Playa Del Carmen, whose original name is "Xaman-Hu" (waters of the north), is living proof of the Maya civilization. It is famous for its miles of fine sandy beaches and crystalline waters. For those who love fishing, this is the perfect place for them, since Playa del Carmen has a long fishing tradition, and it has the best conditions for this sport.

It is the ideal place for those seeking the real Caribbean. There are numerous restaurants and hotels where you can enjoy the combination of the Caribbean-Mexican relaxed atmosphere. On the white alabaster beaches you may find yourself surfing, diving on coral reefs, and so on. In short, enjoy the beach in all its fullness. Come and enjoy this incomparable landscape while learning Spanish!

Tourist attractions in and near Playa del Carmen include:

• Chichen Itza: The Mayan site is among the largest and best restored of all of Mexico. The most well known monument is the characteristic pyramid Kukulcán, about 30 m high.
• Tulum is the only Mayan site that is near the sea. It is just about 30 minutes from Playa del Carmen and is one of the most beautiful monuments of the Yucatan Peninsula. From here you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Caribbean Sea.
• Coba is a city in ruins in the middle of the jungle. It is located two and a half hours of Playa del Carmen.
• The natural parks of Xcaret and Xel-ha are easily accessible from Playa del Carmen.

Playa del Carmen is located on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, 60 kilometers south of Cancun. The city is in the state of Quintana Roo, and it enjoys a sub-tropical climate. Summers are hot, and winters quite comfortable: the annual average temperature is around 27 degrees Celcius.

One of the main reasons why you cannot fail to come to Playa del Carmen, is the abundant presence of archaeological buildings of the Mayan civilization, such as:

• Chichén-Itzá
• Tulum
• Uxmal

In all these places, you can visit the magnificent temples, plunge in full into the Mayan culture.

The island of Cozumel is located 18 km from Playa del Carmen in the Caribbean Sea and is especially interesting for those who practice diving. Ferries depart regularly from there to Playa del Carmen.

Isla Mujeres also can be reached by ferry from Playa del Carmen. There is a very interesting colony of turtles . You can do snorkeling or tour the island with golf carts or bicycles, due to its small size.

Isla Contoy is a natural island and is home to cormorants and pelicans.

The Riviera Maya is usually known for its beaches of fine white sand, which spread along 125 km south of Cancun, Playa del Carmen crossing, the Mayan ruins of Tulum and Sian Ka'an.

The beaches stretch along many small towns and villages, where you can enjoy the tranquility and nature. This place is not only the perfect place to relax and enjoy the scenery, but also the perfect environment to learn Spanish.

Xpu-Ha is a beach located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. It is one of the most beautiful beaches of the Riviera Maya. For those who want to take a walk of about 30 minutes we recommend Coco Beach. On this beach there is also a beach bar with the same name, where festivities are made in the afternoon until the evening.

Traveling to the depths of the sea, renting kayaks, surfing and snorkeling are the main activities that attract visitors in Playa del Carmen.

This unique place, thanks to its sea conditions, offers lovers of the underwater world the opportunity to discover the diverse marine wildlife of the place, corals, etc.

The many breathtaking diving spots near Playa del Carmen include:

• Arrecife Tarpoon: here you can enjoy a colorful underwater world. It offers a very good opportunity to observe turtles.
• Barracuda Reef: here you can see lobsters, large green moray eels and barracuda in their natural environment.
• Mama vina Wreck: the sunken ship is an extra in the dives. It's easy to dive and you can find barracuda, mackerel, tuna, etc.
• Cozumel: here is dive into drops that fall up to a thousand meters. There are caves, tunnels and sandy land. With any luck are hammerhead sharks, nurse sharks, rays and moray eels.

Mexican food is one of the richest in the world and is recognized throughout the world for it's exquisite taste. Among the main ingredients of Mexcan food are corn, tomato, lime juice and different variations of meat. Also important is fruit, especially papayas, pineapples, mangoes and other tropical fruits. Mexican food is not per se very spicy, but many dishes taste best when seasoned with an exotic chili sauce. Make sure you also try the famous guacamole, made from avocados, onions and cilantro, accompanied by tortillas.

Imported alcoholic beverages are expensive and therefore trying the national drinks is recommended. Among them we can emphasize the tequila, rum and gin. Mexico has also very tasty beer and is the world's second largest exporter of beer.