The Fairmont Mayakoba

Location Summary
If asked to name a beach-side city on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, most people would say "Cancun." But unlike its rowdier neighbor to the north, Playa del Carmen presents a lifestyle focused on gourmet indulgence, Mayan culture and ecological sensitivity, instead of raucous festivals and all-night partying. Playa del Carmen, or "Playa" as it is known locally, was once a sleepy little fishing village, and these small-town roots remain, as city ordinance prohibits buildings taller than three stories to help protect the aesthetics of the town. Local businesses have chosen to highlight the region's cultural and natural history. Area restaurants cook using traditional native spices, local spas tout treatments such as "Mayan mud baths" and several resorts have actual Mayan ruins on their premises. Playa's convenient proximity to the ruins of Tulum and Cobá grants visitors ample opportunity to explore and learn about these ancient villages. Underground rivers and caves are a unique feature of the area, as well, and many tour companies run programs that educate participants about jungle ecology and geology. Like any beach-centric destination, Playa has its share of t-shirt shops and bars, but visitors will find it also offers a wide range of finer establishments, many of which are located on the pedestrian-only thoroughfare known as Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue) that runs through the heart of the city. On temperate evenings, visitors and locals walk "Quinta," stopping for refreshments at the numerous open-air cafes and taking in the many roving musicians and street performers.

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