Gay clubs in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Gay Playa Del Carmen consistently brings us back for more; we've visited repeatedly and have totally fallen in love with this gorgeous, gay-friendly coastal municipality. Regarding gay getaways in Mexico, it's one of our preferred choices.
On the initial assessments, we were very impressed. The beautiful beaches, the strikingly clear water you'd anticipate from the Caribbean, a plethora of restaurants, and what seemed to be a wealth of nightlife options stretching along the primary thoroughfare of 5th Avenue. We loved it immediately, and understood we were in for a phenomenal time.
But what about gay Playa del Carmen? Considering the multitude of offerings for your standard vacationers, did Playa del Carmen have any appeal to LGBTQ+ travelers in Mexico?
While investigating 'gay Playa del Carmen,' it appeared that there wasn't anything specific to the LGBTQ+ community available.
However, we swiftly recognized that the reason for this was that Playa del Carmen is an especially gay-friendly and inviting destination for all tourists. As a consequence, everything from bars to beaches is thoroughly integrated.
Similar to Cancun (see our Cancun Gay Guide), gay tourists are welcome in all the bars, and you'll discover gay visitors dispersed along all the beachfront where they feel as comfortable as their heterosexual counterparts.
But after spending nearly two weeks in Playa del Carmen, we discovered that delving a bit deeper unveiled considerably more than just one club.
Therefore, we made the decision to compile this complete guide to 'Gay Playa del Carmen.' We hope you find it valuable when you travel!
Is Playa Del Carmen Safe for Gay Travelers?
In short, the answer is yes!
Playa Del Carmen hosts some sizable gay events (see more below), conducts its pride celebrations, features a modest gay scene, and is highly tourist-oriented.
As such, we felt extremely comfortable and safe as a gay couple in Playa del Carmen. Be aware if you venture farther away from the tourist zones, because, like many locations, it's usually the tourist areas that are the safest.
Gay Bars Playa Del Carmen
Currently, there is only one officially designated gay bar in Playa Del Carmen, and it's a little difficult to find online. Beyond this one gay bar, there is, in fact, a little bit more on offer when considering the gay scene in Playa del Carmen.
Club Playa 69 (formerly Club 69)
During our visit, it was simply Club 69, but it's now known as Club Playa 69, Playa 69 Gay Dance Club, or simply Playa 69. Locating details about the bar online proves to be challenging (we're unsure why), but we can see that at the time of writing, through examining location tags on Instagram of Playa 69, the bar is still flourishing.
This presently stands as the solitary gay bar in Playa del Carmen.
Club Playa 69 is situated on the main street of 5th Avenue, halfway between 4th and 6th Street.
The most straightforward way to find the bar (it's pretty hidden away) is to pinpoint the 7/11 shop, and then turn down the alleyway, going straight to the end.
The signage has altered since our last visit, however, the logo is likely to be similar. It genuinely is tough to spot from the main strip, so keep your eyes peeled and go down the alley as mentioned earlier.
Club Playa 69 is largely frequented by locals, the bar usually only gets busy on Friday and Saturday evenings, from midnight until 3-4 am.
Typically, there is a cover charge of $4-$6.
Long drinks and cocktails are a little overpriced here, as the primary drink of choice among the locals is beer, which is notably less expensive.
The bar itself is fairly small, with the majority of the indoor space occupied by a sizable stage area, where on both Fridays and Saturdays they feature an entertaining drag show.
This usually commences around midnight, with performances continuing all night. When the show isn't on, the stage also acts as the primary dance area.
There are also a couple of other smaller stages/blocks where, from time to time, strippers and go-go dancers will perform.
Additionally, there's a larger outdoor courtyard area where locals tend to sit, sip drinks, and converse during performances.
The music is a blend of pop and recent chart hits, with Spanish, Latino, and reggaeton mixed in. The DJ was happy to accommodate requests and happily played Ariana Grande for us, making our night!
The club also possesses a small darkroom and cruising area toward the rear.
Provenza PDC
This is currently the newest gay bar in Playa del Carmen.
Anticipate drag shows and go-go dancers much like Club 69. You'll find Provenza club on 32nd Street between 5th Avenue and 10th Avenue.
Stay informed about events on their Facebook page.
The Roof Bar (was known as Santino Bar)
There's a bar next to Club Playa 69; this was called Santino Bar but seems to have rebranded on Google Maps as The Roof Bar (perhaps because there's another bar nearby named Santino Playa).
While not a gay bar, this feels more like a local hangout attracting a very varied crowd. Once Club Playa 69 closes, most people will head next door. Beverages here are quite reasonably priced, and the music tends to be very diverse.
La Cueva del MAYA-T - Now Closed
This formerly gay bar in Playa Del Carmen was located a little further downtown on Calle 1 Sur, between 40th and 45th Avenue.
This was more of a 'gay stripper/dive bar' rather than a place to go and enjoy music and dancing.
Again, the crowd primarily consisted of locals who visited to hang out, meet friends, and enjoy the show, which had a cover charge of 50MXN starting at 11 pm onwards, but being located outside the center, the drinks were significantly more reasonably priced.
Strippers here did put on a FULL show (if you understand), and also offered private lap dances.
Reina Roja Hotel
While it's a hotel rather than a bar, this hotel (with its cheeky marketing) is well-liked by LGBTQ tourists and is known for being 'gay-friendly'.
They occasionally run gay parties, including the 'Glory' gay party for spring break and generally host regular pool parties.
Gay parties used to be a weekly occurrence, with their 'Apecar Gay Party' on Friday nights, which encompassed DJs, performances, and some amazing drink specials. While this night seems to have temporarily ceased, the rooftop bar itself continues to be a popular spot for both locals and hotel guests, acting as a place to unwind, dance, or just chat.
Keep an eye on their Facebook/Instagram events page for any upcoming parties. Reina Roja Hotel is situated just off 5th Avenue on 20th Street.
Coco Bongos
Also worth mentioning is Coco Bongos.
This has to be one of the best, if not the finest, nightlife venues found in Playa del Carmen.
Coco Bongos provides your dance-club experience combined with a full-blown, Las Vegas-esque performance, lasting over four hours.
While you're dancing the night away, you can watch the aerial acrobatics soar overhead on silks, view videos projected all around you, either embrace or dodge the foam bubbles, and enjoy the various tribute acts, including Michael Jackson, Queen, and Madonna.
This one is unequivocally worth a visit; it's super camp and immensely popular with gay tourists.
Coco Bongos operates on a ticket system that includes unlimited beverages.
Is there a Gay Sauna in Playa Del Carmen?
The gay sauna in Playa del Carmen is (or was) named Spa Club X-Mahan-Nah.
It's unclear whether this is still operational, but if you want to investigate, it's a five-minute drive from the center of Playa del Carmen, and the address is Av. 55 Poniente esq. Calle 2-Norte colonia Ejidal, 77712, Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Older reviews suggest this is a small gay sauna primarily visited by locals.
Gay Friendly Hotels Playa Del Carmen
Being a relatively small beach resort, Playa del Carmen doesn't have any 'gay' hotels as such.
Nonetheless, there are three hotels recognized for being LGBTQ+ friendly: Reina Roja, as mentioned above, The Palm Hotel, and Aventura Mexicana Hotel.
1. Hotel Reina Roja
Hotel Reina Roja is a four-star boutique hotel, with 63 rooms.
As well as enjoying a prime location close to the beach, the hotel also provides a rooftop bar and a rooftop pool, along with an onsite restaurant and sun terrace. Reina Roja is also an adults-only hotel and sometimes holds gay parties.
Book here
2. The Palm at Playa Hotel
The Palm Hotel is also situated close to the town center and relatively near the beach, on 8th Street between 5th and 10th Avenue.
Slightly newer than Reina Roja, the Palm also has a rooftop pool, which has been known in the past to host gay pool parties during the annual Arena Festival (usually held end of January/early February).
The hotel has 69 rooms and also features an on-site gym and spa.
Book here
3. Aventura Mexicana
Aventura Mexicana used to be an exclusively gay hotel under its former management, but it's now open to all guests.
Nevertheless, it has retained its reputation and remains a gay-friendly hotel, primarily due to the gay-friendly staff.
The hotel enjoys a fantastic location, found on 5th Avenue and 24th Street, proximate to some excellent restaurants and beach clubs.
Even though this is a family-friendly hotel, one side of the hotel remains for adults only, with an adult-only pool and garden area.
Book here
4. Hotel Riviera Caribe Maya
This Hotel Riviera Caribe Maya is considered another gay-friendly hotel near Reina Roja.
As a result, it's well-placed for the gay nightlife. It's two minutes from the quiet end of 5th (the primary street) and is extremely clean with exceptionally attentive staff.
It also has a compact pool and garden area.
Book here
Gay Beach Playa Del Carmen
Again, despite not having an 'exclusively gay' beach in Playa del Carmen, there are beach options that are favored by both LGBTQ+ locals and tourists.
Mamitas Beach
The most favored gay beach in Playa del Carmen is the beach located in front of and to the left of (when facing the ocean) Mamitas Beach Club.
This is a popular spot for all, not just the gay community, but it is known for attracting LGBTQ+ visitors.
We believe it's likely because they want to enjoy the music and atmosphere of Mamitas Beach Club, without having to pay!!
The 'Official' Gay Beach in Playa Del Carmen (Playacar)
Alongside Mamitas, there is another stretch of beach that is probably better recognized as 'the gay beach' of Playa del Carmen.
This is a very tranquil stretch of beach nestled between two hotel complexes, but public access is all the way on 112th Street, so it's a little way out of the center.
Being so far from town and quieter, this beach draws few guests and is renowned for nude sunbathing and cruising.
Bear in mind that this beach is situated between two expensive hotel complexes, so there will be beach patrol and security passing by regularly - if you do opt to visit, be mindful of this and act with decorum!
Honestly, this one seems like a lot of effort for limited returns; we would suggest just sticking to Mamitas.
Gay Tours of Playa Del Carmen
While this might not be something you'd anticipate finding in a reasonably small beach town, you can actually book yourself onto a gay tour while in Playa del Carmen.
Pink Flamingo gay tours offer both private and small group day trips and packages in and around the Riviera Maya. Tours encompass a visit to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, Chichen Itza, or Holbox, to name just a few.
Best of all, they bring along an inflatable pink flamingo for that all-important Insta pic.
Follow their Instagram Page for more.
Gay Events Playa Del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is home to some amazing events, and while we were there, we were fortunate enough to end up at a circuit party deep in the jungle, surrounded by beautiful cenotes and even more beautiful men!
Arena Festival
Arena Festival is Playa del Carmen's interpretation of the classic European circuit parties.
It usually takes place from late January to early February and spans most of a week, with a vast array of parties, encompassing the aforementioned party in the jungle.
We had such a delightful time when we attended that we decided to write a complete guide to the Arena Festival. We trust you'll enjoy it!
Gay Pride Playa Del Carmen
Yes, Playa del Carmen has its own annual gay pride!
While not as expansive as the Pride you'd expect to see in Mexico City, it still includes a variety of events and parties spread over a week during June each year and is categorized as 'one of the largest international events' held in the area.
One of the most popular Pride events is the Beach Pride Parade, which weaves its way along Avenida Juarez, culminating in front of City Hall, with, of course, a large party!
For further information on the various events and upcoming Pride, visit www.PlayaPride.com.mx
Things to do for Gay Travelers in Playa Del Carmen
Fundamentally, Playa del Carmen is a beautiful beach town, so, naturally, you might want to spend time relaxing on one of the gay beaches mentioned above or by the hotel pool. Beyond relaxing, there are numerous incredible tours to embark on and places to explore, encompassing:
Sian Ka'an Tour
Sian Ka'an is a UNESCO World Heritage site; it's a stunning biosphere offering a diverse adventure encompassing the Caribbean Sea, lagoons, jungle, coral reef, vibrant fish, birds, dolphins, crocodiles, and giant turtles.
Sian Ka'an is further down the coast in the direction of Tulum (read our Tulum Gay Guide); we love that you get to witness such a spectrum of environments on one tour, but for us, searching for dolphins and speedy giant turtles would be a highlight.
Visit the nearby Cenotes
Much of the terrain in Mexico comprises limestone. This often collapses, leaving behind open pools and subterranean cave systems of freshwater called cenotes. Many of these are now open for public access for swimming, and some even offer cave diving for the more adventurous. There are plenty to select from, but the closest to Playa del Carmen is Cenote Tajma Ha, which is a 30-minute drive (taxi or rental car).
There are also abundant options for full-day tours, including visits to Cenotes further afield, including the Gran Cenote, in the direction of Tulum.
Scuba Diving or Snorkelling
The coastline along the Riviera Maya has some incredible snorkelling and scuba diving locations, which highlight their gorgeous coral reefs and vibrant tropical fish.
If you're truly daring, there's even the option of cave diving in a Cenote!
Browse these providers suggested by Tripadvisor.
Xcaret
Xcaret is a water, theme, amusement, eco-archaeological park, and much more. It's ranked as the number one thing to do in Playa del Carmen by Tripadvisor.
It's located between the jungle, underground rivers, cenotes, and faces the Caribbean Sea. The views here are stunning.
Apart from the breathtaking locale, you can partake in varied activities. They have multiple locations, one near Cancun and one near Play Del Carmen.
See more at Xcaret.
Places to eat in Playa del Carmen
Each time we visit, we consistently return to the same places to dine over and over again. Here are four places we suggest visiting while you're in Playa del Carmen (and yes, we know they aren't Mexican food, but they are so delicious!):
Roma Spaghetti - This is a small, unassuming restaurant which, we believe, is attached to someone's home. It's nothing fancy, but wow, the food is out of this world, and it has won awards. The pasta is fresh, and everything is incredibly flavorful; this is where we chose to celebrate Valentine's Day this year.
Mae Thai Restaurant - In a slightly more upscale setting closer to the coast is Mae Thai. Again, we go here on every visit and highly recommend the pineapple fried rice.
Salade - One for a healthy and tasty lunch. They offer huge salads, as well as paninis, bagels, etc.
Chez Celine - This was one of the best brunches we've had. They also have a huge selection of pastries and sweet treats inside (which we took home and enjoyed in bed!).
Other Useful Information
Getting from Cancun to Playa del Carmen
Most international flights will arrive at Cancun International Airport, which is just a 30-40 minute drive from Playa del Carmen.
The two most common choices upon arrival are either a private taxi or the ADO bus.
A taxi should cost around $50, with some haggling.
You can locate the ADO bus directly outside the arrival terminal. Although it's a public bus, the trip still takes only 40 minutes and is much more reasonably priced.
What is the Currency in Playa Del Carmen?
The principal currency in Playa Del Carmen (and all of Mexico) is the Mexican Peso; nevertheless, US dollars are accepted everywhere.
You'll often see prices quoted in US dollars, particularly for hotel rates and excursions. The typical exchange rate is $1 = 18 Mexican Pesos.
Weather and the best time to visit Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen benefits from a warm climate virtually year-round. However, like most of the Caribbean, Playa del Carmen does have a significant wet and dry season.
The most popular time to visit tends to be the slightly cooler dry season, from November through March. Temperatures average 25-30°C/75-86°F during this period, with limited rainfall.
We have thoroughly savored both of our visits to Playa del Carmen and are seriously contemplating making a third trip to relish the Arena Festival 2020.
For anyone seeking a beautiful Caribbean beach town that is gay-friendly and welcoming (often difficult to find in the Caribbean!), we cannot recommend it highly enough. We hope you revel in your visit!
There's so much to see in the Riviera Maya; make sure you also investigate these posts!
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