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Adventure of a lifetime in Mexico
By Carnie Lewis |
September 26, 2012, Wednesday
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I'LL be frank by stating I've traveled a lot, to a variety of different unique destinations. Nevertheless, I feel I can honestly say that I can call Playa del Carmen, a city just 40 minutes away from Cancun, Mexico, my favorite travel experience yet.
My goal of the summer was to go on a two-week Spanish-learning camp - but I never realized just how much more I would get out of this camp than an increased proficiency in the Spanish language.
Playa del Carmen is one of those young cities that has grown from a fishing village to a major tourist attraction in mere 30 years - it is lively, accommodating, adventurous and, above all, incredibly cultural. The town is set out like a grid, with the famous Quinta Street lining itself alongside the most beautiful beaches of white sand and crystal blue water. Shops, hotels, hostels, restaurants, bus stations, markets, you name it, are a short walk from one another. This turned out to be incredibly handy as we were able to explore the city on foot with ease. Every Tuesday and Thursday nights, free salsa classes for the public were held on the beach and every Sunday, restaurants would cook up a feast for a tasty brunch.
Every day I was able to lay in the sun or swim, parasail or jet ski on the beautiful water, or travel to Cozumel, an island known for the oldest known Mayan ruins. The great thing about Playa del Carmen was that there was so much to do, and I was within proximity of so many other incredible sites.
For example, for just US$4, I could take a small bus known to Tulum, a city with one of the "top 50 beaches" in the world because of its beauty and historical significance of the Mayan ruins.
From Playa del Carmen I was able to book a tour to Chichen Itza, one of the largest and most famous excavation sites of a Mayan city, Valladolid, a Spanish colonial city.
Playa del Akumel was my favorite place. Here you can swim alongside stingrays, fish and large green turtles.
I will never forget my Mexican experience because it was beyond words, beyond imagination, beyond everything I ever expected. I would go back in a heartbeat.
My goal of the summer was to go on a two-week Spanish-learning camp - but I never realized just how much more I would get out of this camp than an increased proficiency in the Spanish language.
Playa del Carmen is one of those young cities that has grown from a fishing village to a major tourist attraction in mere 30 years - it is lively, accommodating, adventurous and, above all, incredibly cultural. The town is set out like a grid, with the famous Quinta Street lining itself alongside the most beautiful beaches of white sand and crystal blue water. Shops, hotels, hostels, restaurants, bus stations, markets, you name it, are a short walk from one another. This turned out to be incredibly handy as we were able to explore the city on foot with ease. Every Tuesday and Thursday nights, free salsa classes for the public were held on the beach and every Sunday, restaurants would cook up a feast for a tasty brunch.
Every day I was able to lay in the sun or swim, parasail or jet ski on the beautiful water, or travel to Cozumel, an island known for the oldest known Mayan ruins. The great thing about Playa del Carmen was that there was so much to do, and I was within proximity of so many other incredible sites.
For example, for just US$4, I could take a small bus known to Tulum, a city with one of the "top 50 beaches" in the world because of its beauty and historical significance of the Mayan ruins.
From Playa del Carmen I was able to book a tour to Chichen Itza, one of the largest and most famous excavation sites of a Mayan city, Valladolid, a Spanish colonial city.
Playa del Akumel was my favorite place. Here you can swim alongside stingrays, fish and large green turtles.
I will never forget my Mexican experience because it was beyond words, beyond imagination, beyond everything I ever expected. I would go back in a heartbeat.
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