It was created in 1993 when the municipality of Cozumel was split into two, with the mainland section constituting the new municipality of Solidaridad. It covers a total surface area of 4,245.67 km² and, in 1997, had a population of 36,395.
The municipal seat is Playa del Carmen.
Solidaridad is home to the Maya archaeological sites of Tulum, Xcaret, and Cobá.