Parque Los Fundadores (Founders Park), Playa del Carmen (must see)

Founders’ Park is a lively public space often described as the beating heart of the city. The park brings together culture, history, and everyday community life. Its best-known landmark is the Portal Maya sculpture, located at the seaward edge of the park, directly in front of the beach. Standing about 52 feet high, the sculpture forms a gateway between the paved plaza and the Caribbean shoreline. The arch pays tribute to Maya culture and depicts two figures reaching toward one another high above the entrance to the beach.

The park is much more than a scenic attraction. It hosts local events, traditional dance and music performances, and markets selling crafts and souvenirs. One of its most distinctive attractions is the performance of the Voladores de Papantla. During this traditional ritual, performers climb a tall pole before descending on ropes while circling through the air.

Visitors will find several points of interest around Founders’ Park. On the northern side, near Fifth Avenue, stands the Chapel of Our Lady of Carmen, a small white church recognizable by its simple façade and bell tower. Nearby, market stalls sell handmade crafts and souvenirs, while the colorful “Playa del Carmen” letters, located on the beachfront side of the plaza, provide a popular setting for photographs.

Families can stop at the pirate-themed playground on the beachfront side of the park, where play structures and slides are set on the sand. Closer to the center of the plaza stands a small kiosk or bandstand. At the eastern edge of the park, visitors can walk directly onto Playa Fundadores beach. The Cozumel ferry pier stands immediately beside the park, with ferries regularly arriving and departing across the Caribbean. This waterfront area is especially attractive in the early morning, when the rising sun provides a backdrop to the Portal Maya sculpture.