Playa del Carmen open air markets
Laura Winfree from Playa Realty Executives put together a great list of Playa del Carmen open air markets in or near Playa del Carmen. Her blog is reprinted below. Click here to go to her website
List of Playa del Carmen open air markets
Kava Kasa Market
Where: Kava Kasa at Calle 22 between 5th and 10th Avenues, Playa del Carmen
When: Every Tuesday from 11am to 2pm
Facebook pages: Kava Kasa Local Market Kava Kasa
Primarily a yoga center, the charming open-air palapa at Kava Kasa also serves as a local market on Tuesday mornings. Here, you’ll find all kinds of local products, including artisanal bread, coffees, handmade jewelry, artisanry, eco-friendly alternatives and healthy cuisine (like vegan tamales!). One of the best Playa del Carmen open air markets
Sábado de Tianguis
Where: Parque La Ceiba, Calle 1 Sur and Diagonal 60 in Colonia Edijal Playa del Carmen
When: 3rd Saturday of every month
Facebook page: Parque La Ceiba
The serene and lush setting of Playa del Carmen’s famed Parque La Ceiba provides the ideal backdrop for a nature-inspired local market. These weekend events not only feature a market selling local food and products, but also family activities like book readings, craft workshops, games and more. One of the most family friendly of Playa del Carmen open air markets
Puerto Morelos Market
Where: Casa Caribe B&B in Puerto Morelos, Avenida Rojo Gomez
When: Several events a year during high seasons (6 events coming up this 2016-2017 season: November, December, January, 2 in February, March, with the 1st market of the 2016 high season will be Saturday, November 26 from 11am to 5pm)
Facebook pages: Puerto Morelos Market Casa Caribe
This bright and colorful indoor-outdoor market is hosted in the garden area in the town of Puerto Morelos, a 30 minute drive north of Playa del Carmen. Each event has over 40 vendors selling jewelry, clothes, arts and crafts, and all kinds of delicious food. Best of all, the Puerto Morelos Market features 3 – 4 food trucks at the entrance. There’s not much mmore in Puerto Morelos, so it’s a popular Playa del Carmen open air markets. Organizer Jorie Germann Maloney tells us, “This year, we will be adding live music and a craft class at each market. (Each time it will be different.) Since we got perfect weather at all 3 last season we know that won’t be the case again, so we are renting shade/rain protectors for the whole property so it’s a rain or shine event!!”
Farmer’s Market at El Pueblito
Where: El Pueblito area of Mayakoba resort about a 20 minute car ride north of Playa del Carmen. One of the more higher end of Playa del Carmen open air markets
When: No set schedule, but roughly once a month (next Farmer’s Market is Saturday, September 17 2016 from 5pm to 8pm)
Facebook page: El Pueblito at Mayakoba (El Pueblito posts a calendar for upcoming events on their Facebook page at the beginning of every month)
This charming Mexican-style square has become a gathering place for Riviera Maya locals thanks to their frequent family events, with outdoor movie nights, yoga, concerts and more. Over the past few months, their Farmer’s Markets have provided a beautiful atmosphere for an evening of Mexican cuisine and locally sourced products. El Pueblito says this is “an event for the whole family, where local producers offer a wide variety of gastronomic products, artisan products, and healthy products.
All this surrounded by good music and activities for children.” Even though it’s located at the luxurious Mayakoba Resort, entrance is still free!
Coco Beach Eco Market
Where: The pool area of Les Alizes condos, Calle 46 and Calle Flamingos, Playa del Carmen
When: Friday mornings from 9am to 11am (the market is currently taking a break for the summer, but they will be back starting October 7, 2016)
Facebook page: Coco Beach Eco Market
A popular choice for the Playa del Carmen expat community, the Coco Beach Eco Market features a variety of healthy, fresh, locally-made cuisine and food products set around the lovely pool area of Les Alizes condos. In addition to health food, you’ll also find products like handmade jewelry, home décor, and plants.
Mercado Vegano Playa
Where: Varies between different park areas of Playa del Carmen
When: Every few months
Facebook page: Mercado Vegano Playa
Designed especially for vegans living in the Riviera Maya, this vegan event in Playa del Carmen is much more than just a market. In addition to stands selling locally made products, you can also enjoy vegan-themed workshops, presentations and cuisine made right at the event. Mercado Vegano has also started hosting similar events in Cancun.
Enjoy paintings, food, art, jewelry and more at Playa del Carmen open air markets which are steps from our properties in Playa del Carmen in the heart of the Riviera Maya/Mayan Riviera (a 40 minute ride from the Cancun Airport). Stay at any of our 6 properties, all are a short walk toPlaya del Carmen open air markets. Contact us for rates and availability at El Taj Ocean, Porto Playa, Magia Beachside, El Taj Beach, Maya Villa, or Villas Sacbe.
Visit our website or call Anna at 708-305-7972 for information, rates and availability
Coba is the largest Mayan ruin in Mexico
Many people have heard of Chichén Itzá, the famous Mayan ruin in Mexico, and want to visit the ruins when they visit Playa del Carmen, but what they don’t know is that although tourists can walk around Chichén Itzá, the stairs and climb have been closed to tourists since 2006 when a woman fell down the stairs and died. Other Mayan sites have followed suit, roping off their pyramid temples, with the exception of Coba. Coba is the largest Mayan ruin in Mexico and has the tallest temple pyramid on the Yucatan Peninsula, the Nohoch Mul pyramid, which is 135 feet high, 120 steps. Chichen Itza is a bit smaller with 91 steps leading up to the top of the Kulkulkan Pyramid. The entire Coba site spreads over more than 30 square miles or 80 square kilometers with many yet-t0-be uncovered buildings.
Coba is the largest Mayan ruin in Mexico
archeologists first learned about the site in the mid 1800′s, but dense jungle, the Caste War and lack of funds made this site a difficult area to penetrate. This Mayan site is still largely unexcavated (only about 5% has become open to the public) making it a true wonder in the Yucatan. Visitors can enjoy shaded walkways that are the original sacbe (white roads), three settlements that show the architecture and vast area of this once large city, 2 ball courts and climb the highest Mayan pyramid in the Yucatan, Nohoch Mul. Cobá was finally opened to the public as an archeological site in1973. Archeologists have estimated that 6,000 structures exist, but only three settlements are for public viewing.
What makes this site different from Chichen Itza is its accessibility and that Coba is not a single site but a large group of sites connected to the central pyramid, connected by over 16 Mayan ceremonial “white roads” (sacbéob). The three main areas that can be viewed in the Coba Ruins are the Nohoch Mul structures (main pyramid), Conjunto Pinturas (spiritual area) and Macanxoc structures (close to the lagoon that bears the same name). Although more than 50 sacbes (white roads) have been discovered within the Coba settlement, only 16 are open to the public.
A day at Coba can last up to 2.5 hours if you walk the site, 1.5 hours if you take advantage of the Coba bicycle rentals or an hour if you opt for the Mayan limo, a chauffeured tricycle where you just sit and take in the sights. Both bicycle options are inexpensive and super fun! Add the cenotes (see below) where you can swim, snorkel and/or dive in underground caves, and make it a day trip!
Climbing Coba
Scrambling up the 42-meter (138-foot) Nohoch Mol pyramid is not for the faint of heart. The steps are steep and uneven. They can be slippery, even when grabbing onto the fixed safety rope that extends from the bottom to the top. The decline is particularly tricky, and many visitors resort to going down the steps, crab-like, on their bottoms.
At the top, where animals were once sacrificed to the gods, intrepid climbers are rewarded with a spectacular view of the jungle that surrounds the site and the nearby lakes from which Cobá takes its name. You can also see other ruins peeking up above the trees and undergrowth, remnants of this former commercial hub whose estimated 6,500 structures cover about mostly still unexcavated 70 square kilometres.
Coba Cenotes
Three cenotes (a unique type of cave that has been carved out by water) have opened for tourism in Coba and are owned by the local Mayan community and tourism supports the local people.
The cenotes are about 6k from the ruins. Previously this was a bumpy ride down an old road. Now there has been significant investment to open this area a little more to tourism. The cenotes also have added shower and changing areas, bathrooms and parking lots.
The three cenotes are Choo-Ha, Tamcach-Ha, and Multun-Ha. All three of the cenotes are underground caves with water, as opposed to some cenotes where the roof collapses and they are open pools. The entrance to each cenote is about 55 pesos ($5US). For additional information, please click here.
Getting to Coba
Cobá is about a 90-minute easy drive from our condo/hotels, and Playa del Carmen. Cobá is much closer and not nearly as crowded as Chichén Itzá. You can rent a car and drive, go with a tour group, or hire a driver for the day and go at your own speed (about $100). Our guests at El Taj Ocean, Magia Beachside, Porto Playa, Maya Villa, and El Taj Beach can make arrangements through our concierge! Let me know if you need help and please post your pictures and comments below if you visit Coba. Let the world know what an awesome place it is!
BPM 2014 dates
The BPM Festival is an annual ten day and night electronic music festival, founded by Craig Pettigrew and Philip Pulitano, held in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. This global gathering of DJs, producers, revelers and industry professionals has become a must for any music lover with a discerning taste for quality electronic dance music.
Looking to play golf?
There are several golf courses in Playa del Carmen and the nearby Mayan Riviera, including: Mayakoba (a Fairmont Hotel) offers the El Camaleon’s golf course, the most famous in the area. Designed by Greg Norman and home of the Mayakoba Golf Classic, the only PGA Tour Event in Mexico and the first official PGA Tour event ever held outside of the United States. Held yearly in February.
Caguameria is the best new restaurant in Playa del Carmen
Located on First street, 1 block north of Constituyentes, Caguameria is the best new restaurant in Playa. It’s got great food, is fun and quirky. Great ambiance. Order the pulled pork served on a bread that’s half pizza dough, half taco shell. Save room for dessert!
Yaxche
Yaxche is authentic Mayan cuisine and is on 5th at Calle 22. It has won the 5 Star Diamond Award and is unique. Authentic Mexican food, ambiance is great. Read the Trip Advisor reviews.
Babe’s Noodles and Bar – Recommended by Facebook friends
Babe’s Noodles and Bar, just off 5th Ave. between Calle 5 and 10 is open for lunch and dinner. Babe’s is a Swedish owned Restaurant and Bar with speciality Thai noodles and an Asian European kitchen. The bar makes the best mojitos, blueberry daiquiris, margaritas, smoothies and juices. Everthing is freshly prepared at the time you order.
Los Aguachiles
Los Aguachiles is located on the corner of Avenida 25 and Calle 34. Hands down the best taco place in the Mayan Riviera. It’s fresh, healthy, and where the well-to-do locals go. It closes around 5 and don’t be surprised if there’s a short wait for a table – it’s worth it! Tacos are all made with fresh ingredients that have either been sauteed in olive oil or cooked ceviche style in fresh lime juice.
The Blue Parrot
The Blue Parrot is on the beach and has a fire show on Friday nights, about 11 pm, that draws a big crowd. Food is great, ask for Julio. This use to be the big beach bar during the day. Read the Trip Advisor reviews.