If you’ve ever dreamed of running away to a tropical paradise, Playa del Carmen in Mexico is a great place to start. This beach town in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo has miles of white sand beaches, warm sunshine, and endless tropical cocktails.
What’s more, the city has become a popular travel destination in recent years, making it the place to be for fun-seekers from across the globe.
Get started planning your next vacation to Playa del Carmen by using this helpful Playa del Carmen travel guide, which includes all the best places to go, money saving tips, as well as the best places to stay.
Now what are you waiting for? Let’s start!
Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links – which means, at no extra cost to you, I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through a link.
Table of Contents
Where is Playa del Carmen in Mexico
Playa del Carmen is located in the Quintana Roo state of the Yucatan Peninsula (southeastern part of Mexico). It’s an hour away from both Cancun and Tulum, two popular vacation spots for tourists.
If you like to explore while traveling, Playa del Carmen is a great place to base yourself. The city is centrally located to many of the tourist destinations in the area, including Cancun to the north, Tulum to the south, Cozumel to the east, and Valladolid (Chichen Itza) to the west.

How to Get to Playa del Carmen
Unfortunately, there are no airports in Playa del Carmen. That means for international visitors, you’ll need to first fly into a nearby airport and then take ground transportation to Playa del Carmen. The two airports closest to Playa del Carmen in Mexico are the Cancun International Airport (CUN) and Cozumel International Airport (CZM).
It is most convenient to fly into Cancun’s Cancun International Airport (CUN). From Cancun to Playa del Carmen, it’s about a 45 minute drive. You can choose between private transfer, shared shuttle service, ADO bus, renting a car, or taking a taxi to Playa del Carmen.
The second option will be to fly into the Cozumel International Airport (CZM). This is the airport I flew to from NYC. Surprisingly, flights to Cozumel from NYC are cheaper than flying to Cancun.
In scenarios where flights to both airports cost the same, then flying to Cozumel Airport will be the most cost effective option if you are also planning on visiting Cozumel. It will save you time and money.
How Many Days in Playa del Carmen
How many days you’ll need in Playa del Carmen depends on the type of trip you are taking.
If you’re on a short vacation, Playa del Carmen should be your base to do everything. You can easily take day trips to Cozumel, Cancun, and Tulum, all of which are within a short drive.
Related: Things to do in Cancun
If Playa del Carmen is just one of the many stops along your backpacking trip in Mexico, then you’ll likely need at least four days to experience Playa del Carmen.
Where to Stay in Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is a great place to visit if you’re all about partying and enjoying the nightlife scene. But what if you want some peaceful sleep?
Then avoid staying on 5th avenue, especially near popular nightclubs like Coco Bongo.
When searching for accommodations, carefully read what reviewers say about the noise and quality of sleep. If it got “the walls are vibrating”, that’s your sign to move onto the next listing.
Budget Stays
Stay in Playa del Carmen for less than $30 a night!
Mid-range Hotels
Luxury Hotels
In Mexico, you can stay at a luxury hotel for the cost of a regular hotel room in the US. This is the time to treat yourself!
Maya Villa Condo Hotel and Beachclub
Resorts in Playa del Carmen
Hilton Playa del Carmen (all inclusive resort)
5 Things to Do in Playa del Carmen
You’ll never find yourself bored while staying in Playa del Carmen. No matter what your interest is, there will be something for you to do. Here’s a few ideas to get you started:
- Shop on 5th Avenue
- Watch the Papantla Flyers rain ceremony
- Take insane photos at 3D Museum of Wonders
- Explore Rio Secreto
- Have fun at Xenses
How to Get Around Playa del Carmen
The main tourist areas in downtown Playa del Carmen are easily walkable. Because of its close proximity to many tourist hotspots, you can easily take day trips from Playa del Carmen.
By Taxi
Ubers are not available in Playa del Carmen. If you want to go somewhere in the city, you can easily hail a taxi.
Taxis rates are set by zones. There are no hikes for weekends or nights.
However, as tourists, you are most likely going to receive an inflated price. Before getting into the taxi, negotiate your taxi fare. You can always ask to see their rate sheets.
Two helpful apps for calculating accurate taxi fares: TariTaxi & Radio Taxi PDC. Through Radio Taxi PDC, you can also send a WhatsApp text or call them to schedule a ride. Even with the help of the apps, you should still confirm the prices before getting into the taxi to avoid overcharging.
By ADO Bus
ADO buses are probably the easiest way to get around Mexico. There are two ADO bus terminals in Playa del Carmen: ADO Turistica and ADO Alterna. When you book bus tickets, make sure you choose the right terminal near you.
Bring cash if you’re booking at the bus station. Service fees and tax will be added on top of the ticket price.
Possible day trips from Playa del Carmen:
- Tulum ~1hr
- Cancun ~1.5hrs
- Valladolid ~3hrs
- Chichen Itza ~4hrs… okay, 4 hrs one way might be a bit much, so consider driving or taking a tour for this one

By Collectivos
Collectivos are shared shuttle vans. It only leaves when the van is full. It also only has limited storage space, so you should avoid taking the collectivos if you have lots of luggage. For those traveling with luggage, I suggest taking the bus instead.
Collectivo stops are near the Chetumal to Cancun highway. You can easily find the location on google maps by searching colectivo + (tulum or cancun).
By Rental Car
Day trips from Playa del Carmen are hassle-free when you rent a car. There’s no needs to hunt down transportation logistics. You can just hop in the car and go at any time. It is easy to drive between popular tourist cities.
Remember to keep your passport and FMM card on you in case you encounter a security checkpoint.
By Ferry: Playa del Carmen to Cozumel
The island of Cozumel is 45 minutes off the shores from Playa del Carmen. There are two operating ferry companies to Cozumel: Ultramar and Windjet.
There is not much difference between the two companies on price point (Ultramar cost $2 more), but Ultramar is known to be the better of the two.
I’ve taken Windjet since the timing matched my schedule better, and honestly, it’s not that bad. So take your pick.

Restaurants Recommendations
There are so many wonderful restaurants in Playa del Carmen, so you’ll definitely find some that suit your palate. I won’t say my list is the best restaurants in Playa del Carmen, but they are restaurants I’ve tried and liked.
Torus Coffee House
The best, I repeat, the best enchiladas I ever had. Enchiladas Torus is egg tacos soaked in tomato sauce and topped with parmesan cheese, cream, and avocado. It is such a simple dish and yet sooo good. My favorite breakfast dish in Mexico to date.

Cocina Economica Marisol
A down to earth with no-frills restaurant that’s frequented by locals on their way to work. Don’t come here expecting a nice dining atmosphere, you won’t find it. But what you will find are cheap, delicious menu of the day combos that will fill you up.
La Cochi Loka
Come to La Cochi Loka if you want some cochinita pibil tacos.
Cochinita pibil is a regional delicacy of the Yucatan Peninsula, where a suckling pig is marinated and slowly roasted in a traditional underground pit. Top it up with some pink pickled onions, and the taco becomes so much more appetizing.
You’ll also not regret getting the carne molida.

Aldo’s
What happens when you walk around on a hot sunny day? You become a sweaty mess. You become unable to resist cold treats when you see one, like gelatos. That’s why you’ll find an Aldo’s ice cream shop every few blocks on 5th Avenue. There’s no escaping it, just go ahead and treat yourself.
More Restaurants
Sadly, I didn’t have the chance to go to these restaurants, but they on the top of my list for next time:
- Taquerias el Nero Juarez for tacos
- Las De Asada for pizza taco combo
- El Punto The Venezuelan Corner for Venezuelan food
- La Floresta for seafood tacos
- Alux Playa del Carmen dining inside a cave
What’s the Best time to go to Playa del Carmen?
Best Weather
While Playa del Carmen is hot all year round, November to February will be the best time to go if you want the best weather. You’ll have those cool and dry days where the temperatures average high 70s.
Low Season / Worst Weather
June to October is the rainy season in Playa del Carmen, where it can rain up to half a month. You’ll probably want to avoid going during the months of August to October when it’s hurricane season.
Another thing to note is that May to October is high sargassum season. If you’re planning to spend a lot of time on the beach, be sure to check out the sargassum status for the beach. Sunbathing with rotten seaweed is probably not something on your itinerary.
High Season
These are the two high seasons in Playa del Carmen where the tourist crowds are at its peak.
- December to April (people escaping winter)
- July to August (summer vacation)
Shoulder Season
The months of May and November are the shoulder seasons for Playa del Carmen. It is the best time to visit Playa del Carmen for those with flexible schedules. This is the time to go if you want a relaxing vacation with fewer crowds but still decent weather.
Money in Playa del Carmen

Local currency is Mexican Pesos. While you’ll find that some restaurants and attractions accept US dollars, chances are that the exchange rates set by the shops are not ideal. You might find 16:1 rates when the actual exchange rate could be 21 pesos for 1 USD. You’re better off taking out some Mexican pesos from the ATM.
Is Playa del Carmen Expensive?
Compared to super touristy destinations like Cancun and Tulum, prices in Playa del Carmen are more reasonable.
Playa del Carmen is also cheaper compared to Cozumel. So if you’re trying to decide which of the two to base at, choose Playa del Carmen.
How Much to Tip in Playa del Carmen?
Tipping is a common practice in Mexico, though it varies region to region. So how much should you tip? In general, here’s a few guidelines you can follow:
- Food: 10-15% of the bill cost
- Taxi: tipping is not expected for taxi drivers. If they helped you with your bags, you can give 5-10 pesos
- Groceries: the people bagging your groceries are usually unpaid and working for tips. Give 5 peso for tip or 2 pesos per bag
- All inclusive hotels (bag handlers, room service, and housekeepers): tipping in dollars is common
Having Small Change is Important in Mexico
Make sure to always save your change when you can. I always try to use up my bigger bills first (like the 500 and 200 pesos) at convenience stores and grocery stores. This way, when I need to tip or buy some street food, I won’t have to worry about money.
Trust me, I’ve encountered this situation more than once where the vendor had to run to another stall/shop to exchange my bill because they don’t have change for big bills.
Money Scams to be Aware of
Know your overall sum when ordering food. This is very easy to calculate in Mexico. Taxes are already included in the menu prices, so whatever price you see on the menu is what you should be paying. On a check, the subtotal + tax should add up to the price on the menu.
Double check the amount on the bill before paying. I once had a restaurant give me a list of what I ordered (w/o the individual prices) and a random amount for the total. When the total cost (~$500) on the bill is way off from what I’ve calculated (closer to $200), I asked that he label each item with a price so I can check. He came back with a smaller bill (but still wrong).
Be careful of double tipping. Some restaurants will automatically include the tips in the bill. Look at the check and make sure that propina (tip) is zero before you add a tip.
Shopping

If you live to shop, you’ll thrive on La Quieta Avenida alone. There are countless shops on 5th Avenue that you’ll find yourself dizzy from all the browsing and shopping.
What you can expect to find:
Silver jewelries, hammocks, hats, pottery, Tequila, and more!
Do not go into Miniso if you cannot resist cute stuff. I mean it, otherwise you’ll come out with so many new goodies you’re going to wonder how you’ll bring it all back. Maybe you need a second suitcase after all.
For bargain finds, head away from 5th Avenue and you’ll easily find them.
FAQ
Traveling to Playa del Carmen during COVID
As of Apr 2022, there are no covid testing requirements to travel to Playa del Carmen. Travelers going to Mexico are not required to be vaccinated or tested. However, you should always double check with the gov site for the latest updates.
For US travelers, a negative antigen test is still required to come back to the US.
Do I Need a Visa for Mexico?
If you’re a citizen from the US, Canada, UK, Schengen area, or Japan, you don’t need a visa to travel to Mexico for leisure, studies, or business reasons. While the duration of the stay used to be automatically granted for 180 days. That’s no longer the case.
Although you don’t need a visa for visiting Mexico, you still need to fill out a Mexico Tourist Card (FMM card). Based on your itinerary, the customs officer will give you your allowed days in Mexico.
Always keep the FMM card while you’re traveling in Mexico. You’ll need it to exit Mexico. You might also come across security checkpoints on highways where they check for your passport & FMM to catch people who had overstayed their visit.
Do I Need to Speak Spanish for Playa del Carmen?
The short answer is no, you don’t need Spanish. You’ll find that most of the vendors in the tourist areas can speak English. Though, if you are able to communicate with them in Spanish, they will be thrilled.
Sargassum seaweed problems?
Don’t let sargassum ruin your beach days.
Sargassum is a pain to vacationers because they pile up on the beautiful beaches. It rots and stinks running our precious vacation.
So what exactly are these sargassum and where do they come from?
Sargassum is a type of brown algae that floats above the water. Usually they will accumulate in a region of the Atlantic Ocean, forming the Sargasso Seas. The sargassum serve as a breeding ground & sanctuary for many marine life.
However, whenever there’s a massive sargassum bloom, it causes more harm than good. Unlucky ships will be stuck at sea if the sargassum clogs up the machineries. High concentration of sargassum in one area will smother the marine life beneath it. Not to mention endless waste created as the sargassum wash ashore.
The easiest way to find out if the beach you’re going to is Sargassum free is by checking this Facebook group, Sargasso Seaweed Updates Riviera Maya, for daily updates.
Hotels and resorts try their best to clean up the areas in front of their property. However, the sargassum problem can be overwhelming in Mexico during the summer months. If Playa del Carmen’s beaches are no good, you can always escape to Cozumel.