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Playa
del Carmen is on the Mexican Riviera Maya, the name given to the
beautiful white beach trimmed coast that runs south from Cancun towards
Tulum.
Playa del Carmen can
be considered the capital of this strip of paradise. Playa, as it
is known to locals, started out as a small sleepy fishing village, its
only fame being the port for the ferry that passes from the mainland to
the island of Cozumel 14 kilometers offshore. Nowadays it is a
full fledged vacation destination in its own right, and one of the most
popular resort areas in all of Mexico. There are plenty of reasons why.
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Playa
del Carmen is right on the beach. Playa actually means beach in Spanish.
The sand is white and soft. The water is turquoise blue, and much of the
year, it is flat and glassy. The water deepens gradually moving away
from shore, making the sea seem like a big swimming pool.
The ancient
Maya
enjoyed Playa del Carmen's beauty centuries before the Spaniards arrived
in the 15th century. They called Playa XamanHa, which
means still waters. There are Mayan ruins up and down the coast, and
even about a dozen ruins within the town of
Playa del Carmen and the area of Playacar. Some of the most
outstanding ancient Mayan ruins - Tulum, Coba and Chichen Itza - are
very close to Playa.
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Don't
forget about the surrounding jungle of the Yucatan! Hidden within the
green canopy are numerous fresh water holes called
cenotes.
They are truly unique and magical AND they provide some of the world's
most amazing diving. Many of the nicest cenotes of the Yucatan are near
Playa del Carmen.
Properly protected and cared for, this underground aquifer
will provide the area with abundant fresh water for generations to come.
They also provide us with a great reason to escape to the jungle for a
refreshing dip in the crystal clear crisp water.
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