For our honeymoon, we stayed at El Dorado Maroma and wanted to get off the property for the day so we went into Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen is easily accessible from the hotels in the Riveria Maya area and it’s more laid back than Cancun. I highly recommend taking a 30 minute cab ride into the city and going to the famous 5th Avenue. You’ll get a mix of everything from local flea markets, street performers, pop up shops, Sephora, Victoria’s Secret and even an aquarium. It’s a safe place to take a day trip and there are taxi stands on every corner so you can easily get a ride back to your hotel.

Playa del Carman is known for its white sand beaches and turquoise water. 5th Avenue runs parallel to the shore so you can walk down to the beach and check out the beach scene. You can easily spend a full day walking up and down the street checking out the stores. You can get some good deals on sterling silver so make sure to bargain! Check out some of the cuisine on the strip for a more authentic Mexican meal. I definitely recommend eating at Los Rancheros. If you want a massage that’s half the cost of the ones at the hotels, there are massage stands all along the strip. Just be prepared to go into a sketchy room (yes, speaking from experience) but it was one of the better massages. Remember to take it all in and experience the culture!

Pro Tip: Bring cash! Cabs accept cash. Most of the stores accept both cash and cards but I’d recommend having extra cash on hand, just in case.

8 Pictures to Inspire You to Visit Playa del Carmen

Read Next: Our Stay At El Dorado Maroma, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico!