Best of Playa del Carmen for families

(according to MexicoCassie and the MexicoCassie kids)

Best beach resort hotels and inclusive resorts with kids in Playa del Carmen

Ok, so now we know where to stay, let’s take a look at what there is to do in Playa del Carmen with the kids. Yes, you can easily stay on the resort and have a superb time relaxing but what if you don’t? There are so many fun things to do around here…

Chill on the beach

Playa del Carmen is known, first and foremost, as a beach town, so let’s begin with looking at our beach options for family fun in Playa del Carmen.There are three important things to know about the beaches in Playa del Carmen before we start.

Parque Fundadores – Most people begin their Playa del Carmen experience here. At this plaza you’ll find a playground for the kids, the Portal Maya (pictured above), and the voladores (the traditional Mexican flying-dancers). Even before you get onto the beach, the fun begins on this plaza.

The beach here is a great public beach with calm waters that is nicely close to the action without being too wild (either the waves or the action). 

Playa el Recodo – A little further north is this quieter beach that many visitors to Playa del Carmen like to visit although the beach erosion here has been pretty substantial recently.

Playa Coco – While most visitors to Playa del Carmen stay around Fifth Avenue (Avenida Quinta), it is worth travelling to the north of the city if you’re searching out perfect beaches. Playa Coco always receives good reviews and it’s good for older kids as there’s a kite surf school there.

Playas 72 & 88 and Playa Punta Esmeralda – Just far enough out of town to be calm and still have a few amenities attached, this area has become known as the best beaches in Playa del Carmen. At Punta Esmeralda you’ll find cenote water flows into the ocean and creates a small river that the kids will just adore. 

Playa Playacar – While this beach is technically within a private residential area, it is possible to visit: just tell the guards you want to visit the small ruins in the privada. We also walked along a precarious wall between the Ultramar ferry terminal to get here once. Not sure I recommend this!

If you’re wondering about Playa del Carmen for Spring Break and if it would be too crowded and busy for a family vacation, let me reassure you that it’s perfectly possible to keep away from the party scene.

Go shopping

5th Avenue/Quinta Avenida

This famous pedestrianised shopping street that runs from Parque Fundadores to more or less Calle Corazón Shopping mall, will fill the senses of everyone in the family. The best way to enjoy this with kids is to take it easy, expect to take your time and enjoy the ride!

Hints for enjoying 5th Avenue with kids

💸 Give them 500 pesos each to buy their own goodies as they go in and out of the souvenir shops

🤣 Remind them beforehand not to touch everything 😂

🍦 Accept that there will be ice-cream and maybe grab a margarita for yourself if you, like me, are not super into shopping

☀️ Let them stop to watch the street performers, and voladores

Teens will love: Malls in Playa del Carmen

The two main malls in Playa del Carmen are at either end of 5th: Paseo del Carmen and the Calle Corazón. Also check out Quinta Alegría, this is an indoor mall so it’s perfect when you need to escape the heat. Public Market offers a modern take on the traditional market scene. Here you’ll find fantastic food options and artisan stalls.

🐠 In case you were hoping to visit the aquarium at Calle Corazón, it has disappointingly closed down.

Find the best playgrounds and attractions

Parque La Ceiba – MexicoCassie top recommendation

This is a good sized playground in an urban forest. There’s not really any plastic, instead, the kids play on wooden equipment. You won’t regret taking your little ones here. There’s even a cafe on site so you can grab a coffee and slice of cake while the kids blow off their completely unnecessary crazy energy.

💚 There’s also the playground on Parque Fundadores (pictured above) that smaller kids will enjoy.

3D Museum of Wonders – kids of all ages will love this

This is a fun and interactive museum in the heart of Playa del Carmen that the whole family will enjoy. It was actually closed when we tried to visit but we have since been to one in Sevilla that we really loved.

Frida Kahlo Museum – for older kids

There is a small Frida Kahlo museum with exhibitions about the life of one of Mexico’s most famous artists. There are reproductions of many of her paintings here too.

Of course, if you want to learn more about this incredible woman you’ll need to visit her house in Mexico City (another incredible place to visit with kids).

Take a Chocolate Class

Take the kids to Pasión de Cacao for a fun, hands-on, session all about chocolate and how it’s made.

Day trips from Playa del Carmen

As noted above, part of the joy of Playa del Carmen lies in its location. It is pretty easy to get anywhere from Playa when searching out family fun to take your vacation to the next level!

Family fun in Playa del Carmen – exploring cenotes

If your kids enjoy water activities, then you really can’t miss out on a cenote adventure.

We first took our kids to cenotes when they were two and four years old. Even tiny ones can enjoy a cenote swim safely as long as you know what you’re doing and please, definitely use child-size life jackets for them).

Cenotes are natural sink holes or underground caves found across the Yucatan Peninsula and they are absolute natural wonders to explore. While many are incredibly deep others have delightfully shallow waters that are perfect for kids of all ages. 

→ There are so many awesome cenote tours available from Playa del Carmen and most of them include at least one other activity. The best advice I can give is to take a look and see which pairing appeals most to you and your family. And here ⬇️ is a list of the best cenotes near Playa del Carmen.

Cenote Eden – One of the most beautiful spots near Playa del Carmen, Cenote Eden, comes highly recommended by locals and visitors alike. The deep blue water and large cave are just the main event. Around the perimeter of the cenote, you’ll also find a variety of captivating greenery and dozens of iguanas. If you’re lucky you’ll also catch glimpses of the nearby cenotes which are closed off from visitors but still stunning to stare into.

Bring your snorkel and smartphone, because there’s a small diving platform that’s perfect for photo-ops.

🚌 15 minutes from downtown Playa del Carmen

Gran Cenote – The cenote, as the name suggests, is pretty massive, and it consists of open-air pools and bat-filled caves. The beams of light shooting through the stalagmites and stalactites are enough of a reason to visit here. Also, keep an eye out for turtles: they’re super cute and I was genuinely tempted to sneak one into my backpack as a souvenir.

🚗 If you’re coming from Playa del Carmen it’s about a 30-minute car journey or you can hop in a colectivo.

Dos Ojos – Dos Ojos is a pair of cenotes north of Tulum. The individual cenotes are called “Bat Cave” and “Barbie Line”. This site is one of the most popular cenote dive sites in all of the Yucatán Peninsula. The cenote is renowned for its super clear water and the interesting cave formations found here. This cenote is regularly mentioned as one of the best to visit.

Cenote Azul – Twenty minutes outside of Playa del Carmen is this open air cenote is a perfect place for kids as it is not deep or enclosed. Kids will love the colour of the water and the opportunity to swim with cenote fish.

Río Secreto

Just outside of Playa Del Carmen is Rio Secreto, a fabulous underground river and cave system. You’re provided with all the necessary equipment (life jacket, wetsuit, helmet and water shoes) and taken on a guided walk/swim through some of the most beautiful caves I’ve ever seen. We swam and walked under stalactites through perfect blue water deep underground for around 90 minutes before heading for an included buffet lunch.

Diving & snorkelling (for adults and teens)

_{Photo contributed by Trip Gourmets}

Diving the Great Mayan Reef  – With a length of 943 km (585 miles), the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, or Great Mayan Reef, is the largest reef in the Western Hemisphere and the fourth largest reef in the world. It contains a huge diversity of species, including bull sharks and whale sharks. The bull sharks especially are a big attraction in Playa del Carmen. Between November and March, large bull shark females arrive in the reefs of Playa to breed. 

The good thing about reef diving in Playa is that there are perfect conditions year. If you prefer less crowded diving spots though, visit between May and November. You can dive either from a boat or directly from the shore.

For people who enjoy snorkelling and diving, the reef is considered one of the very best places to visit on the Yucatán Peninsula.

Cozumel diving – World-famous for its spectacular scuba diving, Cozumel’s underwater world is unlike any other dive destination in Mexico.

Cozumel scuba diving day trips are best for experienced divers who have Open Water certification and at least twenty dives under their belt, or for divers who have completed their Advanced Open Water training (including the Drift Dive specialisation). Cozumel is well-known for its drift dives, where the current whisks you along over the reefs and along the edge of the coral walls. Drift dives are fantastic for experienced divers, as you exert almost no energy moving through the water, but they can be a little bit scary for new divers because you have little control over your movements under the water. Cozumel is also known for great visibility, healthy reefs and lots of different sea creatures.

Swimming with Whale Sharks

Every year between May and September, the magnificent whale sharks congregate off the coast of Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Take a tour and swim with the biggest fish in the ocean.

We took our kids when they were 7 and 9 and both loved the experience although my son was scared to begin with. Our guide was so patient and kind with him and really helped him overcome his fears. The activity is well regulated and guides will help you to look after the kids in the water, ensuring everyone has the chance to really see these giant creatures.

→ Check out the amazing whale shark tour opportunities

Islands to visit from Playa del Carmen

Isla Mujeres – 30 minute ferry ride from Cancun

This tiny 5km long island is most easily travelled by golf cart, which you can rent from a number of stores immediately after arriving by ferry. It takes about an hour to drive around the whole island, not including stops to explore, so a full day rental is definitely the best value!

Drive south along the eastern side of the island, stopping at some of the many viewpoints to get a better view of the coastline and wander along the shore. The eastern coast is quite rocky so you won’t be able to jump in the water, but there are still plenty of places to explore. The southern tip of the island, Punta Sur, is home to a Maya temple and a statue garden, including the goddess of fertility, Ixchel.

Your drive back north on the west side of the island will offer some beautiful viewpoints, shade from the sun, and some great places to stop for a drink or a bite to eat. You can even visit a turtle rescue sanctuary or a waterpark! To end your visit on a high note, head back to Punta Norte to watch the sunset over the water. This truly is an experience you will never forget.

Cozumel

Cozumel is easier to visit from Playa del Carmen than Isla Mujeres as the port is right there in town by the Parque Fundadores. Do be aware that unlike the Isla Mujeres crossing, this can be choppy and seasickness is likely.

Cozumel is still mostly sargassum free. With kids, best to stick to the east coast beaches as here the surf is calmer and safer.

Spend a day enjoying the island of Cozumel, its beaches, and small town vibe.

Isla Contoy

Isla Contoy is a gorgeous uninhabited island off the coast of Cancun that’s easily visited as a day trip from Playa del Carmen. Visitors to this island are strictly controlled (200 a day) and permitted only on official tours. Visits include lunch, boat, time on the island’s beach, snorkelling and a tour of the island.

Exploring Biospheres

Swim with turtles in Akumal

Akumal Bay is about half way between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, and it’s an easy and relatively quick journey from either of them.

I do implore you though, to swim with turtles as ethically as possible if you’re going to do it.

➕ While in Akumal you should also check out Yal-ku, a natural aquarium that is also great for snorkelling. It’s only a few minutes down the road. Combine the two and you’ll have the perfect day trip.

Sian Ka’an

Just south of Tulum is Sian Ka’an, an extremely special part of the Tulum coastline. This is a protected biosphere is home to tropical forests, mangroves, freshwater marshes, lagoons and a barrier reef out in the Caribbean Sea. 

In the mid-80s, Sian Ka’an was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There are plenty of options for activities in the biosphere, some cheaper than others. My favourite activity in the Sian Kaán Biosphere is floating down the Maya canal between Laguna de Muyil and Laguna Chunyaxhé. You don’t need to do anything at all as the current is just strong enough to move you along, but not strong enough to prevent you from stopping if you grab a mangrove root or simply stand up.

Bacalar 

At almost 4 hours drive from Playa del Carmen, for many Bacalar may be considered too far for a day trip with kids but it is a spectacular place to visit and the kids will absolutely love Pirates Canal.

​Visiting the ancient Mayan ruins

While there are some small archaeological sites in Playa del Carmen they won’t, realistically, keep anyone entertained for long. They’re very small.

These are ☑️ Playa del Carmen ruins ☑️ Playacar ruins ☑️ Xelman Ha ruins

The islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, of course, also have small ruins but they, similarly, won’t take up much of your time while you’re visiting them. 

➡️ Within a few hours drive though, are a multitude of excellent Maya ruins you can visit, two of them even make it onto the top 10 best ruins on the Yucatán Peninsula.

Tulum 

The Tulum ruins are unique thanks to their location on a cliff looking out over the Caribbean Sea. There is no doubt that they are spectacular but they are crowded so if you plan on visiting, try to get there early or be prepared to work on your patience levels. 

The kids will enjoy the ruins and the views all the more thanks to the hundreds of enormous iguanas roaming around the site. There is a small bus from the carpark to the ticket office, which makes life easier if you’re travelling with small kids.

Muyil

Just south of Tulum is Muyil, one of my kids’ favourite ruins in all of Mexico.

Muyil is not a super well known ruin, hidden as it is in the jungle but it’s well worth your time. My kids just love to let their imaginations run wild at this site and I just love watching them.

Chichén Itzá 

Obviously, Chichén Itzá is one of the modern ruins of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s why many people visit Mexico in the first instance and yes, it’s worth it. Some people hate Chichén Itzá because of the crowds but honestly, it’s worth visiting. In 2023 a ‘new’ area was opened to the public too, which is extremely exciting.

Ek Balam

North of the colonial city of Valladolid is Ek Balam, a lesser known ruin that could be a good alternative for families who really want to avoid the crowds. Take a walk around the back of the site here, kids just love feeling they’re jungle explorers. There are also some fabulous cenotes nearby for a whole day outing.

Coba

Another jungle ruin outside Valladolid, this enormous Maya city site will blow your mind if you have the time and energy to drive to it.

City day trips from Playa del Carmen

Apart from the beach resort towns of Playa del Carmen and Cancun, if you’re looking to visit a city while you’re on vacation, you’ll need to take a day trip to Valladolid in Yucatán state. If you’re excited by trains, you can even take the Maya train to both Valladolid and Mérida.

Valladolid 

Both a pueblo magico and the second capital of the state of Yucatán, Valladolid makes for a great day trip in its own right as well as a brief stop off point on the way to Chichén Itzá, which is what many do. If you have time or have the interest in seeing a real Mexican city, Valladolid is a gorgeous place to visit, with or without kids. 

My children always love a trip to Valladolid. They particularly love Xkopek, a bee sanctuary just outside town, playing outside the convent, eating incredible ice cream and watching the video mapping on the convent at night.  

Family fun in Playa del Carmen: theme parks

If you love water slides then a day trip to a theme park or water park from Playa del Carmen may well be right up your street (lazy river). You’ll find parks with ATVs, pools, cenotes, zip lines, street performers, and so much more in the Playa del Carmen area.

The Xcaret parks are the most famous. There are seven parks just in this family alone (Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xavage, Xoximilco, Xenses.

→ Check out theme park prices

→ Check out extreme sport activities for older kids