A mere thirty-mile drive north of Xel-Ha lies the cosmopolitan beach town Playa del Carmen. A longtime favorite for sun-seeking tourists, it retains the feel of a picturesque Mexican downtown, while its boutique hotels, culinary abundance, rich nightlife, and hip beach clubs are enough to surpass expectations of even the most sophisticated travelers.

Playa del Carmen also boasts marvelous surroundings for snorkelling and diving, either in the renowned coral reef off the coast, or in the numerous cenotes north and south of the metropolis.