Playa del Carmen History

This growing city was known first as “Xaman Ha” ( “Water of the North”). In 1902 the first register of the name of “Playa del Carmen” was made by Mr. Angel Rivas, the manager of the Chicle (chewing gum) company “Colonizadora del Oriente Peninsular” in his report to the governor of Yucatan.

Some vestiges have been found in this region from 10,000 years in the cenotes “Aktun Ha” and “Naharon”

In the early years this was a obligatory route for the trips to Cozumel to ask or to thank for fertilization to the earth god “Ix-chel”.

In the first years of 1500’s the first encounters happened between the mayans and the Europeans, but its first habitants were no more than 100 and most of them were fugitives from the provinces controlled by Spain.

After the Independence of Mexico, in 1821 Quintana Roo joined the new Mexican nation and it separated in 1841 and in 1846. Quintana Roo joined definitely in 1848 to the Mexican Republic and in 1902 was declared as Federal Territory.

The first settler is recognized as Mr. Jose Quiam Chan in 1904, whose family is still living here, but was still a “Chicle” (chewing gum) crop.

The development of Playa del Carmen started at the last years of the nineties and 6 or 7 years ago the development is impressive.