Riviera Maya: Where to Shop: Overview: Playa Del Carmen

Playa Del Carmen

Playa del Carmen was once a colorful Mexican beach town where beatniks and fashion photographers found palapa-shaded bars in the sand and lots of local charm. Unfortunately, the town that you see today is more likely to remind you of a Florida mall designed to lure revelers on Spring Break. It’s chock-a-block with cheap chain food stores and bars and tacky t-shirt shops. If you come for the nightlife, stick to the hotel Deseo bar or Axul and don’t expect much from the shopping.