After our long journey in Cuba, this morning flight brought us from Havana to Cancún and we’re now enjoying our first walk around Mexico ! Uncertain of where to go (we didn’t plan anything) we ask some Mexicans at the airport for advice whether to stay in Cancun or carry on to Playa del Carmen. The reply is pretty straightforward: leave Cancun and go to Playa !
So how hard could it be to take a bus, uh ? Very hard ! Trying to figure out which booth was the official one was a challenge (so many fake booths !) but in the end we get lucky and find the right place inside another terminal. Ask, buy & hop on… andddddd here we are now on our first ADO-bus experience “riding” to Playa. The bus is super fancy, even better than the Viazul in Cuba but unfortunately enough the price is on the expensive note. In just under an hour we arrive into the Playa bus terminal and for the first time in a loooooong time…. FREE WIFI ! Still excited, we head out to find a restaurant with wifi because how could you arrive in Mexico and not taste the awfully amazing GUACAMOLE ?!
Choosing tonight’s accommodation in front of a guacamole bowl is probably something unique in its own way but hey… it works ! After 5min, we have our private room booked at the Popul Voh Hostel; the place, located literally 10m from the beach, is cheap and also extremely welcoming. The shared kitchen and bathrooms are great (finally warm water and a nice shower !) and in the little yard in front (kind of a small jungle), you can chill on hammocks or just sit down at one of the many wooden tables. Great deal for just 15USD per night !
One step into Playa and we get our first cultural shock. During the time spent in Cuba, we got used to empty supermarket, mostly no tourists, not that much going on… well, in Playa this is just the opposite ! Streets bustling with life, tourists from all around the world having a relaxed stroll around and supermarkets with nearly-infinite ceilings selling everything you could ever imagine. What a change ! In all honesty, it does not feel like Mexico here, seems more like a tourist village full of souvenirs to buy and bring home.
On the other hand, the beach is great ! Crystal clear waters, white sand and palms just in front of our place make us want to stay here indefinitely. Still a lot of tourists on the beach but at least the two aspects balance themselves out.
For a nice day-trip (or for an overnight) you can also check out the island of Cozumel located just in front of Playa. In order to get there, you can catch a ferry from one of the two ferry companies (one cheap & less often and the other viceversa) at the pier/marina for just 10$. And if you’re lucky like we were, you might even have the Yeppa Yeppa band (mexican nomadic band) playing rock&roll for all the duration of the ride. For those wanting to visit Cozumel on a day trip instead, you could just talk with one of the many tour operators around town which could give you a good “bargained” offer for ferry tickets + scooter for as little as 30$ (whole day 2 people) !
Once in Cozumel, there’s a few things to do (depending on what you like) but the real catch is to grab a beer while enjoying the sunset from the super cool reggae bar “Freedom in Paradise” located in Punta Sur. Definitely a must visit !
Around town there’s also the Museum of Frida Kahlo which was interesting but not too much. Marta just sticked with taking a photo under the gorgeous murales outside the museum instead !
At the end of the day, Playa is just another town where you can go relax, have a bit of nightlife and don’t go too far from European/American standards. During the Day of the Dead, we did get to see many Catrinas (skeleton-like painted faces) walking around town but it was nothing we ever expected, maybe our expectations were a bit too high ?
Wanna stay in Playa ? Grab a beer, sit on the sand and just relax !
PLANNING A TRIP TO MEXICO? CHECK MORE POSTS BELOW!
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