Lina & Christian
Things To Do
Trujillos Cantina De Selva
DINNER / BAR: Trendy outdoor dining spot, located a few doors down from 4 Elementos bistro. Typically has a dj playing at nights. The picture at the top of this page was taken at this restaurant!
Lido | Cocina de Playa
RESTAURANT: Lively restaurant located on the beach with a lovely view of the ocean
Mamita's Beach Club
BEACH CLUB: Trendy beach club with beach access and live djs. There is an admission price per person, but most of it comes back to you in food / drinks. This beach club is located along the main beach strip of Playa del Carmen. There are other clubs along the beach as well if you're looking to branch out.
MARMORATA Tasting Room
TEQUILA BAR: This quaint tequileria has the best selection of tequilas and mezcals we’ve ever come across, and the extremely nice staff has the knowledge to back it up! It is a small unassuming bar just off the main strip, typically less crowded (it happened to be across the street from our air bnb during our last visit). We recommend asking to taste some mezcals from various agave plants beyond the typical espadín batches found in the US! The owner and his wife are certified tequila sommeliers. They gave us a private tequila tasting and may be able to schedule one with you while you’re in town.
ARCANA restaurante
BREAKFAST / LUNCH: Great breakfast spot for smoothies, açaí bowls, gluten free and vegan options
La Cueva del Chango
RESTAURANT: Great outdoor dining spot, popular for brunch but also serving lunch and dinner! Located on one of our favorite streets in PDC with a unique jungle feel.
Aldea Corazón
RESTAURANT / BAR: We’d recommend stopping by here for a quick drink to check out the ambiance
El Fogón
LUNCH/DINNER: Very popular eatery in PDC offering a variety of traditional Mexican foods.
Kascabal
RESTAURANT: Trendy seafood restaurant along Quinta Avenida.
Amate 38
RESTAURANT: Tropical style restaurant
4 elements bistro
RESTAURANT / MIXOLOGY BAR: This is the location for the Welcome Party. Consider returning to experience their full menu and the intimate “four elements” experience. They serve really interesting drinks and food items here and have a great outdoor ambience.
Chez Céline
BREAKFAST: Great breakfast spot centrally located to the recommended lodging.
Don Sirloin
DINNER: Inexpensive local spot for Mexican cuisine located just off the main strip.
AY TACO !
TACOS: Inexpensive taco spot more into the Centro part of town.
Río Secreto
DAY TRIP (Cenote): Every cenote is different. This one, located just south of PDC, consists of an underground cave system with a maze of rivers. You can take a guided tour to experience something truly unique to this part of Mexico. We would recommend taking a taxi to get there. There may also be private tours that will pick you up.
Cenote Chaak Tun
DAY TRIP (Cenote): This cenote is located about 15 minutes inland from Playa del Carmen. On the smaller side, you can still swim around in the underground rivers and lakes and can often see bats and fish in the underground cave systems.
Cozumel Island
DAY TRIP (Island): This island is located just off the coast of Playa del Carmen, and is a short ferry ride away. You can book an inexpensive ferry through Ultramar, and enjoy the beaches, restaurants, shops and natural wonders of Cozumel! The dock for the ferry is located at the southern end of Quinta Avenida, and the ferry lets out at San Miguel de Cozumel, the island's largest (and only) "city".
Chichén-Itzá
DAY TRIP (Ruins): The Chichén-Itzá Ruins are some of Mexico's most famous ruins. We have so much enjoyed learning about Mexico's extremely rich history and are amazed by the preservation of its indigenous cultures. About a 2 hr car ride away, the ruins are a bit hard to get to from PDC, but there are tour buses that can take you, as well as taxis or even renting your own car.
Paseo del Carmen Shopping Mall
SHOPPING: Located at the southern end of Quinta Avenida near the ferry dock for passage to Cozumel, the Paseo del Carmen shopping center is home to the more ritzy shops in PDC. The storefronts are mostly exterior facing and there is an outdoor escalator!
Xcaret Park
Xcaret is an all-in-one exposure to the lore of Riviera Maya. A water park, theme park, amusement park, eco-archaeological park, and more. It has a privileged location in the middle of the jungle, with natural settings such as underground rivers, cenotes, and the mesmerizing Caribbean Sea. In addition, Xcaret is the only one among the theme parks in Cancun and Riviera Maya that celebrates Mexican history, traditions, and folklore with such magnitude. See also Xel-Ha, Xplor, Xenses, Xoximilco, Xavage and Xenotes. (The ‘x’ in Mayan is pronounced like ‘sh’, if that helps with readability.)