Less high end touristy than Cancun (but still touristy!) we found Playa Del Carmen an hour south on the coast to be much more our scene.
A lot more laid back, less giant hotels dominating the beach and we actually found beaches to swim on! The water isn’t as clear as Cancun, (though the northern part of the beach is better) but it is made up for by the fact that security won’t kick you off the beach. In fact, one invited us onto the beach club’s comfy lounges as long as we ordered a drink. What a burden for us! If in fact you wanted to use the lounges during the day you could rent then for the princely sum of $30 – I’m not in Thailand anymore!
The beach promenade – aptly named 5th Avenue – was full of brand name shops, bars, restaurants and souvenir sellers happy to yell out ‘Hey Chicha’ to you. You can dine in any number of restaurants and be offered tequila at 11am as if it is totally normal, while fending off mariarchi bands willing to swoon you for a few pesos. We spent time exploring in the mornings while there was zero shade on the beach, and then swam in the afternoons.
(Tequila anyone?)
Venturing into the back blocks you can take a look at a more realistic Mexican life. Flat topped houses, simple in both design and nature. Taco stalls on most corners serviced the locals at all hours of the day. While I feel safe here there is definitely a significant police presence. Utes with police standing in the back holding some big guns are quite common. Even strolling along the beach in full gear carrying guns. Did someone skip out on paying for a margarita?? But according to locals there is quite a lot of crime that happens behind the scenes.
(Tequila AND chocolate!)
We also embarked on making friends and set up a beach picnic for any couch surfers in the area. As the 6pm appointed time got closer we headed off to buy supplies, only to find you cannot purchase takeaway alcohol after 5pm on Sundays in Playa. Tragedy! A dry picnic?? The problem was solved when I bought an overpriced bottle of wine from a beach bar (of course bars are still allowed to sell) and snuck it down the beach. Crisis averted. And our picnic was well attended, with 3 others joining our little shin dig.
