From Hacienda Mariposa the beach is two or three minutes on foot, by our estimate. Playa Mamitas is about five minutes away. For a session, choose sunrise for empty sand or the hour before sunset for soft light. Sessions start at 245 USD.
Playa del Carmen packs beach, town and colour into a few blocks. Here is how we plan a session for guests of Hacienda Mariposa.
At a Glance
- StayHacienda Mariposa, in central Playa del Carmen
- To the beachTwo or three minutes on foot
- NearbyPlaya Mamitas
- Best hoursSunrise, or the hour before sunset
Where We Shoot
The nearest beach. From Hacienda Mariposa the beach is two or three minutes on foot, by our estimate. The sea here faces Cozumel, so the horizon has the island's low line on clear days.
A second setting. Playa Mamitas and the beaches around Calle 28 and Calle 38, lively by day and calm at sunrise.
Colour in town. Painted walls and side streets off Fifth Avenue are lovely in the soft light after sunrise, before the shops open.
The Light, Month by Month
Times for this part of the coast on the 15th of each month in 2027. Quintana Roo keeps the same clock all year.
| Month | Sunrise | Golden | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:27 am | 5:56 pm | 6:28 pm |
| March | 6:57 am | 6:29 pm | 6:58 pm |
| May | 6:11 am | 6:47 pm | 7:18 pm |
| June | 6:07 am | 6:58 pm | 7:30 pm |
| July | 6:16 am | 7:01 pm | 7:32 pm |
| September | 6:36 am | 6:22 pm | 6:51 pm |
| November | 6:58 am | 5:36 pm | 6:08 pm |
| December | 7:17 am | 5:38 pm | 6:10 pm |
The beach faces east toward Cozumel: sunrise lifts over the channel and the hour before sunset gives soft, even light. If you can face an early start, from roughly November through February the sunrise appears from behind Cozumel.
Where We Meet You
We meet you at Hacienda Mariposa or at an agreed beach access. Beaches in Mexico are public, so a session on the sand needs no resort pass. Early mornings are best in the centre, when the beach and Fifth Avenue are almost empty.
Sessions in the Riviera Maya, Through Our Lens
Real IVAE Studios sessions along the Riviera Maya. They show our work in the area, not necessarily at Hacienda Mariposa Playa del Carmen.
Collections and Prices
Every collection includes editing and a private 4K gallery delivered in one to three business days.
| Collection | Time | Photos | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spark | 35 min | 15 | 245 USD |
| Glow Hour | 45 min | 25 | 325 USD |
| Essential Flow | 60 min | 35 | 395 USD |
| Creative Runway | 75 min | 50 | 475 USD |
| Visual Story | 90 min | 70 | 575 USD |
| Full Experience | 90 min | Full gallery | 725 USD |