Fun Things To Do In Playa Del Carmen
Fun Things to Do in Playa Del Carmen
Playa Del Carmen is a beautiful place to enjoy in Mexico! It’s visited by people from around the world every year! It’s also a good place to visit if you’re looking for a party and good times!
I am going to share some fun things to do in Playa Del Carmen to help make your trip even more awesome!
What is Cave Restaurant Alux?
Have you ever eaten in a cave restaurant?
It is an actual restaurant inside of a cave. This is actually a cenote and a cave that you can dine in with a full restaurant inside!
If you have never been to Alux Restaurant and Lounge, I’m going to tell you everything that you need to know before you go!
Table of Contents
Good to Know First!
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Where is the cave restaurant in Playa Del Carmen?
Alux Restaurant Bar and Lounge is in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.
You can either take a cab, bike or walk there from La Quinta.
If you don’t know about La Quinta, it translates to Fifth Avenue basically.
It is the main street with lots of shops, reataurants, bars and activity. You can learn more about La Quinta in Fun Things To Do In Playa Del Carmen.
Anyways, you can walk or cycle up Benito Juarez which is one of the main roads that goes up from La Quinta.
The actual address is Avenido Benito Juárez Mz 217 Lt2, Ejidal, 77710 in Playa del Carmen.
Maybe you’re wondering how you find an underground cave from the street. Well, it is a bit hard to notice; it is a cave after all.
When you arrive you will only see a solid wall and gate with a sign up top that says Alux.
This is all that you can see from the street.
So, there is a solid dark gate that has a sign at the top saying Alux.
I have marked Alux Restaurant on this map so that you can check it out and decide if you will walk or take a taxi there.
There are also hotels listed on there, so you can also plan and book your accommodations here with trusted names like booking.com, VRBO, and more.
What are the details of Alux Restaurant?
So in order to dine at Alux Restaurant Bar and Lounge, you have to make a reservation.
They are opened 7 days a week from 6:00pm until 11:00pm.
The dress code is ‘smart casual’. I would recommend wearing light breathable clothing.
How do you get into the cave restaurant?
Maybe you’re wondering about how exactly you get into the restaurant.
Well above ground there is the street entrance that I showed you above.
There are some benches to sit on and a menu to read in the above ground entrance.
To enter into the cave restaurant Alux, you have to go downstairs.
Once you go down the stairs there are washrooms by the entrance in case you need them.
There is also a lobby waiting area where you can sit on velvet couches and take in the feeling of being in a cave surrounded by the stalactites and stalagmites.
In the lobby area they will ask for your name to check for your reservation.
Good to know before you go!
Some key points to help you get the most enjoyment from your experience at Alux Restaurant Bar and Lounge.
- You need a reservation. In the next section I detail how to make a reservation.
- They are only open for dinner, not lunch or breakfast service.
- They do have some vegetarian and vegan options available.
- You will see bats flying around. Yes…for real.
- It will be dark, quite dark, in fact, so dark that there are candles on the tables to help read the menus.
- Yes, there is a washroom in the cave by the entrance. You can ask your server and they will guide you with a flashlight to the washroom.
- I highly recommend flat shoes as you will be walking on a rustic cave floor that is uneven at times.
Now, let’s go into more detail…
TIP: Where light breathable clothing as it can be humid in the cave. There are fans and some space air conditioners in the cave.
How do I make a reservation for Alux Restaurant?
To make a reservation at Alux Restaurant Bar and Lounge you can either call them or go to the Alux Restaurant website.
There is a button to make a reservation that takes you to a form.
Before you make your reservation, I recommend checking out the different ‘VIP vaults’.
What are the VIP vaults? Well, they are small secluded areas of the cave that are surrounded by stalactites and stalagmites.
Some of them have chandelier lighting and intimate small tables. Some of them have couches in them. One of them is bigger for larger groups, and it’s still in its own private area.
If you are planning something really romantic or special you could also add to your reservation, for a cost, a floral arrangement, mariachis, a saxophonist, photographer and more.
I was told that there have been engagements that have happened in the VIP vaults. In fact, they have a special area that is just for engagements!!
If you have a phone with an international number, meaning not Mexican, you can use WhatsApp to communicate with Alux Restaurant and Lounge.
TIP: Research the VIP vaults and areas before your make your reservation. Some vaults have air conditioning!
What is the food like?
Their menu is diverse.
They have everything from a burger and fries to lobster.
Some other examples of menu items are: venison, octopus, shrimp, oysters, risotto, and much more.
There are vegan options, but they are not listed on the main menu. I actually ordered a portobello burger from that menu.
I wrote a guide with everything you need to know about being a vegetarian in Mexico if you would like to learn more about vegetarianism in Mexico.
Some of the dishes have smaller-sized portions, but my meal was a good size.
They also have some fancy cocktails that you can order including one that comes with flames! They all come with great garnishes too.
What is it like at Alux Restaurant?
If you’re looking for a very unique and classy dining experience you can find it at Alux Restaurant and Lounge.
Obviously, the ambience is so special and unique.
It didn’t feel creepy to me at all.
It’s really cool and interesting! It’s dark, but they have these coloured lights around the cave and candles in many areas.
It’s a really large cave with different dining areas and space for groups. There is a bar area too.
There are intimate tables for couples and big tables for groups.
To me, it didn’t feel creepy at all. It was neat and interesting.
They have some art carved on rocks and lit up sayings around the cave for photo ops.
Some of the carvings are actually original Mayan carvings that were found in the cave. Others they replicated. You can see them in my YouTube video below.
As for the cave/cenote it is all natural except for some areas of the floor and some spots where they carved to allow people to walk through.
As you can see each table gets a candle.
Once you are seated you can scan the QR code or get a paper copy of the menu when you arrive. The menu is also posted above ground to look at before you go into the cave.
BATS!
So, let’s talk about bats…
Yes, I can guarantee that you will see some bats.
I saw quite a few, it’s not like you see a bat every second, but you will see one every minute to couple of minutes flying around.
I looked and looked and I never saw a bat hanging anywhere, only flying.
That really surprised me, so I am telling you so you’re not as surprised as I was. The bats swoop low; they don’t always stay high above you. Sometimes they are kinda close to…
You can see from my YouTube video that I was seated and one flew beside me.
They are quick, sometimes you barely notice them.
I checked for you… I asked several staff members and they all said that yes, the bats do fly low at times, but they have never came into contact with a person that was at the restaurant.
What does the Alux Restaurant Cave look like?
There are tons of stalactites and stalagmites! They look like long pointed pillars from the ground or like icicles from the ceiling of the cave.
This cave has tons of stalactites and stalagmites! A lot more that the other Restaurant in a Cave in Mexico.
What’s really cool is that many are lit up in deep purples, blues, reds and greens lights.
It is a cave, but it is also a cenote!
A cenote is cenote is a natural hole or sink hole that was caused by the collapse of limestone bedrock. They are usually partially or fully underground. Cenotes have water in them. In fact, there are many cenotes in the south of Mexico.
So inside of this cave is a small area that is opened with a little waterfall and water inside.
There are some paths that go throughout different areas of the cave. This is how you can get to the VIP vaults too.
Take a tour of the cave restaurant
You can ask your server to give you a tour of the cave.
This is when I really recommend wearing flat shoes. You will be walking on uneven and a bit bumpy ground. The ground is also wet in some areas because it is a cenote too, so I also recommend shoes that are not too slippery.
You will find yourself ducking under Stalactites and walking a floor that is not completely flat and smooth.
Also, if you’re interesting in seeing more bats, you’ll most likely see more bats in these areas as they are more secluded.
Take care on the rustic and natural paths, not just where you step, but also look out for low ceilings and stalactites in some areas.
Your server will have a flashlight to help guide you safely through the cave.
As well, there are coloured lights in some places that light up the area a bit.
The lit up stalactites and stalagmites remind me of something from Fraggle Rock with all those bright purples and reds!
Ask to see the wine cellar
When you go on your tour you can ask to see the wine cellar.
It’s very interesting to see.
I have a picture of the door above. That is the entry for the wine cellar
You could pick a bottle out for your table or just look around . You’re not expected to get a bottle when you see the wine cellar.
Another nice thing about checking out the wine cellar is that it is an enclosed room with air conditioning.
When the fans and air conditioners are off in the cave, it becomes very humid, hot, and sticky. I arrived before anyone else and walked around. What a difference when all the fans and air conditioners are running!
The tour is not done yet!
There is the altar too! This is a sacred area for offering something to the Aluxes in the cave.
Some of the items that they recommend leaving are coins or cigarettes/tobacco.
I left some pesos there. It’s said that if you leave an offering they will take care of you and the place that you are in.
This altat is in it’s own secluded spot as well. I couldn’t hear the people from the restaurant at all.
What is Alux?
Maybe you’re wondering why it’s called Alux.
What does Alux mean? Well, it’s not a Spanish word.
Alux is a Mayan word. Alux is a mythological tradition or spirit that looks like a small human.
They are summoned to take care of caves, crops and forests. This is why people give offerings.
My server explained that there are 3 Aluxes in this cave restaurant.
There is a guardian near the entrance, the evil one at the 1st VIP vault area and the good spirit.
Cave Restaurant in Mexico
Believe it or not, this is not the first that I have ate in a cave! I enjoyed another Restaurant in a Cave in the state of Mexico.
Actually, it was very different than this restaurant in a cave as it was more open and has holes where you could see the sky above.
It was less dark and I didn’t see any bats, perhaps there are bats, there probably are. I just didn’t see any when I was there for dinner.
Which cave restaurant in Mexico would you rather visit?
These neon signs look great when it’s dark to take a great photo.
I used a flash to show the area more, but they are more lit up.
So you can get your photo with these inspirational signs that say:
- The world is yours
- You are pure magic
Here you can see the difference the flash makes with the photos.
Ready to visit this cave restaurant?
Okay, so if you’re in and ready to pack your bags, here are the details.
You can get the address here, make your reservation at Alux Restaurant and Lounge, and even book your hotel in Playa Del Carmen here too!
Alux Restaurant and Lounge is located on Avenido Benito which is a major road in Playa Del Carmen. I have marked it on this map.
There is a little blue martini glass on the map, if you hover over it the name will pop up.
Playa Del Carmen is a great place to visit! There are so many Fun Things To Do In Playa Del Carmen! Check out my list of some of them.
If you’re headed to Tulum after here are the Best Downtown Tulum Restaurants.
Also, in Tulum you can’t miss this iconic photo op with the Ven A La Luz Tulum Guide.
You can take the ADO bus to Tulum from Playa Del Carmen. I have written the Ultimate Guide to Long Bus Trips in Mexico to help you with having a great bus ride.
Mexico Travel Tips
If you’re looking for some travel tips about travelling in Mexico, check out these blogs.
Best Mexico Travel Tips! (Read Before You Go)
More Adventures in Mexico!
If you love interesting and diverse experiences that you can have in Mexico like visiting cave restaurants are more, then I suggest checking out these awesome experiences!
Restaurant in a Cave – Mexico (Let me know which one you would rather dine in)
Guide to Visiting the Teotihuacan Pyramids
Longest Suspension Bridge in the World!
Ultimate Guide to Long Bus Trips in Mexico
3rd Largest Monolith in the world!
Must-Do things in Puerto Escondido!
15 Must-Try Unique Experiences in Sayulita!
Happy reading, then happy adventuring!
Would you eat at the Cave Restaurant Alux?
So, what do you think? Would you dine at this cave restaurant in Playa Del Carmen?
Would the bats and darkness scare you off?
Are you up for something completely different? Let me know what you think.
Next I have some great travel resources to help make your trip to Playa Del Carmen even more awesome! Enjoy!
Tours in & around Playa Del Carmen
Are you looking to book some tours for you trip to Playa Del Carmen? You can check out your options, and even book, right here!
This way you can learn about other awesome things to do in Playa Del Carmen to make your trip the very best that it can be.
Where to Stay in Playa Del Carmen
There are many different unique and interesting hotels in Playa Del Carmen.
You can look up some of them and check their reviews here using booking.com.
Keep your phone in service
You can use Airalo to keep in contact with all your friends and family, use Google maps to get around, and check out fun things to do in the area without roaming or data overage fees!
Just download the Airalo App then you pick your destination. You get an eSim card so that you can use your phone freely! I find it helpful for when I first arrive somewhere and I need to call a taxi, check directions or let loved ones know that I have arrived safely.
Besides being a travel blogger, I am also a travel writer, Amazon author and an English teacher. Check out my services here!
Enjoy La Quinta
La Quinta means fifth, so basically it’s Fifth Avenue.
This is a long brick road that is filled with colours, fun, and excitement!
It is a pedestrian street only, you will only see cars, when you are crossing a side street.
You can taste tequila and mezcal, dine on authentic Mayan and Mexican food, get a massage, dance, eat dessert, get a tattoo, shop, mingle with people from around the world and much more!
There are a lot of street vendors, buskers and performers that you can enjoy at La Quinta, especially in the evenings.
Check out my video of a night on La Quinta in Playa Del Carmen! So fun!
TIP: If you need to take out more cash from the ATM, there are a lot of ATM machines on La Quinta. Check as some of them give American dollars and other Mexican Pesos only. There are also some currency exchange booths too.
How to figure out your way around La Quinta
La Quinta is a very long avenue with a lot going on.
There are even more than 1 of the same thing such as tequila and ice cream shops.
It can get confusing to remember where you saw that souvenir that you wanted to buy later.
So, here are some ways that you can figure out where you are and know your way around La Quinta in Playa Del Carmen.
All of the cross streets are numbered by twos in order.
There are posts at each cross street that have a map and information on them.
The map shows a circle and a ‘you are here’ symbol, so you can see where you are and where some key locations are too.
There are also symbols that show you where key points are like banks, pharmacies, the beach, telephones, hotels and taxi stands. The taxi stands are called ‘sitio de taxis’.
Hang out in Fundadores Park
Just beside La Quinta is Fundadores Park. Whether it’s day or night, you will find fun and interesting things happening in this park!
It’s also so great just to chill there and people watch with an ice cream or churros.
You can also listen to the waves and chill by the water, as this park is also right beside the ocean! I mean, how do you get better than that!
Not only is this park right at the beach, it’s also right by one of the best streets in Playa Del Carmen -La Quinta!
Often in the evenings there are shows like performances by clowns there. The clowns are all about audience participation and making you laugh!
They will come around and offer to sell you some desserts too. Also, near the end of the show they will come around asking for tips for their performance.
More than just the clown performances, there are special events sometimes there! They put a stage under the big sculpture and have performances. I was lucky enough to have my travels line up with a 2-day mariachi festival in Fundadores Park!
I love the variety and authenticity of the Indigenous cultures in Mexico!
At Fundadores Park you have a chance to see 2 different types of ceremonies or performances.
The first is Los Voladores de Papantla. This is a mesamerican ceremony that has Indigenous roots from the Nahua, Otomi, and Huastec People. Those are 3 Indigenous groups from Mexico.
Their pole is located close beside the large sculpture. They perform during the day at random times.
They climb up to the top and attach rope to their wastes, then they slowly spin in a circle upside down as the rope unravels until they reach the ground.
TIP: Make sure that you have smaller bills or coins so that you can tip the performers.
Here is my YouTube video of the same ceremony in Puerto Vallarta, so you can understand what happens during this ceremony.
Secondly, there is a Mayan ceremony and dance with drumming that often happens by or in front of the big sculpture.
They drum, chant, and sing in the Mayan language and play the conch shell.
This Mayan dance and ceremony shows happens at random times throughout the day and evening.
Both groups of performers will come around and ask for tips after they finish.
There are two very unique and interesting glimpses of authentic Mexican Indigenous culture!
Karen's Playa
Karen’s Playa is a super fun bar and Mexican restaurant!!
They are the life of the street at certain moments in the evening!
They have a live band that plays rock and other types of music from 6:00pm to 9:00pm everyday.
Karen’s Playa is on La Quinta between 2nd and 4th Avenues.
TIP: I recommend coming here for a late dinner or for drinks so you can enjoy the dances and you don't miss out on the fun! Especially the congo line on La Quinta!
At 9:30pm until around midnight, there is a live Cuban salsa band that plays salsa, mergengue and cumbia.
This is when I recommend visiting Karen’s Playa!
It is so fun, as you watch people spinning on the dance floor in unison with the music as you sip on your margarita!
At a certain point of the night they give everyone in the restaurant these huge floppy sombreros and get everyone up dancing!
Next, they lead a conga line around the bar and out on to the street! Often people start dancing on La Quinta and others people passing by join in!
You can check it out in my video above about La Quinta!
It has such positive and fun party vibes there!
The atmosphere is very fun there no matter where you choose to sit. You can sit right by the dance floor or at the bar in the back on a swing too!
Señor Frogs
For me, it’s a place to visit just to say that you experienced Señor Frogs.
It’s a very typical tourist bar that is in many popular Mexican tourist towns.
They have funny signs that they put around people for hilarious photos.
They often have someone making balloon animals and there are party signs all around.
They are famous for these tall thin yard glasses that you can get your daiquiri in!
Also, order a shot if you drink!
They bring it over as they whistle loudly, then shake your head and make the whole experience crazy feeling! lol!
Expect a serious party and drinking vibe if you come to Señor Frogs!
Also, don’t expect any quiet at all – it’s all about the party!
Señor Frogs bar is located on La Quinta at 8th Avenue. Don’t confuse this with the Señor Frogs clothing and souvenir shops when you’re looking for the place.
TIP: I recommend ordering a tall yard plastic glasses! You get to keep the glass. Also, you can order drinks 'to go' if you want to walk around La Quinta!
Go Clubbing
There are bars and clubs through La Quinta and on other streets further back and around that area.
You can also check out 10th Avenue, the next street behind 5th Avenue – La Quinta. The streets count by fives going away from the ocean.
Also, I recommend visiting 12 Street – Calle 12 Norte – there is an area with lots of night clubs. Coco Bongo’s is around 12th Street, and the other clubs, you can’t miss!
You will see all of the lights and hear the booming of the music!
I happened to be there close to Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos and they completely changed the street with special lights and displays!
Beach Day in Playa Del Carmen
Going to Playa Del Carmen wouldn’t be complete without a beach day!
The sand is so powdery soft and beautiful at Playa Del Carmen!
The water is very warm and comfy too. There are a group of bars that have beach lounge chairs and service on the sand.
You can order drinks and food and chill.
Whether you want to get your drink on with the 2 for 1 specials and party on the beach, or relax and tan and swim, there is a spot for you!
There are bars with all different vibes.
Good to know = in front of the bars is open for anyone, so you could just bring your towel and chill on the sand too!
You will save the 200 Pesos chair fee too if you do this.
Make sure that you’re comfy at the beach with these Top 9 things to bring to the beach!
TIP: they often charge a fee to use a beach lounge chair. I paid 200 Pesos. I recommend asking if there's a fee to sit in a beach lounge chair. If you don't want to pay the fee, sometimes you can sit at a table behind the beach loungers and eat there instead.
TIP 2 Ask if they accept cards or only cash. There are some bars that only accept cash and do not have an ATM inside.
Tequila Tasting
TIP: They will ALL offer you free tequila, mezcal and different liquor tastings, so...do with that information what you choose. 😉
There are 10 different Tequila and other liquor tasting shops just on La Quinta!
You can’t miss them with big neon signs and people out front offering free tastings!
Of course, you can also buy bottles from these stores too.
There are some very interesting choices such as vanilla and chocolate mezcal, just to mention a few flavours of liquors that you can taste.
You can even try tequila or mezcal with a worm in it and another insect too!!! Any guesses??
Check out my YouTube video to see if we tried it or not… and if we did, what we thought of it!
Would you drink the tequila and mezcal with these insects?
Dine at Mercado 174
This restaurant has such a fun and colourful vibe! They play great music and are very friendly.
They have authentic Mexican food, as well as some food like burgers and fries.
What I really liked is that they had a section that had authentic Mayan food too!
It is a big restaurant with different sections, so they could accommodate a larger group.
There are also some fun spots to take photos in the restaurant too!
The food was delicious and full of flavour!
Mercado 174 is located between 6th and 8th Avenues on La Quinta.
TIP 2 I recommend going there for dinner when the lights are on.
Go Shopping in downtown Playa Del Carmen
La Quinta has lots of shopping, and I don’t just mean souvenirs and bathing suits.
I mean brand name stores too, like jewelry and clothing stores.
You can get leather boots, clothing, running shoes, jewelry, alcohol, ice cream, food, cigars, purses, wallets and gift. Yes, of course there are also a lot of souvenir shops, so you can definitely get your touristy items too.
There is an open concept outdoor mall that is called ‘Paseo del Carmen Shopping Mall’. It’s located past Fundadores Park.
The mall is opened from 10:00am until 11:00pm.
There is a cafe in the middle that has amazing acoustics for the singer that performs there.
You can find brand name shops like Starbucks, Haagen Dazs, Zingara, Oysho, Old Navy, Stradivarius, Pull & Bear and more! There are even jewelry shops there. There are security guards in the mall, especially near the jewelry stores.
TIP If you're looking for a free public washroom on La Quinta, there are not a lot. Most are in restaurants and bars. This mall has free washrooms if you go down the stairs. The washrooms also close at 11:00pm and follow the mall hours.
There is another mall at La Quinta and 12 Avenue. It will say ‘Calle 12 Nte’. Nte is short for norte (north).
There is a Starbucks, H&M, La Coste and many more stores in the 2 level open concept outdoor mall.
It opens around 9:30-10:00am and closes at 10:30pm daily.
There is also this nice sign that you can pose for pictures with!
Enjoy the Buskers & Performers
Even just sitting on a bench in the downtown is super fun!
You will see Spiderman, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Mask, the Joker and more walking around La Quinta.
You can stop and get a picture with them, they will ask for some pesos for the pictures.
As well, there are often musicians set up at a spot on La Quinta playing music as people walk by.
If you thought that was a lot, there are also performers that walk around and play for people at different restaurants or in different areas.
You may see traditional folkloric dancers, Mayan performers, mariachis and musicians performing other types of Mexican music.
Dance at La Bodeguita Del Medio
Personally, I love La Bodeguita Del Medio!
In case you don’t know, the original location is in Cuba, and now there are locations in some tourist towns in Mexico.
There is one in Puerto Vallarta and other places in Mexico, as well as a couple in the United States of America such as Califtornia.
La Bodeguita del Medio is a Cuban salsa bar and restaurant.
In true authentic form, they have a live band playing nightly and you can even buy Cuban cigars there too!
The live Cuban salsa band plays from Mondays- Wednesdays from 10:00pm to 1:00am, and from Thursdays to Sundays from 10:00pm until 2:00am.
TIP: I highly recommend getting a Mojito! It is said that La Bodeguita del Medio in Cuba invented the Mojito! Also, bring your dancing shoes, meaning shoes that you can spin in to get the full enjoyment of the live salsa band!
A mojito is a rum based drink with mint leaves in it.
Each Bodeguita Del Medio that I have been to is very much the same style and look, including Playa Del Carmen.
It’s located by 38th street and La Quinta and has a Cuban flag hanging out front.
This location has been here for 18 years, but in total La Bodeguita Del Medio has been in Playa Del Carmen for 21 years as they moved locations once. This location has a back patio area.
There is another Bodeguita Del Medio in Puerto Vallarta, you can learn more about where it is in the Ultimate Guide to Puerto Vallarta Boardwalk.
Experience Coco Bongo!
Coco Bongo is an iconic bar that brings the party to a new level!
There is a Coco Bongo in Cancun, Punta Cana and Playa Del Carmen. That’s it!
It’s definitely a unique experience!
Think night club meets Cirque Du Soleil, meets Las Vegas show.
So they will have music and dancing, they call it a discotech, then after a performance. It alternates like that throughout the night until 3:00am.
Your ticket also includes your drinks and some finger foods like hot dogs, fries, and hamburgers. They don’t offer vegetarian options.
Outside of Coco Bongo there are some fun photo ops and a souvenir shop with t-shirts, cups and other things that have Coco Bongo pictures and references.
There is usually a long line up before 10:00pm, but it moves fairly quickly when they open the doors.
If you’re looking to party, dance, be entertained, then Coco Bongo can be that unique experience that you’re looking for.
It’s opened from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00pm until 3:00am.
It costs $1550 Mexican Pesos or $86.00 US dollars.
TIP: I suggest getting your ticket in advance. They have a box office out front and sometimes they set up a kiosk on La Quinta selling tickets too.
Eat in a Cenote Cave!
If you’re looking for the ultimate unique Southern Mexico experience! Choose this Cave Restaurant Alux- Playa Del Carmen.
Although, it’s away from the downtown for tourists, it’s worth the taxi ride there! It’s actually not that far either. I chose to walk and it took me just over 20 minutes from close to downtown.
Alux is such a unique place to visit!!! It’s defintely worth taking the time from the beach to go underground to eat here!
Between the unique dining location – you actually eat in a cave, which is also a cenote!!
They have a drink and some food dishes that involve flames and/or smoke that just add to the vibe of eating in the cave with all the stalactites, stalagmites, and lights.
And of course, there are the bats, yes bats!
They are freely flying around the cave and they don’t just stay high either, they fly low and close by, but they don’t hit anyone at all.
I specifically asked a couple of the staff this question.
Every server has a flashlight for you to take a picture of your food or see better, also they can accompany you to find the washroom as you have to walk down a walkway in the cave.
TIP: Wear light clothing. It's not cool in the cave, it's humid. They have quite a few fans running, but it can feel humid as you're exploring the cenote. Don't forget your camera! This place is 1000% picture worthy!
Believe it or not, this is actually not the first time that I ate in a cave! Check out where there’s another cave that you can dine in here: Restaurant in a Cave – Mexico.
These caves are actually completely different from each other, as Alux is also a cenote and the whole vibe of the 2 restaurants in caves are very opposite of each other.
You can learn more about the Cave Restaurant Alux- Playa Del Carmen here.
TIP: Make sure you ask to see the wine cellar! Your server will take you there (which is so interesting too) and let you walk inside of the wine cellar! It's very interesting and cool!
TIP: Expect to see bats! Yes, bats! They will fly around as you walk or eat.
How to get around Playa Del Carmen
There are regular taxis waiting at ‘sitios de taixs’, which is a place where there are taxis waiting for customers.
There are also quite a few places to rent a bicycle to get around to check out the many fun things to do in Playa Del Carmen!
Just by La Quinta on Avenida Benito Juarez, which is before 2nd street, there is a stand for bicycle taxis.
Of course, walking is always a good way to get around as well, as long as it’s not late at night and you’re alone.
Walking is, in my opinion, the best way to get around La Quinta and the streets in that area.
Tips for visiting Playa Del Carmen
The streets in the downtown area go by twos after Avenida Benito Juarez, which is a main street. (Think street 0, or a principal street) In the other direction, the streets count by fives, starting with La Quinta (5th) by the ocean.
Bring comfortable walking shoes as there is a lot of walking around La Quinta and the rest of Playa Del Carmen!
Wear sunscreen, a hat or something for the shade. Some people bring shade umbrellas.
If you’re going to be walking around the town outside of the main tourist areas look down.
The sidewalks are not all even and flat, and sometimes there are big holes, so watch where you walk.
Have small bills or coins in Mexican pesos. You can use these to tip the performers and pay for things like bottles of water at the convenience stores.
You can rent a bike if you don’t want to walk everywhere.
Also there are so many photo opportunities! Take advantage of some super nice and super fun photos!
Get used to, or at least expect to see, some interesting wildlife around.
Guaranteed you will see lots of bats -even on La Quinta flying around the trees!
Different types of lizards or iguanas depending on where you are, and cockroaches at night sometimes on the sidewalks etc.
You will also see the softest most powdery sand, beautiful blue ocean, authentic culture, beautiful decor, hand made art and beautiful music and art!
Also, check out my Best Mexico Travel Tips! (Read Before You Go) for more valuable tips about travel in Mexico!
Tours in & around Playa Del Carmen
Are you looking to book some tours for you trip to Playa Del Carmen? There are really so many great options!
I highly recommend going to a cenote, which is fresh water hole in the ground.
Also, I recommend visiting some of the Mayan Ruins around Playa Del Carmen.
A day trip to Tulum is also a great way to spend some of your vacation.
You can check out these tours plus others with Viator. You can book your tickets in advance, so that you know that it will not sell out on you.
From cenotes to Mayan Ruins, beach tours and water activities like snorkelling.
You can check out your options, and even book, right here with Viator.
Where to Stay in Playa Del Carmen
Looking for a hotel in Playa Del Carmen? I recommend checking the area, some are far from the beach and downtown while others are right beside night clubs that party until 3:00am.
You can use this booking.com widget to check out different hotels, read their review, then book your place to stay to enjoy the fun and beauty of Playa Del Carmen!
Is there an airport in Playa Del Carmen?
No, there isn’t an airport in Playa Del Carmen, but there is in Cancun.
There is a bus station in Playa Del Carmen, so it’s not difficult to get there at all!
If you fly to Cancun, it’s very convenient to get to Playa Del Carmen from the airport.
How to get to Playa Del Carmen from the Cancun airport
From the Cancun airport you can walk outside of the airport and go to the ADO bus station which is right beside the airport. The ADO buses are big air conditioned buses, usually all red.
There is a kiosk inside of the airport, or you can buy your ticket at the ADO station.
There is assigned seating (look for the word ‘asiento’ for your seat number on your ticket) and room for your luggage under the bus.
They play movies on televisions and the audio plays through speakers throughout the bus.
It takes around 1 hour to get to Playa Del Carmen from the Cancun airport.
I am posting the ADO schedule here as of October 2023.
The ADO bus station lets you out at the tourist stop, which is right on La Quinta. You will often see people walking this street with suitcases because there is the bus station and hotels on La Quinta.
There is also a taxi stand outside of the ADO bus station that always has taxis waiting, so if you need a taxi to get to your hotel – you got it!
How to get to the airport from Playa Del Carmen
You can return to the ADO bus station that is on La Quinta at Avenida Benito Juarez.
If you follow the numbers, it would be equal to number 0 street.
From there you can line up to get your ticket,
The buses pull into the back of the station. There are paid washrooms, that are upstairs (no elevator) seating, a Subway and a snack shop there too.
They have a television that shows the flights at the Cancun airport and if they’re on time.
Also, this helpful sign that shows you which terminal to go to for your airline in Cancun.
I have posted the current schedule, but at the bottom it says that the schedule and prices are subject to change, so it recommends checking the https://www.ado.com.mx/ for the latest schedule and any changes.
Which fun things in Playa Del Carmen do you like?
Let me know in the comments below which fun things that you want to do in Playa Del Carmen! Thanks and enjoy your time in Playa Del Carmen!
Looking forward to reading what you thought of these places!
Besides being a travel blogger, I am also a travel writer, Amazon author and an English teacher. Check out my services here!
