Leisure and activities
What to do while on holiday....
You will certainly not be short on things to do while you are away. The Riviera Maya offers a variety of choices on land and in the sea.
At Villa Santuario you can enjoy the use of the swimming pool, tennis court, palapa common area and the beach, which has excellent swimming and snorkelling. There are several small Mayan ruins very near the Villa that are worth exploring. You can also walk over to Xaman-Ha Aviary which is a natural open air sanctuary that is the home to exotic birds including scarlet macaws, flamingos and herons. Or you can Golf in the superb Playacar Golf Course, one of the top golf courses in the entire Caribbean and Mexico.
If you are looking for something a little more active we can help arrange excursions to go diving, sport fishing, kayaking, skydiving or sailing.
Reefs
In 1961 Frenchman Jacques Cousteau called it the best diving area in the world. The fabulous reefs surrounding the Riviera Maya invite you to see the huge variety of corals, colourful fish and extraordinary creatures that live just under the surface in our backyard. There are several dive shops in Playa del Carmen that you can book with directly or we can help organise this for you.
In 1961 Frenchman Jacques Cousteau called it the best diving area in the world. The fabulous reefs surrounding the Riviera Maya invite you to see the huge variety of corals, colourful fish and extraordinary creatures that live just under the surface in our backyard. There are several dive shops in Playa del Carmen that you can book with directly or we can help organise this for you.
Mayan Ruins
The Yucatan peninsula is unique for its many Mayan ruins. Many of the most amazing sites are near Playa, including Chichén Itzá, Ek Balam, Cobá and Tulum. If you have a car you can drive to the various sites, otherwise day trips can easily be arranged.
Caves & Cenotes
A natural wonder in this area of the world are cenotes. These are natural limestone and coral wells that lead to underground rivers, caverns and cave systems. They provide fabulous views of stalactite and stalagmite formations, rim pools and a rainbow of coloured tropical fish. >> read more
Eco Parks & Wildlife
There are fabulous eco-parks that offer excellent days out for adults and children. XCARET, an Eco Mayan themed park, is 5 minutes from Playa and XEL-HA Lagoon Eco Park is 25 minutes from Playa.
Shopping
La Quinta street offers everything you could possibly need, such as grocery stores, liquor stores, pharmacies, malls and clothing and it is all within walking distance!!
Additionally there is Paseo del Carmen which is a modern shopping area with high end brands and franchise restaurants which is at the start of La Quinta, near the ferry, and closest to the Villa.
Cancun and Cozumel also offer an alternative to shopping in Playa del Carmen but they both provide a very similar selection to Playa.
Restaurants & Bars
You will be spoilt for choice when looking for something to eat in Playa. Along La Quinta you will find Mexican, Mayan, Italian, French, Thai and many other international cuisines to suit any budget. >> Read more
As for bars and nightlife you can choose to casually sip margaritas on the beach or by a pool, or dance into the early hours of the morning. There are many options in Playa, from laid back to very trendy lounge bars, to bars with live bands and even a few night clubs that are open till dawn. >> Read more
