Nonetheless, the low-rise development and numerous European-owned businesses make it seem, at least on the quieter north side, relatively cosmopolitan and calm (certainly when compared to Cancún). The nightlife in particular has a hip edge, but as the town has grown, it has become tougher on budget travellers.
Playa’s main beach has suffered some erosion and looks thin in some stretches. More serious beach-goers head to the area north of Constituyentes, called Playa Norte, where the deep, silky sand drops into waist-high green water with mid-size swells. A couple of beach clubs form the major social scene here.