It is a a place to explore at least once if you are in the area. There are many shops, bars and a lot of action any time of day or night. You find many overpriced souvenirs and shops and there is something for everyone. I found it to be a safe place and there is added security present. You will still be approached often to enter a shop, restaurantsto buy a massage, to get a tequila shot or to buy something from a street vendor. I wasn't there for the shopping so I didn't entertain them and politely declined with a smile. My favorite attraction is the park of the end of the street by the waterfront. read more

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A lot of cool shopping places. Since it's a tourist area, things are more expensive than they should be. If you find something you like, go to other stores because you may find it cheaper. Try haggling too. It's a nice place to walk around and look at things read more

This is the street with all the "action" so 99% of people who come to Playa visit it. It has dozens of bars, restaurants, and tons of shopping. It is fun to stroll and people watch. There are street musicians and assorted entertainment. At night it is very crowded and loud after the shops close and only bars and restaurants are open. It's fun, but how often can you walk the street and be entertained? I give it 3 stars because you can't just walk the avenue and be left alone. Sellers from virtually every store and restaurant are trying to get you to enter. We've been asked dozens of times already if we wanted "free shot of tequila," braids, massage, smoke shop, souvenirs, and assorted restaurants. I understand that they are trying to make a living. But It gets old fast. read more

This is the touristy area of Playa Del Carmen. Full of bars, souvenir shops, restaurants and clubs. It was super crowded, hot and just not my scene. I can see younger folks enjoying this spot. read more

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This is the main street in Playa del Carmen with something for everyone. Quinta Avenida is also a pedestrian only street making it a must for those who want to explore this city. You will find many restaurants, souvenir shops, retail stores and shopping malls. The main bulk of the stores are located on the 2 mile stretch starting from the pier at the western end with boats to Cozumel. The store employees can be a little pushy trying to sell you things and it is extremely crowded, so those looking for a quiet secluded vacation should avoid this place. Prices are also higher than if you venture farther away where locals go. However, if you are a visitor who wants to be in the middle of the action, I recommend staying in a hotel close to this street. read more

Quinta Avenida - Local Flavor Near Me - Playa del Carmen, AGU

This is a long street that starts on one end of Playa Del Carmen and then ends at the very end where the boat dock is to go to Cozumel. There are plenty of things to see and do here. Lots of tourist every day no matter what day it is or time it is. Plenty of restaurants plenty of stores and plenty of street vendors. It's a great place to stop by and people watch and you can also just walk to the beach which is the next street over. On the north part of the street where it begins, you'll have a lot of local vendors selling things like handmade goods, souvenirs, bikinis, things for dogs. And on the southern part of the street near the end you have more American stores and even a mall at the end. Lots of restaurants as well. The beach here is not as nice as Cancun. The water is not as blue and sometimes there's a lot of seaweed as well. The boat that goes to Cozumel only goes during certain hours of the day so you have to get there early in order to go. The hotels here are a lot cheaper than in Cancun but they are not as big and as fancy as Cancun. It's also cheaper to rent apartments here then Cancún or Tulum. If I were to live here in the Cancun area I would most likely choose to live in Playa Del Carmen since there are always plenty of things to do and see in lots of tourists so it's never a dull moment. There are also a lot of restaurants to choose from so we won't run out of choices. Plus the rent for the apartments is way cheaper than both Cancun and Tulum. So this is another highly recommended place to go and spend the day with your family or a date or your wife. read more

Quinta Avenida - Nice art - Local Flavor Near Me - Playa del Carmen, AGU

Fifth avenue is beautiful, especially at night. I would however strongly warn against actually going into the free Tequila tasting, farmacias for prescription drugs without prescription, or any of the restaurants. These are the most scamming places. The prices are very expensive for EVERYTHING!!! I had a man tell me he would charge me 40 US for a bottle of coffee flavored Tequila. Once I handed over my card he charged me 75 US dollars. I bought a weight loss drug but took it back unopened the next morning at the farmacia next to Starbucks. They advised they don't offer refunds but would in my case. I gave them the products, got back home to US and noticed the refund was never made to my bank. My bank put the money back but 2 months later they reversed that because these scammers told them they didn't offer refunds. I had by then misplaced the refund receipt. Do not rent a car in Playa bc the gas stations are not self service and they don't actually pump any gas in the car. The boutique hotels are hot with no AC. Overall, the desperation and hackling of tourist would make me skip this all together. read more

La Quinta Avenida has something for everyone as a one stop shop for tourists. From food to souvenirs, this is where you need to come. Various restaurants, bars, access to the beach, tours, banks, money exchange stores, never ending pharmacies and souvenir stores, and 2 shopping malls located at both ends. 99% of these places accept both dollars and pesos, but I advise you do pesos as much as possible as you get more for your home currency when you pay with pesos. A lot of the places accept credit card, which is the most beneficial when it comes to paying with pesos since your cc company offers you the real exchange rate versus some vendors ripping you off for a lesser exchange rate. But beware, there a lot of tourist traps and people trying to sell your tours, products, or to get you to eat somewhere. There are even people trying to sell you drugs in broad daylight and the cops are near them and don't do anything to them. Best advice is to say "no gracias" and keep it going! Taxis to the northern end are in a cheaper zone compared to the southern end, about a $7-10 USD difference to the hotel zone near Mayakoba. read more

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Modern, well built up dining and shopping area. Nice restaurants and shops for souvenirs. The business workers are a bit pushy and agressive since everyone wants your business. It's as though they are yelling and bidding at you. Once you ignore them nd keep walking its ok. There are stores like H&M, Sephora, stores from US are there as well. Night clubs for dancing, hooka bars too. read more

Quinta Avenida - Restaurants, bars - Local Flavor Near Me - Playa del Carmen, AGU

A surprise to be sure. I think that this street is one of the best places in Playa Del Carmen to be visiting. While people may stay in all-inclusive resorts visit to this place is a must. Though I have to say the mileage may very. We took a stroll through the Avenida starting at Avenida Benito Juarez almost to the end. There is a lot of shops and bars and nice places to eat along the Avenue and but there is still some development to be done on the North End of the street going to Avenida C.T.M. but still it's a nice place to get to out of the resorts. Just one thing to watch for. Some places overcharge so be ready to walk away or negotiate "like you life depends on it". read more

After looking at pictures, I thought that this place was not really worth checking out. Well I was wrong. This was one of my favorite parts of Playa del Carmen, especially since it runs parallel with the beach. Even the next street over is a nice walk, 10th avenue. La Quinta avenida definitivamente vale la pena! (It's definitely worth checking out.) There are so many shops, stores, and restaurants. If you're black, white, or Asian: If you can pass for being of partial or full African descent, you might be offered drugs during the evening. After seeing it several times, I asked one of them why they profile blacks as if they all do drugs (in Spanish); he didn't know what to say. Also, you most likely won't be approached as much to buy a bunch of souvenirs. If you're white, you're a magnet to souvenir sellers. If you're Asian, well, I didn't really see any Asians, nor eastern Indians. Everyone else pretty much ambiguously passes for Latino, especially since a Latino can have multiple ethnic backgrounds from any part of the world. read more

Quinta Avenida - Avenida - Local Flavor Near Me - Playa del Carmen, AGU

As crazy as Vegas, this is a must if you are in playa! No cars allowed, makes this a perfect Mecca for strolling. You can bar hop or shop til you drop. Just know it will be crowded and the locals will make their best attempt at luring you to buy stuff you probably don't need or want. Cuban cigars are a biggie here as well as all those Mexican trinkets you don't have use for. FYI, all those items can be found much cheaper at the local Walmart. There are many eateries, cafes, etc. lots of high end trendy spots as well as bargain eats. Saw lots of Italian as well as authentic Mexican restaurants. Literal definition is fifth avenue and it runs parallel to the beach. For better local eats, check out a few blocks up and you will find where the locals eat. read more

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If you're visiting the area, definitely check out Quinta Avenida, especially after sunset. The street is very lively, colorful, and in my opinion, the ultimate destination for food and shopping (again, for the area). A lot of the restaurants here have outdoor seating (perfect to enjoy the weather and/or people watch) and there is a variety of cuisines (Mexican, Argentinian, Italian, European, etc.) to choose from. For the shopping, there are local stores and street vendors you will not find anywhere else, but there is a mall section with large, popular retail brands such as H&M, Victoria's Secret, Sephora, Sunglass Hut, etc. We also stumbled upon a side street where local artists displayed their work for purchase. There's so much to see, and so much to do here that if you decide to stop by, I recommend giving yourself a few hours to at least walk the distance of the Avenue and grab a bite to eat. Most of the restaurant's accept major credit cards, and some of the vendors will accept US dollars. Otherwise, there are plenty of ATM's and currency exchange booths along the Avenue as well. read more

This is a great street with lots of bars, restaurants, entertainment options, and shopping. You can find almost anything and everything that you could want in this area. Many different types of stores line the streets with masses of people walking around. That being said, there are droves of pushy sales people trying to lure you into their stores. They will get in front of you and try to convince you to visit their shop. The minute you politely decline one person, another one comes to try and get your business. The prices are all very high on top of the very aggressive sales tactics. The "good deals" are drastically marked up compared to other places I've been in Mexico. There are some very nice bars and restaurants here, but be prepared to pay more than in the areas frequented by locals. read more

Many different stores and restaurants. Prices are not outrageous and somehow about the same cost than buying from the locals at Chichen itza. Bars and live music are great. This reminds me Miami. read more

Great street to walk around at night. It takes about an hour and half to fully see everything on this street. It's a gorgeous street full of restaurants, shops, bars, and night clubs. At night it takes on a beauty that is just so reminiscent of a tropical island. The hut style restaurants are so romantic and the beach being a stone's throw is just so beautiful. Tons of good restaurants line this street as well as unique stores and tons of souvenir shops. You'll also find some chain stores, a Starbucks, and a McDonald's as well. There's a couple of shopping centers along the street and a beautiful small church at the end. read more

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Quinta Avenida or 5th Ave is the main tourist drag / shopping street / pedestrian thoroughfare of Playa del Carmen. Pretty much everything you expect to find in a touristy beach town you'll stroll pass here: bars, Starbucks, restaurants, McD's, shop after shop of cheap tourist trinkets with aggressive sales people. There are countless places to stop for a place to rest or drink. We enjoyed strolling down the street and back up on the beach after turning at the little white Catholic Church - Nuestra Senora del Carmen. read more

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"Great Street" Great street mainly for restaurants but also some very good stores catering to both locals and tourists. There were a street art fair on the night that we went. The street is crowded with all the bars and restaurants. read more

This screams tourist tourist. Their 5th Avenue streets are lines with souvenir shops and regular stores you would find in the States, i.e. Hurley, Quick silver, Victoria secret etc. It's a place to stroll around to shop. One block off of it is the beach. Right now the waters are filled with seaweed so it's murky. The beach is packed. Back to 5th avenue, it's a good stroll for an hr. The stores all started to look the same when we kept walking. You can find taxi easily there and they seem to charge the same rates to the hotel. read more

If you want anything in Playa, you will find it here. It is a cacophony of sound and sight. I got a nice local Tequila bottle here from a Tequila store. I am sure it was overpriced but whatever, everything on this street is. If you pay in cash, you can haggle with the store owners to bring the price down. If you are looking for tours or day trips, go to this street as you can talk to multiple tour operators to get the best price. If you are in Playa, it is hard to miss this place. read more

Quinta Avenida is definitely worth the visit. It's a long strip of shops, bars, restaurants, activities and lots to do. At the very end you hit the beach, a shopping mall, and a plazita, which always has something going on. My husband and I bought cigars. You must go in the shops, do not buy cigars off the street vendors, they're not good or real! I did buy handmade jewelry from the vendors who literally have their stuff on the street, their stuff is beautiful and they don't oversell like the shops and vendors with kiosks. We also stepped into a few shops on the side streets in between, it's worth a stop, they also don't oversell. The vendors can get a bit annoying, but just keep walking and ignore them, you aren't obligated to talk to them or buy anything from them. All in all, if you don't mind walking and looking, this is the place for you! read more

The good: Great mix of both local souvenir and craft shops and big-name stores, from Victorias Secret to H&M. Party atmosphere all. the. time. Also many restaurant & dessert spot options. The bad: Food can be a little pricey The ugly: If you have an end goal (say, get dinner, or shop at a specific store) then it's great. However if you're just strolling, it's almost impossible to enjoy. As soon as you make eye contact with any vendor, they will pounce to try to sell you whatever it is they have (and they all have developed awesome reflexes). Even the restaurants will shove their menu in front of your face as you walk if you seem even a bit interested. I learned quickly to look around them and to not stop. For. Anything. Which is a shame because the street vendors have all sort of interesting crafts, jewelry, etc, I would have loved to get close and see what they had to offer, perhaps get my souvenir from them. But they really ruin the experience of just leisurely walking. Would I avoid it altogether next time? Probably not, but at least I know what to expect. read more