Travel to Playa del Carmen

The History of Playa del Carmen

Known as Xaman Ha, before the arrival of the Spanish, Playa del Carmen was an obligatory stop on the pilgrimage to the island of Cozumel, to the temples sacred to Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of love and fertility. Ixchel was also the Moon goddess whose powers, they believed, influenced the land and the sea, guided the planting and harvesting of crops, and protected people from hurricanes. Because of its privileged location, Xaman Ha was always considered strategic and it was chosen as the headquarters for the Spanish army during their conquest of the Yucatan. However, it was later abandoned and remained uninhabited during colonial times.

Playa had a slow rate of growth and it was mainly a stop to catch the ferry to Cozumel, which was considered more important commercially and politically back then. However, Playa del Carmen was destined to be appreciated for its own natural beauty and not just for its proximity to Cozumel.

At the beginning of the 20th Century, a small community of loggers moved to Playa del Carmen and began exporting tropical hardwoods and chicle, a gum-like substance extracted from the sapodilla tree. Most loggers came from Yucatan since they were fleeing from the Caste War. In time many of the loggers became fishermen and settled in Playa del Carmen permanently. They were probably attracted to this pristine area because of its calm waters and barrier reef that teems with life.

Playa at the present time

In the mid eighties, a few hotels opened in the area, beginning Playa's rapid transformation from a small town with a population of just over a thousand inhabitants to an important tourist destination with the fastest growth rate in the region, a strong economy and a modern infrastructure.

Playa del Carmen features a chic, cosmopolitan, yet laid-back ambience. Lulled by the sound of the waves gently lapping against the shore, 5th Avenue is Playa's seaside promenade, visited by tourists from all over the world. Most restaurants, bars, discos, and name brand stores are near or on 5th Avenue, located in brightly painted Mexican buildings and palapas that provide a cool shade from the sun.

You can feel a wonderful cool breeze as you stroll along the streets of Playa. It is not unusual to find people from Mexico, Italy, Germany, the United States, Argentina, Canada, or Spain among many other nationalities, who have fallen in love with Playa so much so that they have even made it their permanent residence. As a result of this, the Playa scene has a multicultural feel to it, which can be appreciated in the shops, restaurants, and entertainment options in town.

It is not uncommon to find mariachis playing on open-air terraces, reggae bands in bars, senior musicians playing the marimba on the street, or even a piano man entertaining a couple of newlyweds during a romantic dinner. In Playa, you can enjoy an array of dishes, but you must try the excellent fish and seafood specialties. Playa also features gourmet and fusion cuisine dining options that masterfully blend traditional Mexican cooking with ingredients from around the world. Playa dining will please even the most demanding palates.

As if all this were not enough, Playa del Carmen is also a great place for nature lovers, water sports enthusiasts, and for those who enjoy adventure travel. Because of popular demand the number of hotels and tour companies, as well as the quality of the services they provide, has increased tremendously in the last few years. That is definitely the case with Playacar, a hotel and residential complex within Playa's limits, where you can find world-class resorts, as well as spectacular residential properties. Just as the hospitality industry has developed, so have the utilities and services for the local population, making Playa an ideal place to start if you want to explore all that the amazing Riviera Maya has to offer.