Ah, Playa. A town that has seen practically everything in terms of a variety of cultures. Here, either just by visit or long term stays, people from all around the world meet. You will find people from Asia, Europe, America, Africa, and practically the entire globe. It is interesting to see how so many different cultures coexist in such a small town as Playa del Carmen.
Despite being the fastest-growing town in the Quintana Roo State of Mexico, up to today it is still relatively small compared to other more developed cities of the country, such as Mexico City or Guadalajara (which, is worth mentioning, are not beach destinations).
Now, is there any date range in which it’s better to visit this Caribbean destination? Well, we’re gonna use the typical answer this time: “It depends”. It depends on the type of trip you wish to have.
Playa del Carmen, just like most destinations in Quintana Roo, has something for each age range and interest. For instance, older adults looking for a relaxing escape can opt for a Playacar stay. It is one of the most exclusive and relaxed areas of Playa del Carmen.
In contrast, the younger visitors looking for fun may want to try something like a hostel holding parties and events. So it is close enough to Fifth Avenue so it’s easier to access nightclubs and bars. Consider you will most likely be landing at Cancun, so it would be a nice idea to include private transportation from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen in the plans for easier access to the town.
Best Times to Visit Playa del Carmen
If you’re up to its nightlife
Playa del Carmen is stuffed with bars and nightclubs. It is common to hear that Playa is “the Mexican version of Las Vegas”, given how active, vibrant, and illuminated it turns after the sun sets. Streets get filled with tourists looking for places to hang out. You will find nightclub reps convincing younger groups to spend a night of music and dancing, live music shows, Mayan performance shows, open-air ceremonies, and more.
All this happens on the most popular avenue of the town (and its surroundings): The Fifth Avenue. Event organizers plan the best and most iconic parties around during Christmas and New Year days. So, if you are planning a trip to get to any of these events, you may want to visit Playa del Carmen between December and January.
If you wanna swim with whale sharks
An activity gaining popularity in the last years is swimming with whale sharks. It’s because of the fact that these blue giants don’t get close to just any ocean area to feed as they do in the Quintana Roo area (State of Mexico containing Playa del Carmen).
Weather conditions have to be right for plankton and other microorganisms to accumulate enough to attract this species to feed relatively close to the coast. Do you wish to experience this life-changing activity? So, the best time to visit Playa would then be between June and July.
If you wish to evade rains and hurricanes
Given its geolocation, Playa del Carmen is prone to meteorologic phenomena originating in the Atlantic Ocean. Each year, an average of 20 cyclones are formed given the ocean weather conditions. From those 20 cyclons, an average of 3 or 4 reach the hurricane category, while the remaining stay as cyclones or tropical storms.
This happens from early June to late November. If you wish to evade adverse weather, you may want to travel to Playa del Carmen out of this date range.
If you prefer a not-so-hot stay
You may be used to a certain range of temperature and do not wish to experience the almost 35° that can reach Playa’s environment during ‘the dog days’ (the hottest season of the year). If that’s the case, an option might be to travel from December to February. During these months, Playa’s temperature is 27° on average.
If you wish to just relax
Now, if what you’re looking for is purely relaxation time, let us give you great news: Anytime is a good time to visit Playa del Carmen. You will just need to stay somewhere far from the noise (which is easy to find) and make sure you have food, drinks, an ocean view, and access to the beach. Locals’ relaxed vibe will make you feel pleased and relaxed in every aspect.
So, if you are looking for the best time to visit Playa del Carmen, remember to consider which is your plan to determine the best date and enjoy this beautiful Caribbean destination.
What should be the steps to planning your next tour? Check out our post.
