SIX18 TRAVEL

Playa del Carmen has carved its own Euro-chic niche along the Yucatán Peninsula, making it a unique and fashionable place to plan your Mexican getaway. Sophisticated expats and vacationing Europeans relax at the beachside lounges, upholding this small enclave's budding reputation as the place in Quintana Roo to see and be seen. The area's nerve center is El Zócalo, which is well-known for its bronze statue arch that serves as a tribute to Mayan ancestors that lived in the Yucatán Peninsula before the 16th century. Similar to Mediterranean beachfront towns like Nice, the funky little public square is within walking distance of the beach.

Just off the square and running parallel with the shore, La Quinta Avenida features 22 city blocks worth of eateries, bars and quirky shops. And with proximity to the ancient ruins of Tulum and ample natural landscapes to explore (like Río Secreto, Xel-Há and the underwater depths of the Caribbean Sea), Playa del Carmen caters to history buffs and outdoor enthusiasts alike. And of course, Playa's swaths of white sand and brilliantly turquoise water impress even the most selective beach bums. Cancún is Mexico's vacation of the past – today's savvy beachgoers choose the cosmopolitan "Playa."