Playacar Palace is a Palace Resorts hotel on the beach at the south end of town, close to the Cozumel ferry and Parque Fundadores. Plan the ceremony about 90 minutes before sunset; the beach faces Cozumel, so the sun sets behind you.
Playacar Palace is a Palace Resorts hotel on the beach at the south end of town, close to the Cozumel ferry and Parque Fundadores. In the centre, Fifth Avenue and the town's beaches are a short walk away. This guide is the photographer's view: venues, light, timeline and vendor rules.
The Resort at a Glance
- ResortA Palace Resorts hotel on the beach at the south end of town, close to the Cozumel ferry and Parque Fundadores
- AreaCentral Playa del Carmen
- Beach facesEast, toward Cozumel
Venue names and capacities come from the resort's wedding listings and change with renovations and packages, so your coordinator's current sheet is the final word.
Where the Ceremony Happens
Wedding listings describe beach vows with the Caribbean behind you and a ballroom for up to about 200. Its location by Parque Fundadores also makes a town portrait session easy.
Parque Fundadores, with the Portal Maya sculpture and the ferry pier to Cozumel, is the classic Playa del Carmen backdrop, busiest in the evening and quiet at sunrise.
Sunset and Light by Month
Times for this beach on the 15th of each month in 2027.
| 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 | 6:08 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 |
Playa del Carmen faces east toward Cozumel, so the sun rises over the channel and sets behind the town, leaving the beach in soft, even light at the end of the day. We plan ceremonies to start about 90 minutes before sunset, so that family photos and portraits fall in the warm last light. Mornings have a bonus: from roughly October through February, the sun comes up from behind Cozumel, across the water.
Bringing Your Own Photographer
One budget line couples often miss: Playacar Palace, like nearly every all-inclusive resort here, charges outside wedding vendors for access to the property. It may be a fixed vendor fee or a per-person day pass, and it changes with the season and the package tier. Ask for it in writing while your contract is still open, and ask whether a second photographer counts separately. Our comparison of resort and outside photographers helps you weigh it.
Weddings in the Riviera Maya, Through Our Lens
Real IVAE Studios weddings and portraits along the Riviera Maya, so you can see how this light and water look on camera. They show our work in the area, not necessarily at Playacar Palace.
Coverage and Prices
IVAE Studios wedding coverage starts at 1,800 to 2,800 USD for up to four hours. A full day of eight to ten hours with a second photographer is 3,500 to 5,500 USD, and photography with a wedding film is 5,500 to 8,000 USD. All prices are published on our site, and the full edited gallery is delivered within one to three business days.