Playa del Carmen can definitely get touristy, but luckily there are some great unique things to do in Playa del Carmen to keep you occupied away from the crowds. From delving into some of the most interesting foods and restaurants to getting amongst the most intense adventures, it’s easy to go beyond the guidebook.
This city and the Riviera Maya have so much to offer should you choose to discover it. If you want to explore a bit deeper beneath the surface of this beautiful Mexican beachside destination, keep reading!
Unique Things to Do in Playa Del Carmen
Here are some of the most unique things to do in Playa del Carmen. Save a few more resources here that will help your trip:
- COOLEST Boutique Hotels in Playa del Carmen
- Things to do in Downtown Cancun
- Ferry from Playa to Cozumel: All You Need to Know
- Best Boutique Hotels in Cozumel
- Tips for Visiting Mexico
Do a Mexican Cooking Class
Being in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, tourists and travelers have an array of local cuisine accessible to them from Mexican to Mayan. In this experience, learn how to navigate local markets (which usually are cheaper than supermarkets!) and prepare homemade corn tortillas, guacamole, and salsas at a local’s home. Vegans and vegetarians are welcome to this experience!
Dinner in a Cave at Alux Restaurant
For a different and intimate dining experience, make a reservation at the Alux Restaurant and dine in a cave! Don’t worry, it’s not dark and scary but lit comfortably, so you and your guests or your partner feel cozy. The food is top notch to add to the unique experience. With a variety of seating options, you can find the best space for your experience, making this one of the most unique things to do in Playa del Carmen.
Explore the Local Chocolate Scene
Chocolate was one of my favorite things to indulge on in Playa del Carmen. Much of the chocolate has a strong cacao profile and unique texture. As someone who loves less sweet and more natural chocolate, it’s incredible! If you love a chocolate, chocolate sampling around Playa del Carmen is one of the most unique things to do you’ll love.
There’s an artisan chocolate tasting experience in Tulum that dives into the history and story of chocolate. And to further explore the story of chocolate in Mexico, visit Chocostory’s Museum in Playa del Carmen.
Sail to Cozumel
While most people spend their days partying on the beach or eating along Fifth Avenue, sailing to Cozumel stands out as one of the most unique things to do in Playa del Carmen. Sailing to Cozumel, you can expect a variety of tours offering snorkeling, freshly prepared meals, and all you need to party – depending on what you want out of your sailing experience!
Or, you can take a day trip to Cozumel by taking the Playa del carmen – Cozumel Ferry and plan out your day’s activities according to what you prefer.
Vidrio Soplado Mexicano Glass-Blowing Workshop
Calling everyone looking for one of the most unique things to do in Playa del Carmen! Most people wouldn’t expect to hear about this glass-blowing workshop from your Rivera Maya trip. Located north in the city, when you visit Vidrio Soplado Mexicano you learn about glass blowing, view the live action and can shop for the glass pieces made on site!
Attend a Cacao Ceremony
Adding a cacao ceremony to your list of unique things to do in Playa del Carmen is one of the best ways to open your mind and re-connect with yourself. As many cacao ceremonies are led by individual groups and not big tour operators, you usually can’t easily book them online.
The best way to find cacao ceremonies in Playa del Carmen is to search on EventBrite or check Playa del Carmen Facebook groups. Spirituality Riviera Maya also hosts cacao ceremonies on new and full moons, but you can book them by request as well.
Tequila Tasting at Tequila Academy
Walking down Avenida Quinta, you’re sure to be offered tequila samples (provided you aren’t a kid)! But doing an actual tequila tasting at the Mamorata Tasting Room is one of many non-touristy things to do in Playa del Carmen as this experience serves up some of the best tequila and mezcal you can find in Playa del Carmen. You can do a private tasting (contact them to reserve), or just walk in and request a tasting.
Learn How to Salsa Dance
One of the best ways to introduce yourself to culture (& especially Latin American culture) is through dance. There are dance schools to learn to rock your hips with confidence throughout Playa del Carmen, and the experience listed here offers a private introduction to salsa. The teacher is from Cali, Colombia, the world’s salsa capital! The teacher is located in Tulum, but is open to a location of your preference.
Visit a Cenote or a Few!
If you didn’t visit a cenote in the Riviera of Mexico, did you even go? Cenotes are a unique geological wonder located only in this part of the world that you can’t miss experiencing.
By taxi or public transport, it’s possible to visit cenotes such as Cristalino, Azul, Aktun Chen, or Rio Secreto. The admission fees are reasonable, making cenotes not only a spectacular adventure but also quite accessible. If budget is important, check the cenote costs before you go, as they vary from cenote to cenote. You can also opt for an organized tour where your guide might even show you some secret cenotes people rarely visit, showing you some of the more non-touristy things to do in Playa del Carmen.
Underwater Cave Dive
Reserved for the most experienced divers, cave diving is one of the most unique things to do in Playa del Carmen. Mexico is home to incredible cave diving. This is because the cenotes are connected via tunnels and caves, making this part of the world full of exceptional dive sites, especially for those interested in cave diving!
There are a select few cenotes that you can scuba or freedive into, such as cenote Angelita (great for free diving), cenote Kukulkan (beautiful, shallow, and bright) and Cenotes Dos Ojos (a collection of cenotes in a park with lots of diving). This is the best-reputed cenote diving tour.
Day Trip to Tulum
By car, taxi, or bus, it’s easy to get to Tulum in about an hour from Playa del Carmen. On a day trip to Tulum, the top choice activities are to visit the Tulum Ruins and Gran Cenote (there are lots more cenotes in Tulum), explore the center of town, and of course, go to the beach!
If you opt for an overnight trip, consider a tour of the Sian Ka’an Biological Reserve, a UNESCO world heritage center, and visit some fantastically-rated restaurants, bars, and clubs there. I used to live in Tulum; check out a few more resources if you are interested in visiting:
- Is Tulum Safe? Here’s What You Need to Know
- Best Areas to Stay in Tulum + Neighborhood Guide
- Unique Places to Stay in Tulum
- Best Tulum Beachfront Airbnbs
Walking Food Tour
One complaint some tourists have in Playa del Carmen is that the “Mexican food” may be too bland – and that’s usually if you’re out eating on Avenida Quinta as many visitors may not yet be adjusted and expect super spicy and seasoned Mexican cuisine.
But don’t fret! Here’s one of the non touristy things to do in Playa del Carmen to make you feel like a local. You can enjoy a walking food tour (to burn those calories, ya’ know?), discover new foods, and get to know some of the best Mexican cuisine enjoyed by locals in Playa del Carmen.
Xcaret Adventure Parks
Xcaret is king in providing exciting experiences in the Rivera Maya, and their eight adventure parks are no exception! In Playa del Carmen you can find the Xsenses Park, which involves a series of interesting experiences of optical illusions and physical sensations such as flight!
The parks offer so many different kinds of adventurous (and relaxing) experiences. From laying on the beach to swimming down an underground river, jumping on boat rides, or experiencing local sea life, Xcaret has SO much going on. See which park is right for you!
Relax at a Rooftop Pool
While going to the beach is one of the great free things to do in Playa del Carmen, sometimes you want a little privacy, a rooftop bar, and a poolside lounge chair. That’s there playa del carmen’s epic rooftop bars come in. Visitors can buy day passes to rooftop pools such as Be Roof or the Alessia Day Club and relax the day away overlooking the city.
Club Social Karaoke Box/Bar
Let’s be honest – if it weren’t terrifying to sing outside the safety of our shower, we’d all be doing it all the time. Thankfully, this is one of the more unique things to do in Playa del Carmen that wants to hear you sing!
The Club Social Karaoke Box doesn’t care how you sound, come along and let those vocals be heard! It’s also a bar and pizzeria so you can enjoy drinking, eating, and CANTANDO (that’s Spanish for singing).
Frida Kahlo Museum
Although not one of the free things to do in Playa del Carmen, the Frida Kahlo Museum’s entry fee will be worth the while for art lovers and fans of this famous Mexican artist. The museum incorporates nine rooms to tell the story of Frida’s life, immersing visitors into the journey.
Shopping on 5th avenue
Don’t tell me – you forgot to get souvenirs while on your trip and need to find them last minute? Avenida Quinta (or Fifth Avenue) is the place to get them from finding tequilas, decorations, and much more. We recommend you visit a local market to shop for souvenirs as they will be much cheaper – but if you’re also seeking high-end shops or boutique stores, Fifth Avenue is the place to find them!
Swim with Sea Turtles
If you haven’t swam with sea turtles yet, here’s your chance to experience one of the most unique things to do in Playa del Carmen – well, just outside of Playa del Carmen! One of the most common sites to swim with sea turtles is Akumal, located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
For a more private experience, you can visit the beach Xcacel-Xcacelito where there’s a sea turtle sanctuary, but be mindful of the rules are it is a protected area!
Or, you can always jump on a tour to snorkel with turtles, which also includes Tulum’s ruins and a cenote visit to encompass many of the cool PDC activities in one day.
Head to a Beach Club
Walking along the beach in Playa del Carmen, you’re bound to pass by numerous beach clubs. A pro tip is if you plan to swim, make sure to locate beach clubs around your favorite sections of the beach, as not every stretch of beach in Playa del Carmen is created equal.
Then there’s the beach club vibe to check – Want chill? Wild? The beach clubs are endless in Playa del Carmen so pick wisely, dance fearlessly, and drink responsibly.
Visit Nearby Ruins – Coba, Chichen Itza, ad Tulum Ruins
Just like with cenote swimming, if you didn’t visit any ruins in the Riviera Maya, were you really there?! There are loads of options, some more private than others. Chichen Itza should be a given for any first-time visitor. Even though it’s the busiest, it’s still a must-see.
Other ruins to consider checking out are Coba and the Tulum ruins! For a well-rounded experience, you can even go on a tour and visit multiple ruins and cenotes at the same time and have a guide to share it all with you! See my recommended one below that visits Chichen Itza, Coba, Valladolid, and a cenote.
Visit Delicious Restaurants in Playa del Carmen
The restaurants in Playa del Carmen are a wonderful culinary escape from food at home, from fresh guacamole and burritos to cheesy quesadillas and tender meat off the parrilla! Some options we recommend include Don Chendo, La Brocherie, and Amate 38.
Free Things to Do in Playa Del Carmen
On a budget but still want tp explore? Here are some of the most unique FREE things to do in Playa del Carmen.
Take a Shelter Dog for a Walk
It’s a sad reality, but luckily Playa del Carmen has many dog shelters to get dogs off the streets and provide them the love they need. If you want to make an impact and accomplish some non touristy things to do in Playa del Carmen, El Arca Animal Rescue Center is one place that allows you to volunteer to take a shelter dog for a walk. It’s one of the free things in Playa del Carmen that truly makes a difference!
Head to a Beautiful More Secluded Beach Nearby
One of the best free things to do in Playa del Carmen is to spend your time at the beach. But sometimes, they’re packed! One secret beach that’s easy to access is Punta Esmerelda, but be sure to go during the week as it fills up with local families visiting during the weekends!
Other beaches further out of Playa del Carmen you can drive or take a taxi to are Xpu-ha and Soliman Bay, and Playacar beach tends to be less busy if you can get into the gated neighborhood.
Watch the Sunset
One of the best free things to do in Playa del Carmen is to watch the sunset, which is loaded with color more often than not. Hit the beach or a rooftop (one of the recommendations above) and watch nature’s most spectacular performance!
Unique Things to Do in Playa Del Carmen at Night
Looking for unique things to do in PDC after sunset? Here are some ideas!
Go Night Diving
If you’re an Advanced Open Water Diver, you might not be able to go cave diving, but if you’re looking for things to do in Playa del Carmen at night beyond the party, go for a night dive! On night dives you’ll get the thrill and excitement of exploring a new underwater location with species you wouldn’t see during the day.
There’s a much bigger diving world here in Playa del Carmen than just the cenotes – ocean diving is popular too! You can try out a night dive in Playa del Carmen or you can head over to Cozumel and dive with ScubaTony around some of the best reefs in the world over there.
Beercicleta Beer Cycle Tour
You can go drinking at a bar or on the beach in Playa del Carmen, then there’s one of the more unique way to drink in Playa del Carmen – the BEERCICLETA! The two-hour trip includes visits to four of the most famous bars in Playa del Carmen, five welcome drinks, and a whole lot of fun around the city on a massive beer cycle! It’s also one of the things to do in Playa del Carmen at night to switch up the usual bar-hopping experience.
Dance the Night Away at one of Playa’s Nightclubs
If you think Playa del Carmen is busy during the day – try it at night! If you’re looking for some fun in Playa del Carmen at night, hitting up the clubs is an obvious answer! The clubs here are pretty massive and most of them line a big street, blasting loud music of all different kinds out into the night.
For some good electronic and eclectic entertainment, check out The Avalon Club. If you love a creative, colorful, and upscale experience, check out Mandala!
Gaze at the Stars
Not only is this one of the free things to do in Playa del Carmen, but it’s one of the most relaxing things to do in Playa del Carmen at night. If you have a rooftop or access to a space with little artificial light, you’ll be dazzled by the stars you can find in the night sky here! While there are of course some lights in the city, the view of the galaxy here is actually quite impressive.
That’s all for unique things to do in Playa del Carmen – let me know which is your favorite in the comments below.
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.