One of the best parts about living in Playa del Carmen is that there is so much to do. Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, life in this young city has something for everyone. Early risers can be seen jogging along 5th Avenue, biking to their favorite yoga class, or taking an early morning walk on the beach. There’s a hustle and bustle in the morning that can’t be beat, here are just a few of my favorite ways to wake up and get moving in Playa del Carmen. 

1. Yoga

Starting your day with yoga can help you set a positive intention for the day and my favorite place to do this is at Kopo Yoga.  Located on Calle 22 between Avenue 30 and 25, you’ll find this beautiful shala tucked away behind a cute little cafe called Ressio and delicious pastry shop called Lali Pasteles, and a vegan restaurant called Corazon Contento.

The centerpiece of Kopo Yoga shala is a beautiful tree that you face while you practice various styles of yoga. Kopo offers mysore, guided ashtanga, hatha, vinyasa, rocket, yin, and dharma. Kopo also offers unique classes like handstands and movement flow, and workshops on the weekends, as well as Cacao ceremonies, Full Moon meditations, and so much more. The classes are predominantly in Spanish but all the teachers speak English and practicing yoga in Spanish is a great way to learn and improve your language skills. Yoga mats are available to rent, there are changing rooms, a locker area, and ceiling fans for those hot months. You can buy a drop in pass for one class, packages of 4, 8, and 12 classes, or unlimited classes for the month. 

1. Workout

No matter what your workout style is, Playa del Carmen has you covered. We’ve got great gyms like Evolve and The Gym, as well as crossfit gyms, boxing, and group workouts. 

Evolve has 3 locations, including one on 5th Avenue, which makes it easy to get in and get your sweat on first thing in the morning if you’re living in centro. There are different memberships you can buy based on how much time you’ll be in Playa del Carmen, a drop in pass for one day, a 10 pack of drop ins or you can buy memberships for 1, 3, and 6 months or for a year.

The Gym is located in Centro and offers a ton of classes, ranging from spin to yoga, a dream for those who love taking classes. There’s something for everyone at The Gym. You can buy a drop in pass or a 3 or 10 pack of drop ins, as well as a monthly membership, 3 month membership, or a year pass. 

My favorite place to get a good sweat in the morning is Hāmama, a cute little workout studio located on Calle 54 and 5th Avenue, one of the most popular areas of Playa del Carmen. This quaint studio keeps its classes small, which is great if you are looking for personal attention from the trainer during your workout. My favorite morning class is BodySculpt. Hamama also has yoga classes in the mornings and evenings and offers breathwork once a week. You can buy a drop in pass for one class or packages of 5 and 10 classes.  And after your workout you can grab breakfast at one of my favorite spots, Que Huevos. The energy in this area of Playa del Carmen in the mornings simply cannot be beat! 

1. Paddle Board

Living in Playa del Carmen has a long list of perks and at the top of that list is being just minutes from the Caribbean Sea. What better way to start your day than spending a peaceful morning on a paddleboard, catching the sunrise. Mornings in Playa del Carmen are great for paddleboarding, it’s quiet and peaceful and the mornings often have calmer water conditions, making it easier to get out on the water. 

Playa del Carmen is a sunrise city and I can’t recommend enough a sunrise paddleboard session with Aloha Paddle Club. It’s truly a magical experience to watch the sunrise over the Caribbean as you float peacefully on your paddleboard. What I like about Aloha is they have a membership available, with a one time fee you’re in the club for life and you get discounted prices on all the paddleboard tours Aloha offers as well as discounts on other tours and at Fusion Beach Bar, where Aloha is located.

1. Ice Bath on the beach

Ice baths have certainly become popular over the last few years, good for both the body and mind, but you’ve never really lived until you’ve done an ice bath on the beach. What better way to start your day than sitting in a tub of ice cold water. The cold water triggers the release of endorphins, those natural feel good hormones that the body produces. I highly recommend making ice baths part of your morning routine, rotating it into your weekly schedule, in between a workout at the gym, paddleboarding, and yoga. 

Reconnect is a company here in Playa del Carmen offering ice baths on the beach in Playa del Carmen, 5 days a week, at 8:30 am. This group welcomes visitors from all over the world, locals and tourists, and has built a community focused around mental and physical wellness that come from cold plunges and cold therapy. 

Each ice bath session starts with a brief introduction, followed by a breathing exercise to help prepare the body and mind for stress. Following the breathwork, 3.5 minutes is spent in the ice. All of this done on the beach, with Caribbean views and the calming sounds of the waves. You can buy a single session or packages of 5, 10, and 20 sessions. 

Playa del Carmen is an active city full of active people and these activities, yoga, a workout, paddleboarding, and ice baths are just a few of the ways I like to start my day. What’s your favorite way to start the day in Playa del Carmen?