How to Be Healthy in Playa del Carmen
Staying healthy in a vacation destination like Playa del Carmen can definitely have its challenges.
It was quite a change for me moving here from Chicago where you are bundled up in leggings and chunky sweaters for more than half the year, making it all too easy to hide that holiday weight and happy hour indulgences.
Now, the fact that I pretty much have to be bikini ready every day of the year definitely makes it a little more motivating to stay healthy. But let’s face it, the taco joints and 2×1 drinks specials on every corner can make it pretty hard to stay in shape.
In this post, I’m detailing all my favorite healthy restaurants, gyms, and health food stores in Playa del Carmen, whether you live here or are on vacation.
Healthy Restaurants in Playa del Carmen
Green & Fit
Green & Fit is a salad bar restaurant in Playa del Carmen located on 24th Street and 10th Avenue. You can build your own salad or choose from a preset salad menu.
The small sized salad is huge and only costs around $6 USD which includes your choice of 2 proteins and 4 salad ingredients. They also offer paninis, wraps, poke bowls, juices, and smoothies.
Be sure to try the Limon Menta (Lime & Mint) green tea for a refreshing drink to accompany your salad.
Salade
Salade is almost exactly the same as Green & Fit but is located on 10th Street and 15th Avenue. It’s a little bit smaller than Green & Fit but they do have some outdoor seating.
Moots
Moots is a newer healthy restaurant located on Constituyentes and 15th Avenue. They offer smoothies, bowls, sandwiches, and salads.
My favorite salad is their Toop Bowl which is a tasty mix of lettuce, apples, cranberries, tender grilled chicken, and pumpkin seeds with a honey mustard dressing.
Aloha Raw Bar
Aloha Raw Bar is a healthy restaurant on 38th Street and 20th Avenue that offers the prettiest acai bowls in Playa del Carmen.
The acai bowls have looked different every time I’ve gone but they’ve been served in a coconut or hollowed out pineapple.
They also offer matcha waffles, avocado toast, and egg dishes. It’s a small restaurant but the Hawaiian themed decor makes it super cute and cozy on the inside.
Fresco Habito
Fresco Habito is a cute healthy restaurant on Constituyentes and 1st Avenue. They offer acai bowls, salads, super food bowls, smoothies, and juices.
It’s similar to Aloha Raw Bar but has more lunch menu options.
Nativo
Nativo is a breakfast restaurant and juice bar located on 30th Avenue and Constituyentes (right across the street from Dac).
They offer jumbo smoothies and freshly blended juices which are really cheap and you can take them to go.
My favorite juice in the Alma Grande which is a blend of of chaya (similar to spinach), pineapple, and orange.
Gyms in Playa del Carmen
Evolve Fitness Club
Evolve Fitness Club is one of the most popular gyms in Playa del Carmen. They have a few different locations but the most central one is on 24th Street and 5th Avenue.
They have a ton of different strength training machines and offer several different fitness classes including TRX, yoga, and spinning. Pole fitness and pilates classes can also be purchased in addition to your membership.
Day, weekly, and monthly passes are offered, as well as private sessions with personal trainers.
Hours
- Monday – Friday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Prices
- Monthly: $950 pesos (~$48 USD)
- Weekly: $800 pesos (~$41 USD)
- Daily: $250 pesos (~$13 USD)
The Gym
The Gym is another popular gym in Playa del Carmen located on Constituyentes and 1st Avenue.
It’s comparable to Evolve but offers a wider variety of group fitness including TRX, Zumba, Aero Yoga, pilates, and boxing. They also have a pool and offer Aqua Fit classes.
Hours
- Monday – Friday: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM
- Saturday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Sunday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Prices
- Monthly: $1100 pesos (~$56 USD)
- 10 Visit Card: $1500 pesos (~$77 USD)
- Daily: $300 pesos (~$15 USD)
Body Masters TRX
Body Masters is a smaller TRX studio located at the end of 5th Avenue. I love TRX as a challenging option to mix up your workout routine.
They offer several time options for group fitness classes. Most of the time they have specials or will offer your first class free if you message them on Facebook.
Classes are 45 minutes long and are offered at the following times:
Class Schedule
- AM Class Schedule: 6:00am, 6:45am, 7:30am, 8:15am, 9:00am, 9:45am
- PM Class Schedule: 5:15pm, 6:00pm, 6:45pm, 7:30pm, 8:15pm
Precision Pilates
Precision Pilates is a pilates studio located just off of 5th Avenue on 1st Avenue and 52nd Street.
The studio offers Pilates reformer beds and it’s a great workout for targeted toning and stretching.
Personal Training
Many of the gyms in Playa del Carmen also offer personal training at a very reasonable price.
Prices vary depending on the trainer but I have seen prices at around $400 pesos ($20 USD) per hour.
Most trainers work exclusively at the specific gyms or you could contact them to meet with you for a session at your hotel or apartment rental.
Health Stores in Playa del Carmen
Dac
Dac is a healthy grocery store located on 30th Avenue and Constituyentes. It’s a colorful open air market that can get a bit cramped but they offer a great selection of fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy ingredients that you might find in a Whole Foods.
Bio-Natural
Bio-Natural is a healthy restaurant that offers vegan and vegetarian options and also has an organic store attached to it.
They sell specialty organic items like seeds, nuts, and supplements. It’s the go-to place for those difficult to find health items.
Fruit Stand in front of the Soriana on 30th and 38th
My favorite fruit stand is right in front of the Soriana grocery store on 30th Avenue and 38th Street.
They have the best fresh squeezed orange juice, as well as jumbo fruit cups and smoothies. It’s also a great place to try some juice flavors that are more native to Mexico.
Alternative Fitness Options
Stand Up Paddle Boarding
I’m a member of the Aloha Paddle Club and absolutely love stand up paddle boarding as an alternative exercise option.
It’s such a good core workout and you get to spend some serene mornings, evenings, or even full moons out on the Caribbean sea.
Aloha operates out of Fusion Beach Bar Cuisine located on 6th Street and the beach.
Stadium Workouts
The Mario Villanueva stadium in Playa del Carmen is a full-sized soccer field and track, which makes it a great place to workout.
It’s located on 34th Street and 10th Avenue. I’ve gone there several times to workout on their “Street Gym” or simply use the track or stairs for cardio or HIIT workouts.
The Street Gym is a colorful area on the left side of the stadium that offers several pull-up bars, rings, and workout tires.
Swimming
I’ve recently started swimming laps at the pool at my apartment rental. It’s very relaxing to wake up early and get some exercise in before the days starts and it gets too hot. Consider swimming laps at your apartment rental or resort swimming pool.
I hope these recommendations provide a helpful list of healthy options in Playa del Carmen. I’d love to hear any other recommendations you might have. Feel free to comment below!
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