Travel Blog
Tips, guides, and inspiration for your Playa del Carmen vacation.
“Tranquilo recommended the best local restaurants and even arranged a cenote tour for us. Their tips made the difference between a good trip and an amazing one.”
“The team really knows their city and gave us tips that made the trip unforgettable. You won’t find this kind of local knowledge on any booking platform.”
Top 15 Places to Eat in Playa del Carmen
From birria and al pastor to Pugliese pizza and Peruvian ceviche — the restaurants locals actually eat at, not just where tourists end up.
January 10, 2025
Top 5 Things to Do in Playa del Carmen
My top 5 — catching sunrise at the northern beaches, brunch and street art, Cenote Jardín El Edén, a ferry to Cozumel, and diving the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.
January 15, 2025
Best Tours in the Riviera Maya
My personal recommendations for the best tours in the Riviera Maya — Chichen Itza, Cozumel reefs, Tulum, Xcaret, Xplor, Xel-Há, and more, all through David Riviera Maya Tours.
January 20, 2025
Top 5 Cenotes near Playa del Carmen
The Yucatán's underground river system meets the surface at these five spectacular cenotes — from the free ocean-fed cenote at Punta Esmeralda to the legendary cave networks of Dos Ojos.
June 1, 2026
Top 5 Beaches in Playa del Carmen
My definitive top 5 — Punta Esmeralda (best beach in Mexico), Playa 38, Blue Flag-certified Playa 88, Parque Fundadores, and the quiet local gem of Playa 72.
January 25, 2025
Best Way to Convert & Buy Mexican Pesos
Banks and exchange booths quietly take 10–15% of every transaction. Here is how to avoid hidden fees, get the real exchange rate, and which free card to get before you travel.
June 3, 2026
Dive in the Riviera Maya
The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is the second largest reef system on earth. My dive master Bertrand at Bluekaidive offers Open Water certification, Discovery Scuba, and Cozumel reef dives.
June 3, 2026
Top 5 Things to Do in Isla Cozumel
Snorkelling the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, wandering San Miguel, the El Cielo starfish lagoon, Punta Sur nature reserve, and a beach club day on the Caribbean.
June 3, 2026
Welcome to Playa del Carmen
Everything you need to know before your first visit to the jewel of the Riviera Maya.
January 15, 2024
