Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen | |
|---|---|
City | |
Aerial view of Playa del Carmen | |
| Nicknames: Playa, PDC | |
Playa del Carmen Playa del Carmen | |
| Coordinates: 20°37′41″N 87°04′32″W / 20.6281425°N 87.0755°W | |
| Country | Mexico |
| State | Quintana Roo |
| Municipality | Solidaridad |
| Founded | 1937 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Estefanía Mercado |
| Area | |
• City | 49.8 km2 (19.2 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Population (2020) | |
• City | 304,942 |
| • Density | 6,100/km2 (16,000/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 304,942 |
| Demonym | Playense |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Southeast (US Eastern)) |
| Postal codes | 77710, 77720 |
| Area code | 984 |
| Website | letsplaya |
Playa del Carmen, known colloquially as Carmen, is a resort city along the Caribbean Sea in the southeastern state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. It is part of the municipality of Solidaridad. As of 2020, the city's population was just over 300,000, a small yet thriving portion of whom are immigrants.
Playa del Carmen is a popular tourist destination in Mexico's Riviera Maya region. Its current growth rate is set at 7.5% per year. According to Guinness World Records, it is one of Latin America's fastest-growing communities. In 2016, the city was the tenth-most popular international travel destination for U.S. travelers, and more than one million tourists passed through the city a year later. Playa's main airport is Cancún International Airport, which is around 70 kilometres (43 mi) away.
The area is known for its white sand beaches, turquoise waters, coral reefs, surrounding rainforests, and balnearios. The downtown area of the city revolves around Quinta Avenida, a busy pedestrian thoroughfare lined with shops, clubs, and restaurants. The weather is hot year-round. The summer and winter breaks are peak season for tourism.