Originally a small fishing town, tourism in Playa del Carmen began with the passenger ferry service to Cozumel, an island across the Cozumel Channel and a world-famous scuba diving destination. While passing through, many people realized that it was a nice place to relax away from the crowds of Cancún but with the same quality beaches and turquoise waters.

While perhaps not as impressive as Cozumel, Playa del Carmen's coast offers some good scuba diving opportunities, as well as cenote diving for the more adventurous.

Today Playa del Carmen, or just 'Playa' as it is colloquially referred to, is the centre of the Riviera Maya concept, which spans from Cancún to Tulum and the Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve. Playa is a stop for several cruise ships, which dock at the nearby Calica quarry docks, about six miles south of the city. A Mayan-themed "ecological theme park", Xcaret (pronounced "e-shcaret") is a popular tourist destination just south of the town. Tourist activity in Playa del Carmen centers around the Quinta Avenida, or Fifth Avenue, a pedestrian walkway located just one block inland from the beach, and lined with boutique hotels, shops, bars and restaurants.

Elements within the Playa Del Carmen local community and government have attempted to retain Playa del Carmen's reputation and charm as a small fishing village and artists' colony, without becoming as large or tourist-dependent as Cancún. To this end, the city passed a law limiting buildings to three stories. A few four-story buildings were built before this new law had been introduced, however.

There is a significant European influence in Playa, with a number of local business proprietors drawn from the European expatriate community.

Weather
Not only does the Mayan Riviera have the warm sun year-round, but the average year-round temperature is 80°F (27°C) and hardly humid! But during the winter the temperature can go down to a warm 65°F (19°C) at night. And in the summer temperatures can be as high as 100°F (38°C). Not to worry, the ocean breeze keeps the towns of the Mayan Riviera comfortable, compared to other areas of Mexico. November through February is the best time to go since that's when the sun shines the most days. And during the "rainy season" from July-November, rainfall is rare even then.

The busy winter tourist season, when prices reach their peak, overtakes the area from mid-December to April. This time of year is attractive not just because it's winter in North America and Europe, but also because it's not raining and the heat isn't so muggy. May, the end of the dry season, and June, the start of the rainy season.

Tropical Storms
 It is rare for the Mayan Riviera to fall victim to hurricanes, but it is a fact of life. Hurricanes tend to move slowly enough for people to avoid danger, and there is a 3-day warning system in the area that will advise you of the situation. Hotels and villas are experienced in keeping guests safe and happy during one of these storms. So, you should not worry about vacationing during this season when many times you get the best deals and the best weather. The peak season is August and December through  Easter. Low season encompasses all the other months of the year.