5-6 weeks in Mexico, for diving mainly

[Pajjpen]

Hey!
So im going to Mexico in february as im doing a liveaboard to the Socorro islands, and I planning to stay for another 4 ish weeks before and after the liveaboard.

Im thinking about staying in playa del Carmen as it is close to the cenotes, the bull sharks, the sailfish (?) and Cozumel.
i have however read that playa isn't the most charming place to stay. I'm looking for something that is laid back with some bars and beaches while still being able to book dives from there. Any suggestions on playa or other spots would be cool.

Also since The liveaboard is leaving from Los cabos I was thinking of staying in that area aswell, maybe do some more diving or just hang out and chill, any suggestions on either dives or spots to just chill at, in southern baja would also be much appreciated.
cheers!

 

[Riko Lopez]

hi Pajjpen,

I can recommend you to stay in casa Tucan, or luna sol... those two hotels are very nice, located in downtown 4 street North. From there you are 1 block away from the beach.
if you are looking for a dive shop to dive with...Risas Diving Netherlands | Duiken in Playa del Carmen met Risas Diving This is a dive operation base on the beach on the front of the bull sharks spot...laid back, good prices, flexible and the most important no time issues. Me (Riko) will guide you into the cenotes, I am been guiding the Cenotes for longer than 6 years.

greetings, Riko

 

[Pajjpen]

Ok ill check it out! Do u know of any laid back places around playa where it's not so touristy, for just hanging at bars and maybe staying there for a few days after I've done some diving? Oh and would u recommend I book all my accommodation prior to arrival?

 

[mmmbelows]

Also since The liveaboard is leaving from Los cabos I was thinking of staying in that area aswell, maybe do some more diving or just hang out and chill, any suggestions on either dives or spots to just chill at, in southern baja would also be much appreciated.
cheers!

Todos Santos north of cabo an hour would be the 'chill' place to be in southern baja, there is diving in cabo also, or if you do decide to stay in Todos Santos there is diving 1 hour away in La Paz which puts you on the eastern side of baja in the gulf of california where they dive with sea lions and see whale sharks

Back in the Playa area there is Akumal south of Playa Del Carmen which along with Tulum (just 20 minutes farther south) is the 'chill' area in the Riviera Mayan area. There is some reef diving in Akumal and Tulum, nothing fantastic but you will see sea turtles pretty much guaranteed. But the diving that draws many to that area would be the cenote diving.

 

[Pajjpen]

Todos Santos north of cabo an hour would be the 'chill' place to be in southern baja, there is diving in cabo also, or if you do decide to stay in Todos Santos there is diving 1 hour away in La Paz which puts you on the eastern side of baja in the gulf of california where they dive with sea lions and see whale sharks

Back in the Playa area there is Akumal south of Playa Del Carmen which along with Tulum (just 20 minutes farther south) is the 'chill' area in the Riviera Mayan area. There is some reef diving in Akumal and Tulum, nothing fantastic but you will see sea turtles pretty much guaranteed. But the diving that draws many to that area would be the cenote diving.

I was actually thinking of diving with the sea lions in la Paz aswell. Yeah but the cenotes are accessible from playa del Carmen aswell right? I will check the places u mentioned out, the only concern I have is that I might have to book all my accommodation in advance, so I won't be very flexible.

 

[mmmbelows]

Yeah but the cenotes are accessible from playa del Carmen aswell right?

With a car cenotes are accessible on the Riviera Mayan from all the way north from Cancun to all the way south to Tulum, if you are going to dive cenotes and know what ones you specifically are going to want to do you could tailor your location based on the particular cenotes, if you want to just dive any cenotes convenient and are more concerned with a 'chill' place then you should choose where you want to stay and dive the cenotes that are what you would consider accessible from that location as there are cenotes up and down the Yucatan peninsula even some closer to the coast and some farther inland. Playa Del Carmen is a great central location, especially if you want action, night life etc... if you want 'chill' you might be able to seek out some pockets there, but it's definitely a little further south at Akumal and Tulum.

PS - there are sea lions in cabo also. But I don't believe you see them on dives with the frequency you do in La Paz, but others might have better information.

 

[Pajjpen]

With a car cenotes are accessible on the Riviera Mayan from all the way north from Cancun to all the way south to Tulum, if you are going to dive cenotes and know what ones you specifically are going to want to do you could tailor your location based on the particular cenotes, if you want to just dive any cenotes convenient and are more concerned with a 'chill' place then you should choose where you want to stay and dive the cenotes that are what you would consider accessible from that location as there are cenotes up and down the Yucatan peninsula even some closer to the coast and some farther inland. Playa Del Carmen is a great central location, especially if you want action, night life etc... if you want 'chill' you might be able to seek out some pockets there, but it's definitely a little further south at Akumal and Tulum.

PS - there are sea lions in cabo also. But I don't believe you see them on dives with the frequency you do in La Paz, but others might have better information.

Great info! I won't be driving myself but I thought the dive shops took u to the cenotes which was like included in the price. I've seen some YouTube videos of some cenotes but I'd be up for suggestions on which ones are the "best" or which ones you would recommend, and I could go from there. Cheers

 

[Dive Right In Scuba.]

If you are looking for something laid back, with just the opportunity to relax on the beach while visiting the nearby cenotes, I recommend Akumal. It is a little south of Playa Del Carmen and a lot closer o the better Cenotes. There are several dive shops that can take care of you as far as the diving goes. I go there regularly myself.

 

[Pajjpen]

If you are looking for something laid back, with just the opportunity to relax on the beach while visiting the nearby cenotes, I recommend Akumal. It is a little south of Playa Del Carmen and a lot closer o the better Cenotes. There are several dive shops that can take care of you as far as the diving goes. I go there regularly myself.

Sweet! Might do a couple of days there instead of more time in playa. Accomodation is probably going to be cheaper there aswell, compared to playa.
Edit: looks like accommodation was not cheaper haha. Do you have any affordable places to recommend?

 

[Dive Right In Scuba.]

Sweet! Might do a couple of days there instead of more time in playa. Accomodation is probably going to be cheaper there aswell, compared to playa.
Edit: looks like accommodation was not cheaper haha. Do you have any affordable places to recommend?

My wife and I usually stay in a set of condos called Las Casitas. You would probably not think of it as affordable, but because they are condos, we save a lot of money by making our own breakfasts and lunches and even some dinners. They are right on the beach, and that section of the beach is exclusive to those condos. During the evenings we will walk to the beach and pull some lounge chairs into the water and gaze up at the stars sipping tequila while the waves gently ripple beneath our chairs. (I want to be there now!)

There is a hotel nearby nearby (Akumal Caribe) that has cheaper rooms than that.

Here is a site with more information on local accommodations: https://www.locogringo.com/