Area Profile
Introduction/Quintana Roo
The Yucatan peninsula of Mexico , a giant peninsula jutting out between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, is divided into three states: Campeche in the southwest, the Yucatan in much of the north and center, and Quintana Roo in the east. The City of Playa Del Carmen is located within Quintana Roo. This area that geographically enfolds the Caribbean coast was named after Andres Quintana Roo, a Yucatecan liberal journalist and statesman who was a leading figure during the days of the Yucatecan Independence movement. Mostly flat, this long-isolated state, covered with tropical forest, is approximately 50,350 square km, and boasts the most beautiful white sand beaches on the peninsula. Quintana Roo is also Mexico 's youngest state, officially receiving statehood status in 1974.
Overview of the area
The Mexican government now allows development along this entire stretch of coast from Cancún to Playa Del Carmen. As a result, the area from Cancún to Tulum is quickly moving from its previous surroundings of dense jungle and vegetation to resorts, assorted billboards, roadside artisan markets, various dirt and paved-road entrances to ruins, beaches, campgrounds, and eco-tourist attractions. Along with this dramatic physical transition, in excess of 3.5 million tourists arrive to visit each year (and this number is growing), and multiple thousands arrive from other parts of Mexico as well as from all over the world to stay and forge a new life in this brand new, developing culture.
Population estimates for the area vary dramatically. The point of agreement is that the area is growing very, very fast.
Cancún is of course the most well known city in the area it is 45 miles north of Playa del Carmen, and has been the catalyst for the development of the Riviera Maya. Perhaps after Cancún and nearby Cozumel , the next most familiar name in the Riviera Maya. Cozumel is a 35 minute ferry boat ride from Playa del Carmen. Some of the other communities and towns of the near Playa del Carmen, include: Puerto Morelos, Puerto Aventuras, Akumal, and Tulum.
Playa del Carmen
Approximately 45 miles south of Cancún, Playa del Carmen is strategically located as the midpoint between Cancún and Tulum, and is also the primary site for a passenger ferry to Mexico 's largest island, Cozumel . Playa del Carmen is often called simply Playa by locals.
Only a few decades ago, Playa del Carmen was a deserted beach where Indian families raised coconut palms to produce copra and the odd foreigner wandered in to get away from it all. In fact, just a couple of years ago, travel guidebooks very briefly mentioned the area as quiet, a good place for the budget-minded, and as also good for a quick stopover while catching the ferry to Cozumel. All that has changed. The town doubled in size in 1993, and is growing so fast it is difficult to track . Less than 50,000 people lived in playa in 2000 today more than 150,000 people live in this city under construction. Spanish speakers and other nationalities alike are flocking to the area, there is energy in the air, and all the utility, phone, and other complications that accompany such a growth explosion are in motion. It had been established that Playa was the fastest growing city in the world. A New York Times article proposed that from a percentage growth vantage point, Playa is perhaps the fastest growing city in the world over the last 10 years. As one guidebook recently and aptly commented:at the rate the town is currently growing, you might come back to Playa in two years and find it unfamiliar. We are seeing changes daily as the city grows. Schools are conducting classes under tents because the city can not keep past with the grow explosion.
Playa del Carmen is a city on the coast of the Caribbean Sea in the north east of the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, located at 20.62° North, 87.07° West. The city is the seat of the Solidaridad municipality. Tourism to Playa del Carmen began with the passenger ferry service to Cozumel, an island across the Cozumel Channel and the world famous scuba diving destination. While passing through, many people realized that it was a nice place to relax away from the crowds of Cancún but with the same quality beaches and turquoise waters. While not as incredible as Cozumel, Playa del Carmen's coast offers some good scuba diving opportunities, as well as cenote diving for the more adventurous.
Today Playa del Carmen, or just 'Playa' as it is colloquially referred to, is the center of the Riviera Maya concept, which covers from Cancún to Tulum and the Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve. All tourist activity in Playa del Carmen centres on the Quinta Avenida, or Fifth Avenue, is a pedestrian walkway located just one block inland from the beach, and lined with boutique hotels, shops, bars and restaurants.
Playa Del Carmen wants to retain its small fishing village and artist colony charm, without becoming as large or tourist-dependent as Cancún. To this end, the city passed an ordinance by which all buildings, no matter what, have a limit of three stories, though a few four storey buildings were built before the ordinance.
There is a significant European influence in Playa, especially Italian. It is not ununsual to find that the proprietors of a particular hotel, restaurant, or bar are expatriots from Italy , Argentina , the US , Canada , France , Spain , or one of the many other country of origins represented among Playa del Carmen's residents.
