Semana Santa in Playa del Carmen – Spring Break & Easter

Bustling crowds from around the world descend upon the sunny shores of Riviera Maya for Semana Santa in Playa del Carmen, Spring Break, & Easter.

The busiest time of year in Riviera Maya is upon us once again, as international college students celebrate spring break and Mexican nationals honor the Holy Week leading up to Easter, also known as Semana Santa (March 19-28^th). Other than an even more colorful juxtaposition of cultures than normal, what does all this mean to Playa del Carmen? Spring break and Semana Santa may have distinctly different connotations, but overall, they combine for a very positive time of year in beach cities like our own. That’s because more than 250,000 visitors descend upon our streets, many from as close as Mexico City, and as far away as Italy.

How to Plan Around the Crowds

Such a stark influx of people obviously has an effect on various city services. While staying at an all-inclusive resort like Grand Velas Riviera Maya greatly reduces the impact throngs of fellow vacationers will have on your vacation, it still pays to plan ahead. Here are a few things to remember if you’ll be celebrating Spring Break, Semana Santa, or an Easter getaway in Playa del Carmen over the last half of the month:

• Always give yourself extra time. Being that you’re on vacation, this goes without saying. But it does bear emphasizing, as everything will take a little longer – from grocery shopping to catching a taxi, traffic, and parking.
• Plan on doing more walking. To keep popular places (especially beaches) accessible, some roads close to cars. We advise you park or get dropped off a little further away and enjoy the stroll.
• Make reservations ahead of time. If there’s a restaurant you’re dying to try, call a few days (or weeks) in advance. As for nightlife, we suggest you start the party early.