The archaeological zone of Playa del Carmen is named for the current city of the same name. In ancient times it was a small fishing village called Xamanhá, which means "Water of the North".Cultural Significance Playa del Carmen or Xamanhá was one of the first settlements seen by the Spanish conquistadors in the early sixteenth century. He had a great location opposite the island of Cozumel and is believed to have been one of its ports of embarkation. It was an extensive settlement of masonry and wooden platforms and palm houses, whose inhabitants were mainly involved in fishing and farming activities; its buildings are organized into eight groups aligned in a strip located between the dunes and forest, at distances of 300 meters from each other. All archaeological buildings Playa del Carmen for the Post Classic period late (1200-1550 AD) among them are mainly temples for ritual functions, nursing homes masonry and platforms for perishable material. The best preserved buildings are located in the B, C and D groups, highlighting the structure C-1, which is the site the largest and preserved fragments of mural paintings including one of the later calendar dates known in the region maya. Group C also includes a wall in a "U" around the set of core structures. During the first stage of the campaign of conquest of Yucatan, Alonso Dávila, lieutenant Francisco de Montejo, founded there the Spanish settlement Xamanhá Salamanca, the second of the entire peninsula; however, it had to be abandoned in 1529 due to food shortages and poor conditions of the Spanish soldiers who were there.

Quintana Roo INAH Center. Insurgentes 974, Colonia Blacksmiths, Chetumal, Quintana Roo. CP 77025. Tels. 01 (983) 837 24 11 and 837 0796, ext. 318002 and 318003.

Because INAH no staff on site permanently, the visit must be requested at least five days in advance.

The site is located south of the current city of Playa del Carmen, within the Playacar, 52 kms.south of Cancun airport. Visitors can reach the site by public transport. Services available in the area None, the site is not formally open to public visits. The visitor must report their income in the area of access control division. Hours Scheduled Visit request Quintana Roo INAH Center.