• Introduction
• 1. Antigua & Barbuda
• 2. Asheville
• 3. Austin
• 4. Charleston
• 5. Death Valley
• 6. New Orleans
• 7. Playa del Carmen
• 8. Santa Catalina Island
• 9. Santa Fe
• 10. Whistler

Playa del Carmen

Situated on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, just 42 miles south of Cancun, Playa del Carmen is a long way away from the hard-partying ways of its northerly neighbor. That’s not to say that there’s no fun to be had here, but white-sand beaches, eco-parks, and nearby Mayan ruins are what this place is all about. Spring is an ideal time to enjoy it all, with tropical breezes and temperatures hovering around 80°F. Mayan monuments at Chichén Itzá are close enough for a day trip – and what better way to welcome spring than at the site’s Spring Equinox festival, when the shadows cast by the sun resemble a serpent slithering its way down the main pyramid’s ancient steps.

How: Take a direct flight to Cancun (CUN) from Atlanta (Aeromexico, Delta; about 3 hours), Miami (American, Mexicana; about 1.5 hours), New York (American, Continental, JetBlue, Mexicana; about 4 hours), Los Angeles(Alaska, American, Delta, Mexicana, United; about 5 hours), and several more; then drive or take public ground transportation to Playa del Carmen.

See Barcelona Travel Guide | See Antwerp Travel Guide | See Lisbon Travel Guide | See Zagreb Travel Guide