Completely updated, this insider"s guide veers off the tourist trail for intrepid travelers to experience the local color, intrigue and charm of the Riviera Maya.For travelers in the know, Playa del Carmen is the little gem with all the beauty of white sand beaches that has drawn crowds from around the world to Cancun, with none of the high-rise overdevelopment. Playa remains a wonderful, sleepy town on a human scale, yet its discovery has resulted in a wide range of lodging and dining options. For families and adventurous travelers alike, there"s something for everyone in this Mexican Riviera, known as the “Riviera Maya.” You can explore the fascinating Mayan ruins on the beach at Tulum, shop and have a fabulous lunch on the pedestrian area in Playa, stay in a full-service resort along Playacar, and go for some of the best fishing in the world near the famous Sian Ka"an biosphere in Punta Allen. The Riviera Maya is one of the true travel hot spots in the world today. Includes detailed info for eco-travelers, Maya culture buffs, anglers, foodies, and anyone needing respite on a sleepy beach. This is the definitive guidebook on Playa del Carmen. Distinctive for their accuracy, simplicity, and conversational tone, the diverse travel guides in our Explorer"s Great Destinations series meet the conflicting demands of the modern traveler. They"re packed full of up-to-date information to help plan the perfect getaway. And they"re compact and light enough to come along for the ride. A tool you"ll turn to before, during, and after your trip, these guides include chapters on lodging, dining, transportation, history, shopping, recreation, and more; a section packed with practical information, such as lists of banks, hospitals, post offices, laundromats, numbers for police, fire, and rescue, and other relevant information; maps of regions and locales, and more. 100 full-color photographs and maps throughout