The beaches in Playa are a continual work in progress dictated by mother nature. You can quite literally gain or lose 5-6 feet of beach in a day. There was a large scale beach "reclamation" completed 3 years ago....it's all gone now and back to normal levels which means there are some days you will have lots of beachfront at 8th and the beach and some days not so much. It's impossible to predict. 8th puts you around Alhambra/ Playa Maya. Normally that's a really good stretch if not, walk about 3 blocks south, past Fusion and stake a spot at either Bad Boys, Yan and Ten or WAH WAH beach clubs. There's almost always a good wide stretch in that area. Both BB's and WahWah have great evening entertainment too so be sure and take that in.

You can also walk north past the pier to Kool or Mamitas. HUGE beach clubs with constant boom boom music and over priced food and drink. Beautiful gorgeous stretch of beach up there but I can't stand those clubs. You can also keep going north to Canibal Royal beach club. Quite a ways up there but still on a really nice beach.

Ok, so you think Calle 8 is a good place to stay?

8th and what? Oh yeah you did say 500 meters.....there are several hotels there, I've stayed in a couple myself. Yes it's a great location. Tons of beach bars and restaurants and it's really the thick of things so you'll have no problems finding plenty to do on or off the beach. Be sure and venture off 5th for the better food. It's quite safe and there are so many small gems 3 or 4 blocks west of 5th.

Yes I believe it is 8th between 5th and the beach. It actually may be 50 meters instead of 500.

Playa del Carmen doesn't really have great beaches right in the center of town, the area isn't large. I don't think the niceness of the beach varies that much for a hotel right in town (meaning just north of the pier a bit). I've been to the beach up at the north end (av 30-34 or so) where Mamitas beach club is and the beach is nicer, but it is really crowded.

We have been going to PDC for about 10 years. Ten years ago, 8th st was considered the northern end of the busy part of 5th ave. Now due to the explosive growth on the north end of town, 8th st is in the heart of the action. In general, the beaches are wider at the northern end of the city (near Mamita's) but the beach around 8th is fine. The entire beach is pretty crowded until you reach the outskirts above Mamitas.

I am of the opinion that Playas beaches are much more crowded than in front of many Cancun resorts...I did not enjoy my time at Mamitas, though the water and sand were nice. Wall to wall people...

Mapchick.com has great maps of the area, and that could be a resource to find nice, quieter spots.

Try Coco Beach, on the north end of town. It is much less crowded, with the exception of Sundays when the Mexican families go there.

Forget Mamitas, it is always crowded w/young Mexican people, esp. on weekends when they always seem to have some kind of music festival or volleyball tournament or something there.

I have a condo in Coco beach area, and I must say that you should not get the impression that the beaches are all always really crowded in Playa. It depends on when you go and where you go. Semana Santa (wk. leading up to Easter) is crowded, in particular at Mamitas. But we have stayed at El Faro (10th and the beach) during Semana Santa and the beach was not that crowded. Christmas week is also generally more crowded. But we go at many other times, in fall and summer, when it is pretty quiet, esp. on the north end above Mamitas, at Coco beach.

When are you going to be there?

I am going Labor Day Weekend. I was there two years ago at the same time and I don't remember the beaches being terribly crowded, but I do remember having to walk quite a while to find a good spot.

well, I may be going again around Thanksgiving, so I'll take note of these beach suggestions. I stay in a hotel near Mamitas, and don't have a car, so that's kind of where I am. I presumed there would be times of the year when beaches weren't crowded, seems normal, but I only go there during some kind of holiday time for me. I'll have to figure out where Coco beach is. How far north is that from, say 30th.

I wouldn't think they'd be that crowded Labor Day weekend because that isn't the greatest time of year to travel there, it is hurricane season, after all.

We are also going over Labor day. We went last Labor day and it was really nice. Not nearly as hot as earlier in the summer. Beaches and town not crowded at all. Except Mamitas over the weekend, but then mamitas is always pretty well-visited on the weekends.

Coco Beach is just up north from Mamitas. Around 38th and on north, up to Canibal Royal beach club.

I've been in that area a few times before and this is the first I've ever heard of beach clubs. All the hotels boast of being near this or that beach club. I can't conceive paying for the privilege of loud music and a big crowd of tourists. I can sit on my towel under a palm tree for free.

My take on the beach clubs: For a fee of about $5.00 you will get a lounge chair, a palapa, and a small table. Up until mid afternoon, the music is fairly low key. The beach at the clubs is groomed, and you can have drinks and food brought to your spot. There are also showers and rest rooms available. Not a bad deal for a few dollars, especially if your hotel is several blocks off the beach. Of course the beaches are open to anyone, and you can bring your own chairs, umbrellas and such on to the beach. Whatever works for you.

Trebex, I am not sure when you were last at Coco Beach. Canibal Royal has been there for a few years. It is on the beach in front of the Elements condominuims. It is a small club, maybe that is why you haven't seen it, and it is sort of tucked away at the end of the beach, with some seating off the beach and some on the beach. It is not like the other beach clubs that have rows of chairs on the sand, it is small and more remote. They do not charge for use of their loungers, but you are expected to buy a drink or something to eat.

Of course, you can always just put down your towel and bring your own food and drink to the beach. We do that often, as do many others up and down the beaches, and the Mexican families who frequent Coco beach on Sundays.

Canibal Royal is at Calle 48 and the beach. Their lunch menu is very extensive and good.

Here's the link, and there is a virtual tour that shows you Canibal Royal.
http://www.canibal-royal.com

If you want a nice stretch of beach with no beach clubs to deal with, try the beach area between Canibal Royal (Calle 48th) and Calle 40th. But be aware that it is crowded there on Sundays w/Mexican families. Weekdays are good on that stretch of beach.

I've been to Mamitas and didn't find it bad, but it was a few years ago. I don't remember any loud music, actually, so if it was there, it didn't bother me. Sure, it was crowded, but not oppressively so (meaning there was some room between people), and I got a chair with umbrella without any super problem. I was walking from several blocks away, so I found it convenient. I don't really want to just lay down on the beach on a towel. But I do want a lounge chair and some kind of shade. I don't care about food, I don't eat between meals and am never at the beach more than a couple hours. I bring a bottle of water, that's all, in my tote. It wasn't so bad down near the water, meaning lots of space there, you aren't crowded in the water.

I wouldn't mind buying a drink to get a loungechair and shade, seems fair to me. When I visited Isla Mujeres one day, I remember it was a couple dollar charge for a beach chair, just some stand nearby on the beach, even though the beach was public. Makes it a lot easier for tourists, actually, as they are the ones who don't have their own beach chairs to tote around.