City Kickstart Tour: Playa del Carmen

• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Welcome to Playa del Carmen! Want to know the best places to eat? Cool events in town? Which places to go to and which to avoid? Or simply get some help to navigate the city? Book this private tour with a local and get the perfect introduction to Playa del Carmen to start your city trip on the right foot.

Destination

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

2 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

Deutsch, English, Español

Included

• Private Guide
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Entrance to attractions

What you can expect

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at in front of the restaurant los Aguachiles - Playa del Carmen to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. City Highlights

   See Playacar Mayan Ruins, Parque los Fundadores, and more landmarks and must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots of the city so you can get the perfect introduction to what makes Playa del Carmen so special

4. Local Hot Spots

   Along the way, your host will point out hangout spots and hidden gems that only the locals know about and will help you get acquainted with the city in the most local way possible

5. Food Recommendations

   Receive tailored recommendations according to your taste and where to go and what to eat while visiting Playa del Carmen. Avoid tourist traps thanks to your local host!

6. City Orientation

   Learn how to navigate the city, and get the answers to your Playa del Carmen questions that will help you in the following days making your time in the city much easier

7. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Melanie 🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Sonja)

18 April 2025

Vorab Sonja ist ist eine tolle empathische Person. Es war wie ein Spaziergang mit einer Freundin durch Playa del Carmen mit allen wissenswerten Infos die man sich erhofft hat. Die Tour wird ganz individuell von Ihr gestaltet und Sie geht auf die spezifischen Wünsche und Bedürfnisse ein. Ich kann diesen "Kickstart" für einen Aufenthalt in der Region nur wärmstens empfehlen 🫶Einfach nur toll

Steve and Pam

(About local Sonja)

23 March 2025

First off communication was easy that helps when traveling in a foreign country. Second, We had the best day with Sonja. She took the time to explain all the local attractions not only at street level but a special trip to a rooftop pool for a city overlook. She knows her history and the names of monuments. We had time to shop local for unique gifts as well as the tourist stuff. Plus a bonus of an added local Mayan chocolate shop and a look see at a beautiful local resort with gorgeous gardens. She knows all the secret spots. Sonja took the time as well to take photos of us and we didn’t have to attempt the dreaded selfie. Lastly when we were ready to head back to our hotel she took the time to find a local drugstore for some sunscreen purchase and then hailed us a cab. She is very kind and a great guide. We would definitely recommend and go on another tour she has planned. Walking tour of Playa Del Carmen 😎🩵

sallymathew

(About local Sonja)

1 April 2024

1

I had not heard of With Locals before searching for tours for our recent Mexico trip. I took a chance and it was well worth it. Sonja made communication easy and was flexible. We had a laid back tour at our pace of Playa del Carmen, which was a perfect start to our vacation. We woke at 2:30 am to make our early flight to Cancun that day, so a laid back tour at an easy pace was perfect. She showed us all the hidden gems and took fabulous photos of our family. She also helped me get transportation added to our Xoximilco booking which was not only a relief, it made that excursion so hassle free. I would have spent a lot of time dealing with that on my own. In fact I only mentioned that I needed transportation added and she thought of taking me to the Xcaret booth and getting it handled for me. I definitely recommend Sonja and with locals and wish I would have known that Sonja is an official guide for the ruins. I had already booked our Tulum tour. We each selected three favorite things of our week in Mexico and my husband said this tour with Sonja. He felt like she showed us all the special spots and it was well worth it. We did a lot during our week stay- so this is a very high compliment. Thanks again Sonja (and little Valentino), you made our trip extra special. Loved our tour with Sonja

Jaime🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Sonja)

23 April 2025

Sonja was great and very knowledgeable about Mayan culture, the food we tried, and the history of Playa Del Carmen. She took us to a local market over Easter that had unique food vendors making something local from home. We tried so many things and did not go hungry.Awesome Taco Tour

Claire

(About local Sonja)

15 April 2025

We had a fantastic food tour in Playa del Carmen with Sonja! Right from the moment of booking she was friendly and helpful, always ensuring that we had the best time we could. We’d originally booked for slightly earlier, but she suggested that we move the time a little later so that we could experience the local artisan food market - and wow, we are so glad we did! We sampled so many delicious dishes and drinks that it felt like we wouldn’t need to eat for a week! Sonja was knowledgeable and helpful, telling us about the different dishes and making sure that we tried a wide variety. I would highly recommend a food tour with Sonja!Wonderful food tour!

Molly🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sonja)

7 April 2025

Sonja was a fabulous tour guide and took us to several stops we would never have found on our own! She was so friendly and knowledgeable and we loved getting to know her son as well :) Amazing Food and Tour!

Gary

(About local Sonja)

2 April 2025

Our evening with Sonja was a vibrant and delicious exploration of Playa del Carmen's authentic food scene! She skillfully led us away from the predictable tourist fare, revealing hidden culinary treasures and trusted street vendors. The aromas and flavors were incredible, each bite a revelation of the freshest, most authentic Mexican food we've ever encountered. Sonja's personalized approach was truly exceptional; she listened to our preferences and curated a tour that felt uniquely ours. The convenience of her meeting us at our VRBO maximized our relaxation time, and the private tour was a fantastic investment in an intimate and unforgettable experience. We were so delightfully full by the end we sadly had to forgo the marquesita - a delicious regret! Even after the tour, Sonja continued to share her local knowledge, offering valuable tips for snorkeling with turtles in Akumal and other local secrets. For a truly immersive and personalized culinary journey in Playa del Carmen, Sonja is the only guide you need.Wonderful food tour with Sonja

Sarah

(About local Sonja)

23 March 2025

Sonja was a great guide who was interesting, friendly and very knowledgeable about the area and culture. In addition, she provided many recommendations for the rest of our stay. We would highly recommended her food tour as a great introduction to the area.Fantastic Food Tour

Margsret

(About local Sonja)

22 March 2025

Sonja was able to provide us with the perfect Tulum and small town tour. We were wanting a unique tour of the area that did not include ziplines-cenotes-or ruins. We have been to the Cancun area many times. We ate at a fantastic beach club which had no cover. The food and location were amazing. We will definitely book with her again. A private tour gives a lot of flexibility. Sonja also has a license to pick you up from the Cancun airport to and from your hotel. I wish we had known this sooner as we booked thru the hotel and it was expensive.Sonja is a Great Tour Guide to Use

Nicole🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Sonja)

5 February 2025

Sonja was great! She was super knowledgeable, lovely and really took the time to curate a perfect round trip. A must-do experience when in Playa del Carmen! Amazing experience!

s2cqybj9p9

(About local Sonja)

30 January 2025

1

Sonja was fantastic! She really showed the PDC area well. We had 7 of us, one of which was in a wheelchair. She was so accommodating, kind and knowledgeable! The food was delicious and there were items we would never have found of our own! She has excellent response times. Highly RECOMMEND!A Must Do!

John🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sonja)

27 January 2025

1

Highly recommend...Sonja was engaging, friendly and very communicative. She accomodated our schedule, preferences and ensured we tasted all Yucatex Mayan flavors as hoped! We'd hope to do other tours with Sonja if possible, she is excellent.Fabulous Food with Sonja

Pacey🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Sonja)

1 August 2024

1

We had a fabulous food tour with Sonja today. We had plenty of options and variety offered to accommodate our tastes. Whilst we were a little cautious on the hot sauces due to recent illness we certainly tried new foods we have not had since being in Mexico. The cooling drinks, chocolate, tortas, costras and churros filled our tummies! Plenty of recommendations for our next visit also provided. Sonja was a great guide who was interesting, friendly, shaped the tour around our preferences and showed us some great shopping spots. We would definitely recommended her food tour! Great Tour - A must do!

Lisa🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sonja)

7 May 2024

1

We had a fabulous tour with Sonja the day we arrived for our vacation. She customized the tour for us and gave us so much information and many tips that were helpful for our trip. And, everything we tasted was great! Playa del Carmen Food Tour

Jason🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sonja)

5 April 2024

1

Sonja was incredibly knowledgeable about the Mayan Ruins and area. We had an amazing time visiting Ek Balam, lunch in Valladolid and swimming in a cenote. We talked about Mexico and what it’s like to live there the entire time. My kids had an unforgettable day. I can’t possibly recommend Sonja enough; it was a magical experience.The Best Day of our Vacation

Annemarie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sonja)

4 March 2024

1

The private and personal food tour with Sonja was the perfect kick off to our visit to PDC. She thoughtfully tailored the tastings with a little mix of everything local and all was delicious. We had the most wondeful dinner the next evening at one of her recommendations and had a quick meal two days later at one of the food stops. We hope to have Sonja as our guide again soon for other local cultural experiences.10 tastings and an intro to PDC...

Gary

(About local Evgenii)

14 December 2023

Our group of four absolutely loved this experience the museum is a great place full of pieces of art and our guide Evgenii made it even more memorable with his knowledge and insights! Thanks! Absolutely recommend!Great museum tour!

Jon 🇺🇸 United States

(About local Evgenii)

5 December 2023

We had an incredible time exploring Playa del Carmen with two fantastic tours! The food tasting tour was a feast for the senses, with a diverse array of delicious local dishes that left me craving more. The Frida Kahlo museum tour was a captivating journey through the life and art of this iconic artist, providing a profound and enriching cultural experience. Both tours exceeded our expectations, making my visit to Playa del Carmen truly unforgettable! What truly elevated our experience was the exceptional personality and professionalism of our local guide Evgenii. His passion for the cuisine during the food tour and his insightful commentary at the Frida Kahlo museum made the tours not only informative but also genuinely enjoyable. His knowledge and enthusiasm added a personal touch that turned the outings into memorable adventures. Kudos to an outstanding guide who made Playa del Carmen come alive!Playa del Carmen

Michael 🇺🇸 United States

(About local Evgenii)

2 December 2023

We had an incredible experience on the walking tour in Playa del Carmen! The guide was knowledgeable and engaging, offering fascinating insights into the local culture and history. The route showcased the city's hidden gems, creating lasting memories. We are truly grateful for this enriching adventure – highly recommended!