Parque Fundadores, with the Portal Maya sculpture and the sea behind it, is the classic Playa del Carmen backdrop. It is quiet at sunrise and busy in the evening, so go early, and combine it with the beach just below.
If you want one photo that says Playa del Carmen, it is this one. It is also where everyone else goes, so timing is the difference between a clean portrait and a sea of strangers.
The Best Hour
Sunrise. The sculpture is empty, the light comes from the sea and you can use the whole space. In the evening there are performers, vendors and crowds, which makes for lively background frames but not quiet portraits.
| Month | Sunrise | Golden | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:27 am | 5:56 pm | 6:28 pm |
| February | 7:18 am | 6:17 pm | 6:47 pm |
| March | 6:57 am | 6:28 pm | 6:58 pm |
| April | 6:30 am | 6:37 pm | 7:07 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 |
| August | 6:28 am | 6:48 pm | 7:18 pm |
| September | 6:35 am | 6:22 pm | 6:51 pm |
| October | 6:43 am | 5:55 pm | 6:24 pm |
| November | 6:58 am | 5:36 pm | 6:08 pm |
| December | 7:17 am | 5:38 pm | 6:10 pm |
How to Use It
Stand well in front of the sculpture and let us use a longer lens, so it fills the background and you stay sharp. Then go down to the beach, a very short walk away, and finish at the water. It suits guests of nearby hotels, including Devossion by Live Aqua, about 15 minutes on foot up the shore.
Devossion by Live Aqua, Through Our Lens
Real IVAE Studios work on this coast, so you can see how this light and water look on camera. It shows our work in the area, not necessarily at Devossion by Live Aqua.
Which Collection
The Postcard at 35 minutes is enough for the park and the beach together.
| Collection | Time | Photos | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Postcard | 35 min | 15 | 295 USD |
| The Keepsake | 45 min | 25 | 375 USD |
| The Chapter | 60 min | 35 | 475 USD |
| The Story | 75 min | 50, 2 looks | 545 USD |
| The Editorial | 90 min | 70, 2 looks | 645 USD |
| The Heirloom | 90 min | Full gallery, 2 looks | 895 USD |
How It Works
Booking takes a few messages. Tell us your dates, your hotel and who is coming. We come back with the best hour that week at Devossion by Live Aqua, a place to start and the collection that fits, usually the same day. During the session we direct you in English or Spanish, and you keep moving, which is why the photos feel natural. One to three business days later, your private gallery is ready.