If you’re interested in various photography locations throughout the world, this new section to the PhotographyCorner Blog will explore various locations all over our planet that would be of interest to destination photographers. Even if you can’t afford to travel all over the place, you should enjoy looking and some of the beautifully unique places to photograph throughout our Earth.

The first location we’ll take a look at will be Playa del Carmen, Mexico, which is sponsored by La Tortuga Hotel and Spa, located in the heart of Playa del Carmen, close to a beautiful stretch of white sandy beaches near the Riviera Maya. It’s ideal location right in the middle of the Mayan Riviera, Playa del Carmen is only 45 minutes from Cancun International Airport. Playa del Carmen, which is usually referred to simply as “Playa” by the locals was originally called Xaman-Ha (waters of the north). Playa del Carmen is a small beach-town with the main strip, 5th Avenue (also know as “Quinta Avenida” to the locals), running parallel along the beach. Along this strip there are numerous stores selling everything imaginable. There are also lots of restaurants, clubs, hotels and resorts. Needless to say, it is a traveling photographers’ paradise, and we haven’t even hit the beach yet!

The turquoise-coloured Caribbean Sea is warm year-round, excellent for snorkeling and diving as well as windsurfing and deep-sea fishing. The beaches are a short walk from any hotel (including La Tortuga Hotel, which is located between 12th and 14th Streets in the centre of Playa del Carmen - just one block from the downtown hub). If you own underwater housing for your camera, you can photograph some amazing sea creatures through the crystal clear waters, or take a guided tour to photograph the water from above.

Maya ruin sites are also located within a short drive from Playa del Carmen, which offers a unique opportunity to photograph ancient Mayan architecture and art that is thousands of years old. The lush vegetation in the area can also help you frame some great shots. There are several camera/electronics shops located in Playa del Carmen, but it is best to pack at least 2 batteries and several memory cards, as tourists - especially those who stop by via the cruise ships - tend to buy them up quickly.

If you can take your eyes of the skies and water at night, Playa Del Carmen also offers a fairly lively night-life. Many of the bars along the strip have bands ranging from reggae to salsa to traditional Mexican - all which welcome photographers. At night, the beach and will have anything from fire dancers to bongo bands performing (don’t forget to bring a flash!). You can have a lot of fun playing around with longer exposures with the fire dancers, creating patterns and “wheels of fire” with their flaming batons.

Lastly, you can’t visit Playa Del Carmen with out photographing the spectacular Riviera Maya. The Riviera Maya stretches for 72 miles (116 kilmetres) beginning 30 minutes south of the Cancun International Airport in Playa del Secreto and runs all the way to Punta Allen, a small fishing village within the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Bring lots of film/memory cards - especially if you take a guided tour.

The average annual temperature ranges from 77°F (25 °C) to 86 °F (30°C). Water temperature for snorkeling or diving is around 76°F (24°C) year-round. The best time to visit Playa del Carmen is in winter and spring, as May through November is the rainy season.

For more information on planning a trip to Playa Del Carmen, visit http://www.hotellatortuga.com.