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Many people only think of Cancun when they plan a Cancun Vacation. Cancun Mexico is a wonderful spot for a Caribbean vacation or Mexico vacation but
you really have to look a bit to the south to discover a hidden gem.
Playa del Carmen is located about 30 miles south of Cancun, Mexico. It is the start of the area more commonly known as the Riviera Maya. Many of
the resorts in the area lie just a mile or two south of the town so it is easy to get there. Playa del Carmen is a cosmopolitan town near many of the attractions found in the Riviera Maya. Most of the
resorts are new and offer all inclusive vacation packages. The beach is much wider than it is in Cancun and the surf is a bit more gentle. No resort is built taller than the tallest palm so the resorts
tend to be spread out. Nothing is wall to wall here as it is in Cancun.
The Riviera Maya area stretches for about 40 miles further south so the resorts are all designed to be self sustaining, offer all inclusive vacation
packages, and have their own on site activity and nightly entertainment programs. The fun of being in the Playa del Carmen area is you can relax at your resort and never leave, or you can easily duck into Playa
del Carmen for shopping, nightlife or to just check our the sights and mix with the locals.
Playa del Carmen is located in a perfect spot with many opportunities for day trips to explore the Mayan world. Sites include the ruins of Tulum, the
pyramid of Chichen-Itza, the ecological parks of Xel-Ha and Xcaret where you can swim with the dolphins and more. Snorkeling or scuba excursion are also easy to do from there. Playa del Carmen is located
near the Playacar Reef which is considered to be one of the top 10 dive spots in the world. All of these trips can be booked with the Apple Vacations representative at your resort. You can also hop on the
ferry for a day trip to Cozumel
Shopping is fun in Playa del Carmen. Ask the cab driver to drop you off at Fifth Avenue. The street is paved over and has been turned into a
pedestrian walkway. It is lined with shops offering everything from post cards to fine silver jewelry. Everything is unmarked so you have to strike your best bargain. You'll find banks, pharmacies, liquor
stores, mini-markets as well as the typical tourist shops. On thing about shopping in Playa del Carmen is you will find most things are hand made in Mexico. It is getting harder and harder to find locally
made souvenirs and handcrafts when shopping in Cancun. Be sure to take home some vanilla for your baking needs and the honey from the Riviera Maya is out of this world.
The choice is yours. Cancun for 24 hour activity nonstop nightlife and the sense of being in a fully developed tourist destination or Playa del
Carmen for a more relaxed stay with access to the Mayan and Mexican culture and the feeling of being in old Mexico. Other than sharing a common airport the 2 destinations offer totally different experience.
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