Quinta Avenida, also referred to in English as 5th Avenue, is the main tourist thoroughfare in Playa.  It is a pedestrian only, cobblestone lined street which spans approximately 14 blocks.  Along 5th Avenue, you will find a variety of restaurants, bars, clubs, shopping opportunities and various services.  In Playa, nearly everything starts from this street.

At Quinta Avenida, you can find several boutique clothing stores on 5th Avenue.  You can find designer clothing, swimsuits, shoes and sandals, dresses, shorts, t-shirts, tank tops and fashion accessories.  If you like handcrafts, there are a lot of nice specialty shops selling handbags, jewelry, art, handmade Mayan crafts, Mexican tiles, hammocks, gourd lamps, beach bags, and artwork.  If you are looking for genuine Cuban cigars in Playa del Carmen, La Casa del Habano on 5th Avenue between Calles 26 and 28 is the place to go.  It is illegal for US citizens to bring Cuban cigars into the US or even to purchase them in Mexico.

Riviera Maya Shopping Centers and Supermarkets

There are two large shopping centers on the outskirts of town: Centro Maya (on the right of the highway heading towards Tulum - opposite Playacar) and Plaza Las Americas (entrance is on the righthand side of the highway as you head to Cancún, by the large traffic circle with a statue at the entrance of Playa del Carmen).  Both shopping centers have multiscreen cinemas and large supermarkets.