The heart of the Riviera Maya
Playa del Carmen is the largest and fastest growing resort town between Cancun and Tulum. The once sleepy fishing village, whose only attraction was the ferry connection to Cozumel, is now the second most important tourist center in the Riviera Maya after Cancun. It is currently considered the city with the highest population growth in Mexico. In 1970 only about 200 people lived here, mostly fishermen. In 2010, a census showed a population of almost 150.000 people.
The tourist and construction boom is not over yet and will continue to change the face of the city in the years to come. But at least there are no sterile high-rise buildings and concrete boxes like in Cancun, one pays attention to a nature-friendly construction method.
Tourism got its start in the mid 90's when tourism planners took notice of Playa del Carmen's appeal and developed it as a quiet, local alternative to internationally oriented and turbulent Cancun. The great demand, especially on the European market, led to the rapid construction of hotels, although care was taken from the start not to completely destroy the original character of the former fishing village. The Mexican tourism group Situr acquired a large piece of coast in the hinterland on which a holiday park with all-inclusive hotels and a golf course called Playacar was built.
There is now a well-developed road between Cancun and Tulum, and medical care has also been significantly improved. However, environmental protection measures are still missing, although this is not a specific problem of Playa del Carmen, but (unfortunately) applies to all of Mexico. Likewise, an increased rural exodus from the surrounding villages with all the associated problems can be observed.
All in all, Playa del Carmen has so far been spared the feared US Americanization and, with its long beaches and clean waters, the manageable and appealing town center that offers a wide range of shopping and dining options, offers exactly the right relaxation for European guests that he is looking for.
