A Stroll Down 5th Avenue For Some Shopping
The Village of Playa del Carmen, located a mere 10-15 minute drive from Fairmont Mayakoba, was a very small fishermen town 15 years ago and it has recently become one of the trendiest areas in the Mayan Riviera. The European influence on this street is evident with every step. “Playa” as its habitants call it, is chic and traditional, is a fusion of the old and the new, and a place where adventure and culture convene.

The 5th avenue attracts people from all over the world with different interests such as surfers, divers, travelers looking for Mexican and International handicrafts and local people who meet and mingle at the many coffee shops in the area. On this street all visitors enjoy real Mexican folklore as many entertainers and artists perform everyday including duets playing the soft melody of the marimba and the mariachi.

The 5th Avenue is a very long street with no motorized traffic allowed, making it a nice place to stroll. The visitors find an array of restaurants offering different specialties like Italian, Mediterranean, French, Thai, Japanese and of course Mexican cuisine. Exclusive boutiques and Mexican handicrafts shops are also located on the avenue.

What is very unique is to see the Mayans selling their handmade jewelry, belts, and handbags.

Cannot miss: The coffee shops are also very frequented by the visitors and local people. There is a shop called Ah Cacao that sells regional chocolate and they prepare the most delicious hot chocolate and brownies.

Cozumel
To get to this magical island, there is a Ferry every 30 minutes that departs from Playa del Carmen (10-15 minutes from Fairmont Mayakoba). It takes 45 minutes to get to Cozumel, enough time to start thinking about what activity will suit you best during your visit. The island is famous worldwide for its coral reefs and sea life. We recommend snorkeling, many places rent the necessary equipment, or deep sea-fishing… there is also kayaking and more!

But this is not the end of the options available, there are more things to do in Cozumel like visiting the Chankanaab Park, which is a Marine National Park that features the only inland coral reef formation in the world. The park is home to the world-renowned exotic fish ecosystem and natural aquarium.

Punta Sur Light House is an ecological park and nature reserve that features a breathtaking natural environment of mangrove jungles, white sand beaches and coral reef at the south end of the island. There you can see over 220 species of birds, iguanas, and giant turtles.

If you want to take an archeological tour, then you have to visit San Gervasio, El Cedral or El Caracol. There you can visit some of the sites where the Mayans built small cities.