Mexico is a rustic that’s so numerous and exquisite it’s onerous to resolve the place to go to, not to mention stay. After dwelling there for almost 5 months, I can extremely advocate staying on the Yucatan Peninsula, particularly, Playa del Carmen. However, in fact, there are upsides and drawbacks to each metropolis – on this put up, I’ll share with you the professionals and cons of Playa del Carmen.
The climate is heat, and the persons are pleasant, however there are definitely some struggles that include dwelling in Mexico – identical to every other international nation. Personally, I consider the professionals outweigh the cons – however you possibly can decide for your self.
15 Execs and Cons of Playa del Carmen
The listing beneath is predicated alone private expertise, conversations with different expats and vacationers, and studying different individuals’s ideas on-line. There definitely appears to be consensus throughout the board, and it’s undoubtedly information you’ll need earlier than heading out in your travels.
Preserve studying to be taught extra concerning the gorgeous metropolis in Mexico, and what you possibly can count on when you relocate or keep for an prolonged time period on this listing of professionals and cons of dwelling in Playa del Carmen.
What’s Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is situated south of Cancun and north of Tulum on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Nestled alongside the shores of the Caribbean Sea, it’s recognized for its white sand seashores, crystal clear turquoise waters, and laid-back vibe.
Hundreds of thousands of vacationers flock to Playa del Carmen yearly, and 1000’s of expats and digital nomads have known as it residence. Only a quick flight from the U.S., it’s no thriller why this seaside city has fairly the draw. There’s an virtually countless listing of issues to do in Playa del Carmen.
Execs of Playa del Carmen
There are such a lot of benefits of Playa del Carmen and staying there long-term. Here’s what I discovered throughout my five-month keep.
1. Digital Nomad-Pleasant
One of many greatest professionals of Playa del Carmen is its lodging for on-line staff and digital nomads. With coworking areas, cafes, seaside golf equipment, eating places, and low outlets galore, you’ll at all times discover a spot to tug out your laptop computer.
Playa del Carmen is rising exponentially, which implies its infrastructure is bettering as properly. Excessive-speed web may be discovered all throughout the town, so that you’ll at all times be capable of meet these work deadlines.
My favourite locations to work had been Nest and Bunker; they’re each coworking areas. Nevertheless, I additionally would splurge each every so often and work in a lounge chair at a seaside membership like Mamita’s Seaside Membership.
2. Breathtaking Seashores
The primary benefit of Playa del Carmen is that it’s a Mexican paradise. The seashores are like one thing out of a postcard, and you’ll swim year-round. Speak about a dream life!
There are miles of walkable seashores which are all simply accessible by automotive, bike, or foot. Alongside the seashores, you’ll discover white sands, lounge chairs at eating places and bars, and distributors promoting artisan items.
Playa del Carmen’s seashores are surrounded by a coral reef, so the water is shallow, typically calm, and on the excellent temperature. Preserve a watch out for sea turtles, dolphins, and different marine life.
3. Value of Dwelling
I discovered {that a} main perk of dwelling in Playa del Carmen was the reasonably priced price of dwelling. The present alternate charge (in 2023) is $17.20 MX (pesos) for every $1 USD. This isn’t really that nice because of the economic system (I’ve seen it at $22.00 MX); nonetheless, it’s nonetheless less expensive than the U.S.
Residences in Playa del Carmen vary wherever from $400 to $1500 on common, relying on the neighborhood and the facilities you’re searching for. You’ll find fundamental studio flats or luxurious condominium flats with a rooftop pool.
Meals is comparatively low cost as properly, particularly when you store on the grocery store or native markets. You’ll be able to simply purchase recent vegatables and fruits from a neighborhood fruiteria for lower than $5 USD. In fact, going out to eat can vary from cheap native taco vans to eating places which are fairly high-end.
4. Surrounded by Nature
An enormous profit to Playa del Carmen, when you love the outside, is the quantity of nature that surrounds the world. Not solely is there the pristine seaside, however there are cenotes (freshwater underground springs), jungles, nature preserves, and extra to discover.
Inside a 30-minute drive, you possibly can really feel such as you’re in the midst of nowhere. You’ll be able to go for day hikes on jungle trails, go snorkeling to discover the coral reef, and swim within the crisp, clear waters of the cenotes. There’s at all times one thing to do outdoor.
Nature lovers will fall in love with Playa del Carmen. Though it doesn’t have any hills or mountains, it makes up for it with a panorama you possibly can’t discover wherever else.
5. Ease of Transportation
Getting round Playa del Carmen is extraordinarily simple. The central seaside space may be very walkable, and you may get round to most locations inside quarter-hour. You can even get round by bike fairly simply.
For additional excursions, you may have just a few choices. Playa del Carmen affords Uber as a easy choice; in addition they have taxis which are continually driving across the streets searching for a fare.
In case you’d prefer to journey just like the locals, you may as well hop on a “collectivo.” These are primarily vans that transport individuals on sure routes round city and even to close by areas like Tulum, Cancun, and different cities. They cost a price primarily based on distance, and it’s normally extraordinarily reasonably priced.
6. Immersed in Historical past
By way of the professionals and cons of dwelling in Playa del Carmen, and the Yucatan Peninsula normally, one in every of my favourite professionals about this place is that it’s completely teeming with historical past. From the Mayan tradition to the asteroid that worn out the dinosaurs, there’s definitely a particular vitality on this a part of the world.
Study concerning the wealthy historical past of the world by exploring well-known ruins and pyramids like Tulum, Coba, and Chichen Itza. All of that are inside a day’s journey from Playa del Carmen.
There are additionally museums and websites within the metropolis so that you can be taught concerning the tradition, just like the Museo Frida Kahlo, Riviera Artwork Gallery, and the central plaza with historic structure.
7. Enjoyable Sights Round Each Nook
As you’ve in all probability gathered by now, the professionals of Playa del Carmen are fairly attractive. Along with the free pure wonders of the town, there are additionally tons of sights and parks to discover.
Due to its lovely pure panorama and inlets of the Caribbean Sea, quite a few water theme parks incorporate the ocean itself into the park. Snorkel, swim, zipline, and extra at locations like Xel Ha, Xcaret, and Xplor. Some even have rollercoasters!
You’ll additionally discover loads of reveals and festivals round city at any given time of the yr. Watch a vibrant present on the well-known Coco Bongo Membership, or hold a watch out for music festivals which are an everyday prevalence.
8. Loads of Procuring
Whether or not you want groceries, garments, electronics, or residence items, Playa del Carmen has a whole bunch of procuring selections for you. There are malls, mom-and-pop outlets, malls, and almost all the things you’ll discover within the States.
Alongside the favored and touristy fifth Avenue, the road is lined with boutiques, outfitters, artwork galleries, and native distributors. You can even discover outlets stuffed with trinkets and souvenirs as properly.
The central space is residence to shops like H&M and Louis Vuitton and throughout the town you’ll find a store on your each want. The preferred grocery shops are Walmart, Mega, and Chedrui.
9. Inexpensive Medical Remedies
It’s no secret that folks journey overseas for extra reasonably priced medical and dental remedies, and Playa del Carmen is a well-liked vacation spot for that. In actual fact, I’ve even taken benefit of remedies myself. From eye docs and dentists to normal wellness and cosmetic surgery, you’ll be capable of discover a physician or specialist for much lower than you’ll in the US.
I wanted to see a dentist for a crown that had fallen out, and I couldn’t consider how good the workplace was. The whole workers spoke English, and it was very skilled. They charged me $50 to repair the crown, whereas, within the States, it might have been $200.
In fact, as with all medical or dental process, it’s necessary to do your analysis. Look into the physician, learn evaluations, and ask questions.
Cons of Playa del Carmen
Regardless of all the professionals, there are additionally some cons to dwelling in Playa del Carmen. As with all worldwide vacation spot, it’s necessary to teach your self earlier than making a dedication to a prolonged time interval, and even visiting a brand new metropolis or nation.
1. Scorching and Humid Climate
A draw back to dwelling in a tropical local weather is that it at all times comes with a extremely popular and normally moist season. Playa del Carmen is not any exception.
Typically talking, the climate on this space may be very nice. Nevertheless, from July by way of September, count on scorching and humid climate with occasional heavy downpours. There have been occasions I keep in mind your entire avenue being flooded in a matter of seconds.
Many locations in Playa del Carmen don’t supply air con or have an open storefront. So, oftentimes, you would possibly end up very sweaty with frizzy hair.
2. Heavy Crowds Throughout Peak Season
Since Playa del Carmen is so lovely and particular, it attracts tens of millions of vacationers yearly. Throughout peak seasons, it may be onerous to search out lodging, get into eating places, discover seaside chairs, and even stroll down the road!
There are two main peak seasons in Playa del Carmen – Christmas and Semana Santa (the weeks earlier than and after Easter). Not solely are there vacationers galore, however the locals even have holidays throughout that point, and the town is packed.
I occurred to be in Playa del Carmen throughout Semana Santa, and I used to be blown away by how busy it was. The seaside was a sea of individuals, with no room for any extra towels. And the partying continued properly into the early morning hours.
3. Noisy and Rowdy
Talking of partying till the early morning hours, when you like your peace and quiet, you’ll wish to select your location correctly. Playa del Carmen, significantly through the peak seasons, is understood for being a celebration city – and it definitely lives as much as its fame.
Round 10 pm at night time, the colourful nightclub scene comes alive. DJs, stay music, and reveling are occurring on each nook within the central space. In case you want your magnificence sleep, you would possibly wish to keep away from this neighborhood because the golf equipment can keep open till 5 am.
Additionally, watch out for main holidays as a result of the locals don’t fiddle. Of their tradition, it’s fully regular to occasion and have a good time till the solar comes up.
4. You Can’t Drink Faucet Water
When contemplating the professionals and cons of dwelling in Playa del Carmen, one of many main disadvantages is the truth that you possibly can’t drink the faucet water, which means you’re continually going to the shop to purchase extra bottled water.
In case you’re planning on staying there long-term, you’ll undoubtedly wish to put money into a five-gallon water dispenser. It’s a ache to carry them residence after which should refill them, but it surely at the least saves you some journeys and reduces your rubbish waste.
Some individuals say to not drink the ice at eating places and bars, however the ice they use is mostly bought from the shop and is secure to drink.
5. A lot of Building
As talked about earlier, Playa del Carmen is rising quickly, and with that – comes development. On almost each nook, you’ll discover a new condominium constructing going up – and there are definitely no indicators of this stopping, and even slowing down, any time quickly.
Due to this, you’ll usually discover heavy site visitors, closed sidewalks, and plenty of harmful particles on the walkways and roads. Don’t be shocked when you finally end up with a flat bike or automotive tire.
Sadly, the development can also be devastating the native wildlife due to the land clearing. A part of the rising pains of an increasing metropolis.
6. Crime Consciousness
As with all different international nation, it’s necessary to pay attention to your security always and conscious of the overall crime charges. General, Playa del Carmen is secure; nonetheless, there are specific issues to pay attention to.
The Mexican cartel is a really actual and harmful group. Though they don’t typically goal vacationers, sadly, individuals may be within the unsuitable place on the unsuitable time. At all times pay attention to your environment.
There are additionally crimes focused at vacationers. Issues like pickpocketing and theft, worth scams, and druggings do happen. Observe good frequent sense and if one thing feels off, keep away from it. Preserve your valuables shut and keep away from strolling with giant volumes of money.
Is Playa del Carmen Value It?
Completely! Regardless of the cons, the professionals of Playa del Carmen far outweigh them. It’s attractive, it’s stuffed with allure, and the tradition is fantastic. When weighing up the professionals and cons of dwelling in Playa del Carmen, I can confidently say that I loved my time on this metropolis and would fortunately return once more.
Playa del Carmen is a spot the place you possibly can construct a phenomenal, blissful life within the solar with out the excessive prices of many different Western cultures.
