Welcome to Playa del Carmen, Mexico! This little Caribbean beach town has grown tremendously in popularity during the last decade.  There's a good reason for that. Playa del Carmen is a place where the old and new come together seamlessly, as do the ultimate in luxury with the utmost in laid-back rest and relaxation. Originally named Xaman Ha (waters of the north), Playa del Carmen is a living, vibrant part of the Mayan World. Located some 40 miles (60 kms.) south of Cancun, Playa, as it is now affectionately known, is the perfect base from which to explore the fascinating sites along the Cancun-Tulum Corridor of Quintana Roo (now called Mayan Riviera or Riviera Maya). It is close to Cozumel, Cancun, and all of the fabulous archaeological sites in the area, so it makes an ideal base if you want to visit all of the main towns and resorts in this part of Mexico.

The beach is one of the prettiest on the coast, with unfeasibly white sand and a gloriously clear sea, and the entire town is compact and easily covered on foot – as well as playing host to the best nightlife on the Riviera Maya. A refuge for travelers wanting to escape the crowds and huge hotels of Cancun, Playa provides that rare combination of simplicity (a small town that can be traversed on foot) and variety. In Playa, you'll also find a world-class golf course, an aviary, cenotes, some interesting Mayan ruins, all sorts of water activities, incredible scuba diving and snorkeling, and tours ranging from flying through the jungle on a zip line, to climbing ancient pyramids, to deep-sea fishing.

The town is amazingly cosmopolitan, attracting visitors from around the world, and Italian, French, English and German are heard nearly as often as Spanish. The town has grown along the beach, so wherever you go, you will feel the closeness to the ocean. The main street, called Quinta Avenida or 5th Avenue, is a pedestrian walkway with an eclectic, European ambiance and a wide variety of chic, boutique hotels, delicious multi-national restaurants, shops and nightclubs.

Playa is perfect for enjoying the simple (and perhaps the best) pleasures of a seaside vacation -- taking in the sun and the sea air while working your toes into the sand; cooling down with a swim in clear water; and strolling aimlessly down the beach, listening to the wash of waves, and feeling the light touch of tropical breezes.