Hacienda Maria Bonita was inaugurated in March 15, 1998, the hotel offers its guests wonderful warm hospitality and easy access to the center of town and the beach in Playa del Carmen.

Playa del Carmen is located in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, Just in middle of the Riviera Maya.

In a manner of speaking, there are two playas: Playa Del Carmen (our subject), a former fishing village that is quickly growing into one of the largest resort areas in the Mexican Caribbean; and the Playa-car development. Playacar is an 875 acre-golf-course community where you'll find big beach-front hotels, large all-inclusive resorts, a championship golf course and for anyone who might be interested, attractive homes and lots for sale.

Scooting around Playa Del Carmen to find a good place to eat lunch or take a dip, is a grand way to get to know it. The town's main thoroughfare is known as Quinta Avenida, or Fifth Avenue. Apart from a few beach-side cafes, Fifth Avenue is the town's restaurant row, with a dozens of restaurants, breakfast nooks and cafes to choose from. Since the town is only about ten blocks long, it's fun to stroll down Quinta and check out where to dine.

There are wide ranges of boutiques along Quinta which feature an eclectic mix of handicrafts from all over Mexico and Guatemala. The specialty shops feature masks, embroidered or batik blouses, dresses, and silver, shell and amber jewelry.

During siesta Playa is quiet, but as the sun sets the town is at its most festive. Street performers stroll Quinta Avenida Playing guitars while singing Spanish folk song, and lovers walk hand in hand, their ruddy faces glowing in the red rays of the setting sun.

Happy hour, which can last for a generous 120 minutes, gets under way at most taverns and the village becomes a international social club. American football flashes on giant screens before enthusiastic Italians; which, at least, provides a new twist to the line: Can you explain this game to me?' (Asking if you live near by seems unlikely in Playa.)

Though buses run from Playa to Cancun throughout the day, an afternoon in Playa makes some visitors want to spend the night; for which there are dozens of inexpensive hotels.

From Playa it's only a hop, skip and a jump to Cozumel. Twin-hulled ferries depart every hour and take less than that to make the crossing. Conveniently, they arrive in the heart of the island's one town, where tourists can find dive shops (Cozumels main attraction) or shop in duty-free stores. The island is so close that many people go over for breakfast rent a scooter and motor around to see the sights.