Before arriving in Mexico, Latin America has been a blank space on my world travel map all these years, and when chatting with some senior travelers, I only have to listen to the part of Latin America every time I come to the Latin American part of the world, so I at the beginning of 2020 I secretly resolved to hit Latin America before 2023 comes, and take this opportunity to pick up the Spanish that I have not been able to learn before.
Is Mexico safe?
Before I get into the meat of the matter, I think it’s very important for me to answer the question above. I’ve found that when I share content about Mexico on social media, questions about the safety aspects of Mexico are the top topic of concern for many of my friends.
First of all, I don’t think that’s the right question to ask, you should be asking, “Is so-and-so place in Mexico safe?”
As we all know, Mexico is a country with a fairly large area of the country, the network, film and television works on the Mexican ferocious drug lords report portrayed to the Mexican country as a whole on a “dangerous” hat, not knowing that in fact, Mexico’s drug network and drug lords activities in fact only exist in a few states.
Above this Mexico travel safety advice map from the U.S. State Department, from this map we can easily see that the dark green (Safe), light green (Safe in Tourist Areas) states accounted for the vast majority, only a few states bordering the United States in the yellow unsafe zone.
As a result, some people on the Internet have also created this flowchart about the safety of traveling in Mexico:
In other words, as long as you don’t go to those yellow states on the map above, don’t cross paths with the drug networks, and use a little more COMMON SENSE at the same time, then Mexico is actually as safe as the vast majority of travel destinations in the world without much worry.
I’ve heard some horror stories from the Expats group in Playa Del Carmen, such as bars/ferries being bombed and cab rides being robbed at gunpoint by the driver, but they’re just rumors that come out of other people’s mouths.
Getting Around
During the three days we lived in Playa, we spent most of our time measuring the city on our feet, and apart from the unavoidable factor of the heat during the day, Playa is generally a very walkable city.
If walking is too slow and tiring for you, biking is also a good option. Compared to home, bicycles in Mexico are not cheap, even used bikes rarely cost less than $50, new bikes usually cost more than $200, and we heard that bike theft is rampant here, so we were ultimately discouraged from buying a bike. But there is another option – bike sharing. There is a local startup called BiciPlaya, and you can often find these green bikes with parking stakes on some of the city’s main streets, and the rental fee is quite fair – 500 pesos for a year. However, considering the bad experience of not being able to return the bikes at certain times, and the fact that we didn’t spend that much time in Playa, we didn’t dare to try it out in the end.
If the distance is more than 2km, we occasionally use the local public transportation system. There are two main types of buses in Playa – the larger buses called “Tusca”, which cost 5 pesos for a one-way ticket, with the driver acting as the conductor and providing change. Rumor has it that there are a total of 6 bus routes in Playa, but until the day I left Playa, I didn’t have a clear idea of how the bus system works. What I can say for sure is that there are definitely buses that pass through some of the main roads in Playa, such as 30th Ave and Ave CTM. Only that the bus stops on this side of the sign don’t have any information about the stops and routes, so you need to look carefully at the various place names printed on the front windshield of the vehicle, and if there’s a destination you want to go to, just get on the bus.
Playa’s other public transportation is a network of bread-and-butter minibuses called Colectivo, whose routes are more complex than those of the Busca mentioned above, and which cover a wider area, allowing you to travel to neighboring cities such as Tulum and Cancún, as well as to some of the more famous tourist attractions on the way.The cost of a Colectivo ticket is based on the length of the journey, and is slightly more expensive than a Busca, and is more flexible than a Busca. Fares are based on the length of the journey, which is slightly more expensive than the Busca, and with stops on demand, it’s much more flexible and maneuverable than the Busca.
Last but not least, there are times when we will inevitably need to use a cab, and since the local guild of cab drivers has managed to stop the invasion of Uber, all tourists are just lambs to the slaughter in their eyes. None of the cabs here have odometers, so be sure to negotiate the price before you get in, and although there is an official Playa government price list available online, basically unless you’re fluent in Spanish, you can’t expect the driver to take it seriously. Also, according to local news reports, many cab drivers are connected to drug networks in one way or another, so be wary if you’re taking a cab to a less crowded area at night.
food
As an unabashed foodie, exploring the local cuisine is my top priority in every new city I visit. After eating at Playa for two months, my main feelings are twofold:
- This Mexican food is not the other Mexican food, here to eat Mexican food with me before in the rest of the world to eat the Mexican food is not quite the same, especially not as spicy as I imagined, really spicy is their own discretion to add a variety of sauces (salsa), especially containing habanero chili pepper salsa.
- The vast majority of Mexican dishes are summarized in one sentence: tortilla (tortilla) rolled everything. Ingredients directly on the tortilla is called taco, ingredients on the fried tortilla is called tostada, ingredients wrapped in tortillas fried in a frying pan is called empanada, ingredients plus cheese wrapped in tortillas fried is called quesadilla. a variety of corn tortillas as a staple with other ingredients made into almost 80% of the menu, basically all restaurants will give away free tortillas, and the street selling tortillas Tortilleria is the same as our domestic buyers. All restaurants give away free tortillas, and tortillerias are as common as the main food kitchens in China where we buy steamed buns and noodles.
Here are a few of my favorite hidden gem eateries that I often visit, for your reference and enjoyment:
Tacos De Carnitas El Tío is a roadside stall I’ve visited countless times in Playa, and it’s where I’ve found the most delicious tacos in Mexico so far. Their specialty is the “Taco de Carnitas.” They marinate a whole pig and then fry it in a large iron pot until it’s tender. You can choose which part of the meat you want, and the owner will quickly slice a generous portion onto a corn tortilla, topped with their homemade red and green salsas and a squeeze of lime juice. It’s so good it could make you cry. At just $1 each, two will easily fill you up. Five-star recommendation!
- Loncheria Doña Mary is a late-night eatery popular among locals, opening at 6 PM and serving until the early morning hours. Their specialties are chicken offal soup and chicken tostadas. The tostadas are made by first spreading refried black beans on a crispy corn tortilla, then layering shredded chicken, pickled onions, avocado, shredded cheese, and cream, piling it all up into a small mountain. At $1.3 each, two of these will leave you stuffed.
- Pollo Pirata is actually a chain of fast-food restaurants primarily known for their takeaway roast chicken. However, I’ve never tried their roast chicken; instead, I often order their freshly made quesadillas and sopes. The large, handmade corn tortillas are filled with plenty of cheese, pan-fried to a golden crisp, and then stuffed with grilled steak or chicharrón. Served with four different sauces, each bite is incredibly satisfying. At $1.5 each, one is enough to fill you up.
Tourist Attractions and Activities
The Riviera Maya is a narrow coastal strip along the southeastern Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. It is one of Mexico’s most resource-rich tourist areas. Besides its Caribbean island charm, the region boasts various ancient Maya archaeological sites and the world’s densest concentration of cenotes (natural limestone sinkholes). Playa del Carmen, located at the geographic center of the Riviera Maya, serves as an ideal base for exploring the surrounding attractions.
Here are a few must-visit spots that left a deep impression on me:
- Punta Esmeralda
One of the most popular public beaches in Playa del Carmen, Punta Esmeralda is known for its crescent-shaped bay, powdery white sand, and tall palm trees. What makes this beach truly special are the natural freshwater springs that create a crystal-clear natural pool right next to the sea, making it a perfect spot to cool off. A tip: to avoid crowds of locals and tourists, try to visit on a weekday morning.
- Cenotes Around Playa del Carmen
Let me provide a bit of background first: a cenote is a natural sinkhole resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath. Cenotes are one of the Yucatán Peninsula’s most famous and unique geological formations and a major tourist draw. It is said that there are over 6,000 cenotes scattered across the Yucatán Peninsula, the highest density in the world. Most of them are hidden in dense tropical jungles, and some of the more accessible and aesthetically pleasing ones have been converted into “pay-to-enter” natural swimming pools by locals. During our time in Playa, we visited nearly 20 different cenotes. A few I would personally recommend are Cenote Jardin El Eden, Laguna Kaan Luum, and Cenote Cristalino.
- The Town of Valladolid
A small city located in the center of the Yucatán Peninsula, Valladolid is about an hour and a half drive from Playa del Carmen and can be reached by ADO bus. The city is known for its colorful colonial-style buildings and serves as a perfect starting point for visiting various nearby Maya ruins and cenotes. It is less than an hour’s drive from Chichen Itza, one of Mexico’s most renowned five-star tourist attractions.
You can also rent a bicycle and explore the surrounding countryside, visiting a variety of unique cenotes along the way.
- Xcaret Park
Xcaret Park is perhaps the most famous tourist attraction in the Riviera Maya region and one of the largest theme parks in all of Mexico. Located just a short drive from Playa del Carmen, this seaside park spans over 80 hectares and features a mix of wildlife, Mexican folklore, and natural scenery. One highlight worth mentioning is the “Xcaret Mexico Espectacular,” a grand show that starts every evening at 7 PM, involving over 600 performers and lasting more than two hours. The show is comparable to a mini Olympic opening ceremony. Although the tickets for Xcaret are not cheap, costing around $150 each, I believe the show alone is worth the price.
Internet and Working Conditions
Finally, since this is a guide for digital nomads, we naturally need to talk about the internet and working conditions in Playa del Carmen.
In Mexico, the main mobile service providers are Telcel, AT&T, and Movistar, with 4G network coverage decreasing in that order. However, their prepaid plans are priced similarly. Prepaid SIM cards can be easily purchased at OXXO convenience stores, which are everywhere, and you don’t even need to show any ID. You can also recharge your plan at OXXO. Generally, 4G network coverage is quite good within the city, but outside the city limits, you might find yourself without a signal, which is quite different from what we’re used to back in China.
Initially, we bought Telcel SIM cards, but for some reason, neither of our phones could activate the 4G signal, with the fastest connection being only H+. Even after visiting a Telcel store, we couldn’t resolve the issue. After our first month’s plan expired, we switched to AT&T, which also costs 200 pesos per month for 3 GB of data plus unlimited calls and texts. This time, we were able to access 4G.
Playa del Carmen’s wired internet infrastructure is also quite impressive. The house we rented had a TotalPlay fiber optic connection with a download speed reaching an astounding 300 Mbps — honestly, I haven’t experienced such fast internet even in Europe. A tip for everyone: when renting a house, make sure to have a Speedtest app on your phone, and always check the WiFi speed before signing a lease.
As for coworking spaces in Playa, there are three main options: Selina, Nest, and Bunker. Among these, Nest is the most expensive (at $240 per month) but offers the best working conditions. Nest is also the most active on social networks, hosting various skill-sharing events for digital nomads almost every week, along with themed activities and social dinners during public holidays. The great thing is that you don’t need to be a paying member of Nest to join these events, which makes it quite welcoming. If you want to quickly integrate into the digital nomad community after arriving in Playa, just join the various activities hosted by Nest. You can find all the information on their official Facebook page and Instagram account.
Some nomads also choose to work in local cafes. Based on my experience, most cafes in Playa are not very suitable for working — they are either too noisy, uncomfortable, or have unstable internet. If I had to choose the best among them, I’d go with Starbucks.
Conclusion
In summary, Playa, as a classic Mexican Caribbean beachfront destination, is becoming a rising star city for digital nomads in Latin America thanks to its perfect location, comprehensive services, and rich travel resources. Especially after the successful Playapreneur digital nomad summit held for a month in 2019, it’s clear that the number of nomads here will steadily increase and various services for them will continue to improve. Personally, I hope to have the chance to return here in the future to continue my unfinished Yucatan adventure.
