Once a sleepy fishing village, Playa del Carmen is now a Riviera Maya destination for nature lovers, history buffs, and party people alike. Here, lively bars and cool boutiques sit next to local taquerias and chic luxury hotels—all a bit more grounded in Mexican style than some of its neighbours up the coast. By day, hit the beach, chill out at a waterpark, or hop the ferry to Cozumel. At night, stroll La Quinta (the city’s main pedestrian thoroughfare) for some people watching and the perfect margarita. And, if all of that’s not enough, amazing diving and snorkelling are just offshore, while famed archeological sites, like the ancient ruins of Coba and the pre-Columbian ruins of Tulum, tower over the inland jungle and the coast nearby.