Looking for a Mexican destination suitable for kids? Look no further than Playa del Carmen, a picture-postcard coastal resort town nestled along the Riviera Maya strip.
(Photo: Mal B via Flickr . CC BY-ND 2.0)
Known for its palm-lined beaches and coral reefs, the gorgeous town on the Yucatán Peninsula’s Caribbean shoreline throngs with visitors during peak season – many of whom are families who flock here for its array of child-friendly attractions. If you’re planning to come to Playa del Carmen with kids and would like to pack your itinerary with tons of great things for them – and you – to see and do, check out our selection below.
Swim in an underground cave
Dotted around Playa del Carmen are several geographical quirks known as ‘cenotes’ that make for unique swimming opportunities. These underground caves are essentially sinkholes that open up into subterranean rivers and are blessed with water so clear you could shave in them (but please don’t). In any case, that’s an option available to little ones, though they will still love venturing into these atmospheric caverns nonetheless to splash around, snorkel or even go scuba diving provided they have their children’s PADI licenses.
Get up close to sea turtles
The area of ocean off of Akumal Beach, situated a 30-minute drive south of Playa del Carmen. are renowned for being home to a large population of sea turtles. Swimmers who venture into the shallow blue-green waters can get up close and personal with the Green, Hawksbill and Loggerhead sea turtles who reside here, with many visitors choosing to snorkel among them to get the best view possible. The best time to see the turtles is from May to November to coincide with their nesting season.
(Photo: Mal B via Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0)
Marvel at the scenery from up high
Another hugely popular activity for adventurous types visiting Playa del Carmen that’s suitable for older children is ocean parasailing. There are several highly reputable local companies offering action-packed parasailing excursions with boats ready to propel thrill-seekers through the sky while they dangle from a kite. Take off can be a touch hairy, but once you’re high up in the air then there’s not much to match the serene sensation of soaring over the sun-kissed beaches down below.
Visit a museum
The suggestion of a trip to a museum isn’t always a guaranteed winner with kids, but some museums are more likely winners than others. Offering respite from the often harsh Mexican sun, the 3D Museum of Wonders is thought to be the first venue of its kind in the US and is home to a huge assortment of immersive, interactive and hands-on visual art illusions designed to deceive and captivate in equal measure. Viewers can ‘jump into’ the art on display and come face to face with a lion, drive a Formula One car, surf giant waves or climb a mountain – all made possible by the astonishing artistic creations of one of the world’s leading illustrators in 3D conceptual design.
10 Avenida Nte., Centro / Mon-Sun 10am-8pm
You can book admission tickets for the 3D Museum of Wonders at Viator
(Photo: WONDER ART GALLERY SA DE CV / Courtesy Viator)
Explore the jungle on a fun-packed buggy tour
The lush jungle outside Playa del Carmen is magical to explore and one of the most thrilling ways to do so is on a buggy tour. Suitable for children aged 5 and up, tours take you through dense foliage just minutes from the city aboard top-of-the-range buggies designed to give you a bumpy but safe ride. Along the way, you’ll stop off at one of the area’s stunning cenotes where you can cool off with a swim in the crystal-clear waters or try your hand at snorkelling. Tour prices usually include hotel pick-up and drop-off and use of all equipment.
You can book a jungle buggy tour at GetYourGuide
Visit a theme park
It may technically be a theme park, but it’s hard to think of one further removed from Disney and Universal than Xcaret. Situated a 15-minute drive south down the coast from the Playa del Carmen, the venue offers a far more ‘back to nature’ experience than your more traditional roller coaster-laden parks, featuring attractions including a coral reef aquarium, a tropical jungle trail, an aviary and a butterfly garden. There are also opportunities to immerse yourself in the local culture by visiting a replica of a Mayan village, an exhibition on colonial history, a display of folk art and watching traditional performances of Mayan and Mexican music and dance.
You can book admission tickets for Xcaret at GetYourGuide
(Photo: Grupo Xcaret / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
Try some traditional Mexican tacos
The small hand-sized tortillas topped with mouth-watering fillings known as tacos are among Mexico’s most successful exports – and extremely popular with children the world over, too. For an authentic taco experience in Playa del Carmen, head to El Fogon, a no-frills two-storey taco joint complete with plastic chairs and screens showing live TV shows. Order your kids a dish of slow-roasted pork tacos with a soft drink to wash it down and they’ll forever be begging you to rustle up the same in the kitchen back home – and who’s to blame them?
30 Avenida Nte. s/n, Centro / Mon-Sun 12pm-3am