June 17, 2025 • 24 mins
In this first part of the second episode of Echando Raíces, we dive into the fascinating transformation of Playa del Carmen—from a quiet Mayan fishing village called Xaman-Há into one of the most-visited tourist destinations on the continent. Eduardo Vales, Laura Contreras, Bruno Rovea, and Guillermo Teyseyre share anecdotes, historical facts, and reflections on the rapid growth of the Mexican Caribbean, the impact of tourism, and the region’s urban evolution.
From the Mayan legacy to the arrival of Jacques Cousteau and the rise of the Riviera Maya as a tourism brand, this episode traces the history and foundations that make Playa del Carmen a unique place to live, visit… and invest.
Sources consulted and suggested:
https://www.gob.mx/solidaridad
https://www.grupoxcaret.com/es/historia/
https://www.xcaret.com/es/acerca-de-xcaret/
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Alexa (00:00):
Welcome back Today we are really digging into a place
(00:02):
that's just transformedincredibly.
Playa del Carmen down in Mexico.
Bob (00:07):
That's right.
Alexa (00:08):
If you've been there recently, you see this, this
buzzing city, all the energy, itfeels so international, but you
know, how did it actually.
Get that way.
Bob (00:17):
Well, that's the journey we're going on today.
Alexa (00:19):
We're gonna unpack that story right from, its like
ancient roots all the way to theglobal hotspot.
It is now.
Bob (00:26):
Exactly.
We've got some fantastic sourcematerial here that really charts
the course of thattransformation.
And our goal, our mission is topull out the key insights.
Yeah.
You know, the turning points,what really drove the growth
Alexa (00:38):
and why that matters now.
Right.
Bob (00:40):
Crucially, yes.
Why this history isn't just, um,interesting trivia.
Why it's actually essential.
If you're looking at real estateinvestment down there today, you
really need to understand thefoundation to see the, uh,
future potential.
Alexa (00:54):
Absolutely.
It's like understanding the DNAof the place, isn't it?
Well, look at the deep past, thequiet village days, the whole
regional picture that shaped it,
Bob (01:01):
and then.
That explosion of growth leadingto the, well, the really dynamic
market we see now.
Alexa (01:07):
Yeah, the material looks great.
Let's get into it.
Bob (01:09):
Okay, so let's start way, way back.
I.
Thousands of years ago, longbefore any modern buildings,
back when it was a key spot forthe Maya.
Alexa (01:18):
Okay, let's do it.
So the sources take us rightback.
Before Playa del Carmen was evena name.
The spot on the coast, it had aMayan name.
Bob (01:28):
It did.
The people who lived there, whoused that location, they called
it Xaman-Ha, Xaman-Ha.
And that name, it actually tellsyou something about its
importance.
Geographically.
Speaking to the Maya,
Alexa (01:40):
what does it mean?
Bob (01:41):
It translates from Mayan as water of the North.
So it wasn't just some randombeach.
It was a known place, asignificant place in their
world,
Alexa (01:49):
and more than just a settlement.
Right.
The sources say it was prettyactive back then.
Oh,
Bob (01:52):
definitely.
It was a vital Mayan commercialtransit center.
You gotta picture it like a,maybe a bustling little port
area.
Mm-hmm.
A key spot for launchingjourneys for trade.
Alexa (02:02):
Then the main destination from there.
Bob (02:04):
The main place people were heading from Xaman-Ha was the
island right across the water,Cozumel.
Alexa (02:08):
Ah, okay.
So that Cosel connection, it'sancient, really fundamental to
this spot's history.
Why was Cozumel so important?
Bob (02:17):
Well.
Cozumel held huge spiritualsignificance for the Maya.
Hmm.
It was considered a sacredisland.
It was the main sanctuary for
Alexa (02:24):
ex shell, the goddess of,
Bob (02:25):
she was a major goddess.
Alexa (02:26):
Mm-hmm.
Bob (02:27):
Associated with the moon, fertility, medicine, weaving,
really powerful.
So making that crossing fromXaman-Ha over to Cozumel It
wasn't just a boat trip, it wasoften a pilgrimage.
Alexa (02:39):
People traveling from all over to get there.
Bob (02:40):
Exactly.
A journey to a holy site.
And that made salmon ha as themain departure point, the
gateway, incredibly important,both strategically and um,
religiously.
Alexa (02:51):
So for an investor thinking about location today,
that significance isn't new.
It's built on like thousands ofyears of human activity right
there.
Bob (02:59):
Precisely.
The value of that specificlocation has deep roots.
But of course, history moves on,empires change, and the region
entered a much, much quieterphase after that.
Alexa (03:08):
Right.
The sources talk about this longperiod after the colonial era
where this whole stretch ofcoast, including what became
playa, was kind of forgotten.
Bob (03:18):
Largely forgotten, yeah.
By the wider world.
Anyway, it wasn't part of thebig colonial projects or the
leader national developmentplans for a long time.
Life there became very isolated,very base.
Alexa (03:29):
What did that look like day to day?
Bob (03:31):
Well, life was really tied to the sea in the jungle.
People were fishing, survivingoff the natural resources.
Coconuts, maybe some Chileharvesting.
Alexa (03:39):
Yeah,
Bob (03:40):
you know the latex for chewing gum.
Alexa (03:41):
Ah, right.
One of the few links to theoutside world, maybe
Bob (03:44):
pretty much the only one.
And even that was limited.
But otherwise, almost no moderninfrastructure.
Forget paved roads, connectinganywhere.
Major.
No reliable electricity.
Very few services.
Just a tiny, tiny fishingcommunity.
Alexa (03:57):
How tiny are we talking?
Bob (03:58):
Some sources suggest maybe only about 200 people lived
there for a very long time.
Just a handful of families.
You can imagine it barely showedup on maps except maybe has a
spot to launch a boat.
Alexa (04:07):
It's incredible to picture that knowing the city
today, but even then, even whenit was so isolated, the location
itself, the natural beauty,always had something special.
Bob (04:17):
That inherent appeal is absolutely key.
Alexa (04:19):
Mm-hmm.
Bob (04:20):
Even as just a tiny village, its main function,
really, its only function foroutsiders was still that unique
position as the easiest place tocatch the ferry over to Cozumel.
Alexa (04:30):
Still the gateway.
Bob (04:31):
Still the gateway.
For decades, really in the mid20th century, the only reason
most outsiders ever set foot andPlaya del Carmen was just to get
on that boat to Cozumel puretransit.
Alexa (04:41):
Not a destination in itself.
Yeah, yeah.
At all.
Bob (04:44):
You'd arrive head for the pier, get on the boat, and
that's it.
But even just being that transitpoint, it sowed the seeds for
discovery and then came a reallypivotal moment involving someone
very famous.
Alexa (04:55):
Who was that?
Bob (04:56):
Jacques Cousteau,
Alexa (04:57):
ah, the Ocean Explorer.
How did he play a role?
Bob (04:59):
Well, in the 1960s, Cousteau, made a documentary
specifically about the amazingcoral reefs near Cozumel, this
whole area, it's part of thesecond largest barrier reef
system in the world, right?
Alexa (05:09):
The Mesoamerican Reef.
Incredible.
Bob (05:11):
Exactly, and Cousteau's film showed this incredible
underwater world to a hugeinternational audience.
Alexa (05:18):
Mm-hmm.
Bob (05:18):
It basically put Cozumel on the map as a top tier diving
destination.
Alexa (05:22):
Okay.
So Cousteau drives attention toCozumel diving.
Bob (05:25):
Big time international divers start wanting to go
there.
And how did most of them get toCozumel back then?
Alexa (05:32):
They'd have to fly into Cancun, presumably.
Bob (05:35):
Right.
Alexa (05:35):
Which was just starting up.
Bob (05:36):
Right.
Cancun's Airport, CUN wasrelatively new.
Yeah.
Billed partly for this emergingtourism.
So they fly into Cancun, thenthey travel south down the coast
Alexa (05:45):
to playa del Carmen to catch that ferry.
Bingo.
They had to pass through
Bob (05:49):
playa.
It was the mandatory stopover,and this is where that natural
appeal we talked about reallystarted to kick in, even though
Playa itself had zero touristinfrastructure.
Alexa (05:58):
So people waiting for the ferry just started.
Looking around
Bob (06:01):
Exactly.
They're waiting, maybe grabbinga drink and they see these
completely undeveloped beaches.
Just pure white sand, turquoisewater, jungle, right up to the
edge.
Alexa (06:11):
Yeah,
Bob (06:11):
That raw, a hundred percent Caribbean feel totally natural.
Alexa (06:14):
A real contrast to anywhere else that was maybe
starting to get developed
Bob (06:18):
A stark contrast.
It was quiet, it was beautiful,and it started catching people's
attention precisely because ofwhat it wasn't.
It wasn't developed.
It offered tranquility, Thisidea of people discovering Playa
by chance as a rebound, itperfectly captures how its
appeal first started to stick.
Alexa (06:37):
So what's the typical rebound story?
Bob (06:40):
Okay, so the, the narrative usually goes like this.
Tourists may be inspired byCousteau are headed for Cozumel
for diving.
They fly into Cancun, then theytake the road trip down to
Playa.
Alexa (06:51):
And that road trip wasn't like today's highway, right?
Bob (06:53):
Oh, not at all.
It as much rougher, slower, feltlike you're really going through
remote jungle.
So they finally get the Playa,this tiny village, find the
pier, take the ferry across,they do the Cozumel thing.
Alexa (07:04):
But the key part is the return journey
Bob (07:06):
often.
Yeah.
Or maybe even while waiting forthe ferry initially.
But especially on the way back,heading to Cancun Airport, maybe
they have more time to kill, inPlaya they wander around a bit.
They see the simple life, thePPAs, maybe sandy streets, those
incredible empty beaches,
Alexa (07:24):
And they just fall for it.
Bob (07:25):
They fall in love with the simplicity, the peace, the raw
nature.
Something that was maybe alreadystarting to disappear in more
built up places.
They were charmed by what wasn'tthere yet.
You know.
Alexa (07:36):
That authentic feel.
Bob (07:37):
Exactly.
And the result.
Many of these people literallychanged their plans, maybe
stayed an extra day or two, inPlaya on the way back or
crucially they promisedthemselves they'd returned, but
next time Playa it itself wouldbe the destination, not just
Cozumel.
Alexa (07:52):
Wow.
That's really organic growth,isn't it?
Driven purely by the placeitself.
Bob (07:57):
It really shows the power of that inherent appeal.
Alexa (08:00):
Yeah.
Bob (08:00):
The sea was there just waiting and this was all
happening while the whole regionaround it was starting to
transform too.
Alexa (08:05):
Right.
Playa's story doesn't happen ina vacuum.
We need to look at the biggerpicture.
The whole Eastern Yucatan coastwaking up.
Bob (08:12):
Definitely for most of the 20th century, like we said, this
coast was just vast, jungle,scattered villages, maybe some
Mayan ruins hidden away.
Tourism, basically zero.
Alexa (08:24):
Until Cancun and Cancun's.
Origin is totally different fromPlaya's.
Accidental discovery
Bob (08:29):
Completely different.
Cancun wasn't found.
It was created.
Mm.
It was a top-down, deliberategovernment project starting in
the late sixties.
Alexa (08:36):
A planned tourist city.
Bob (08:37):
Exactly.
The Mexican government basicallyscanned the coast, did studies
and picked this specificuninhabited spot to build a
major international resortdestination from scratch.
Alexa (08:47):
And they move fast.
Bob (08:49):
Incredibly fast.
They picked the spot around1970.
By 1974, the first big hotel,the Garza Blanca, which is now
the Temptation Hotel,interestingly enough, was
already open.
Alexa (08:58):
Four years from jungle islet to functioning hotel.
That's remarkable speed.
Bob (09:02):
It shows the level of commitment and investment.
They were serious about creatingCancun and the timing in the
seventies was perfect just asinternational travel was really
starting to boom.
Alexa (09:11):
So Cancun establishes itself as this planned hub, but
then people start talking aboutthe Riviera Maya.
What's the distinction?
It confuses a lot of people.
Bob (09:21):
It does, and it's a really important distinction for
understanding the market.
Cancun was the first big player,the planned resort zone.
The Riviera Maya concept camelater.
It was essentially a brandingidea.
Alexa (09:32):
A way to market the other places developing south of
Cancun.
Bob (09:36):
Precisely.
To differentiate them to offersomething different
geographically, The Riviera Mayas stretching from Puerto
Morelos just south of Cancun'smain hotel zone, all the way
down to Tulum.
Alexa (09:47):
And Cancun itself isn't usually included in that
definition.
Bob (09:51):
Generally not.
It's seen as the originalseparate hub.
The Riviera Maya is the corridorsouth of it, along the highway
with the sea on one side, jungleon the other.
Alexa (09:59):
And what kind of experience was the Riviera Maya
brand trying to sell?
What was different?
Bob (10:04):
It was positioned as the alternative, getting further
away from the Cancun buzz.
Even if Playa is only what, 50kilometers south.
It aimed for.
Uh, more tranquility, maybe abit more of that hippie vibe.
Initially.
Virgin beaches being more intouch with nature.
Alexa (10:19):
And the Mayan culture aspect.
Bob (10:21):
That was huge.
A key differentiator.
Promoting the Mayan ruins,Tulum, Ccenotes, the rich
archeological heritage.
That cultural depth becamecentral to the Riviera Maya
identity appealing to peoplelooking for more than just a
beach chair.
Alexa (10:35):
So ecotourism, cultural tourism alongside the beach
appeal.
Bob (10:40):
Right.
A different mix.
And within this whole developingRiviera concept, Playa del
Carmen.
Find its place.
Alexa (10:46):
Where does it fit in?
Bob (10:47):
It's consistently called the heart of the Riviera May.
Its location right in themiddle, plus its history as the
Cozumel ferry point made at thenatural center.
While Cancun was planned,Playa's more organic growth,
positioned it perfectly tobecome the hub of this
alternative corridor.
Alexa (11:03):
Okay, so we have the ancient roots, the quiet phase,
the CTO effect, the CancunProject, the Riviera Maya
branding.
Now, let's zero in on Playaitself.
Really taking off the eightiesand nineties seemed crucial.
Bob (11:16):
Absolutely pivotal decades.
The eighties is when Playastarts to carve out its own
niche.
It begins attracting thoseindependent travelers,
backpackers, especiallyEuropeans, people actively
looking for those untouchedbeaches and that relaxed,
authentic vive we talked about.
Alexa (11:31):
The ones trying to avoid the big resort.
Bob (11:33):
Exactly.
And this is when Fifth Avenue,"Quinta Avenida" really starts
its journey.
Alexa (11:37):
What did it look like back then?
Not the bustling pedestrian mallof today, I assume?
Bob (11:41):
Oh, heavens no.
The sources describe it as maybejust a sandy path than perhaps a
dirt road parallel to the beach,and along it, the first very
simple businesses popped up.
Little palapa restaurants, basichostels, maybe a shop selling
crafts.
Very rudimentary cateringspecifically to that early
backpacker crowd.
Alexa (11:59):
And then the nineties really accelerated things.
Bob (12:02):
The nineties were when Playa del Carmen truly found its
identity separating itselfclearly from Cancun.
It became known as this walkabletown.
You didn't need a car.
You could troll everywhere, evenbarefoot from the beach to Fifth
Avenue.
Alexa (12:16):
That easygoing natural feel was the key draw.
Bob (12:19):
It was its main competitive advantage.
That relaxed atmosphere.
Having a coffee at a simplecafe, easily popping out to
visit a nearby cenote, itoffered an authenticity that was
becoming.
Harder to find.
Alexa (12:31):
And those rebound visitors from the Cozumel Ferry
probably reinforced that vibetoo.
Bob (12:36):
Absolutely.
People passing through, werestill discovering it and
deciding, Hey, this is the placeI wanna be.
And Fifth Avenue really startedfilling out in the nineties,
still not luxury, but more smallrestaurants, more galleries,
hostels, turning into smallhotels, shops, catering to the
growing number of tourists, andthe people starting to move
there.
Alexa (12:53):
Ah, so the population growth really kicks in here.
Bob (12:56):
This is where the demographic explosion becomes
undeniable.
That authentic, simple appealdidn't just attract tourists.
It attracted people who wantedto live there or invest early,
and the numbers, they're juststaggering.
Remember when this started,Playa maybe had 1500 people.
Alexa (13:11):
Just a tiny village.
Bob (13:12):
By the end of the 1990s, the population hit 10,000.
Alexa (13:16):
Wow.
A nearly tenfold increase inroughly a decade.
Yeah, that's, that's a massivedemographic pressure from an
investment perspective.
That's huge.
Bob (13:23):
It's incredibly fast growth.
Think about what that means onthe ground.
Rapid, often, informal buildingstrain on any existing
resources.
A sudden huge demand forhousing, for water, for
everything.
It was the absolute definitionof a boom town.
Alexa (13:37):
And that kind of explosive growth must have
forced some changes in how thetown was managed.
Bob (13:42):
It necessitated it.
Alexa (13:43):
Right?
Bob (13:44):
Which leads to a key administrative milestone in
1993.
Alexa (13:47):
What happened then?
Bob (13:48):
The municipality of Solidaridad was officially
created, and Playa del Carmenbecame its own administrative
center gaining autonomy.
Before 93, it was technicallypart of the municipality of
Benito Juarez, which isbasically Cancun.
Alexa (14:00):
So it was being run from Cancun?
Bob (14:02):
Essentially yes.
Getting its own municipal statuswas crucial.
It meant Playa could finallystart doing its own formal urban
planning, try to manage zoninginfrastructure.
You absolutely need that whenyou're growing from 1500 to
10,000 people in the blink of aneye.
Alexa (14:17):
Trying to get some control over the boom.
Bob (14:19):
Exactly.
Trying to guide it rather thanjust react to it.
Alexa (14:22):
Okay, so that sets the stage for the modern era,
bringing us closer to today.
The scale is just immense now.
Bob (14:28):
It really is.
Today.
Playa del Carmen isn't a villageor even a small town.
It's a city with over 300,000.
Permanent residence.
Alexa (14:38):
300,000 from 1500 just a few decades ago.
That growth curve is almostvertical.
Bob (14:43):
It's phenomenal.
And it's just the residents.
On top of that, you have thevisitors.
Alexa (14:47):
How many visitors are we talking?
Bob (14:48):
During high season?
The municipality of solid airdad, which Playa is the heart
of, can host up to 2 millionvisitors!
Alexa (14:55):
2 million visitors on top of 300,000 residents.
The infrastructure needed tosupport that.
It must be massive.
Bob (15:01):
It is.
And it reflects the incredibleinvestment it's poured in.
Playa del Carmen still has animpressive annual growth rate of
around 6%.
Alexa (15:09):
6% now even at its current side.
Bob (15:11):
Yes.
That's ongoing growth coveringtourism, increases new housing,
construction, and peoplecontinuing to move to the city.
For a city over 300,000, asustained 6% growth rate is
really significant.
It shows the vitality is stillthere.
Alexa (15:26):
That signals really strong economic activity and
continued desirability.
Bob (15:31):
Absolutely.
This modern boom is real.
The whole Mexican Caribbeancontinues to cement itself as
one of the most visited placesin this hemisphere.
And Mexico keeps investingheavily in the region.
Alexa (15:41):
And there was that statistic about its global
ranking.
Bob (15:44):
Yeah.
I get this.
In 2023, The Mexican Caribbean,so the whole stretch, including
Playa, Tulum, Puerto Morelos,etc., was the second most
visited destination byinternational travelers in the
entire Americas.
Alexa (15:55):
Second only, too?
Bob (15:56):
Second only to New York City.
Alexa (15:57):
Wow, okay.
Let that sink in.
More international visitors thananywhere else in North Central
or South America, except NewYork.
That's staggering!
Bob (16:08):
It really underscores the massive, consistent demand
that's driving everything andthis demand fuels development
across the board.
Investors need to see thisdiversity.
You've got huge, all-inclusivehotels.
Yes.
But also a thriving boutiquehotel scene.
Alexa (16:24):
In residential.
Bob (16:25):
Exploding residential development, condos, houses,
catering to locals, working intourism, expats, second home
buyers, pure investors.
It's a huge mix.
Plus shopping centers, themeparks.
Over 18 major parks.
Now in the Riviera Maya, golfcourses.
Alexa (16:39):
A whole ecosystem built around tourism and the people it
attracts.
Bob (16:43):
Exactly.
The tourism boom creates tons ofjobs that brings people in from
all over Mexico andinternationally.
Those people need places tolive.
That fuels the housing market.
Success attracts moreinvestment, both Mexican and
foreign.
It's this powerful cycle.
Alexa (16:55):
And it all comes back to that core real estate principle.
Bob (16:57):
Location, location, location, Playa's position, its
development, history, its rolein this massively successful
region.
It ticks that box emphatically.
Alexa (17:07):
All this growth, especially the visitor numbers,
wouldn't be possible withoutmajor improvements in getting
around.
How has connectivity changedsince those early days?
Bob (17:16):
Oh, dramatically.
It had to remember thosedescriptions of the rough, slow
road from Cancun.
Alexa (17:21):
Yeah, sounds like an ordeal.
Bob (17:23):
Well, today, highway 3 0 7 is a modern multi-lane highway.
Getting from Cancun Airport downto Playa is usually around 50
minutes now.
Nice, easy drive.
Alexa (17:32):
And south to Tulum?
Bob (17:33):
About 45 minutes from Playa.
So moving along that maincorridor is smooth and
efficient.
Alexa (17:38):
And what about the original connection, the ferry
to Cozumel?
Bob (17:42):
Still vital and much faster now.
The modern ferries make thecrossing at about 30 minutes.
Plus connectivity has generallyimproved to other spots further
south, like Bacalar or Chetumal.
This whole network is thebackbone supporting those
millions of visitors andresidents.
It's critical infrastructure.
Alexa (17:58):
It's interesting how central that Cozumel link
remains even symbolically.
And speaking of symbols andhistory, a specific cultural
event, that honors that ancientconnection.
Bob (18:09):
Ah, yes.
The Sacred Mayan journey.
The Travesía Sagrada Maya.
Alexa (18:13):
Yeah.
Bob (18:13):
It's organized by Xcaret every year.
Alexa (18:15):
What is it exactly?
Bob (18:16):
It's this incredible event where people recreate the
ancient Mayan canoe journeyfrom, what was the Mayan Usually
departing near Xcaret Park orfrom Playa itself across the
channel to Cozumel.
To honor the Goddess Ixchel.
It's been going on for about 18years.
Alexa (18:32):
Recreated how Just paddling across.
Bob (18:34):
It's much more than that.
They use replicas.
Heavy wooden log canoes, justlike the Maya would've used, not
modern, lightweight kayaks.
These things with maybe 10paddlers in gear can weigh over
a ton, and they use replicawooden paddles too.
Alexa (18:48):
Wow, so it's physically demanding in an authentic way.
Bob (18:50):
Extremely demanding.
Yeah.
Participants train for months,like four or five months, three
or four times a week, oftenstarting super early in the
morning.
It's a massive commitment.
Alexa (18:58):
And the crossing itself, how long does that take?
Bob (19:00):
It's about 20 kilometers, and it takes around seven hours
of continuous paddling to get toCozumel.
Alexa (19:06):
Seven hours in an open canoe on the sea between Playa
and Cozumel.
That channel can be rough, can'tit?
Bob (19:12):
It can be quite challenging.
It's deep over 800 meters inplaces, which means stronger
currents, potentially rougherwater than shallow or crossings
nearby.
They're really battling theelements.
Sometimes the event policy isbasically go rain or shine
unless the port captainofficially closes the port due
to dangerous conditions.
Alexa (19:31):
That really speaks to the determination involved
historically and today.
Is it safe?
Bob (19:36):
Oh, yes.
Safety is paramount.
Now, while they use replicacanoes and paddles, they're
accompanied by modern supportboats for safety monitoring
everything, but the supportboats don't interfere unless
necessary.
You have to arrive in the canoeor a support boat.
Just quitting isn't really anoption during training unless
it's a medical issue.
And there's often a wholeflotilla of other boats that
(19:56):
follows them, cheering them onas they approach Cozumel.
Alexa (19:59):
That sounds amazing.
A real mix of ancient traditionand modern community spirit.
The sources mentioned aparticular figure, The Engineer.
Bob (20:08):
Right?
A legendary participant.
Apparently he's done thecrossing almost every single
year since it started for 18plus years.
He acts as the crucial rudderperson in his canoe.
He's known for just expertlyreading the sea.
The currents, the waves, decadesof experience.
Alexa (20:24):
Incredible.
Yeah.
Bob (20:24):
And that 2024 was supposed to be his last year doing it as
he was turning 62, which is theage limit.
Alexa (20:29):
Yeah.
Bob (20:30):
It just has this really human, poignant layer to the
whole thing.
Alexa (20:33):
It really does.
It connects the modern cityright back to those ancient
Mayan paddlers in a verytangible way.
It shows that history is.
Still alive there.
Bob (20:40):
Exactly.
It adds this cultural depth.
It's a reminder that beneath theresorts and the busy streets,
there's this long, profoundconnection to the sea and to
Cozumel, that still resonates.
Alexa (20:51):
Okay, so we've covered this incredible arc.
Ancient Xaman-Ha the rebounddiscovery, Cancuns influence,
the Riviera Maya concept, thepopulation explosion, the
infrastructure build out rightup to these modern stats and
cultural echoes.
Let's tie it all together.
Now, for someone listening,thinking about investing in
Playa del Carmen Real Estate,what's the bottom line from all
(21:14):
this history?
How does it inform theirdecision?
Bob (21:17):
Well, I think the biggest takeaway is the sheer power of
sustained and even acceleratinggrowth.
That trajectory 1500 people toover 300,000 hosting millions of
visitors, that ongoing 6% annualgrowth, it demonstrates that
this isn't some flash in thepania has proven enduring appeal
on a global scale.
Alexa (21:36):
It has resilience.
Bob (21:37):
Absolutely resilience, and a proven ability to attract
massive investment and build theinfrastructure needed to support
its scale.
It's not just about buying in acurrently popular place, it's
recognizing a pattern of decadeslong, powerful growth.
Alexa (21:48):
And the diversity of the development from backpackers to
luxury.
Bob (21:52):
That's key too.
The market evolved.
It didn't just stick to oneniche.
Now you have luxury resorts,boutique hotels, eco lodges,
family tourism, adult onlyconcepts like the Temptation
Hotel, that was once the GarzaBlanca, this diversity makes the
overall tourism economy morerobust, less dependent on any
single segment.
That's a strength for long-terminvestment.
Alexa (22:14):
And that classic real estate mantra, location,
location, location.
Bob (22:18):
This history validates it completely Playa a strategic
spot.
The heart of the incrediblysuccessful Riviera may.
Its connectivity now excellentto Cancun Airport to Tulum, and
that foundational link toCozumel.
It's geographically blessed andsits within one of the world's
most desirable tourism zones.
Alexa (22:35):
What are the core engines driving this, that the history
reveals?
Bob (22:38):
It boils down to massive, consistent international tourism
demand.
As proven by that number tworanking in the Americas, that
demand creates jobs on a hugescale.
Job creation pulls people infrom Mexico and abroad.
Those people need homes drivingthe residential market, both
rentals and sales.
That success attracts morecapital, more investment in
(22:59):
hotels, shops, attractions,housing.
It's a powerful self-reinforcingcycle.
Alexa (23:05):
So understanding the journey, the mix of the natural
appeal, the planned regionaldevelopment, the sheer
demographic force, the ongoinginvestment gives you a much
richer context for evaluatingopportunities today than just
looking at current prices.
Bob (23:19):
Exactly.
It helps you understand the whybehind the market strength.
You're not just buying bricksand mortar, you're potentially
investing in the continuedtrajectory of a place that has
shown time and again, andextraordinary capacity for
growth and adaptation.
Alexa (23:31):
So here's something to really think about.
Given this incredible historywe've explored from Xaman-Ha to
this global hub driven by itsunique appeal and location.
What parts of Playa del Carmen'spast strike you as the strongest
indicators of its futurepotential as an investment?
Definitely food for thought.
We've traced this amazing storytoday.
Bob (23:53):
It really is a remarkable transformation from Mayan
gateway to forgotten village, toaccidental discovery to the
vibrant heart of the RivieraMay.
Alexa (24:02):
We hit the key milestones, that incredible
population surge, theinfrastructure that had to keep
pace.
Bob (24:07):
It's a fantastic example of how natural appeal, strategic
investment, and just sheer humanmovement can combine to create
something extraordinary, thepower of place, really.
Alexa (24:17):
And we are definitely not done with Play Del Carmen yet.
Join us next time for thecontinuation of this deep dive.
We'll get into the specifics ofwhat makes it so magnetic today.
We're talking fifth Avenue now.
The food scene, the globalconnectivity, all the
attractions.
Bob (24:30):
Yeah.
There's so much built on top ofthis history we cover today.
We'll explore what makes modernPlay a tick.
Alexa (24:34):
Absolutely.
So thanks for joining us We lookforward to continuing the
journey into Playa Ade Carmenwith you next time.
Welcome back Today we are really digging into a place
(00:02):
that's just transformedincredibly.
Playa del Carmen down in Mexico.
Bob (00:07):
That's right.
Alexa (00:08):
If you've been there recently, you see this, this
buzzing city, all the energy, itfeels so international, but you
know, how did it actually.
Get that way.
Bob (00:17):
Well, that's the journey we're going on today.
Alexa (00:19):
We're gonna unpack that story right from, its like
ancient roots all the way to theglobal hotspot.
It is now.
Bob (00:26):
Exactly.
We've got some fantastic sourcematerial here that really charts
the course of thattransformation.
And our goal, our mission is topull out the key insights.
Yeah.
You know, the turning points,what really drove the growth
Alexa (00:38):
and why that matters now.
Right.
Bob (00:40):
Crucially, yes.
Why this history isn't just, um,interesting trivia.
Why it's actually essential.
If you're looking at real estateinvestment down there today, you
really need to understand thefoundation to see the, uh,
future potential.
Alexa (00:54):
Absolutely.
It's like understanding the DNAof the place, isn't it?
Well, look at the deep past, thequiet village days, the whole
regional picture that shaped it,
Bob (01:01):
and then.
That explosion of growth leadingto the, well, the really dynamic
market we see now.
Alexa (01:07):
Yeah, the material looks great.
Let's get into it.
Bob (01:09):
Okay, so let's start way, way back.
I.
Thousands of years ago, longbefore any modern buildings,
back when it was a key spot forthe Maya.
Alexa (01:18):
Okay, let's do it.
So the sources take us rightback.
Before Playa del Carmen was evena name.
The spot on the coast, it had aMayan name.
Bob (01:28):
It did.
The people who lived there, whoused that location, they called
it Xaman-Ha, Xaman-Ha.
And that name, it actually tellsyou something about its
importance.
Geographically.
Speaking to the Maya,
Alexa (01:40):
what does it mean?
Bob (01:41):
It translates from Mayan as water of the North.
So it wasn't just some randombeach.
It was a known place, asignificant place in their
world,
Alexa (01:49):
and more than just a settlement.
Right.
The sources say it was prettyactive back then.
Oh,
Bob (01:52):
definitely.
It was a vital Mayan commercialtransit center.
You gotta picture it like a,maybe a bustling little port
area.
Mm-hmm.
A key spot for launchingjourneys for trade.
Alexa (02:02):
Then the main destination from there.
Bob (02:04):
The main place people were heading from Xaman-Ha was the
island right across the water,Cozumel.
Alexa (02:08):
Ah, okay.
So that Cosel connection, it'sancient, really fundamental to
this spot's history.
Why was Cozumel so important?
Bob (02:17):
Well.
Cozumel held huge spiritualsignificance for the Maya.
Hmm.
It was considered a sacredisland.
It was the main sanctuary for
Alexa (02:24):
ex shell, the goddess of,
Bob (02:25):
she was a major goddess.
Alexa (02:26):
Mm-hmm.
Bob (02:27):
Associated with the moon, fertility, medicine, weaving,
really powerful.
So making that crossing fromXaman-Ha over to Cozumel It
wasn't just a boat trip, it wasoften a pilgrimage.
Alexa (02:39):
People traveling from all over to get there.
Bob (02:40):
Exactly.
A journey to a holy site.
And that made salmon ha as themain departure point, the
gateway, incredibly important,both strategically and um,
religiously.
Alexa (02:51):
So for an investor thinking about location today,
that significance isn't new.
It's built on like thousands ofyears of human activity right
there.
Bob (02:59):
Precisely.
The value of that specificlocation has deep roots.
But of course, history moves on,empires change, and the region
entered a much, much quieterphase after that.
Alexa (03:08):
Right.
The sources talk about this longperiod after the colonial era
where this whole stretch ofcoast, including what became
playa, was kind of forgotten.
Bob (03:18):
Largely forgotten, yeah.
By the wider world.
Anyway, it wasn't part of thebig colonial projects or the
leader national developmentplans for a long time.
Life there became very isolated,very base.
Alexa (03:29):
What did that look like day to day?
Bob (03:31):
Well, life was really tied to the sea in the jungle.
People were fishing, survivingoff the natural resources.
Coconuts, maybe some Chileharvesting.
Alexa (03:39):
Yeah,
Bob (03:40):
you know the latex for chewing gum.
Alexa (03:41):
Ah, right.
One of the few links to theoutside world, maybe
Bob (03:44):
pretty much the only one.
And even that was limited.
But otherwise, almost no moderninfrastructure.
Forget paved roads, connectinganywhere.
Major.
No reliable electricity.
Very few services.
Just a tiny, tiny fishingcommunity.
Alexa (03:57):
How tiny are we talking?
Bob (03:58):
Some sources suggest maybe only about 200 people lived
there for a very long time.
Just a handful of families.
You can imagine it barely showedup on maps except maybe has a
spot to launch a boat.
Alexa (04:07):
It's incredible to picture that knowing the city
today, but even then, even whenit was so isolated, the location
itself, the natural beauty,always had something special.
Bob (04:17):
That inherent appeal is absolutely key.
Alexa (04:19):
Mm-hmm.
Bob (04:20):
Even as just a tiny village, its main function,
really, its only function foroutsiders was still that unique
position as the easiest place tocatch the ferry over to Cozumel.
Alexa (04:30):
Still the gateway.
Bob (04:31):
Still the gateway.
For decades, really in the mid20th century, the only reason
most outsiders ever set foot andPlaya del Carmen was just to get
on that boat to Cozumel puretransit.
Alexa (04:41):
Not a destination in itself.
Yeah, yeah.
At all.
Bob (04:44):
You'd arrive head for the pier, get on the boat, and
that's it.
But even just being that transitpoint, it sowed the seeds for
discovery and then came a reallypivotal moment involving someone
very famous.
Alexa (04:55):
Who was that?
Bob (04:56):
Jacques Cousteau,
Alexa (04:57):
ah, the Ocean Explorer.
How did he play a role?
Bob (04:59):
Well, in the 1960s, Cousteau, made a documentary
specifically about the amazingcoral reefs near Cozumel, this
whole area, it's part of thesecond largest barrier reef
system in the world, right?
Alexa (05:09):
The Mesoamerican Reef.
Incredible.
Bob (05:11):
Exactly, and Cousteau's film showed this incredible
underwater world to a hugeinternational audience.
Alexa (05:18):
Mm-hmm.
Bob (05:18):
It basically put Cozumel on the map as a top tier diving
destination.
Alexa (05:22):
Okay.
So Cousteau drives attention toCozumel diving.
Bob (05:25):
Big time international divers start wanting to go
there.
And how did most of them get toCozumel back then?
Alexa (05:32):
They'd have to fly into Cancun, presumably.
Bob (05:35):
Right.
Alexa (05:35):
Which was just starting up.
Bob (05:36):
Right.
Cancun's Airport, CUN wasrelatively new.
Yeah.
Billed partly for this emergingtourism.
So they fly into Cancun, thenthey travel south down the coast
Alexa (05:45):
to playa del Carmen to catch that ferry.
Bingo.
They had to pass through
Bob (05:49):
playa.
It was the mandatory stopover,and this is where that natural
appeal we talked about reallystarted to kick in, even though
Playa itself had zero touristinfrastructure.
Alexa (05:58):
So people waiting for the ferry just started.
Looking around
Bob (06:01):
Exactly.
They're waiting, maybe grabbinga drink and they see these
completely undeveloped beaches.
Just pure white sand, turquoisewater, jungle, right up to the
edge.
Alexa (06:11):
Yeah,
Bob (06:11):
That raw, a hundred percent Caribbean feel totally natural.
Alexa (06:14):
A real contrast to anywhere else that was maybe
starting to get developed
Bob (06:18):
A stark contrast.
It was quiet, it was beautiful,and it started catching people's
attention precisely because ofwhat it wasn't.
It wasn't developed.
It offered tranquility, Thisidea of people discovering Playa
by chance as a rebound, itperfectly captures how its
appeal first started to stick.
Alexa (06:37):
So what's the typical rebound story?
Bob (06:40):
Okay, so the, the narrative usually goes like this.
Tourists may be inspired byCousteau are headed for Cozumel
for diving.
They fly into Cancun, then theytake the road trip down to
Playa.
Alexa (06:51):
And that road trip wasn't like today's highway, right?
Bob (06:53):
Oh, not at all.
It as much rougher, slower, feltlike you're really going through
remote jungle.
So they finally get the Playa,this tiny village, find the
pier, take the ferry across,they do the Cozumel thing.
Alexa (07:04):
But the key part is the return journey
Bob (07:06):
often.
Yeah.
Or maybe even while waiting forthe ferry initially.
But especially on the way back,heading to Cancun Airport, maybe
they have more time to kill, inPlaya they wander around a bit.
They see the simple life, thePPAs, maybe sandy streets, those
incredible empty beaches,
Alexa (07:24):
And they just fall for it.
Bob (07:25):
They fall in love with the simplicity, the peace, the raw
nature.
Something that was maybe alreadystarting to disappear in more
built up places.
They were charmed by what wasn'tthere yet.
You know.
Alexa (07:36):
That authentic feel.
Bob (07:37):
Exactly.
And the result.
Many of these people literallychanged their plans, maybe
stayed an extra day or two, inPlaya on the way back or
crucially they promisedthemselves they'd returned, but
next time Playa it itself wouldbe the destination, not just
Cozumel.
Alexa (07:52):
Wow.
That's really organic growth,isn't it?
Driven purely by the placeitself.
Bob (07:57):
It really shows the power of that inherent appeal.
Alexa (08:00):
Yeah.
Bob (08:00):
The sea was there just waiting and this was all
happening while the whole regionaround it was starting to
transform too.
Alexa (08:05):
Right.
Playa's story doesn't happen ina vacuum.
We need to look at the biggerpicture.
The whole Eastern Yucatan coastwaking up.
Bob (08:12):
Definitely for most of the 20th century, like we said, this
coast was just vast, jungle,scattered villages, maybe some
Mayan ruins hidden away.
Tourism, basically zero.
Alexa (08:24):
Until Cancun and Cancun's.
Origin is totally different fromPlaya's.
Accidental discovery
Bob (08:29):
Completely different.
Cancun wasn't found.
It was created.
Mm.
It was a top-down, deliberategovernment project starting in
the late sixties.
Alexa (08:36):
A planned tourist city.
Bob (08:37):
Exactly.
The Mexican government basicallyscanned the coast, did studies
and picked this specificuninhabited spot to build a
major international resortdestination from scratch.
Alexa (08:47):
And they move fast.
Bob (08:49):
Incredibly fast.
They picked the spot around1970.
By 1974, the first big hotel,the Garza Blanca, which is now
the Temptation Hotel,interestingly enough, was
already open.
Alexa (08:58):
Four years from jungle islet to functioning hotel.
That's remarkable speed.
Bob (09:02):
It shows the level of commitment and investment.
They were serious about creatingCancun and the timing in the
seventies was perfect just asinternational travel was really
starting to boom.
Alexa (09:11):
So Cancun establishes itself as this planned hub, but
then people start talking aboutthe Riviera Maya.
What's the distinction?
It confuses a lot of people.
Bob (09:21):
It does, and it's a really important distinction for
understanding the market.
Cancun was the first big player,the planned resort zone.
The Riviera Maya concept camelater.
It was essentially a brandingidea.
Alexa (09:32):
A way to market the other places developing south of
Cancun.
Bob (09:36):
Precisely.
To differentiate them to offersomething different
geographically, The Riviera Mayas stretching from Puerto
Morelos just south of Cancun'smain hotel zone, all the way
down to Tulum.
Alexa (09:47):
And Cancun itself isn't usually included in that
definition.
Bob (09:51):
Generally not.
It's seen as the originalseparate hub.
The Riviera Maya is the corridorsouth of it, along the highway
with the sea on one side, jungleon the other.
Alexa (09:59):
And what kind of experience was the Riviera Maya
brand trying to sell?
What was different?
Bob (10:04):
It was positioned as the alternative, getting further
away from the Cancun buzz.
Even if Playa is only what, 50kilometers south.
It aimed for.
Uh, more tranquility, maybe abit more of that hippie vibe.
Initially.
Virgin beaches being more intouch with nature.
Alexa (10:19):
And the Mayan culture aspect.
Bob (10:21):
That was huge.
A key differentiator.
Promoting the Mayan ruins,Tulum, Ccenotes, the rich
archeological heritage.
That cultural depth becamecentral to the Riviera Maya
identity appealing to peoplelooking for more than just a
beach chair.
Alexa (10:35):
So ecotourism, cultural tourism alongside the beach
appeal.
Bob (10:40):
Right.
A different mix.
And within this whole developingRiviera concept, Playa del
Carmen.
Find its place.
Alexa (10:46):
Where does it fit in?
Bob (10:47):
It's consistently called the heart of the Riviera May.
Its location right in themiddle, plus its history as the
Cozumel ferry point made at thenatural center.
While Cancun was planned,Playa's more organic growth,
positioned it perfectly tobecome the hub of this
alternative corridor.
Alexa (11:03):
Okay, so we have the ancient roots, the quiet phase,
the CTO effect, the CancunProject, the Riviera Maya
branding.
Now, let's zero in on Playaitself.
Really taking off the eightiesand nineties seemed crucial.
Bob (11:16):
Absolutely pivotal decades.
The eighties is when Playastarts to carve out its own
niche.
It begins attracting thoseindependent travelers,
backpackers, especiallyEuropeans, people actively
looking for those untouchedbeaches and that relaxed,
authentic vive we talked about.
Alexa (11:31):
The ones trying to avoid the big resort.
Bob (11:33):
Exactly.
And this is when Fifth Avenue,"Quinta Avenida" really starts
its journey.
Alexa (11:37):
What did it look like back then?
Not the bustling pedestrian mallof today, I assume?
Bob (11:41):
Oh, heavens no.
The sources describe it as maybejust a sandy path than perhaps a
dirt road parallel to the beach,and along it, the first very
simple businesses popped up.
Little palapa restaurants, basichostels, maybe a shop selling
crafts.
Very rudimentary cateringspecifically to that early
backpacker crowd.
Alexa (11:59):
And then the nineties really accelerated things.
Bob (12:02):
The nineties were when Playa del Carmen truly found its
identity separating itselfclearly from Cancun.
It became known as this walkabletown.
You didn't need a car.
You could troll everywhere, evenbarefoot from the beach to Fifth
Avenue.
Alexa (12:16):
That easygoing natural feel was the key draw.
Bob (12:19):
It was its main competitive advantage.
That relaxed atmosphere.
Having a coffee at a simplecafe, easily popping out to
visit a nearby cenote, itoffered an authenticity that was
becoming.
Harder to find.
Alexa (12:31):
And those rebound visitors from the Cozumel Ferry
probably reinforced that vibetoo.
Bob (12:36):
Absolutely.
People passing through, werestill discovering it and
deciding, Hey, this is the placeI wanna be.
And Fifth Avenue really startedfilling out in the nineties,
still not luxury, but more smallrestaurants, more galleries,
hostels, turning into smallhotels, shops, catering to the
growing number of tourists, andthe people starting to move
there.
Alexa (12:53):
Ah, so the population growth really kicks in here.
Bob (12:56):
This is where the demographic explosion becomes
undeniable.
That authentic, simple appealdidn't just attract tourists.
It attracted people who wantedto live there or invest early,
and the numbers, they're juststaggering.
Remember when this started,Playa maybe had 1500 people.
Alexa (13:11):
Just a tiny village.
Bob (13:12):
By the end of the 1990s, the population hit 10,000.
Alexa (13:16):
Wow.
A nearly tenfold increase inroughly a decade.
Yeah, that's, that's a massivedemographic pressure from an
investment perspective.
That's huge.
Bob (13:23):
It's incredibly fast growth.
Think about what that means onthe ground.
Rapid, often, informal buildingstrain on any existing
resources.
A sudden huge demand forhousing, for water, for
everything.
It was the absolute definitionof a boom town.
Alexa (13:37):
And that kind of explosive growth must have
forced some changes in how thetown was managed.
Bob (13:42):
It necessitated it.
Alexa (13:43):
Right?
Bob (13:44):
Which leads to a key administrative milestone in
1993.
Alexa (13:47):
What happened then?
Bob (13:48):
The municipality of Solidaridad was officially
created, and Playa del Carmenbecame its own administrative
center gaining autonomy.
Before 93, it was technicallypart of the municipality of
Benito Juarez, which isbasically Cancun.
Alexa (14:00):
So it was being run from Cancun?
Bob (14:02):
Essentially yes.
Getting its own municipal statuswas crucial.
It meant Playa could finallystart doing its own formal urban
planning, try to manage zoninginfrastructure.
You absolutely need that whenyou're growing from 1500 to
10,000 people in the blink of aneye.
Alexa (14:17):
Trying to get some control over the boom.
Bob (14:19):
Exactly.
Trying to guide it rather thanjust react to it.
Alexa (14:22):
Okay, so that sets the stage for the modern era,
bringing us closer to today.
The scale is just immense now.
Bob (14:28):
It really is.
Today.
Playa del Carmen isn't a villageor even a small town.
It's a city with over 300,000.
Permanent residence.
Alexa (14:38):
300,000 from 1500 just a few decades ago.
That growth curve is almostvertical.
Bob (14:43):
It's phenomenal.
And it's just the residents.
On top of that, you have thevisitors.
Alexa (14:47):
How many visitors are we talking?
Bob (14:48):
During high season?
The municipality of solid airdad, which Playa is the heart
of, can host up to 2 millionvisitors!
Alexa (14:55):
2 million visitors on top of 300,000 residents.
The infrastructure needed tosupport that.
It must be massive.
Bob (15:01):
It is.
And it reflects the incredibleinvestment it's poured in.
Playa del Carmen still has animpressive annual growth rate of
around 6%.
Alexa (15:09):
6% now even at its current side.
Bob (15:11):
Yes.
That's ongoing growth coveringtourism, increases new housing,
construction, and peoplecontinuing to move to the city.
For a city over 300,000, asustained 6% growth rate is
really significant.
It shows the vitality is stillthere.
Alexa (15:26):
That signals really strong economic activity and
continued desirability.
Bob (15:31):
Absolutely.
This modern boom is real.
The whole Mexican Caribbeancontinues to cement itself as
one of the most visited placesin this hemisphere.
And Mexico keeps investingheavily in the region.
Alexa (15:41):
And there was that statistic about its global
ranking.
Bob (15:44):
Yeah.
I get this.
In 2023, The Mexican Caribbean,so the whole stretch, including
Playa, Tulum, Puerto Morelos,etc., was the second most
visited destination byinternational travelers in the
entire Americas.
Alexa (15:55):
Second only, too?
Bob (15:56):
Second only to New York City.
Alexa (15:57):
Wow, okay.
Let that sink in.
More international visitors thananywhere else in North Central
or South America, except NewYork.
That's staggering!
Bob (16:08):
It really underscores the massive, consistent demand
that's driving everything andthis demand fuels development
across the board.
Investors need to see thisdiversity.
You've got huge, all-inclusivehotels.
Yes.
But also a thriving boutiquehotel scene.
Alexa (16:24):
In residential.
Bob (16:25):
Exploding residential development, condos, houses,
catering to locals, working intourism, expats, second home
buyers, pure investors.
It's a huge mix.
Plus shopping centers, themeparks.
Over 18 major parks.
Now in the Riviera Maya, golfcourses.
Alexa (16:39):
A whole ecosystem built around tourism and the people it
attracts.
Bob (16:43):
Exactly.
The tourism boom creates tons ofjobs that brings people in from
all over Mexico andinternationally.
Those people need places tolive.
That fuels the housing market.
Success attracts moreinvestment, both Mexican and
foreign.
It's this powerful cycle.
Alexa (16:55):
And it all comes back to that core real estate principle.
Bob (16:57):
Location, location, location, Playa's position, its
development, history, its rolein this massively successful
region.
It ticks that box emphatically.
Alexa (17:07):
All this growth, especially the visitor numbers,
wouldn't be possible withoutmajor improvements in getting
around.
How has connectivity changedsince those early days?
Bob (17:16):
Oh, dramatically.
It had to remember thosedescriptions of the rough, slow
road from Cancun.
Alexa (17:21):
Yeah, sounds like an ordeal.
Bob (17:23):
Well, today, highway 3 0 7 is a modern multi-lane highway.
Getting from Cancun Airport downto Playa is usually around 50
minutes now.
Nice, easy drive.
Alexa (17:32):
And south to Tulum?
Bob (17:33):
About 45 minutes from Playa.
So moving along that maincorridor is smooth and
efficient.
Alexa (17:38):
And what about the original connection, the ferry
to Cozumel?
Bob (17:42):
Still vital and much faster now.
The modern ferries make thecrossing at about 30 minutes.
Plus connectivity has generallyimproved to other spots further
south, like Bacalar or Chetumal.
This whole network is thebackbone supporting those
millions of visitors andresidents.
It's critical infrastructure.
Alexa (17:58):
It's interesting how central that Cozumel link
remains even symbolically.
And speaking of symbols andhistory, a specific cultural
event, that honors that ancientconnection.
Bob (18:09):
Ah, yes.
The Sacred Mayan journey.
The Travesía Sagrada Maya.
Alexa (18:13):
Yeah.
Bob (18:13):
It's organized by Xcaret every year.
Alexa (18:15):
What is it exactly?
Bob (18:16):
It's this incredible event where people recreate the
ancient Mayan canoe journeyfrom, what was the Mayan Usually
departing near Xcaret Park orfrom Playa itself across the
channel to Cozumel.
To honor the Goddess Ixchel.
It's been going on for about 18years.
Alexa (18:32):
Recreated how Just paddling across.
Bob (18:34):
It's much more than that.
They use replicas.
Heavy wooden log canoes, justlike the Maya would've used, not
modern, lightweight kayaks.
These things with maybe 10paddlers in gear can weigh over
a ton, and they use replicawooden paddles too.
Alexa (18:48):
Wow, so it's physically demanding in an authentic way.
Bob (18:50):
Extremely demanding.
Yeah.
Participants train for months,like four or five months, three
or four times a week, oftenstarting super early in the
morning.
It's a massive commitment.
Alexa (18:58):
And the crossing itself, how long does that take?
Bob (19:00):
It's about 20 kilometers, and it takes around seven hours
of continuous paddling to get toCozumel.
Alexa (19:06):
Seven hours in an open canoe on the sea between Playa
and Cozumel.
That channel can be rough, can'tit?
Bob (19:12):
It can be quite challenging.
It's deep over 800 meters inplaces, which means stronger
currents, potentially rougherwater than shallow or crossings
nearby.
They're really battling theelements.
Sometimes the event policy isbasically go rain or shine
unless the port captainofficially closes the port due
to dangerous conditions.
Alexa (19:31):
That really speaks to the determination involved
historically and today.
Is it safe?
Bob (19:36):
Oh, yes.
Safety is paramount.
Now, while they use replicacanoes and paddles, they're
accompanied by modern supportboats for safety monitoring
everything, but the supportboats don't interfere unless
necessary.
You have to arrive in the canoeor a support boat.
Just quitting isn't really anoption during training unless
it's a medical issue.
And there's often a wholeflotilla of other boats that
(19:56):
follows them, cheering them onas they approach Cozumel.
Alexa (19:59):
That sounds amazing.
A real mix of ancient traditionand modern community spirit.
The sources mentioned aparticular figure, The Engineer.
Bob (20:08):
Right?
A legendary participant.
Apparently he's done thecrossing almost every single
year since it started for 18plus years.
He acts as the crucial rudderperson in his canoe.
He's known for just expertlyreading the sea.
The currents, the waves, decadesof experience.
Alexa (20:24):
Incredible.
Yeah.
Bob (20:24):
And that 2024 was supposed to be his last year doing it as
he was turning 62, which is theage limit.
Alexa (20:29):
Yeah.
Bob (20:30):
It just has this really human, poignant layer to the
whole thing.
Alexa (20:33):
It really does.
It connects the modern cityright back to those ancient
Mayan paddlers in a verytangible way.
It shows that history is.
Still alive there.
Bob (20:40):
Exactly.
It adds this cultural depth.
It's a reminder that beneath theresorts and the busy streets,
there's this long, profoundconnection to the sea and to
Cozumel, that still resonates.
Alexa (20:51):
Okay, so we've covered this incredible arc.
Ancient Xaman-Ha the rebounddiscovery, Cancuns influence,
the Riviera Maya concept, thepopulation explosion, the
infrastructure build out rightup to these modern stats and
cultural echoes.
Let's tie it all together.
Now, for someone listening,thinking about investing in
Playa del Carmen Real Estate,what's the bottom line from all
(21:14):
this history?
How does it inform theirdecision?
Bob (21:17):
Well, I think the biggest takeaway is the sheer power of
sustained and even acceleratinggrowth.
That trajectory 1500 people toover 300,000 hosting millions of
visitors, that ongoing 6% annualgrowth, it demonstrates that
this isn't some flash in thepania has proven enduring appeal
on a global scale.
Alexa (21:36):
It has resilience.
Bob (21:37):
Absolutely resilience, and a proven ability to attract
massive investment and build theinfrastructure needed to support
its scale.
It's not just about buying in acurrently popular place, it's
recognizing a pattern of decadeslong, powerful growth.
Alexa (21:48):
And the diversity of the development from backpackers to
luxury.
Bob (21:52):
That's key too.
The market evolved.
It didn't just stick to oneniche.
Now you have luxury resorts,boutique hotels, eco lodges,
family tourism, adult onlyconcepts like the Temptation
Hotel, that was once the GarzaBlanca, this diversity makes the
overall tourism economy morerobust, less dependent on any
single segment.
That's a strength for long-terminvestment.
Alexa (22:14):
And that classic real estate mantra, location,
location, location.
Bob (22:18):
This history validates it completely Playa a strategic
spot.
The heart of the incrediblysuccessful Riviera may.
Its connectivity now excellentto Cancun Airport to Tulum, and
that foundational link toCozumel.
It's geographically blessed andsits within one of the world's
most desirable tourism zones.
Alexa (22:35):
What are the core engines driving this, that the history
reveals?
Bob (22:38):
It boils down to massive, consistent international tourism
demand.
As proven by that number tworanking in the Americas, that
demand creates jobs on a hugescale.
Job creation pulls people infrom Mexico and abroad.
Those people need homes drivingthe residential market, both
rentals and sales.
That success attracts morecapital, more investment in
(22:59):
hotels, shops, attractions,housing.
It's a powerful self-reinforcingcycle.
Alexa (23:05):
So understanding the journey, the mix of the natural
appeal, the planned regionaldevelopment, the sheer
demographic force, the ongoinginvestment gives you a much
richer context for evaluatingopportunities today than just
looking at current prices.
Bob (23:19):
Exactly.
It helps you understand the whybehind the market strength.
You're not just buying bricksand mortar, you're potentially
investing in the continuedtrajectory of a place that has
shown time and again, andextraordinary capacity for
growth and adaptation.
Alexa (23:31):
So here's something to really think about.
Given this incredible historywe've explored from Xaman-Ha to
this global hub driven by itsunique appeal and location.
What parts of Playa del Carmen'spast strike you as the strongest
indicators of its futurepotential as an investment?
Definitely food for thought.
We've traced this amazing storytoday.
Bob (23:53):
It really is a remarkable transformation from Mayan
gateway to forgotten village, toaccidental discovery to the
vibrant heart of the RivieraMay.
Alexa (24:02):
We hit the key milestones, that incredible
population surge, theinfrastructure that had to keep
pace.
Bob (24:07):
It's a fantastic example of how natural appeal, strategic
investment, and just sheer humanmovement can combine to create
something extraordinary, thepower of place, really.
Alexa (24:17):
And we are definitely not done with Play Del Carmen yet.
Join us next time for thecontinuation of this deep dive.
We'll get into the specifics ofwhat makes it so magnetic today.
We're talking fifth Avenue now.
The food scene, the globalconnectivity, all the
attractions.
Bob (24:30):
Yeah.
There's so much built on top ofthis history we cover today.
We'll explore what makes modernPlay a tick.
Alexa (24:34):
Absolutely.
So thanks for joining us We lookforward to continuing the
journey into Playa Ade Carmenwith you next time.
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