Playa del Carmen Gay Travel
Is there gay life in Playa del Carmen? What can you expect for gay bars? Find out if Quintana Roo is right for you. Discover paradise with this Playa del Carmen gay travel guide!
The Gay Travel Experience: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
So, you’re interested in visiting Playa del Carmen. That may mean one of a few things. Maybe you want a cheap destination for some sun near beautiful blue waters. Perhaps you’ve heard of the bountiful all-inclusive resorts here. Or, maybe you just found a cheap flight direct to nearby Cancun from your home city.
Let me help you get oriented with Playa del Carmen gay life. I’ll go over the basics and explain if PDC is a good spot for you as a gay traveler.
I visited Playa del Carmen during the month of August while traveling with my amazing mom and one of my little brothers. We took advantage of low-season pricing and stayed ten wonderful days in an all-inclusive resort. It wasn’t the most “gay-oriented” trip I’ve taken, but I was certainly able to suss out the gay vibe for you!
Now…all-inclusive resorts are not normally my thing. I’m usually out exploring the most authentic areas of cities, taking in the local culture. However, when in Playa del Carmen, it’s most common that you stay in an all-inclusive. It’s what this town does best!
PDC is not really a city where you’ll want to lace up your sneakers to pound the pavement. There is of course a cute town center, but that is not why most people visit Playa del Carmen. Instead, people go to Playa for the leisurely resorts that line the oceanfront.
The Playa del Carmen Gay Scene
Playa del Carmen is primarily a family-oriented destination. Since the area is full of all-inclusive resorts, families book group vacations. This heavily outweighs the number of gay travelers in PDC. The gay scene in Playa del Carmen is small and mainly comprised of locals, but it does exist!
Overall, there are not herds of gay men visiting Playa del Carmen. PDC simply doesn’t compare to places like Miami, Florida. But, if you’re still reading, maybe permeating a gay crowd isn’t really what you’re after.
If your main question is “where do gay guys stay in Playa del Carmen,” then I can tell you that you’re likely to find them in the central PDC area. Gay guys are usually found here instead of resorts farther away. Why? It’s closer to gay nightlife. I only noticed one or two gay guys at the hotel I stayed at north of central PDC. When I made a trip into the center of town though, there were some more bopping around.
The big exception to all of this is during the huge gay festivals that come to Playa del Carmen! WE Party, a giant gay circuit festival organization, partners with the ARENA International festival in Riviera Maya once a winter.
I have never been, but I can tell you it is a typical circuit festival like Barcelona Circuit or the like. ARENA 2020 takes place at the end of January. When this festival comes to town, expect gay guys everywhere.
A Note on Mexico Gay Rights
Mexico can get a bad reputation, especially if you’re used to hearing a lot of American media outlets talk about their neighbor to the south. Interestingly though, the gay rights situation in Mexico fares much better than that of the United states in many respects!
Both nations are fragmented, with state governments grappling to deal with federal laws. More secular areas have less LGBT protections. Even still, Mexico probably has a much better set of LGBT protections than you may have thought! Head to the end of this PDC gay travel guide to learn more, including the amazing help the country gives to HIV/AIDS patients.
Gay Playa del Carmen: Where to Stay
When people mention Playa del Carmen, they may be referring to one of two things. Firstly, there is the town center of PDC. This is the part of town with narrow, pedestrian-friendly streets lined with stores and restaurants. Then, there is the greater Playa del Carmen township area. This is the larger swath of resort property that is separate from the town center, but still within what is considered to be Playa del Carmen.
Before booking a PDC hotel as a gay traveler, you should decide if proximity to other gay men is a priority for you. Remember that the gay population in Playa del Carmen is slim and there are no official gay hotels in PDC. Don’t believe me? The official “Everything Playa del Carmen” Website says it themselves! So, this decision is more so concerns if you want some gays around, or if you’re are comfortable with having none.
If you prefer more gays than none, then check out some of the hotels in Playa del Carmen that claim to be gay favorites like The Palm at Playa. Otherwise, I siggest rounding up your gay friends and crashing whatever hotel you find to be the best suited to your liking. Below, I’ll provide some general recommendations based on my experience in PDC.
Playa del Carmen All-Inclusive Hotels
I stayed at the Grand Riviera Princess Hotel in Playa del Carmen. I booked the hotel far in advance, and was able to get an upgrade to their Platinum Suites area, where we could take advantage of extra amenities. If by chance you stay here, I’d say it was more than worth it.
Just next door to the Grand Riviera Princess Resort is a similar hotel called Oceans Riviera Paradise Hotel. I took a walk around the grounds of this hotel and it’s magnificent! Their swimming pools were built with this white concrete that makes their water look super blue. I’d say Oceans Riviera is definitely worth checking out.
If you stay in the Playa del Carmen town center, I recommend staying at one of the hotels on the beach. Just a few blocks inland will start to feel a bit bland. Staying along the waterfront will give you awesome views, quick beach access and close proximity to all the fun activities happening nearby.
Playa del Carmen Experiences for the Gay Traveler
Cool off inside at the Quinta Alegría Shopping Mall in the Playa del Carmen town center. Inside you’ll find all the typical modern brands. The mall is indoor-outdoor, so it’s a great spot to stroll around, grab a snack and buy some new threads.
Why did you come to Mexico again? The wonderful weather, of course! You don’t need me to tell you to get out and catch some rays. If you’re wondering, the beach in downtown Playa del Carmen is perfectly swimmable. In my opinion, the town center beach was not any cleaner or murkier than the beaches near the resort I stayed at. It all seemed the similar.
While on the subject of sun, make sure to wear an appropriate amount of sunscreen. There’s nothing worse than getting burned on your first day of vacation. Plus, sun damage causes wrinkles, and not just on your face!
Grab a bite to eat or a few margaritas at Señor Frog’s. The Señor Frog’s restaurant is a favorite chain of mine, especially because it’s a familiar spot for me in Miami Beach. They have an awesome elevated terrace where you can people watch on the streets below. Sometimes you just need a good chain establishment to be satisfied!
PDC Dolphin Swimming Experiences
One of my mother’s dreams was to swim with a dolphin. Neither of us had done it before, and so we had to make it happen! I know all of the animal rights advocates are not going to like me for this, but I booked a half-day dolphin experience with my family! Before you get too angry, let me explain the circumstances
We went to Dolphin Royal Swim at “Dolphin Playa del Carmen.” We each had some time with a sea lion, a dolphin and a huge manatee! I must say that every sea animal we touched and interacted with had huge amounts of free space to roam.
The animals seemed happy and appeared to love their trainers. I didn’t see any signs of mistreatment, abuse or unnecessary captivity. For example, when the sea lions weren’t interacting with us, they swim and relax in huge open areas of water.
For those wondering more about this experience, here’s some more detail about the general options. Usually, dolphin experiences take place in small groups of five and eight people. Each person takes turns doing the same activity with each animal. Personally, I loved the manatees because they’re so huge, slow and easy to get up close to!
Playa del Carmen Gay Bars
La Cueva del Maya T is a local gay bar in Playa del Carmen that is a little seedy but a ton of fun. It more closely resembles a strip club that also has drag performances. Since La Cueva is a little farther outside the town center of Playa del Carmen, you’ll find tons of locals there. Definitely not a tourist bar!
I also have a few friends that have been to La Cueva and liked it very much. If you’re in the area of central PDC, go give it a try.
Club 69 is a PDC gay bar in the main town center. This is the only officially-labeled “gay bar” in Playa del Carmen. I unfortunately did not have the chance to go! It’s a small space and there is a cover charge. If you give it a try, let me know in a comment.
Note that the gay bars in Playa del Carmen will be most busy on Friday and Saturday nights, as you might expect. If you can’t get there on one of these days, I would consider skipping them unless you happen to be nearby. No one wants to make a long trip out to visit an empty bar!
Don’t forget about the popular ARENA Riviera Maya gay festival held every winter. If you love circuit parties, I am sure this will be a perfect option for you.
Playa del Carmen Gay Travel Tips
If you are opting for the common all-inclusive hotel option, you may want to consider an adults-only resort. Remember that Cancun and Playa del Carmen are family-oriented destinations. In traditional resorts you will certainly find children squealing with happiness by the pool.
If this will be bothersome to you, then explore the pricing options for PDC adults-only resorts. Remember that some regular resorts do have adults-only sections. Look out for this while booking accommodations.
To visit Playa del Carmen, you will fly into the Cancun International Airport. It is best to arrange transportation in advance to your hotel in order to avoid getting ripped off. Some of the prices for private transportation are absolutely ridiculous. On-the-spot taxis can demand the equivalent of up to 200 USD for one way! If you’re more flexible, there are also coach busses that go to central PDC.
Playa del Carmen Pharmacies: What Can You Buy?
Many Playa del Carmen gay travel newbies are naturally curious about the medications and supplements that are legally available for sale in Mexico. Firstly, I will tell you that these pharmacies are everywhere. There are dozens around the town center, so you will have absolutely no issue finding one.
There are many medications sold in Mexico that are only available in the United States with a prescription. I won’t list them here, but if you have a hunch about what you might find, you’re probably right.
Not all pharmacies sell the same things. Many times, one pharmacy will only carry the most basic of medications while another will advertise that they sell the supplements that are hard to come by. Disclaimer: always abide by your country’s laws regarding international transport of medications.
Prices for different medications at different pharmacies in Playa del Carmen vary significantly. Sometimes it has to do with how close you are to the waterfront and other times there is no logic behind it. My mom actually got an infection while in Mexico and so I took it upon myself to get some antibiotics for her. Look at all I learned!
Should I Visit Mexico in the Summer?
Summer is the tourist low season in Mexico for the obvious reason that all of North America and Europe have other destinations that tourists flock to. Mexico is much cheaper in the summer, and so those who want even more of a bargain may decide to visit Playa del Carmen in the summer.
I, personally was one of those people! I visited Playa del Carmen in the summer with my mom and little brother. Although we had a fantastic time, it certainty was sweltering hot. In my opinion, the discomfort is mostly from laying in the direct sun. It can be too hot to lay out for a tan!
I think this would have been more avoidable if the hotel I was staying at had a cooler pool temperature. I’m not exactly sure how you can check this for a specific resort. But escaping the summer heat is difficult if the pool water is also hot! If you prefer the shade, then you really shouldn’t have an issue! For me, the overly warm pool water made it difficult to relax.
Do Playa del Carmen Beaches have Seaweed?
Playa del Carmen beaches have the clear blue water that you have come to expect while visiting Mexico. However, it is very common for large blooms of seaweed to cloud the shoreline. During these times, the beaches in Playa del Carmen are not so clear.
If you wade through some of this organic debris, you’ll get to a point where the beach water is clear and blue! If there is any seaweed, it tends to collect along the first few meters of shoreline closest to the sand. Many hotels work very hard to remove the seaweed as best they can, but sometimes it can become unmanageable.
LGBT Rights in Mexico
Gay marriage is legal in large swaths of Mexico, but cannot yet be performed everywhere. Each state has its own regulations and so changes to processes are gradual. All same-sex marriages performed in one Mexican state, however, are thankfully recognized throughout the country.
This does not solve the issue for the millions of individuals who live in a state where gay marriages are not performed. The battle for equal rights is still going strong.
All Mexican states allow single (not married) LGBT individuals to adopt children. Mexico passed the law in 2010, which makes the them the 11th country in the world to provide this freedom to the LGBT community. The nation also takes pride in allowing MSM’s to donate blood. Mexico is the first North American nation to lift the MSM blood donation ban.
Mexico has numerous LGBT anti-discrimination laws that protect people in all states. The Mexican law protects gay people with quite a hefty blanket statement regarding intolerance for discrimination.
The law starts by explicitly disallowing discrimination when it comes to sexual preferences. The law then covers many other important remaining situations by stating any act that impedes enjoyment of rights. I’m no lawyer, but this sounds pretty solid to me.
Mexico’s Help with HIV/AIDS Treatment
It is heartwarming to know that Mexico has been providing free treatment to anyone with HIV/AIDS since 2003. This was a huge step for Mexico in the face of a crises where the nation had the highest rate of AIDS cases of any OECD country in 2016. There is a large stigma around HIV/AIDS present throughout the nation, preventing many individuals from seeking help when they need it.
In recent news though, funding cuts threaten the continuation of such gratuitous services to those in need. We need to support those in Mexico who are fighting against rollbacks of helpful programs. On another note, Mexico is one of the first nations in Central America to introduce HIV treatment drugs!
Explore more of Mexico. Check out the gay travel guide to Holbox Island and discover absolute blue-water paradise.
Need more ideas for gay vacations? Explore wolfyy’s full list of gay travel destinations!
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In 2018, I quit my job to travel the world. My mission is to provide authentic, local gay travel information to gay travelers everywhere.
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