Salsa Dancing Playa Del Carmen: Where to Go

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Curious to check out the vibrant salsa dancing Playa del Carmen scene? I’m a big fan of salsa dancing and have used it as a tool to meet people when solo traveling. When I arrived in Playa, one of the first things I did was look for bachata and salsa Playa del Carmen classes, which were challenging to find.

Over the past few years, the salsa dancing Playa del Carmen community has grown. As I’ve gotten to know the teachers, fellow dancers, and DJs, my nights have been filled with classes and social invitations.

I created this salsa Playa del Carmen guide to help people who are new to the area or visiting on vacation and want to salsa. Playa has an energetic and thriving dance scene, but it isn’t easy to navigate unless you know where to look!

Salsa Dancing Playa del Carmen: Where to Take Classes

I recommend taking salsa classes to learn about the dance style before hitting the clubs. Playa del Carmen has plenty of salsa teachers and lessons—these are some of my top picks.

Quick Tip: Book accommodation, tours, and transport ahead of time online to save money and stress. 

est Playa Del Carmen Tours: Click here to check out the top Playa Del Carmen tours
Best Playa Del Carmen Accommodation: Click here to check out the best accommodation in Playa Del Carmen
Best Playa Del Carmen Transport: Click here to book a bus, ferry, or train in Playa Del Carmen

Encubate is the best place to try salsa dancing Playa del Carmen, regardless if you’re a beginner or intermediate dancer. They have weekly evening classes at the Deportivo Mario Villanueva (the stadium off 10th Avenue, between Calle 32 and 34). Just walk in and head up the stairs to the Palapa—currently, the timetable at Encubate is:

Monday and Wednesday: Beginners’ Salsa (8:00 to 9:00 p.m.), Beginners’ Bachata (9:00 to 10:00 p.m.)

Tuesday and Thursday: Intermediate Salsa (8:00 to 9:00 p.m.), Intermediate Bachata (9:00 to 10:00 p.m.)

You can check their Facebook page for the most up-to-date information about taking a salsa class in Playa del Carmen. The updated cost is $450. I took Intermediate Salsa and Bachata, so I can do 16 monthly classes for just 700 pesos!

Selina Playa del Carmen Salsa

Wednesdays and Fridays at Selina Playa del Carmen Salsa are the best! My favorite teachers work there—there’s always a great social scene after the classes.

Typically, Selina Playa del Carmen Salsa is an open-level bachata class from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. for 50 pesos, but it occasionally offers salsa at 7:00 p.m. Check Facebook for the schedule of weekly classes. Selina has a big, friendly crowd, so don’t feel shy coming alone—you’ll quickly meet people and make new dancing friends!

Other Salsa Dancing Playa del Carmen Classes

Monday

On Stage Dance Studio (with teachers Pau & Mariano): Salsa (8:00 p.m.), Bachata (9:00 p.m.) 

10th Avenue and 6th Bis (with teacher Aldebaran): Salsa and Bachata Cumbia (7:00 to 10:00 p.m.)

Riviera Maya Suites (with teachers Ramon & Daniel): Salsa (8:00 p.m.), Bachata (9:00 p.m.)

Tuesday

10th Avenue and 6th Bis (with teacher Aldebaran): Salsa and Bachata Cumbia (7:00 to 10:00 p.m.)

Wednesday

On Stage Dance Studio (with teachers Pau & Mariano): Ladies’ Styling (8:00 p.m.), Bachata (9:00 p.m.) 

10th Avenue and 6th Bis (with teacher Aldebaran): Salsa and Bachata Cumbia (7:00 to 10:00 p.m.)

Thursday

On Stage Dance Studio (with teachers Pau & Mariano): Beginners’ Salsa (8:00 p.m.), Bachata (9:00 p.m.) 

10th Avenue and 6th Bis (with teacher Aldebaran): Salsa and Bachata Cumbia (7:00 to 10:00 p.m.)

Friday

10th Avenue and 6th Bis (with teacher Aldebaran): Salsa and Bachata Cumbia (7:00 to 10:00 p.m.)

Did You Get Travel Insurance Yet?

The Insurance companies I recommend are Hey Mondo and Safety Wing

Hey Mondo is great if you are looking for a great value flexible policy. They offer single-trip cover, annual multi-trip cover, and long-term travel cover. Safety Wing is great value, with monthly coverage starting at $45.08. It’s super easy to use, and it just renews each month. I currently use them as they offer me free cover for my son as part of my policy.

Read my full travel insurance post here, where I go into detail about all companies. 

Salsa Playa del Carmen: Best Teachers

While there are many incredible salsa teachers in Playa del Carmen, these are the teachers that I know personally and recommend. They speak Spanish as their first language but speak English well enough to teach salsa.

I highly suggest taking classes with these teachers—each has a unique style, and it’s fun to keep things fresh by changing teachers. I take weekly classes with Martin, Tonio, and Chino.

Please let these teachers know you found out about them through this post when you contact them!

Looking for somewhere to stay in Playa del Carmen?

I wrote a whole guide to Accommodation in Playa del Carmen you can read here. I also recommend booking one of these Airbnb’s. They are all in great locations and are super reasonably priced. 

Charming Penthouse
Paradise Awaits at our Trendy Condo, Fantastic Rates!
Casa De Namaste- Relaxing 1 Br Condo near Playa’s best Beaches & 5th Ave!

Tonio

Tonio teaches salsa and bachata—he runs the Latin nights at Selina and is super active in the community. He also speaks excellent English!

WhatsApp: +52 1 984 118 0094 | Facebook 

Martin 

Martin teaches salsa and bachata at Encubate if you want to take a few before committing to private sessions with him.

WhatsApp: +52 984 145 2655 | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Pau and Mariano

Pau and Mariano teach bachata, salsa, and styling. They’re the only professional couple (that I know of) currently teaching in Playa. The couple has received many professional accolades and has won many international competitions—they’re also super friendly!

WhatsApp: +54 9 11 3569-310 | Instagram

Chino

Chino teaches salsa, bachata, and reggaeton. He’s available for classes most days and can come to you, or (for an extra fee) you can take classes in a dance studio with mirrors.

WhatsApp: +52 1 984 807 6453 | Instagram | Facebook

Salsa Dancing Playa del Carmen: Where to Dance Socially

There are many places to social dance salsa and bachata in Playa del Carmen. These are my favorites and the most popular ones among dancers and teachers.

Friday

Selina: Classes (7:00 to 8:00 p.m.), Social Dancing (starts at 9:00 p.m.)

Saturday

MDR Social at Encanto Beach: Social Dancing (typically starts at 8:00 p.m.)

If you want to join the Salsa Dancing Playa del Carmen WhatsApp group, click this link—this is just for students and has all the most up-to-date information. It’s the best place to stay in the loop with weekly salsa socials in Playa del Carmen.

QUICK TIP: Book your tours, rental cars, and transfers through my local contacts

I’ve been working with Living Dreams Mexico for years and they are who I send all my family and friends to when they visit the Riviera Maya. I really can recommend them enough for private tours and experiences. They have solid 5* reviews on Trip Advisor and Google from almost 4000 reviewers! You can view all their tours here.

If you’re looking for private airport transfers and rental cars then Vanessa and Oliver from Turismo Channel are personal friends of mine and I can 100% recommend them to make an inquiry click here and complete the form. Someone will be in touch within 24 hours.

Quick Tip: You can also check out a list of all social dancing events in Playa Del Carmen, Cancun, and Tulum from Let’s Dance Mexico

Playa Del Carmen Travel Guide Planning

🧳 Any recommendations on what I should pack for Playa Del Carmen?

Yes! I have created a whole packing guide to Playa Del Carmen which you can read here and you can also check out my packing list for Playa Del Carmen on Amazon here.

🚗 Where can I book bus or private transportation while I’m in Playa Del Carmen?

I strongly recommend using GottoGo. You can book almost all transport in the major Mexican tourist destinations through them online. They don’t just cover buses they also cover shuttles, ferries, and private drivers.

🎫 Where can I buy tickets for museums, attractions, and tours in Playa Del Carmen?

I recommend either Viator or GetYour Guide. They have a  lot of options available!

If you are traveling from Playa del Carmen then I recommend booking through my friend Vanessa at Turismo Channel. You can check out their tours by clicking here and using the following discount codes for the best prices clairecaroff (car rental), claire10off (for 10% off group tours), claireprivate (for a discount on private tours). You can also send her a WhatsApp message quoting the above codes to receive the discount.

👩‍⚕️ What is the best insurance to have while traveling?

I recommend using Heymondo for a great value policy. The app also offers you 24/7 Dr Chat. For Digital Nomads check out SafetyWing digital nomad insurance.

I have also written a blog post covering all my recommended travel insurance here

✈️ Any flight recommendations?

WayAWay offers you cheap flights with cashback. You can use this code CLAIRE22 to get 10% off. Otherwise Skyscanner or Expedia are my go-to flight searching platforms.

📱What do you use for internet connection while traveling?

I’m a big fan of personal WiFi devices and they have saved my ass so many times when traveling. I wrote a full review of the top travel WiFi devices you can read here. I personally use GlocalMe as I can either pop in a physical sim card or use their local carrier.

With regards to my phone connection, I use e-sims while traveling, so rather than having to swap out my regular sim card I can download the app and buy a virtual sim card. I recommend using eitherAirhub or Alosim. Both have great coverage of multiple countries and are very easy to use.

🛏️ What is the best platform to use for booking accommodation?

The 3 best platforms that I normally use are Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Expedia They offer great deals and multiple options. I always check all three to be sure of the best deals.

🛅 Do you have any luggage recommendations for traveling?

I do have a complete list of the best packing and luggage products that I recommend, you can check the list here. I’m currently traveling with this suitcase and this backpack.