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Discover the Perfect Playa del Carmen Itinerary with These Must-Do Tours and Activities

Updated: Apr 14

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Just an hour away from Cancun, Playa del Carmen ranks as one of Mexico's premier travel destinations. Although many all-inclusive beachfront resorts are available for a relaxing stay, most tourists opt to stay in downtown Playa del Carmen to fully experience the city's lively ambiance. Famous for its many beach clubs and rooftop pools, Playa del Carmen also boasts a wide array of attractions beyond these. Let's delve into some of the top experiences Playa del Carmen has to offer!


You may also be interested in itineraries for Playa del Carmen's neighboring cities Cancun, Cozumel and Tulum, each within an hour of Playa del Carmen.


Disclaimer

Part of the job of a travel agent is to save clients time and money. I looked through hundreds of tours and picked out the best tours to book in various categories that are both the best in quality and price.


Prices listed below are subject to change. Rates are typically discounted for larger groups and children, so use the links provided to see the exact cost for your specific scenario and book what is of interest to you.

3D Museum of Wonders

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Need a break from the heat or the beach? Then the place to go is the 3D Museum of Wonders in Playa del Carmen. Considered the first 3D illusion art museum in the Americas, its exhibits are unique and interactive. Open daily, the museum provides family-friendly entertainment on any day, including rainy ones. Your admission gives you access to all rooms. Feel free to bring your camera and take photos of your favorite exhibits — it’s not your everyday museum.


Duration

At your leisure

Availability

Everyday from 10 am - 8 pm

Price

$40 per person

Alternative

Frida Kahlo Museum - $20 per person


Private Photoset Session

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Hire your own professional photographer to capture your Playa del Carmen experience with this photoshoot package. You and your group will spend around an hour with your professional photographer, who will guide you as you pose for perfect shots. This package includes 20 high-resolution images, with the option to purchase additional photos for an extra fee.


Duration

1.5 hours

Availability

Everyday at 9 am and 5 pm

Price

$55 per person


Helicopter Ride over Riviera Maya

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Endless white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, tropical vegetation. On this helicopter ride over the Riviera Maya you'll discover the breathtaking landscapes of the Mexican Caribbean from a unique perspective.


Duration

15 mins

Availability

Everyday at 5 pm

Price

$145 per person

Alternative

Mexican Cocktail & Appetizer Class

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With the instructions of the chef, you will be making your own mexican appetizers and cocktails. You start off by making one cocktail, and while enjoying it, you will make your first appetizer. When finished, you will be making another cocktail and appetizer. And then one more round! It is a full meal, so do not have dinner before coming! Book your class and get ready for an unforgettable cooking and drinking experience which you will surely not forget!


Duration

3 hours

Availability

Fridays at 6 pm

Price

$105 per person

Alternative


Coco Bongo Nightclub with Open Bar

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Enjoy an open bar and experience Coco Bongo nightclub and disco in Playa del Carmen. This is one of the most popular nightclubs offering dancing, live shows, professional rock-star impersonators, and crowds of partiers.


Duration

6 hours

Availability

Tuesday - Sunday at 8 pm

Price

Starting from $88 per person

Alternative


Cirque du Soleil® JOYÀ

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Experience tablecloth dining along with the Cirque du Soleil® show 'JOYÁ' at the Vidanta Riviera Maya resort. Allow yourself to be mesmerized by the story of an alchemist and his granddaughter seeking out the secrets of life. The show draws on the heritage and history of Mexico to weave the story, presented in an intimate dinner theatre in the jungle of the Riviera Maya.


Duration

1.5 hours

Availability

Tuesday – Saturday at 6 pm

Price

Starting from $105 per person

Alternative

Cirque du Soleil® JOYÀ with Transportation - Starting from $164 per person

Xcaret Park

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Visit the number 1 attraction in the Riviera Maya at the Xcaret Park and enjoy the cultural traditions of Mexico. Explore underground rivers, and enjoy sights such as the Manatee Lagoon, House of Whispers and much more.


Duration

At your leisure

Availability

Everyday. Pick up time TBD

Price

Starting from $146 per person

Alternative


Dolphin World

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Come have a vacation of a lifetime at Dolphin World! Choose between:

  • Dolphin Encounter: Perfect for those who can’t swim, you will have an amazing interactive encounter with dolphins.

  • Dolphin Swim: Interact, swim and have a ride with one dolphin.

  • Royal Dolphin Swim: Interact, swim and have a ride with two dolphins.

A buffet lunch and drinks are also included.


Duration

At your leisure

Availability

Monday – Saturday at 10:30 am, 12 pm, 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm

Price

  • Dolphin Encounter: $99 per person

  • Dolphin Swim: $139 per person

  • Royal Dolphin Swim: $169 per person

  • Transportation can be included for an additional $10 per person

Alternative

Swimming with Whale Sharks - $157 per person


Scuba Diving

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Not all small-group scuba groups are as intimate as this one, where the max is just five guests, so you will have all sorts of interaction with the marine life in Playa del Carmen. Your instructor will be with you the entire time to keep you safe, and to help point out different species that you may miss if you were on your own.


Duration

4.5 hours

Availability

Everyday at 8 am and 12:30 pm

Price

$100 per person

Alternative

Catamaran Cruise to Isla Mujeres

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Ride the Caribbean waves on board a catamaran and discover the tropical paradise that is Isla Mujeres, snorkelling off one of the most beautiful reefs in the region. Includes lunch, drinks and round-trip transportation.


Duration

10 hours

Availability

Everyday at 10 am and 12 pm

Price

$50 per person plus a $20 dock fee paid on arrival

Alternative


Holbox Island

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Discover the heavenly beaches of Isla Holbox, a natural space on the north coast of the Yucatan peninsula known for its incredible beaches and diversity of birds.


Duration

10 hours

Availability

Sunday, Wednesday and Friday at 7:30 am

Price

$89 per person

Alternative


Parasailing

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Enjoy an exhilarating parasailing flight over Maroma Beach. Soar over palm trees and the Caribbean Sea and relax with a convenient transport service.


Duration

10 mins

Availability

Everyday at 9:30 am, 12 pm and 3 pm

Price

$116 per person plus a $10 dock fee paid on arrival

Alternative

Flyboarding - $120 per person

Punta Maroma Jet Ski Tour

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Feel a rush of adrenaline as you bounce over the waves in a true Caribbean paradise on this jet ski tour in Punta Maroma from Playa del Carmen.


Duration

1 hour

Availability

Everyday at 9:30 am, 12 pm and 3 pm

Price

$94 per person

Alternative


ATV Tour, Five Ziplines and Cenote Swim

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Travel through the Mayan jungle on this action-packed all-day guided tour. Hop on your own ATV (or ride along with a driver) and head to a cenote, an underwater pool, where you can take a refreshing dip. Then fly above the treetops on a ziplining course. A local Mayan lunch is included. Only those 18 years old and above are permitted to drive their own ATV. Hotel pickup and drop-off included.


Duration

4 hours

Availability

Everyday at 9 am and 12 pm

Price

Starting from $63 per person

Alternative


Horseback Ride

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Visit a local ranch for a horseback adventure, suitable for beginners and experienced riders alike. You'll spend between 90 minutes and two hours on your ride, exploring a variety of trails and open spaces. More experienced riders are welcome to trot and canter, too. Morning riders will get free pastries, tea, and coffee, while those coming in afternoon will get snacks and beer, wine, or soft drinks after their ride.


Duration

1.5 hours

Availability

Everyday at 9:30 am and 2 pm

Price

Starting from $87 per person

Alternative

Kaan Luum Lagoon + Mariposa & Chen-Ha Cenotes

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Want to visit unique places in the Yucatan Peninsula? On this excursion, you'll visit the Kaan Luum Lagoon and as an added bonus, you'll be able to swim in the Mariposa and Chen-Ha cenotes.


Duration

7 hours

Availability

Tuesdays at 7 pm

Price

$46 per person

Alternative


Tulum Express Half-Day Tour

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Visit the Mayan city of Tulum on a 6-hour tour from Playa del Carmen, and explore temples, pyramids, and history at the edge of the Caribbean Sea. See the site on a two-hour guided tour, then enjoy an hour to explore on your own, snap photos, or visit the Tulum beach. This 6-hour tour includes pickup and drop-off at Playa del Carmen hotels, as well as entrance fees at the Tulum Archeological Site.


Duration

6 hours

Availability

Monday - Friday at 7 am

Price

$43 per person

Alternative


Chichen Itza, Valladolid with Cenote Swim & Buffet

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Journey to Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula to visit the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza on this full-day excursion that includes easy hotel pickup and drop-off. Along with seeing El Castillo and learning how this pre-Columbian city played an important role in the Mayan civilization, visit the colonial town of Valladolid, stop at a cenote for a quick swim, and enjoy a buffet lunch.


Duration

12 hours

Availability

Everyday at 6 am

Price

Starting from $39 per person

Alternative

Temazcal Ancestral Healing Ceremony

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Come experience the many physical and mental benefits of a Temazcal. Flush out toxins, clear your skin, support weight loss and release mental burdens.


Duration

3 hours

Availability

Everyday at 5 pm

Price

$70 per person

Alternative

Maya Community Visit - $79 per person


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Hi there! I'm Jacqlyne. Welcome to my Blog!

 

I'm a Certified Travel Agent, who can save you all the time and stress of planning travel on your own. I can also save you hundreds to thousands of dollars on a trip! I have planned everything from solo, birthday, bachelor, bachelorette, honeymoon and destination wedding trips. I have helped clients with family trips to Disney, cruises, month long trips across Europe and much more. I have a perfect 5 star rating from past clients. I would love to help you see the world, so reach out to me for your next trip to learn how I could assist you. You'll never go back to planning travel how you use to again!

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