Cheap flights to Playa del Carmen from £253

Playa del Carmen is located in the middle of the Mayan Riviera in the state of Quintana Roo, about 55km (35 miles) from Cancun. It is popular with young revellers attracted by its party-town reputation and is a popular stopping-off point for cruise-ship visitors too.

Travellers taking flights to Playa del Carmen will discover wonderful beaches, a good range of accommodation and, of course, fantastic weather. The annual average temperature is about 27 degrees.

Sports on offer include swimming, sailing, kayaking, snorkelling, scuba diving, fishing, para-sailing and sky diving.

Quinta Avenida or Fifth Avenue is located just one block off the beach, adjacent to the “Zocalo” (main square) in central Playa del Carmen. It’s Playa del Carmen’s main thoroughfare, a place of shops, eateries and entertainment. The cuisine on offer ranges from Italian and American to traditional Mexican.

A good transport network connects the resort with other tourist spots and other parts of Mexico. There is a ferry to Cozumel that departs several times a day.

What is good to know if travelling to Playa del Carmen?

• Bar hop along the lively Quinta Avenida where bars and restaurants stay open well past midnight. Blue Parrot, a bar right on the beach, has become a Playa institution. One especially unusual bar not to be missed is Alux which is dramatically housed in a cave complete with hidden nooks and chambers.
• Organise a day trip to the ancient ruined Mayan city of Tulum, a must-see while visiting Playa. It’s one of the best preserved ruins and is set overlooking the sea and a rocky hillside.
• Spend an entire day visiting the two nature parks: Xcaret and Xel-Ha. In both parks you can swim with the dolphins, scuba dive, dive in caverns, or see jaguars, manatees, sea turtles and other endangered species. If that sounds like too much physical activity for one day then relax and lie back in a hammock in a tropical forest.