Tips for Playa del Carmen with Kids

Hotels in Playa del Carmen

Stay in Playa del Carmen or in the area around town. An hour away from Cancun Airport (CUN), Playa del Carmen has both ambiances: relaxed beach and lively town. I've stayed in a hotel in town and in a resort 20 minutes away, and I loved both experiences. I recommend the El Taj condos—nice, comfortable suites with full kitchens—or the Fairmont Mayakoba, a deluxe eco resort.

For my next visit, I have looked at Mahekal Beach Resort in Playa del Carmen (also beachfront and walking distance from Quinta Avenida, but with a much better beach than El Taj), and Hotel Xcaret, which is near Playa del Carmen and offers free transportation to the eco parks—it’s pretty new and looks amazing!

You can also stay in the Tulum area, which is more laid-back (no Quinta Avenida), and there are very nice hotels, like the Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya.

Visit the eco parks: Xcaret, Xel Ha, Xplor

This is an experience like no other. My family prefers it to amusement parks. A brief overview of the most-visited parks:

• Xcaret: The best for small children. The park is so big, there is something for everyone. Our favorites: the underground rivers, Children’s World, the aviary, and the butterfly pavilion. (Age suggestion: all ages)

• Xel Ha: An hour away from Playa del Carmen. Action-packed water activities and trail walking from one activity to the next. Our favorites: Tubing in the river and the Lighthouse waterslide. (Age suggestion: 4+ years)

• Xplor: Smaller park than the others; no need to get there early. Our favorites: Two child-safe zip line circuits and Hammock Splash. (Age suggestion: 6+ years)

• Xenses: Cool as hell! Everything to do with your senses and perception, including a "town" where water runs uphill! Ideal for tweens and teens. (Age suggestion: 10+ years)

Consider buying your tickets with the option that includes meals (e.g., Xcaret Plus ticket)—there isn't much of a difference and it's totally worth it.

For the parks, bring: one or two clothing changes, a cell phone protector, water shoes ($30 inside), eco-friendly sunblock, and a rash guard.

Quinta Avenida

Strolling the Quinta Avenida is an experience in itself. In the evenings, there are all types of performances in different spots, including Mayan fire dancers and other street performers.

The concierge at the Fairmont recommended the Mexican restaurant Porfirio's for dinner here, which had excellent food and ambiance! It was an incredible experience. Other dinner suggestions: La Fishería, Sonora Grill Prime, Blue Lobster.

For ice cream, I recommend Gelateria Amorino for their many vegan options (including chocolate)—this was perfect for my lactose-intolerant child!

The Frida Kahlo Museum is also located on one of Quinta Avenida’s side streets. Frida’s life story is anything but child-friendly, but the museum is small and beautiful, and the guides are very knowledgeable. It’s perfect in case you arrive in the area too early in the afternoon and the temperature is too hot.

For a small fee, you can park at the Quinta Allegria Shopping Mall on Quinta Avenida and Ave. Constituyentes.

Tulum ruins and beach trip

This Mayan archeological site is a must-visit. It’s an hour away from Playa del Carmen, so you can combine the Tulum ruins visit with a day at the beach (especially if your hotel is not beachfront) or a visit to a cenote. When arriving at the ruins, you can park for free, get on a trolley to the entrance of the ruins, and explore the ruins in 15 to 20 minutes. There is a pristine beach you can access from the ruins—the steps are steep, but it's perfect for cooling off. After the visit to the ruins, we had booked a day visit to Ana y José Hotel & Spa in Tulum, which had excellent food and a relaxed atmosphere.

Cenotes

There are many famous cenotes—beautiful underwater rivers in caves where people take a dip or go snorkeling—in the area, especially near Tulum. What they don’t tell you is that the water is very, very cold, and the infrastructure is not kid-friendly.

Be careful with the water

Remind kids not to drink pool water or shower water, and to brush their teeth with bottled water provided by the hotel, just to be on the safe side.

Budget in transportation costs

Transportation costs are high in the area. A private van can cost from $70 to $120 one way from the airport. Hotels offer transportation, but it’s usually more expensive. You can evaluate renting a car for the whole trip or for specific outings. Consider the following:

• Many hotels, especially near Quinta Avenida, don’t offer parking for their guests.

• Larger hotels have car rental companies in the lobby that rent cars for 24 hours. You need to ask about it, as it's usually not advertised—not even on their website.

• There are many rental car companies near Quinta Avenida. You can walk to rent a car nearby.

• Tour operators offer cheap transportation for tours and to the parks. Just keep in mind you will have to wait early in the morning to board buses, or spend an extra hour picking up people at other hotels.

Sargassum (seaweed)

This seaweed has been plaguing the Mayan Riviera. It is uncomfortable to have this algae on the beach, and sometimes the water near the shore is a brown color with a bad smell. If there is a sargassum “situation” when you arrive, you can take a boat ride or snorkeling trip to the islands (Cozumel or Isla Mujeres) or go to an ecopark.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Playa del Carmen page.