The past four months have been… busy. As a senior in high school, the first semester is a whirlwind of challenging coursework, continued extracurricular activities, and, unfortunately, college applications. Needless to say, as December vacation rounded the corner, I was grateful for a break. After months of deadlines and decisions that seemed to define my future, my family’s upcoming trip to Playa del Carmen in Mexico became a chance to finally escape all the pressures and experience a different way of life.
Located about an hour by car from Cancún, Playa del Carmen is a coastal resort town known for its beaches, Fifth Avenue (Quinta Avenida) with shops and restaurants, and proximity to nearby attractions like cenotes, Mayan ruins, and Cozumel. For a week, I stayed at the Paradisus Playa del Carmen resort, explored the town’s center, and did two excursions to a nearby theme park Xcaret Park and the island of Isla Mujeres.
To get to Playa del Carmen, I flew from Boston’s Logan Airport to the Cancún International Airport. The flight was about four and a half hours long. After getting off at the airport, I used a transfer shuttle service to get from the Cancún airport to the Paradisus resort in Playa del Carmen, where I was staying. The ride took about an hour, and along the way, I tried my best to put my trusty CCHS Spanish skills to use and chatted with the driver in Spanish.
I learned that on Christmas Eve in Mexico, families prepare a meal for 11 PM that consists of traditional dishes like Tamales, Bacalao (salted cod), roast meats (pork loin, turkey in mole), and buñuelos (fritters) for dessert. In addition, while children in America typically exchange gifts on the 25th of December, the main day for gifts occurs later in Mexico on Three Kings Day (which occurred on January 6th this year), where children receive gifts from the Three Wise Men (Melchior, Gaspar, Balthazar) after writing letters to them and leaving out shoes and offerings for their camels. It was fascinating to see how Christmas in Mexico was reminiscent of how we celebrate it in the United States, but also varied in terms of the dates and small traditions. Learning about these traditions while practicing Spanish made the experience even more meaningful.
Although I was initially nervous to do so, I’m glad that I chose to practice my Spanish with someone in Mexico. The locals are extremely friendly and will applaud you for trying to speak their language, even if imperfectly. Being able to use Spanish outside of the classroom reminded me of the power language has in connecting individuals of different cultures to understand and learn from one another.
As we arrived at the Paradisus Playa del Carmen resort, and I said “Nos vemos” to the taxi driver, my family was greeted by friendly hotel staff. They then showed us around the resort and led us to check into our room. The resort itself was beautiful. It was split into two sections: one section was for families, and the other section was for adults only. There were pools all around the resort, and walkways connecting the resort to the beach. In the resort center, there were many spaces to relax and lounge, complimentary buffets and themed restaurants, and a 24/7 ice cream station.
To be honest, the beach was not extremely impressive. As someone who has been to Cancún before, I preferred the bright turquoise waters of Cancún compared to the darker blue shade in Playa del Carmen.
In my opinion, what makes Playa del Carmen different from the nearby city, Cancún, is that there is a town center centered around 5th Avenue (Quinta Avenida), a lively street with numerous shops and restaurants. At night, the lights turn on, and the center becomes bustling with both locals and tourists. My favorite part about walking on 5th Avenue was listening to the laughter and chatter of everyone as they went about their evening. Near the sea, there was a plaza with live music. People happily danced to the rhythm while enjoying their drinks and each other’s company. In general, the town center has a laid-back and walkable atmosphere, as opposed to Cancun, which is often known for its high-rise, all-inclusive resorts and a modern, tourist-oriented city feel.
During my trip, I went on two excursions: Xcaret Park and Isla Mujeres.
Xcaret Park is a large theme park located about half an hour from the hotel, with activities for visitors of all ages. The most famous part of the park is the lazy river, which is a network of underground rivers that visitors can swim or float through, providing beautiful jungle and cave views. For lunch, visitors have the option to choose from multiple buffet restaurants throughout the park. My favorite food I ate there was the tacos al pastor, tacos with marinated pork that was cut from a trompo—a vertical spit.
In the afternoon, I explored the rest of the park, which includes animal habitats, a Mayan village, and a beach that connects to the sea. At night, I ended my visit by watching the “Xcaret México Espectacular,” a two-hour night show with vibrant music and dances from different regions of Mexico.
The second excursion I did was a day-trip to Isla Mujeres, an island known for its beautiful aqua-blue waters and coral reefs perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving. On the excursion, I went on a catamaran, which sailed on the ocean with lively music. One fun and unique thing about Isla Mujeres is that many tourists rent a golf cart to explore the island since it is pretty small, which my parents and I also did. Playa Norte is the most famous beach of Isla Mujeres with white sands and turquoise waters. At Punta Sur, the southern tip, there’s a lighthouse and the remains of a Mayan temple.
Although the trip only lasted a week, it offered a break from the intensity of senior year and a chance to experience a different environment. Stepping into a different culture, practicing Spanish outside of the classroom, and slowing down in places like Quinta Avenida and Isla Mujeres helped put the intensity of senior year into perspective. While college applications and coursework were still waiting for me at home, the trip made the stress feel less overwhelming, knowing that there is a much larger world beyond deadlines. Taking time to slow down, explore new places, and experience a different culture made returning to everyday life a little easier.
