Playa del Carmen is within the Riviera Maya, which runs from south of
Cancún to
Tulum and the
Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve. Playa is a stop for several cruise ships that dock at the nearby
Calica quarry docks, about six miles (10 km) south of the city. The
Xcaret Eco Park, a Mexican-themed "eco-archaeological park", is just south of the town in
Xcaret (pronounced "ish-kar-et").
Climate In October 2005,
Hurricane Wilma passed directly over Playa del Carmen, remaining in the vicinity for two days and causing significant damage and a temporary drop in tourist arrivals. Most of the damage was relatively superficial and repaired within a few weeks. Wilma arrived from the Caribbean Sea, passing over
Cozumel before making landfall in Playa del Carmen. It then moved north along the Mexican coast, hitting
Cancún especially hard. Playa del Carmen has a
tropical savannah climate (
Aw) with June to November receiving most of the precipitation. Summers are hot and year-round with warm nights. == Demographics ==