Mexico is a rustic that’s so numerous and exquisite it’s laborious to resolve the place to go to, not to mention dwell. After dwelling there for practically 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 actually some struggles that include dwelling in Mexico – similar to another overseas nation. Personally, I imagine the professionals outweigh the cons – however you’ll be able to choose for your self.
15 Professionals and Cons of Playa del Carmen
The checklist beneath is predicated by myself private expertise, conversations with different expats and vacationers, and studying different individuals’s ideas on-line. There actually appears to be consensus throughout the board, and it’s undoubtedly data 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’ll be able to count on in the event you relocate or keep for an prolonged time frame on this checklist of professionals and cons of dwelling in Playa del Carmen.
What’s Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is positioned south of Cancun and north of Tulum on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Nestled alongside the shores of the Caribbean Sea, it’s identified 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 hundreds of expats and digital nomads have known as it dwelling. Only a brief flight from the U.S., it’s no thriller why this seashore city has fairly the draw. There’s an virtually countless checklist of issues to do in Playa del Carmen.
Professionals 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 employees and digital nomads. With coworking areas, cafes, seashore golf equipment, eating places, and low retailers galore, you’ll all the time discover a spot to drag out your laptop computer.
Playa del Carmen is rising exponentially, which implies its infrastructure is bettering as effectively. Excessive-speed web could be discovered all throughout the town, so that you’ll all the time be capable of meet these work deadlines.
My favourite locations to work have 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 seashore membership like Mamita’s Seashore 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. Discuss a dream life!
There are miles of walkable seashores which are all simply accessible by automobile, 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, usually calm, and on the good temperature. Preserve an eye fixed 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 inexpensive 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 primary studio residences or luxurious apartment residences with a rooftop pool.
Meals is comparatively low-cost as effectively, particularly in the event you store on the grocery store or native markets. You may simply purchase contemporary vegatables and fruits from an area fruiteria for lower than $5 USD. After all, 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, in the event you love the outside, is the quantity of nature that surrounds the world. Not solely is there the pristine seashore, however there are cenotes (freshwater underground springs), jungles, nature preserves, and extra to discover.
Inside a 30-minute drive, you’ll be able to really feel such as you’re in the midst of nowhere. You may 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 all the time one thing to do open air.
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’ll be able to’t discover wherever else.
5. Ease of Transportation
Getting round Playa del Carmen is extraordinarily simple. The central seashore space could be very walkable, and you will get round to most locations inside quarter-hour. You may as well get round by bike fairly simply.
For additional excursions, you will have a number of choices. Playa del Carmen affords Uber as a easy choice; in addition they have taxis which are always driving across the streets searching for a fare.
Should you’d wish to journey just like the locals, you can too 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 charge primarily based on distance, and it’s normally extraordinarily inexpensive.
6. Immersed in Historical past
By way of the professionals and cons of dwelling in Playa del Carmen, and the Yucatan Peninsula typically, certainly one 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 may be actually a particular power 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 most likely gathered by now, the professionals of Playa del Carmen are fairly engaging. Along with the free pure wonders of the town, there are additionally tons of points of interest and parks to discover.
Because of 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 preserve an eye fixed out for music festivals which are an everyday incidence.
8. Loads of Purchasing
Whether or not you want groceries, garments, electronics, or dwelling items, Playa del Carmen has lots of of procuring decisions for you. There are malls, mom-and-pop retailers, shops, and practically every thing 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 may as well discover retailers filled with trinkets and souvenirs as effectively.
The central space is dwelling to shops like H&M and Louis Vuitton and throughout the town yow will discover a store in your each want. The most well-liked grocery shops are Walmart, Mega, and Chedrui.
9. Reasonably priced Medical Remedies
It’s no secret that folks journey overseas for extra inexpensive medical and dental remedies, and Playa del Carmen is a well-liked vacation spot for that. Actually, I’ve even taken benefit of remedies myself. From eye medical doctors and dentists to basic wellness and cosmetic surgery, you’ll be capable of discover a health care provider or specialist for a lot lower than you’ll within the United States.
I wanted to see a dentist for a crown that had fallen out, and I couldn’t imagine 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 will have been $200.
After all, as with all medical or dental process, it’s necessary to do your analysis. Look into the physician, learn opinions, 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 all the time comes with a very popular and normally moist season. Playa del Carmen isn’t any exception.
Usually talking, the climate on this space could be very nice. Nevertheless, from July by September, count on sizzling and humid climate with occasional heavy downpours. There have been occasions I bear in mind all the avenue being flooded in a matter of seconds.
Many locations in Playa del Carmen don’t provide air con or have an open storefront. So, oftentimes, you may 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 laborious to search out lodging, get into eating places, discover seashore 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 seashore was a sea of individuals, with no room for any extra towels. And the partying continued effectively into the early morning hours.
3. Noisy and Rowdy
Talking of partying till the early morning hours, in the event you like your peace and quiet, you’ll wish to select your location properly. Playa del Carmen, significantly through the peak seasons, is thought for being a celebration city – and it actually lives as much as its popularity.
Round 10 pm at evening, the colourful nightclub scene comes alive. DJs, dwell music, and reveling are occurring on each nook within the central space. Should you want your magnificence sleep, you may 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 social gathering and have fun 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’ll be able to’t drink the faucet water, that means you’re always going to the shop to purchase extra bottled water.
Should you’re planning on staying there long-term, you’ll undoubtedly wish to spend money on a five-gallon water dispenser. It’s a ache to convey them dwelling after which need to refill them, nevertheless it not less than 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 usually bought from the shop and is secure to drink.
5. Plenty of Building
As talked about earlier, Playa del Carmen is rising quickly, and with that – comes building. On practically each nook, you’ll discover a new apartment constructing going up – and there are actually no indicators of this stopping, and even slowing down, any time quickly.
Due to this, you’ll usually discover heavy visitors, closed sidewalks, and plenty of harmful particles on the walkways and roads. Don’t be shocked in the event you finally end up with a flat bike or automobile 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 overseas nation, it’s necessary to pay attention to your security always and conscious of the final 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 usually goal vacationers, sadly, individuals could be within the improper place on the improper time. At all times concentrate on your environment.
There are additionally crimes focused at vacationers. Issues like pickpocketing and theft, worth scams, and druggings do happen. Follow 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 filled with appeal, and the tradition is great. 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’ll be able to construct a lovely, pleased life within the solar with out the excessive prices of many different Western cultures.