The most fun and prettiest stretch of beach in Playa del Carmen is down by Mamita’s Beach Club. Here the in-crowd from Mexico City strut their stuff to the deep house tunes that the on-beach DJ churns out.

To get here, walk along Playa beach (north, in the direction of Cancun, away from Cozumel pier) and you can’t miss it. You will hear the music and see the change in-person from Gringo to ultra-cool vacationing Mexicans from the city. Their shorts are short and bikinis tiny. The girls have natural makeup and body shimmer, their hair tied up in glitter scarves and expensive sunglasses.

Welcome to Mamita’s.

Mamita’s is also recognizable by the big four-poster beds used as sun loungers. Of course, this way of tanning and posing doesn’t come cheap and you must pay for bottle service to secure these prime spots (US $120… for 2 bottles and the bed).

Some of my group splurged on that, whereas we stuck to the regular beach chairs for just $2 !!! I must say the beach area was a great scene, and not just in the music, people, and atmosphere; but that particular beach area was stunning with whiter sands than elsewhere in Playa, and shallow calm waters.

The DJ came on at 2pm each afternoon, and with him the girls began dancing, the jugglers and bongo drums arrived, and the whole Mamita’s area became more club-like.

There are two beach clubs, Tukan and Mamita's, side by side. Mamita's is for a young and middle-aged crowd, with electric music playing loud and the volleyball court on its side. The prices are reasonable.

At both beach clubs (sometimes you can´t distinguish which one is which) you can have snacks ranging from guacamole and chips to hamburgers and fries and a nice bar with beers by the bucketload.

If you arrive early you can rent a chair or bed (yes a bed at the beach with some curtains and little roof) for the day, price is very inexpensive and you can have food and drinks delivered to your spot under the sun.

The beach in this area is very wide, and the waves are of regular size and strength.

The website for El Tukan beach club and hotel: http://mayanriviera.com/nhotels/eltukancondotel/

This place is great; they have the best electronic music all day long, and you can just relax on their beds, getting a nice tan and drinking at their bar.

This is definitely not a place for kids because, from time to time, topless woman walk by the beach-it has always been like that in Playa del Carmen, but it is the place you have to visit with your friends, and you HAVE TO try one of these beds at least once in a lifetime.