Tag Archives: Mamitas Beach

Neighborhoods of Playa del Carmen – Little Italy

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As many of you know the expats of Playa del Carmen are not only made up of Americans and Canadians, but a large number of Europeans have also relocated to Playa del Carmen. So it is no wonder that Playa del Carmen has its very own area called Little Italy.

Little Italy has truly an ideal location, located in the heart of Playa del Carmen and is walking distance to the beach and the 5th Avenue, the main tourist area. In this part of town you can find a few homes but it’s mainly condos and the real estate options start from as little as 90,000 USD and up to 700,000 USD.

As Little Italy is one of the oldest areas in Playa del Carmen you will find large mature trees scattered through the area as it is illegal to cut down trees in Mexico without permission from the government, which results in much appreciated shade and tree lined streets.

Going by the name of this area you can expect to find some amazing Italian restaurants, such as Piola on Avenue 38 North, with seating options either inside or out that offers a range of brick-oven pizzas, salads, pasta dishes and vegan options, but is mostly known here in Playa del Carmen for their basil margaritas, a definite must try. With so many different restaurants, cafes and bars in this area you will be really spoilt for choice.

The white sandy beach is only a few minutes away with many beach clubs and bars lining the beach, happy to serve you a refreshing cerveza or a cocktail of your choosing. Further along the beach, approx. a 10 minute stroll away, you will find the popular Canibal Royale Beach Club and in the other direction the famous Mamitas Beach Club and Zenzi, which the locals and visitors highly recommend. But don’t be shy! There is many more bars and beach clubs serving different dishes and with their daily promotions you will have many options to choose from.

There are large supermarkets not far from Little Italy such as Walmart, Mega and with Sam’s Club and City Club you will easily be able to cover your household needs.

Remember that there are small fruit and veg markets in the area too, with DAC being the largest and more popular due to its large range of fresh produce but also sells cheese, dried herbs and spices and a selection of tinned / jarred foods that is not very common to find in Playa del Carmen. DAC is open daily and located on Avenue 30, one block north from Constituyentes Ave.

For organic produce, handmade goods and gluten free baked goods, there are two markets that come to Playa del Carmen once a week. Both are organized by KaVaKasa, one takes place right in their HQ and the other one in Les Alizes Condos, on CTM Ave.

Whether you are looking for a calm stroll on the beach, a romantic evening out or just a simple trip to the market, if Little Italy does not have it you are guaranteed that it is close by!

If you’d like more information about Playa del Carmen or are interested in purchasing property here, we invite you to visit our main website where you can search further. Please get in touch with one of our agents who will gladly assist you in any questions you might have.

And remember, at Top Mexico Real Estate…

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Ready to Party: 2015 BPM Festival in Playa del Carmen

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The holidays have passed, but we are ready to keep partying! Playa del Carmen is ready to enjoy the music of the 2015 BPM Festival.

The  2015 BPM Festival in Playa del Carmen has established itself as one of the finest music festivals in the world, with thousands of visitors from all over the world. Even with its humble origins, BPM organizers have grown the festival into a music event with the best lineup, Dj’s and setting in the magical Riviera Maya.

Something that makes BPM such an attractive music destination is the beautiful tropical surroundings, not just the music. After dancing the night away, the day can be spent lounging on the beach, visiting archeological zones, or diving into a Cenote.

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BPM Festival: Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, is a small city 35 miles south of the Cancun International Airport, easy to access from any main airport in the world.  Once a sleepy fishing village, Playa del Carmen offers beautiful beaches, exclusive hotels, and a wide array of restaurants; everything to feel right at home!

Enjoy walking on the 5th Avenue, lined with bars and restaurants as well as plenty of shops to get souvenirs, clothes or whatever you want!

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BPM Festival: Other attractions

Playa del Carmen is much more than beautiful beaches, there is also its mysterious jungle, Mayan archeological zones and hundreds activity’s such as: snorkeling, diving, jungle tours, zip line excursions and cenotes.

Just a short drive away you will find magnificent colonial cities such as Merida, Valladolid and Izamal. Where one can walk on the cobble stone streets and feel transported to a different time. In these city’s you can learn about Sisal, the fiber that made the Yucatan Peninsula one of the wealthiest areas in the world, and stay in a 500 year old hacienda.

BPM Festival: Music, music and more music!

BPM offers an exciting combination of dance artists and Dj’s from all over the world, the festival spans over 10 days with the performance of more than 250 artists offering the newest in electronic music. The 2015 BPM festival offers more than 50 official events in different venues along the beach. Day or night there is always something happening!

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Make sure to learn more about the BPM Roster and events by visiting www.thebpmfestival.com!

Top Mexico Real Estate is your one and only stop for everything Riviera Maya, and also the best real estate company in the area. If you are considering buying a property in Mexico, let our expert real estate agents help you become a happy homeowner!

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The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival: Rain or Shine!

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If you were lucky enough to have attended the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival this year then you certainly had a real treat!  The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival went on Rain or shine this past weekend, bringing an incredible crowd down to Mamitas Beach Playa del Carmen to enjoy great music on the beach; all for free!

The main headliner of the whole Jazz Festival was, ever so popular, “Earth Wind and Fire”! They brought us three of the basic elements while nature brought us the fourth…Water (rain)!  Although the rain delayed the performance just a little, nothing could scare away the crowd who stood tight with their blankets and picnic baskets full of snacks, wine and other beverages!

Besides Earth, Wind and Fire there were many other spectacular performances, over the three day event, by artists such as Frank Gambale, Brent Fischer and many many more!

A well-loved and enjoyable occasion!

It was certainly an enjoyment to be a part of such a well-loved and popular event in Playa del Carmen!  Many expats made the journey down to Playa del Carmen specifically to attend the Jazz Festival that brings more and more Americans and Canadians down to the area every year!

If you are not familiar with the occasion, it is one of the best events hitting the Riviera Maya every year!  Many come for the music but also because the setting brings an extra charm to the event.  You can show up to the beach with your blanket or chair, bring your own drinks, and take your whole family or group of friends with you to enjoy the show.

 
The setting of the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival kind of reminds me of going to the drive in movie theater, with your whole family packed in the car and all your own goodies, to enjoy a major motion picture outdoors.  If you are part of the baby boomer generation, I’m almost sure you can relate with that feeling!

The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival is for the young and the young at heart!

What made the festival even more remarkable was that among the great turnout, there were people there were people of all ages joining in on the fun together!  Whether you are 20 years old or 65 years old, the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival brings music into the hearts of everyone!

I found that some people were just content relaxing with their wine and enjoying the music; while others were dancing the night away underneath the stars!

Start Planning for next year!

If you did miss the Riviera Maya Jazz festival, be sure to add it to your calendar for next year!  It is such a great time of year to come to the Riviera Maya, due to the beautiful comfortable weather temperatures and the variety of November events such as the Jazz Festival, Taste of Playa, and of course the beachfront Thanksgiving celebrations!

I should also mention that if you purchase plane tickets for November you can take advantage of generally low prices. right before the peak season starts in late December!

This is certainly an exciting time in Playa del Carmen!  The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival is always the very start of snowbird season here in the Riviera Maya!  Many expats who come for the event will remain here at least until April to escape those cold winter months!

To showcase some of the fun of the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival, I would like to leave you with a short video of the excellent performance by Earth Wind and Fire!   Enjoy and see you next year!

 

Mini World Cup Expat Soccer Tournament 2013 in Playa del Carmen

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There was plenty of fun and excitement last weekend in Playa del Carmen at Mamitas Beach where the 8th Annual “Mundialito de Playa” was held. The Mundialito, or mini world cup if you will, was a special soccer tournament for locals and expats from all over the globe who are living here and like to play.  Check out this slide show with some of our pictures:

 

beatlo's Mundialito Playa del Carmen - Final Game album on Photobucket

(If you’re reading by subscription, or can’t see the slideshows, click here to go to the blog and see the pics!)

We visited all three days of the tournament to watch, take photos and cheer on our own home countries. It was really quite an event! Teams included were from Mexico, USA, Italy, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Spain, Uruguay, France and Switzerland. Each team was made of expats from each country!

Here’s the women’s soccer:

The event was a lot of fun and we even saw some visitors from some of the professional teams come out to cheer for their own. In addition to the soccer tournament, the event also included a men’s and women’s rugby expedition. There were plenty of fans and some vibrant cheerleaders who came out to cheer on their team as well.

 

I’ve never seen rugby on a beach before, but it’s something else:

 

beatlo's Mundialito 2013 Rugby album on Photobucket

 

The tournament included two full days of matches between the 10 teams followed by the finals in the last day. Who won? While each country did a fantastic job we must give our congratulations to the Mexican team for taking 1st place in the tournament! The most important thing, however, is that all participants from every team had fun and played great!

 

This event was great for any age group and families as well. It was so nice to see so many people from all over the world get together to play together. While there are many expats who love Mexico and love living in Playa it is always important to show pride for the place you came from. This was clearly and event that showcased that kind of pride.

 

While we were there we got to talking with some of the fans who were watching the games. There were definitely plenty of locals that came to cheer on their family and friends but also there was a nice tourist crowd. For those who love soccer and love the beach this was a special treat! This event is held yearly so if you didn’t get the chance to make it out this time it’s definitely worth it to mark it down for next year!

 

-by Thomas Lloyd

 

Livin' Playa video interview

Beach Soccer was Amazing! – Pictures

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If you remember, last week I posted about the beach soccer tournament; I went on the weekend and got some great pictures – well, pictures of a great event, in any case!

 

Notice that the event is actually sponsored by FIFA, the organization for the World Cup:

 

And here, with the FIFA flag, you can see the beautiful Mamitas Beach:

 

Mexico vs. Brazil:

 

Mexico vs. Spain:

 

Here are the cheerleaders:

 

And finally, this is the beach after the games:

 

If you think you would’ve enjoyed this, you’ll be happy to know about the 8th “MUNDIALITO DE FUTBOL DE PLAYA” (or “little World Cup for Beach Soccer”) coming up on June 21 – 23. For this one, the teams are made of expats from Playa representing their home country.

 

-by Thomas Lloyd

 

Awa Condos Playa del Carmen

The World Cup Comes to Playa del Carmen

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… the Beach Soccer Worldwide Cup, that is.
Starting tomorrow (May 3), the Beach Soccer Worldwide Riviera Maya Cup will be taking place at Mamitas Beach Club.  I’m kind of thinking of going to take a peak.  I’m usually not a soccer kind of guy, but on the beach … that’s something altogether different!

 

And, it’s worth noting that its free!

 

This is the announcement from Mayan Explore:

 

Riviera Maya Cup 2013 in Playa del Carmen from the 3rd – 5th May 2013

 

Mexico, Spain, Brazil and the Bahamas will take part in the Riviera Maya Cup 2013 at Mamitas Beach Club in Playa del Carmen.

 

This competition will be played in a round robin format, with all of the teams playing each other, the team with the most points will be awarded the Riviera Maya Cup 2013 Champions.

 

Her e is the schedule for the Round Robin:

 

Friday 3rd of May

 

1.45pm:- Spain Vs Brazil
3pm:- Bahamas Vs Mexico

 

Saturday 4th of May

 

1.45pm:- Brazil Vs Bahamas
3pm:- Mexico Vs Spain

 

Sunday 5th of May

 

1.45pm:- Spain Vs Bahamas
3pm:- Mexico Vs Brazil

 

-by Thomas Lloyd

 

Awa Condos Playa del Carmen

Try a New Way of Seeing the Beach – Parasailing in Playa del Carmen

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Is there anything better than wandering down the white sandy beaches, along the crystal blue green water? Well, yes! Flying over it, soring above looking down over the entire Playa del Carmen. No, I’m not talking about skydiving. I’m talking about parasailing.

Parasailing is a popular activity all along the coast of the Riviera Maya. You can book your trip right on the beach. The jet skis take you out to the boat and they help you out with everything you need. It’s an amazing feeling, gliding through the air, looking down.

A lot of people think that its scary, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. You are 100% supported in a harness and its like you are sitting on a chair watching the world pass by.

I remember thinking the last time we went, how everything seemed so small from up so high. It really helped me get away from it all and get a little prospective on life. Best therapy ever!
We went off Mamitas beach in Playa del Carmen. There are several boats that do parasailing. You can always find someone selling tickets. If you have trouble, look for the guys hanging around the jet skis, windsurfers and kayaks. They will happily point you in the right direction.

After they took us up to fly like a bird, we decided to take the jet skis out for a run. That was heaps of fun! Riding the waves, feeling the power. There are so many water activities available in places like Playa, that’s its hard to choose one. Well, my advice… don’t choose, try them all and have fun doing so.

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