Like many towns on this part of the Mexican Caribbean coast, Playa del Carmen remained a sleepy out-of-the-way fishing village until relatively recently. With the arrival of the Spanish, many Europeans settled in the area, lured no doubt by the astonishing natural beauty of the region. Known then as Xaman-Ha – or ‘the waters of the north’ – it established itself as an important stopover on the pilgrimage route that leads to the island of Cozumel ten miles offshore. Playa del Carmen can trace its origins right back to the pre-Columbian civilization of the Mayan people. But trust us, with some of the best cenotes in the Riviera Maya so close, you’ll be sure to want to make a day (or two) of it! But which are the best cenotes in Playa del Carmen? Why not pick a couple and do a self-guided tour of all the cenotes you want! Otherwise if you want to sit back and let someone else do the driving check out these awesome tours! Not sure on where to stay? Check out these hotel recommendations. Visitors wanting to explore the cenotes near Playa del Carmen will have to travel at least 30-minutes out of the city to find them. The city of Playa del Carmen houses no cenotes close to the center.
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#CHAC MOOL CENOTE SERIES#
The Riviera Maya is an area of Caribbean coast known for its Mayan archaeology, as well as untouched natural wonders – including a series of famous Playa del Carmen cenotes. Situated in the Yucatan peninsula in the far south of the country, it has become popular with visitors to the region because of its prime location on the Riviera Maya and its spectacular white-sand beaches. The Mexican city of Playa del Carmen lies alongside the sublime waters of the Caribbean Sea in the state of Quintana Roo.