If you\u2019ve never been to this region before, a.k.a. the\u00a0Riviera Maya<\/strong>, making the choice\u00a0Playa del Carmen<\/strong>\u00a0vs.<\/strong>\u00a0Tulum<\/strong> can be tough… even for locals such as myself.<\/p>\n Which would you like better? Where would you have more fun? What\u2019s there to do?<\/p>\n Tulum<\/a><\/strong> and Playa del Carmen<\/strong><\/a> have their own vibe and charm<\/strong>, so we’ve decided to break it down for you.<\/p>\n There are some key places you’ll want to see to make sure your vacation is unforgettable.<\/p>\n Both Playa del Carmen and Tulum draw in a special type of crowd<\/strong>, both hip and trendy.<\/p>\n Do you prefer to combine a more urban, upscale environment with the beach? Playa is for you.<\/p>\n Are you looking to get back to nature and experience more of an eco-adventure? Look no further than Tulum.<\/p>\n Here’s a quick breakdown…<\/p>\n What do you like to do when you go on vacation? You’re thinking about coming down here, so the beach is definitely on your list. What else?<\/p>\n With the importance of Playa del Carmen’s 5th Avenue as its main artery<\/strong> where tourism flows between the hotels, beaches, nightclubs, shops, and restaurants, much of what there is to do within Playa del Carmen itself is limited to that area.<\/p>\n However:<\/p>\n For those who want to combine the comfort and lifestyle of Playa del Carmen’s hustle and bustle with some off-the-beaten-path activities, there’s that too.<\/p>\n In addition to the numerous Playa del Carmen tours<\/a><\/strong>, here are a few fun things to do to feel like a local:<\/p>\n El Cine Club<\/strong><\/a> screens great movies at different locations throughout Playa del Carmen on several nights of the week at no cost to the public. Check out their Facebook page to find out what’s showing. Some of their locations include Blue Parrot Beachclub<\/strong>, Thompson Beach House<\/strong>, and La Ceiba<\/strong> park.<\/p>\n For instance, have some of the best tacos you’ll ever enjoy in your entire life at El Gran Taco<\/strong><\/a>, located just across from Centro Maya<\/strong> opposite the highway entrance to Playacar<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Experience the talent of local musicians. See our guide to live music in Playa del Carmen<\/strong><\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n Take a day of your vacation and spend a day exploring Cozumel Island<\/strong> <\/a>and snorkeling at El Cielo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Enjoy a presentation of the troupe’s show Joya at the first and only Cirque Du Soleil theater<\/strong> <\/a>in Latin America.<\/p>\n You into chill?<\/p>\n Then you’ll enjoy Tulum, a town whose laid-back vibe means your discovery process should be done at a more leisurely place.<\/p>\n Here being a beach bum is the art of many, and for good reason.<\/p>\n Fewer crowds, more extensive stretches of white sand beaches, and a relaxed atmosphere anywhere you go make this THE\u00a0place to chill<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Please note that not all major tours are available with transportation departing from Tulum, so always make sure to ask our travel specialists if you have any questions.<\/p>\n We already know you’re going to visit the Tulum ruins<\/strong>, so instead of recommending you do that, we suggest you also take time to visit the Mayan pyramids of Coba<\/strong><\/a>, where you can ride a bicycle through the jungle canopy as you admire this once great Mayan city.<\/p>\n When the suns sets and the lights go on along this tight stretch of road between the beach and the mangroves, you’ll be treated to a magical stroll amidst boutique hotels, hip, Bohemian-style restaurants, and chic shops.<\/p>\n Being so close as you are to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere<\/strong><\/a>, steal a day from your time in Tulum to visit this pristine nature reserve just south of town. Extending out from Boca Paila<\/strong> south to Punta Allen<\/strong>, Sian Ka’an allows you to experience the stunning beauty of this region in its natural state.<\/p>\n Take an afternoon, especially during the weekend, to hang out at Papaya Playa Beach Club<\/strong><\/a>, a great place to hang out at the beach while enjoying good food and hip music.<\/p>\n Take a trip about thirty minutes north of Tulum to a place called Akumal. Here you can swim with giant sea turtles<\/strong>. If you prefer to combine it in one fun day of activities, you can go on the Tulum & Turtles<\/strong><\/a> tour.<\/p>\n Are you a foodie? Do you appreciate a good meal?<\/p>\n With the growth of the region, one thing that is under the radar for many people is that the entire Riviera Maya is slowly but surely becoming a foodie haven.<\/p>\n Playa del Carmen restaurants<\/strong><\/a> are as culturally diverse as the population, meaning that here you’ll find the majority of those international cuisines you so love. Of course, quality Mexican food abounds.<\/p>\n Here are some tips on where to eat in Playa del Carmen<\/strong>:<\/p>\n For breakfast in Playa del Carmen<\/strong><\/a>, check out El Jardin<\/strong>, La Cueva del Chango<\/strong> or El Gran Taco<\/strong>. All three offer different types of cuisine, El Jardin<\/strong> has more of an international medley, La Cueva del Chango<\/strong> great Mexican breakfasts, and El Gran Taco<\/strong> for mouth-watering, stew-filled tacos, Mexico City-style.<\/p>\n For lunch in Playa del Carme<\/strong><\/a>n check out Axiote<\/strong>, which serves up lunch menu of gourmet Mexican food at extremely reasonable prices; eat at El Pirata<\/strong> for some delicious, well-served local seafood dishes in a welcoming environment; try Caf\u00e9 L’Orange<\/strong> for some quality international cuisine.<\/p>\n Great options abound for dinner in Playa del Carmen<\/strong><\/a>. For upscale dining, check out Plank Gourmet Grill & Patio Bar<\/strong><\/a>; give La Perla Pixan Cuisine & Mezcal<\/strong> a try for some authentic Mexican cuisine using pre-Hispanic ingredients; head out to Nau<\/strong> in Plaza Pelicanos<\/strong> if you’re looking for some incredible Mediterranean cuisine.<\/p>\n Be prepared to discover some amazing restaurants in Tulum<\/strong>.\u00a0Just remember, however, that all of the restaurants in the hotel strip are going to be much more pricey than the ones in town.<\/p>\n Although you won’t find as much variety in Tulum as you will in Playa del Carmen, there are still numerous incredible places to eat in Tulum<\/strong> that will satisfy the most demanding of foodies.<\/p>\n Here are some of our tips on<\/strong>\u00a0where to eat in Tulum<\/strong>:<\/p>\n For breakfast there is\u00a0almost no contest, as Don Cafeto’s<\/strong><\/a> offers up some delicious fair, coffee that actually deserves the name, and one of the most delicious concoctions you’ll find anywhere: <\/span>Chiagra.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This nutritious and energetic drink combines a local plant similar to spinach known as chaya with mint, cucumber, lime and a touch of orange juice. Absolutely delicious and a wonderful way to start the day. Plus it’s the best place in Tulum to people watch.<\/p>\n For lunch, head out to the southern end of town for some delicious local seafood at El Camello<\/strong>; check out to La Zebra Beach Restaurant & Tequila Bar<\/strong> for some delicious food in a fabulous environment; try Restaure<\/strong> for some a delectable fusion of fresh, vegan food.<\/p>\n When dinner comes around at least one night should be spent at Hartwood<\/strong>. Expect a long line to get in, so don’t go when you’re hungry. Just thirsty. That way you can build up your appetite while waiting in line, cocktail in hand.<\/p>\n For a more relaxed, wallet-friendly environment, check out the great tacos, tortas, and quesadillas at Antojitos La Chiapaneca<\/strong>. For a more international flair in the hotel zone, you can’t go wrong with Kitchen Table<\/strong>.<\/p>\n There are many great options for\u00a0hotels in Playa del Carmen<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and vacation rentals<\/strong><\/a>. What works best for you will depend on your budget, travel party, and taste buds.<\/p>\n Things to know about hotels in Playa del Carmen:<\/strong><\/p>\n The difference between Tulum and Playa del Carmen definitely shines through in terms of its accommodations, with many of the more popular options in Tulum being much more rustic and back-to-nature than in Playa.<\/p>\n In Tulum, the\u00a0big all-inclusives are located mostly outside of the city, and the hotel zone is filled with boutique-style hotels that replace the hotel room with caba\u00f1as<\/em> decked out with modern amenities.<\/p>\n But don’t let the rustic ambiance fool you; many of these hotels are high-end and offer the same standards as anywhere else. And they’re more expensive to boot.<\/p>\n Things to know about hotels in Tulum:<\/strong><\/p>\n As you can see, both Tulum and Playa del Carmen have something to offer.<\/p>\n Tulum is more the destination of choice for those looking for an off-the-beaten-path, back-to-nature adventure where everything is much more rustic, small-scale, and low-key than in Playa del Carmen.<\/p>\n Playa del Carmen is the better choice for those looking for a little more action and modern accommodation than in Tulum.<\/p>\n For some, combining a few days in one place and a few more in the other is the ideal way to get the best out of both worlds. Discover all the things you can see from Playa to Tulum<\/a>.<\/p>\n What about you?<\/p>\n Do you prefer the hustle and bustle of Playa del Carmen or the laid-back, Bohemian ways of Tulum?<\/p>\n Our travel consultants at PlayaDelCarmen.com<\/a>‘s are here to help.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n We’re locally-based experts who know the entire Riviera Maya and are masters at helping you\u00a0find your perfect hotel or activity.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n We can be contacted via our contact page<\/a>\u00a0or toll-free at 888-537-9797<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" So you’re planning a vacation and trying to decide on Playa del Carmen or Tulum. 2 VERY different towns. Yes, they’re just 1\u00a0hour apart but they are completely different from one another. If you\u2019ve never been to this region before, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":16934,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[140],"tags":[10,416,417,392,418,184,419,420],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8046"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8046"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8046\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20804,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8046\/revisions\/20804"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16934"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8046"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Tulum](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/tulum-hotel-strip-29-min.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPlaya del Carmen or Tulum?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Some Basic Facts<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
Playa Urban Chic – vs – Tulum Bohemian Chic\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"playa](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/tulum-hotel-strip-55-min-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPlaya del Carmen Overview<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"5th](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/playa-del-carmen-shopping.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
Tulum Overview<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"tulum](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/tulum-hotel-strip-40-min-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
Things to Do – Playa vs Tulum<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Playa](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/playa-del-carmen-plaza.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThings to Do in Playa del Carmen<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Cine](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/cine-club.jpg\")
<\/p>\n5 Fun Things Locals do in Playa del Carmen<\/h4>\n
1) Watch a free movie under the stars<\/h5>\n
2) Go outside the tourist zone<\/strong><\/h5>\n
![\"Disco](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/disco-ruido.jpg\")
<\/p>\n3) Check out a live show at a Playa del Carmen bar<\/strong><\/h5>\n
4) <\/strong>Take a day trip to Cozumel Island<\/strong><\/h5>\n
![\"Cozumel](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/cozumel.jpg\")
<\/p>\n5) Visit a\u00a0Cirque Du Soleil\u00a0show\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Things to Do in Tulum<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Tulum](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/tulum-hotel-strip-54-min.jpg\")
<\/p>\n5 Fun Things to do in\u00a0Tulum:<\/h4>\n
1) Visit the Mayan ruins of Coba<\/strong><\/h5>\n
2) Spend an evening walking up and down the narrow road of Tulum’s hotel strip<\/strong><\/h5>\n
![\"Tulum](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/tulum-hotel-strip-43-min.jpg\")
<\/p>\n3) Take a day trip to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere<\/strong><\/h5>\n
![\"Sian](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sian-kaan-tour-min-e1468344675142.jpg\")
<\/p>\n4) Hang out at Papaya Playa Beach Club<\/strong><\/h5>\n
5) See Sea Turtles & the Tulum Ruins in One Tour<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Where to Eat in Playa del Carmen<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Frida](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/frida-kahlo-restaurant-playa.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Cueva](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/playa-del-carmen-cueva-del-chango.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBreakfast in Playa del Carmen<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Mexican](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/mexican-street-food.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLunch in Playa del Carmen<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Dinner in Playa del Carmen<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Where to Eat in Tulum<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"El](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/tacos-de-guisado.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBreakfast in Tulum<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Don](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/don-cafetos.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLunch in Tulum<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Dinner in Tulum<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Hartwood](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/tulum-hotel-strip-51-min.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhere to Stay in Playa del Carmen<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"RIU](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/RS_riu-palace-riviera-maya-main.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
Where to Stay in Tulum<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Zebra](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/tulum-hotel-strip-34-min.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Palmas](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/tulum-hotel-strip-16-min.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
Tulum vs Playa del Carmen<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Tulum](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/tulum-hotel-strip-26-min.jpg\")
<\/p>\n