing, sailing, and swimming — all amidst the crystal turquoise waters of Mexico’s Caribbean Sea.

On land activities include yoga, salsa lessons and Spanish language lessons. For day and weekend trips, Playa serves as as the ideal base for a compelling choice of adventures including exploration of Mayan ruins in Coba, Tulum, Chichen Itza and beyond; taking in the flora and fauna in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere and Nature Preserve; taking part in an assortment of eco and adventure tours; snorkeling in crystal clear fresh waters, tubing down natural water outlets to the Caribbean sea and swimming with dolphins.

Cost of Living

Playa offers residents a slightly lower cost of living than other major Mexican resort towns; for example, in comparison to Cancun and Los Cabos. The cost of living is always slightly higher in popular resort towns than in resort towns which are off the beaten track: although the higher costs are compensated with facilities such as better transport connections and more choice in terms of retail and medical services.

Property prices have soared in recent years, but remain affordable especially in comparison to the cost of ocean-front and ocean-view property in the United States and Western Europe.

Coastal towns — and especially popular resorts like Playa del Carmen — are always more expensive to live in than colonial cities and other smaller towns ‘off the beaten track’ in Mexico. However, the higher prices reflect the added costs of getting the goods to more remote locations as well as the popularity (demand) from expats who want to live, work or retire alongside the beautiful oceanside environments like Playa del Carmen.

A Warm and Genuine Mexican Resort Town

Playa del Carmen is today one of the most popular resort towns in Mexico, but it remains an authentic Mexican town: a place where you can still find tienditas (small local stores) run independently by local families, ambulant vendors, local plumbers and carpenters advertising their services on the street, and the abundance of day-to-day life situations which are omnipresent across most of Mexico’s towns and cities and which help to put emphasis on the definition of ‘the real Mexico’.

One of the principal features which attracted people to Playa from its early days, is the way the town was able to blend the concept of ‘resort’ with the reality of ‘genuinely Mexican’. Some might argue that the ‘Old Playa’ is dead and buried, and although it’s true that a town whose population has grown from a little over a thousand to over 100,000 in the space of a decade* is going to undergo some change and transformation, it’s also fair to say that the people who live, work and retire here are genuinely warm, friendly and welcoming – and not in a superficial way. This characteristic: being able to pull off ‘the double act’ of transforming from a fishing village into a world-class resort and yet remain authentic to the location’s roots is one of Playa’s trump cards as a location — as much so for visitors and for residents.

There’s an international flair in Playa, created principally by a balanced mix of Europeans and North Americans, although people from a wide array of nationalities call this place home, part or full-time: indeed, according to the Mexican Immigration Service, over seven per cent of Playa del Carmen’s population is non-Mexican.

Most foreigners discover Playa del Carmen when they come here to vacation or as part of a living or retirement ‘scouting’ visit. An increasing number of people fall in love with the climate, the sea, the atmosphere and the food; and thus make plans — and realize those plans — to move here. Those who come to live and work often set up some kind of trade or shop; this is demonstrated by numerous foreign owned businesses operating along La Quinta as well as younger professionals moving to Mexico to work as consultants or ‘knowledge workers’.

For retirees seeking a tropical paradise for part or full-time retirement in Mexico, Playa del Carmen: part hippy, part artsy, part chic, part traditional and unmistakably Mexican, combines these many and varied characteristics to form a unique and beautiful location for retirement living in Mexico.

* Data from Mexico’s National Office of Statistics, INEGI.

Cost of Living in Playa del Carmen

The cost of living in Mexico is typically lower in Mexico than it is the USA, Canada and Western Europe, although precise costs depend upon where you live and your lifestyle choices.

Cost of Living Report

To learn more about the cost of living in Mexico, connect to the Mexico Cost of Living page on Mexperience.

Regional and geographical cost variations do exist, and this part of the guide shows you how some goods and services at Playa del Carmen vary from the average.

See Also:

Banks, Banking and Credit in Mexico | Money in Mexico

Blog Articles:

Money, Banking & Finance | Mexican Economy

Real Estate in Playa del Carmen

Information about the real estate market in Playa del Carmen

Real Estate Market in Playa del Carmen

The ‘real estate bargains’ that were available here a decade or more ago are long gone, but property prices remain affordable in comparison to beach-front or beach-side property in places like the U.S.A. and Western Europe.

Playa offers a wide variety of property types to choose from. Realty developers have entered the market in earnest and this, coupled with other smaller as well as private investment projects has produced a local realty market that serves a broad range of interests and budgets including modest condos and casitas (little houses) mid range and luxury condos, apartments, suburban town homes as well as super luxurious properties on the beach or overlooking the sea.

The real estate market in Playa continues to experience ongoing and brisk development driven by rising investment in the region, and there are also plans to expand development of the town inland, past current limits, to include the other side of Highway 307, the main highway connecting Playa with Cancun and the rest of the Yucatan.

It’s particularly important to visit Playa before you decide where to purchase, as the local marketing makes potential buyers believe that somehow all residences here may be found “a ten-minute walk” from the beach or La Quinta.

The area of known as Playacar (distinct from Playa) is the premier residential and tourist development where most of the all-inclusive hotels, golf courses and a U.S. shopping mall are located. Playacar also has condos and villas for sale in within upscale, gated developments.

Prices of realty in Playa del Carmen, as in all Mexican resort towns, have risen considerably over the last decade, although they still remain at very affordable levels when compared to ocean-side realty prices in the U.S. and Western Europe. The financial ‘credit crunch’ has tempered market activity and this is beginning to influence some prices, especially of properties whose owners had come to adopt unrealistic expectations of their value.

Prices for very desirable real estate situated on plots of land which are by nature limited (e.g. on the beach) continue to hold, or at least the price tags haven’t changed much, keeping in mind that price is negotiable. For example, for properties overlooking the ocean or very close to it. However, the tear-away price rises of recent years are yielding and to a more stable price market.

Most real estate is sold through local realty agents who know the area and the surrounding region, as well as directly through the developers marketing major realty projects, often on prime beachfront locations or on fine golf courses.

Playa del Carmen is one of the principal areas where Mexican time-share projects are sold, due to the massive draw of tourists and foreign visitors seeking to vacation in this region each year (note that time share is not ownership). Private residences (mostly re-sales) are available in the town center of Playa del Carmen as well as out-of-town, where some expat investors are buying homes offering semi-rural surroundings, away from the town proper, but close enough for easy road access to the beach, local shops and amenities.

Rentals Market in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen has an abundance of rental properties on the market all year long. Most rental properties in Playa del Carmen are offered through local realty agents or directly by individual property owners listing properties on the Internet or local newspapers and magazines as well as signs posted at restaurants, cafes and bars near the vicinity where the rentals are situated. Some developers rent out their units or rent out units on behalf of absentee owners who only occupy the property part-time: check with local developers or a local realty agent for details and further information.

See Also:

Guide to Real Estate in Mexico | Home Maintenance | Home Security

Healthcare in Playa del Carmen

In addition to Mexico’s state sponsored healthcare provided via the country’s national health service IMSS, good quality healthcare services offered through private clinics with US -standard healthcare services exist in Playa del Carmen. The privately-run out patient clinics available locally are ideal for day-to-day ailments, sprains, broken bones and other health matters which would normally be diagnosed and treated by a General Practitioner of medicine.

See Also:

Health and Healthcare in Mexico | Travel Health in Mexico

Local Climate in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is hot and humid with dry and wet (rainy) seasons. The annual average temperature is around 80F/26C. Humidity levels are very high all year long; often exceeding ninety per cent. The rainy season runs from May to October each year. Sea breezes bring cooling winds which help to make the location feel cooler, fresher and less aggressively humid than towns and cities located away from the coast.

Winter Climate:

November to January are the coolest months with average temperatures ranging from 81F/27C during the day and 68F/20C overnight. The “high” season for tourists and part-time residents begins in November each year.

Spring Climate:

February thru early May offers a beautiful spring-like climate with very little rain. Temperatures begin to increase from April, with average temperatures ranging from 84F/28C during the day and 71F/21C overnight.

Summer Climate:

June through September are the hottest months, with temperatures ranging from 75F/23C overnight, to 95F/35C in the daytime. The rainy season begins between mid and late May and will last through to October. Hurricanes may occur anytime during the hot summer months but are most likely during July, August and September. Temperatures and humidity reach their peak from mid-July to the end of August.

Autumn Climate:

The temperature begins to moderate again in October. Mid and late autumn brings cooler temperatures with averages ranging from 87F/30C during the day to 73F/22C overnight.

Rainy Season:

Playa del Carmen’s rainy season runs from May to October, with most of the rain falling in July and August. Torrential afternoon rains may be experienced several days a week and, in the peak temperature months of July, August and September tropical storms and hurricanes may feature, too.

Hurricanes:

Hurricanes can affect Playa del Carmen at any time during the summer, although they are most frequently experienced here during the peak summer months, especially mid-July through September. The last major hurricane to land on Playa was Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

Sea Temperature in Playa del Carmen

The average sea temperature in the region is 80F/26C. Sea temperatures rise higher in the summer months, and dip slightly November through February.

See Also:

Weather and Climates in Mexico

Practical Information About Living in Playa del Carmen

This section contains links to guides where you can learn more about living in Playa del Carmen.

Accessibility / Transport

Getting Around Playa del Carmen

Getting Around

Transportation choices in Mexico

Communications

Staying in contact while living in Mexico

Money and Banking

Guide to Money in Mexico | Banks & Banking in Mexico

Practical Matters

Practical Information (Travel Guide)

Auto Insurance in Mexico

How to insure your foreign-plated car in Mexico

Safety in Mexico

Latest Safety Updates

Key Attractions

Travel Guide to Playa del Carmen

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Playa del Carmen (often referred to as just “Playa” locally) was a little, unknown fishing village that was discovered by the traveler’s visiting Cancun and Cozumel and is now one of the fastest growing coastal towns in Mexico.

Playa del Carmen offers you the enjoyment of a simple beach holiday without the trappings and characteristics of a modern-day commercialized resort like Cancun. The tourist developments here are low-rise, taking into account the local environment, and giving playa a more charismatic and authentic Mexican feel. This is contrast to the highly commercialized resort experience which is common in places like nearby Cancun.

Playa del Carmen is quite a ‘young’ resort – in that it attracts a lot of people in the twenty to thirty-something age range. They come here looking for a comfortable holiday; to swim, sunbathe, stroll along the wonderful beaches, listen to bands playing in the open air, and dance at a club at night.

The fine resort hotels, situated in Playa and along the rivera maya are some of the finest in Mexico. They offer first-class facilities, great amenities, world-class service and a perfect environment to enjoy a vacation. Some of the resorts are adult-only, and popular with people coming to Mexico for a honeymoon. Many others are family-oriented, and are hugely popular for family vacations, especially during the Easter and Summer holidays as well as Christmas and New Year.

Playa has some excellent boutique craft shops that will offer you the opportunity to buy something quite unique to take home with you. See the section on what to buy in Playa del Carmen for details.

A definite advantage of Playa del Carmen is its geographical location: It is close to Cozumel, Cancun, and all of the fabulous archaeological parks in the area, so it makes an ideal base if you want to visit all of the main towns and resorts in this part of Mexico. There are also a number of eco and adventure tourism options to opt for – see Key Attractions for details.

Playa del Carmen is also part of the famous Riviera Maya – a stretch of towns and villages situated along beautiful beaches which extend from the southern edges of Cancun as far south as Tulum. You can read about the Riviera Maya in Key Attractions on this guide and also browse hotels, resorts and spas in the Riviera Maya region here on Mexperience.

Key Attractions

Relaxing, Sunbathing

Playa del Carmen today is a relaxing place – if you want to unwind, then this region of Mexico will make an ideal location for you. Choose Playa del Carmen when you want peace and tranquility on a beach sunbathing; or to take quiet strolls along soft, white sands with the cool waters of the Caribbean lapping your feet.

Sports Fishing Experiences

Playa del Carmen is one of Mexico’s top destinations for Sports Fishing – especially deep sea fishing! Read the Mexperience guide to Sports Fishing in Mexico and discover just what a fantastic day out a sports fishing experience can be on your next visit to Mexico.

Diving & Snorkeling

Divers and people who want to snorkel come to Playa del Carmen to enjoy the great waters and excellent diving conditions.

Swimming with Dolphins

You can swim with the Dolphins on Isla Mujeres. Connect to the guide to Swimming with Dolphins in Mexico for details.

Other Water Sports

Sports Fishing and Kayak rental are the two other main activities people enjoy during a visit to Playa del Carmen. Connect to the guide to Watersports in Mexico for details.

Day Trips to Cozumel

You can catch the ferry across to the Island of Cozumel for a day. The ferry port is near the town’s main square and just a quick walk from the hotels.

Spas in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen and The Riviera Maya (see below) are host to some excellent Resort Spas. For more information about Spa experiences, and how to benefit from a magnificent health spa experience, connect to the Mexperience guide to Spas in Mexico.

Nature and Adventure Tours

A number of nature and adventure tours are easily accessible from Playa del Carmen (and Riviera Maya). Tours include visits to the nearby Xel-Ha and Xcaret natural water parks, as well as tours to visit nearby Cenotes (water caverns) as well numerous archaeology parks. See Also: Nature & Adventure in Mexico

Archaeology Parks

Nearby Playa del Carmen you’ll find an extensive choice of Maya ancient cities, converted into archaeology parks open to the public. Nearby parks include Tulum, which overlooks the turquoise Mexican Caribbean, Coba, and Chichen Itza, voted as one of the “new wonders” of the world.

Xel-Ha National Park

Day-trips to Xel-Ha are readily available and very convenient from Playa del Carmen and resorts along the Riviera Maya. Xel-Ha is a national park which has been converted into a water theme park built around a collection of natural lagoons and inlets. The park offers a range of water activities, primarily based around snorkeling, although you can also float down the river in a ring, dive under water without tanks (they connect hoses to a helmet) and swim with dolphins (this costs extra and space is limited, so arrive early if you want to do this). There are also five restaurants and a bar which you can eat and drink at free if you paid the all-inclusive price.

Playa del Carmen is Part of The Riviera Maya

The 125km stretch of coastline that stretches from the southern edge of the resort town of Cancun, through Playa del Carmen and the Mayan Ruins of Tulum, finishing at the Sian Ka’an Biosphere, is known as the Rivera Maya.

About The Riviera Maya

A number of small towns and villages, nature parks, resorts and the Mayan Ruins of Tulum feature along the edge of this coast. Besides the well known and developed areas of Playa del Carmen and Tulum, the coast’s four other main points of interest are:

Puerto Morelos – as yet an undeveloped quiet village, perfect for a break away from the crowds and commercialism surrounding Cancun.

Akumal – one of the least commercialized areas of this coastline, Akumal offers the perfect place to relax away from the hype and bustle of Cancun and other commercially developed areas. The location has a high number of holiday houses for rent, making it a popular place for families and couples who want to enjoy the experience and economy of a self-catering rental holiday.

Sian Ka’an Biosphere is located between Tulum and Akumal and is a federally protected reserve that features freshwater canals, tropical forests, mangrove wetlands, lagoons, prairies and a 70-mile long barrier reef – the second largest barrier reef in the world.

Costa Maya – the area south of the Sia Ka’an Biosphere to the coast off Belize. The area holds attractions for SCUBA divers and sports fishing, although the beaches themselves are not as attractive as the ones further up the coast if you’re looking for swimming, bathing and strolling opportunities.

Getting There & Around

By Air – Playa del Carmen has an airstrip that handles small charter aircraft and private air taxis. AeroCaribe, the main local small aircraft operator, has an office near the airstrip. For detailed information about flights and flying, see the Mexperience guide to Air Travel in Mexico.

By Bus – Local buses and suburban vans carrying holiday makers and their luggage comfortably, travel from Cancun to Playa del Carmen and back daily on a regular basis. The suburban vans “Collectivos” are white and offer excellent value for money, carrying up to 10 passengers and their luggage comfortably for just a few dollars each. You can board them from their base near the bus stations at both Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Long distance buses connect Cancun with Merida, all main sities on the Yucatan Peninsula, Chiapas, the Gulf Coast and Mexico City. For detailed information about bus transportation read the Mexperience guide to Bus Travel in Mexico.

By Car – You can drive to Playa del Carmen from Cancun by taking Highway 307. See additional information about Driving in Mexico and Mexico’s Toll Roads on Mexperience.

Car Rental – To explore Mexico’s provincial towns and cities — including its beach locations and the scenery and attractions near them — consider renting a car for your visit. Having your own car will give you more flexibility than using public transport options and, in some cases, offer you access to places which are otherwise difficult to visit without the use of a car. Read our guide to Car Rental in Mexico to learn what you need to know about car rental in Mexico and connect to the Mexperience Travel Center to reserve your Rental Car.

Tricycle Taxis – In certain areas of town, only tricycle taxis are allowed. They will take you and your luggage very efficiently to your hotel, or to the ferry that crosses to Cozumel.

On Foot – Most of Playa del Carmen is accessible on foot; and for exploring the local area, walking around is by far the best way to experience Playa del Carmen.

Taxis – Taxis in most of Mexico’s beachside towns and cities are not metered, so agree your price before you get in. Taxi travel is very affordable in Mexico, in comparison to the USA, Canada and Europe, and so provides a viable means of public transportation in Mexico. Your hotel can arrange taxis for you; some post their rates on a board in the lobby; taxi hotel rates are usually higher than cabs you hail off the street. If you speak Spanish, you will have a distinct advantage and be able to negotiate a price with the driver. For detailed information, read the Mexperience guide to Taxi Travel in Mexico.

Playa del Carmen Essentials

Telephone: Connect to the Communications in Mexico page on Mexperience for detailed information about keeping in touch and the latest table of national dialing codes.

Exchanging Currency: Most of Playa del Carmen’s banks with ATM machines are found downtown on Avenida 5. During business hours, they and the Casas de Cambio will buy traveler’s checks and cash from you as well. For detailed information about exchanging and managing your money, read the Mexperience guide to Money in Mexico.

Travel Insurance: We recommend that you are adequately covered with travel medical insurance and/or travel assistance insurance when you are visiting Mexico. Read the Mexperience guide to Travel Insurance in Mexico for full details and links to specialist insurance suppliers.

Internet Access: Internet cafes can be easily found in towns and cities across Mexico and WiFi is increasingly commonplace–from cafes, shops, hotels, and some cities even offer free WiFi in some defined public spaces.

What to Buy in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is a good place to buy arts and crafts and unique curios that you will not find elsewhere. There is a selection of shops in town around the main plaza. In recent years, the art and craft outlets have been raising their game; they are now offering tourists fine examples of locally and and nationally produced, hand crafted works; effectively undergoing a transition from being tourist craft outlets into specialist craft boutiques.

Local Climate

The climate in Playa del Carmen is very much like that of Cancun: Hot and humid, but the humidity is not as drenching as it can be in some other places in Mexico. August through October is hurricane season in this part of the world – and the weather becomes more changeable and less predictable during these months. The rainy season is May through October. November through February is the high season on the Riviera Maya, and the weather remains quite hot during these times, which attracts many “snow birds” from northern USA and Canada and Western Europe for winter warmth and sunshine.

Weather & Climates in Mexico

Learn more about the weather and climates through the seasons and regions by connecting to the Mexperience guide about Weather and Climates in Mexico