The beach town of Playa del Carmen in January was packed with tourists, touristy shops, hotels in town, resorts on the water’s edge. After a little over two weeks exploring Mexico, I finally made it to a beach.
A dip in Dos Ojos Cenote, a cave pool, not far from Playa, was both refreshing and mysterious. We were directed to shower before entering, washing off any sunscreen, deodorant, or anything else that could contaminate the water. Snorkeling gear was provided. I was astonished at the depth of the pool; there were scuba divers down below! Connecting caves could be accessed underwater, if you had the right gear, and a headlamp since sunlight didn’t reach those areas, but I was happy to float along in the main cenote.
Lunch at a private home.
Since I had booked an extra day after the ruins tour, I considered making a day trip to Cancun or Tulum. But I was pretty traveled out; neither of those locations, with the time and transportation required, appealed.
I looked forward to spending most of the day on a relaxing beach walk, one of my favorite pastimes when at the ocean. In some sections along the shore, I was even able to escape the swimmers and sun bathers. The lounge chairs from the resorts almost touched the waves at high tide, but there was always some room to walk the beach. Feeling my feet push into wet sand, leaving behind footprints that filled with water, my skin caressed by gentle waves, listening to the push and pull of the surf, watching the waves breaking into white explosions as they approached.
The shopping street had plenty of street art. The portraits were stunning.
Around town
And an evening bar with friends and a dancer.
Sunrise at the beach, a lovely adios to my time in Mexico this trip.
Mexico: Mexico City, Teotehuacán, Tlahuac, Puebla, Cholula, Oaxaca, Monte Alban, Crossing Oaxaca, Sumidero Canyon, San Cristobal, Chamula, Agua Azul, Palenque, Campeche, Mérida, Uxmal, Chichen Itzá, Playa del Carmen, Cenote
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Ruth Rosenfeld 
Wonderful photos as always Ruth. Thanks for sharing! I also love a nice walk along the beach. Relaxing and refreshing. Hugs!
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Thank you, my friend! I appreciate your comment.
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Lovely! I think I’d really enjoy taking a dip in a cenote, they are such wonderful features of nature. The beach walk also looks lovely and relaxing.
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You would enjoy it, Hannah. It was certainly a unique experience! I need a beach fix now and then, don’t you?
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Those murals are outstanding.
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I thought so too, so eye catching.
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Spending time at the beach was the right choice.
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I enjoyed the day with no regrets at all.As a beach lover, I imagine you would have done the same.
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What a fabulous post,dear Ruth!
Excellent series of photos: I found them all fascinating
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Thanks so much, Luisa! I’m delighted you enjoyed this post.
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You are welcome my dear. It is a pleasure, as always!
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We only passed through Playa on our way to Cozumel. It looks more charming than we thought from the one block we saw. We dove in dDos Ojos, one of the most fascinating dives we’ve ever done. Maggie
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I wouldn’t say that Playa is charming, I only photographed the good parts. 😉 But I did find it enjoyable as it was my only beach day. How cool that you dove in the Cenote, Maggie!
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We didn’t visit this part of Mexico (partly because of limited time and partly put off by its ‘sun’ sea and sand’ package holiday vibe). But I have to say that the street art looks amazing! Like you I would much rather walk on a beach than sit on one – I’m glad you had room enough to do that here 🙂
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I usually avoid the resort scene so I would not have come to this area were it not just at the tail end of the tour. But there was much to enjoy there after all.
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So much colour and personality. Love the beach shot at sunrise.
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Thank you! I took so many shots during the sunrise, and that was the best. There was so much color all across Mexico. It’s a part of their culture.
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What a beautiful natural pool – Dos Ojos Cenote. No wonder they make you shower beforehand. It’s nice to see photos of a place I’ve only heard good things about, yet I’m still drawn to your beach scenes, especially the sunrise. I love (and identify with) the emotional depth of your walks on the sand.
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Thanks for reading, Dave I appreciate your comment!
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Walking down the stairs into darkness looks very ominous. What a cool experience, though. How cold was the water?
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It did seem kind of spooky going down into the cave, but once you got to the pool, it was inviting. It was a bit cool temperature-wise, but comfortable, by the opening. I didn’t venture much further in.
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What paradise! I’ve not been to Playa del Carmen, but it looks like a beautiful spot to sit back, relax, and enjoy nature’s beauty. I hope to return to Mexico to discover more, including Playa del Carmen. Thanks for sharing, Ruth!
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Actually it’s also quite crowded and touristy, although I didn’t reflect that in the photos in the post. There are more desirable spots to relax and enjoy the beach south along the coast, so I hear, if you go.
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Fab photos. personally I dislike beaches, but I can appreciate why you do.
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Thanks so much for your visit and comment. I prefer less crowded beaches than this touristy spot.
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