Starting at the main square, El Zocalo, the main street of Avenida Juarez goes east and west. Here you'll find the bus station, post office, police and most banks. Going south of the square and Juarez, you'll go past the pier where you can catch the ferry to Cozumel, Senor Frog's and a shopping plaza. Once you pass this point, you are entering the secured, gated community of Playacar I and II. The next building to the south is the Continental Plaza hotel which is now closed and re-open soon as the Playacar Palace all-inclusive hotel. Xaman Ha is the next complex immediatley to the south. Playacar is a planned development where all the all-inclusive resorts are located. You'll also find the golf course, beautiful beaches, some private homes and condos, the aviary, and some interesting Mayan ruins.

Going back to the square and Avenida Juarez, where and heading north from the square on 5th Avenue, you'll be walking parallel to the beach. This first part of Playa is where you find most hotels, restaurants, bars and shops. Basically, the town gets less crowded the further north you get. Not that Playa is very crowded as far as towns are concerned.

The next big avenue you get to is called Constituyentes, and it ends on the point of the beach where the big hotel named Porto Real and a large pier are located. On the beach between the dock and this point you have a choice of many nice hotels, restaurants, bars and dive shops.

Going further north between Constituyentes and Coco Beach, the beach areas are less crowded and not as developed. There are a few beach clubs, where you can rent lounge chairs and umbrellas, a couple of restaurants and a few hotels. The beach and water here is the best Playa has to offer -- wide, white, soft, a super gradual drop off... In this section are some very cool hotels and condo complexes, but the condo complexes aren't on the beach.

From Coco Beach north, point you will find a couple of restaurants and dive shops. Chunzubul reef just outside Coco Beach is a good place to snorkel. It also provides a protected natural port for Playa's dive boats. North of Coco Beach, the beach gets emptier and emptier as you keep going north. Here's a good place to be on your own.

Welcome to Playa del Carmen, Mexico! This little Caribbean beach town has grown tremendously in popularity during the last decade. There's a good reason for that - Playa is a fantastic place to spend your vacation, hang out, or live. The town has grown along the beach, so wherever you go, you will feel the closeness to the ocean. The main street is called Quinta Avenida, or 5th Avenue. It is a pedestrian walkway and a common point of reference.