Playa del Carmen is known for its beautiful, white sand beaches. Although the sands are not as powdery as those found in Cancun, the beaches in Playa del Carmen are very clean. The public beaches are well-maintained by the city. Everyday, a crew comes to the beach to rake the seaweeds that have been washed to shore and pick up the bottles and other pieces of trash on the sand. Even though the sandy beaches are clean, walking on the sand barefoot is not a good idea. The sand is very hot during the day. Wearing a pair of shades in order to protect the eyes from the sun's glare would also be a good idea.

Snorkeling in Playa del Carmen

Snorkeling in Playa del Carmen isn't as fun as the other parts of the Mayan Rivera. There is a scarcity of living corals along the coast of Playa del Carmen. Of course, in an area that has an absence of corals, fish cannot be found. Instead of snorkeling in Playa del Carmen, one could head to other areas that have better snorkeling sites.

Visiting nearby snorkeling sites like the Chinchorro Reefs in Costa Maya would be a good idea. Here, divers can enjoy viewing many varieties of fish as well as squids, sea turtles, octopus, snakes, stingrays and even barracudas. Sometimes, a school of dolphins may swim through this area. These friendly and talented animals can provide you with some entertainment. They can't resist the opportunity to show off and to swim around divers that they chance upon during their journey.

Snorkeling in Playa del Carmen can be done in the boating lanes where there are a lot of fish and corals. Unfortunately, snorkeling in this area can be a bit tricky because the boat traffic can stop divers from heading to the area that have a lot of marine life.

A Place For Family

Although the snorkeling sites are unsatisfactory, Playa del Carmen is a great place for family. At the north end of Playa del Carmen is the perfect spot for your kids. Here, children can play in the small ponds formed from corals that has a span of 20 yards. Your kids would love playing in the hot and still water in this area. Because some fishes may swim to the shore, kids would enjoy snorkeling near the coast of Playa del Carmen.

Kids would also love a tour of the eco parks near Playa del Carmen. Xcaret, the oldest and largest eco park near Playa del Carmen, has a hatchery for sea turtles and an area for breeding birds. Here, they can also view a mushroom and orchid farm and a butterfly garden. Even though the price is a bit steep, the awed looks on the children's faces can make it worthwhile.

A trip to Mayan ruins can also give the children a history lesson that they will never forget. There are a lot of Mayan ruin sites in Cancun. The sites in Tulum are also worth visiting. After touring these sites, going to a restaurant that resembles the Malayan ruins and eating some local food can be a great ender.

Not only is Playa del Carmen a great place for swimming, it also has some eco parks and ruin sites that are loved by tourists.