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This exclusive corner of the Yucatan Peninsula has its own stretch of stunning beach and offers a golf club, spa and fitness facilities, plus plenty of ways to relax and unwind. It’s close to the shops of Playa Del Carmen and offers superb dining and entertainment.
Fly direct on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday.
Indirect Virgin Atlantic flights are available from London Heathrow.
Do I need a visa?
No, UK passport holders don't need a visa for Mexico. You'll just need to complete a tourist card on your flight to Cancun.
However, if you are travelling via the USA, then you will need to apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) no less than 72 hours prior to travelling.
You can easily wander around Playacar by foot. Take a leisurely wander along the beach to nearby Playa Del Carmen or a 5-minute cab ride. Once you reach Playa Del Carmen you can hop on one of the many inexpensive buses which will ferry you to Cancun and beyond.
Playacar Holidays: Discover Paradise in Mexico
Playacar, Mexico is a slice of paradise – with added class. This exclusive resort area is just south of the chic boutiques and lively bars of Playa del Carmen. Here, you can enjoy the culture and thrills of the Riviera Maya from a stylish private enclave – there will always be an empty sun-lounger, ice-cold drink and dazzling sea view waiting for you. Indeed, on holidays to Playacar’s all-inclusive hotels, you can dine like royalty, try every watersport under the Caribbean sun, splash about with the kids, opt for an adults-only retreat, visit a spa, tee off, dive in, work out or wind down. The choice is yours.
Scrunch your toes into the powder-soft sands of the Playacar coast, a super stretch of turquoise-lapped shore that seems to extend forever. The all-inclusive Allegro Playacar has an especially lovely location, its thatched guesthouses spilling right onto the brilliant-white beach.
Find splendid seclusion on Inah Beach, just to the south. This peaceful spot is perfect for swimming and snorkelling – look for squid, turtles and a whole rainbow of corals.
Sip margaritas overlooking the sea at Wah Wah Beach Bar – a Playacar holiday must-do. This joint on the Playa del Carmen waterfront has a relaxed vibe, a tasty menu, ice-cold drinks, shady umbrellas, live music and service with a smile.
Make the most of the watersports on any holiday to Playacar’s all-inclusive hotels. The calm, balmy Caribbean Sea is perfect for trying new things, and resorts such as the family-friendly Sandos Playacar offer free use of kayaks, boogie boards, snorkelling gear and hobie catamarans; you can even join a free scuba dive demo in the pool, ideal if you’re thinking about giving it a go.
Jump into a jungle-hugged cenote. The limestone Yucatan peninsula is like a geological Swiss cheese, riddled with caves and water-filled sinkholes. All Playacar holidays should include a dip in at least one of these sublime natural swimming pools.
Try everything at Xcaret! At this part eco-park, part museum and part theme park you can learn about Mayan life, float along natural channels, stroll through the jungle, speed down water slides and much more. For easy access, stay at the family-friendly Allegro Playacar, just 20 minutes away.
Dive into the crystal-clear Caribbean around Cozumel. This laid-back island, just off Playacar, has spectacular coral formations, warm waters, excellent underwater visibility and masses of marine species, from turtles to eagle rays. Learn to scuba on your holiday to Playacar at a resort such as Sandos.
Delve into the wildlife-filled Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, one of the largest protected areas in Mexico. Don’t miss the magical ruins of Muyil, one of over 20 Mayan sites hidden in the reserve.
Get a bird’s eye view of the jungle on your Playacar holiday by riding a zip-wire amid the tree-tops. Head for the Xplor Adventure Park, where not only can you zip-wire, you can drive amphibious vehicles through underground tunnels, swim down subterranean rivers and raft amid stalactites. And it’s only a short drive from all of Playacar’s hotels.
Enjoy the most exclusive dining experience on the Yucatan peninsula. At the elegant Royal Hideaway Playacar you can book a Chef’s Table at Las Ventanas restaurant – the resort’s creative kitchen crew will talk you through the exquisite six- or 12-course tasting menu as they serve.
Tee off on the championship Playacar Spa & Golf course. Designed by legendary course architect Robert von Hagge, its 18 holes are fringed by wildlife-filled jungle and merge into the magnificent surroundings.
Ease away your stresses at a world-class spa on holidays to Playacar, Mexico all-inclusive hotels. Visit the state-of-the-art Awe Spa at the Playacar Palace for soothing body wraps and luxurious facials. Or indulge in a bespoke treatment at the Royal Hideaway Playacar – perhaps a couple’s massage by the sea.
Get your married life off to a luxurious start with a honeymoon at the adults-only all-inclusive Royal Hideaway Playacar. The Honeymoon Suites have large terraces with hammocks, not to mention a bottle of fizz on arrival.
Feel like a pop star: order a cocktail from your lilo! The Sandos Playacar has a cool adults-only pool where you can breaststroke right up to the counter for a rum punch. Or paddle up to the Wet Bar at Playacar Palace – at this high-class all-inclusive, even top-shelf drinks are free of charge.
Shop until you drop along Playa del Carmen’s Fifth Avenue. Browse designer boutiques and Mexican crafts, stop off for a tequila and soak up the festive vibe. The street is especially lively in February and March, when carnival comes to town..
Cycle around Coba – this vast Mayan complex is ripe for two-wheeled exploration. Take a day-trip from the Playacar Palace or – if you don’t fancy going far – join one of the hotel’s free bike tours of Playacar’s own gorgeous gardens and safe lanes.
Taste the authentic flavours of Playacar, Mexico – from cheesy quesadillas to fiery aguachile, the local chilli-hot spin on ceviche. Spices restaurant at the Royal Hideaway Playacar serves up fine Mexican and Caribbean food with spectacular sea views. Or tuck into street food-style snacks at Sandos Playacar’s poolside Itzapalapa cafe.
Sway to the sounds of the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival – three nights of free world-class jazz held in Playa del Carmen every December. Or go to the Royal Hideaway Playacar’s Royal Club Theatre, where there are shows most nights of the year.
Plunge into the wild hinterland to add some Mayan culture to your Playacar holidays. Many magnificent sites are reachable on day-trips – for instance, the Playacar Palace runs expert-guided tours to Chichen Itza, including a tasty local lunch.
Known as the jewel of the Mayan Riviera, Playacar is the perfect destination to relax and unwind. Browse our Playacar hotels to book your getaway today.
Your holiday may be affected by travel restrictions or cancellations
We are continually reviewing our flying schedules, taking into account the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice against all non-essential travel. Depending on when you are due to travel, your holiday may be affected and we’ll email you to let you know as least 21 days before travel.
Your next holiday is only a click away - our website has thousands of options ready to book. But if you need more help, just give us a call on 0344 472 9646.
With many customers needing our help, we are prioritising those customers due to travel before 31 December 2020. Log in to Manage my booking where you can message us about your options or you can give us a call. Bear in mind you may have to wait longer than expected. We continue to review this and working to open up these options to more customers. In the meantime check out our FAQs to see if this can help answer any immediate questions.
Rest assured; we will notify you as soon as we know if your holiday has been affected.
We are continually reviewing our flying schedules, taking into account the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice against all non-essential travel. Depending on when you are due to travel, your holiday may be affected and we’ll email you to let you know as least 21 days before travel.
Please look out for emails from us or visit our dedicated Covid-19 (Coronavirus) page for the latest updates.
Don’t worry if you’ve missed a payment or just need a little more time to pay; we have options available to help you. If your holiday is going ahead as planned, you can continue to pay for your holiday in Manage my booking, even if travelling in less than 12 weeks. If you’re unsure, you can delay any additional payments by choosing a new time to travel by requesting a call back in Manage My booking for one of our team to look at options. If your holiday is more than 6 months away, you may wish to set up a Direct Debit to spread the cost. This can be arranged whilst rebooking or afterwards in Manage my booking.
We understand that you may wish to change your holiday plans and we appreciate the need for flexibility.
We'll be in touch by email letting you know how to register to change your holiday plans. You can also log into Manage my booking to find the details there.
Please look out for emails from us or visit our dedicated Covid-19 (Coronavirus) page for the latest updates.
If we haven’t notified you of any changes, your holiday will be going ahead as planned but if you prefer to move your holiday to a later time we can help. You can call our team on 0344 472 9499 who can look at options for you.
Payments are being prioritised based on when the request was made, working in order from March 2020 onwards. We will always try to process refunds at the earliest opportunity, for requests before August our maximum timeframe is 120 days. As we are steadily reducing the maximum processing time for each new request, for refund requests made in August, we expect the maximum processing time to be 80 days, from the date the refund is requested. For those requesting a refund in September, we expect it to be processed within a maximum of 60 days, and then reduce to 30 days for refunds requested in October, before returning to normal levels.
To finalise the amendment, one of our customer advisors will phone you. We need to work through amend requests in departure date order so we can prioritise those with the most imminent travel plans, so you may have a longer wait than usual until we’re able to ring you back. We will help everyone that wants to move their holiday.
I returned early from holiday and have further questions?
You can contact our team by emailing feedback.backhome@virginholidays.com to discuss options on unused portions of your holiday. If you need to contact our team about amending an existing holiday or requesting a refund please log in to manage my booking.