Bar hopping. seashore. Mayan food. We have always loved Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen is a fun and vibrant urban beach town that never takes itself too seriously. And recently, welcome new hotels have been popping up.
This includes another thing: IHG has officially opened the new Hotel Indigo Playa del Carmen, adding a boutique-style hotel to the heart of Mexico’s busiest Caribbean destination.
This 83-room hotel is located in the Gonzalo Guerrero neighborhood, one block from the legendary Quinta Avenida and within walking distance of the beach. The central address places the hotel in the most active area of Playa del Carmen, surrounded by restaurants, bars, boutiques and nightlife.
The opening expands IHG’s presence in the Riviera Maya and adds another lifestyle-focused option to a market long dominated by large beach resorts and with travelers increasingly turning to the city’s interior.
This is the second Hotel Indigo in the Caribbean, joining Grand Cayman’s Hotel Indigo, a hotel that impressed us when it first opened.
IHG clearly has ambitions for the brand in the region, and so far the results have been promising.
Central location within walking distance
Location is the defining feature of the new Hotel Indigo.
Quinta Avenida, Playa del Carmen’s main pedestrian thoroughfare, is just one block away. This is a street that most visitors will visit at least once a day for breakfast, a beach club, shopping or a late dinner as a second stop somewhere nearby.
This part of the city offers easy access to Cozumel’s ferry docks, along with dive shops, tour operators and beach access points most frequented by travelers.
The hotel’s walkable setting will appeal to travelers who want to immerse themselves in Playa del Carmen rather than the gated resort areas outside the city center. There are dozens of hotels across the Riviera Maya, but the experience is radically different if you can get out and immediately settle into the rhythm of the town.
Playa del Carmen is best when you can get around without having to plan transportation. This is where the simplest trips are often the best. A long day at the beach, a quick break at the hotel, dinner, shopping, and nightlife are all within a few blocks.
Rooftop-centric hotel experience
A key amenity at Hotel Indigo Playa del Carmen is the rooftop pool deck, which features a pool, hot tub, and lounge area designed for all-day use.
Rooftop swimming pools have become one of the defining features of the newest hotels in central Playa del Carmen, where ground space is limited and many are surrounded by neighboring buildings. For travelers staying in the downtown area, rooftop decks often serve as a prime spot to swim, relax, and hang out at the hotel between beach visits and evening outings.
The property also highlights the rooftop as a venue for private events.
Room with terrace and sea view options
The hotel’s rooms are modern and comfortable, featuring stylish bathrooms, luxurious bedding and free high-speed WiFi.
All rooms include a mini-fridge, and most categories have a terrace or balcony. Some room types include ocean views, a notable detail in central Playa del Carmen, where many hotels are located just blocks from the coastline.
The emphasis on private outdoor spaces aligns with broader trends in the market as travelers increasingly prioritize balconies and terraces, even in urban-style beach destinations.
Meals and Amenities
Hotel Indigo Playa del Carmen has 1 on-site restaurant, highlighted by the hotel’s Mayan Bistro.
Plus, popular daily housekeeping, fitness centers, on-site parking, and pet-friendly accommodations are available at many IHG portfolio hotels like the Kimpton.
Pet-friendly policies are relatively limited among hotels in central Playa del Carmen, especially among newer lifestyle brands, making this a potentially meaningful differentiator for travelers bringing their animals with them.
Why Playa del Carmen remains one of the most popular bases in the Riviera Maya
Playa del Carmen continues to draw travelers because it offers something few Caribbean-facing destinations in Mexico do: a true beach town experience paired with major resort infrastructure.
This is where you can take a morning swim in the turquoise water, have lunch downtown, and enjoy a density of restaurants and nightlife options that feel closer to the city than the resort streets. Travelers come for the beaches but return for the convenience. Everything is close. You can walk almost anywhere. Casual taco counters, rooftop cocktail bars, cafés for a leisurely breakfast, and last-minute tour operators for cenote trips can all be found within a few blocks.
The playa also remains one of the easiest starting points in the Riviera Maya. The ferry to Cozumel is perfect for a day trip. Local cenotes and ecological parks are also close by. Archaeological sites such as Tulum and Cobá are common excursions. Even travelers looking for a quiet stay in a small beach town often choose Playa as their first or last stop because of the ease of logistics.
In that context, new hotels located in the city center are important because they offer modern options for travelers who want to stay in the center without sacrificing comfort, design or novelty.
Another new hotel in PDC
Playa del Carmen still has one of the most competitive hotel markets in the Riviera Maya, with new inventory continuing to arrive even as the destination’s identity changes.
The opening of Hotel Indigo adds a new brand-backed boutique option to the heart of downtown. Many accommodations in this area are small, independent or aimed at budget travellers. In contrast, Indigo’s positioning is lifestyle-oriented with a design-led approach and amenities centered around the rooftop pool experience.
For travelers who want the walkability and nightlife of Playa del Carmen but still want a modern, full-service hotel, Hotel Indigo Playa del Carmen is one of the destination’s newest additions.
It’s part of the city’s changing hotel landscape, which also includes the recently rebranded Hyatt Centric (formerly Thompson, if you know the area).
How to get there
This property is located in downtown Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico’s Caribbean region.
Most travelers arrive through Cancun International Airport, the main gateway to the region. The airport is located approximately 34 to 36 miles north of Playa del Carmen, typically a 45 to 60 minute drive depending on traffic. Private transfers and shared shuttles run throughout the day, and car rentals are widely available for travelers looking to explore beyond the city (see flight options here).
Tulum International Airport, which has expanded its services in recent months, is another option. Playa del Carmen is approximately 65 to 70 miles north of Tulum Airport, with a typical driving time of 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes.
Once you arrive in Playa del Carmen, choosing a centrally located hotel like Hotel Indigo will reduce the need for additional transportation. Quinta Avenida, public beach access, restaurants, bars and shops are all within walking distance.
Hotel Indigo Prices
According to what I’ve seen on Google Hotels, you can currently find rooms for under $180 per night. The same goes for March, the peak season.
