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Major city · Mexico

Playa del Carmen

Base here 3–4 nights for cenotes, reef diving and 5th Avenue food; skip if you want quiet beaches or colonial streets.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
MXN
Best months
Dec–Apr (dry, cooler)
avoid Sep–Oct (rain and storm season), late Dec–early Jan and Easter (crowds and peak prices)
Airports
CUN · CZM · TQO
Nights
3–4
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
  • Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
  • Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
  • Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.

Playa del Carmen sits on the Riviera Maya between Cancún and Tulum, about 70 km south of Cancún airport. It is a walkable grid town built around the pedestrian Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue), with beach clubs, dive shops, cenotes and the Cozumel ferry within reach. Three to four nights covers the town, one cenote day and one reef or island day; longer stays usually add Tulum, Cozumel or the Maya ruins.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Playa del Carmen, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeMXN 40–80
  • Street or quick mealTacos or a set lunch (comida corrida)MXN 80–180
  • Beerdraught in a bar / can at an OXXOMXN 50–90MXN 20–35
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi within CentroAgree the fare first; more at night.MXN 50–120
  • Museum or sight ticketCenote entryMore with facilities or a guided tour.MXN 100–500
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personMX$350 (≈ US$19)
  • Mid-range bedBoutique or mid-range double room, a night, per roomMX$2,000 (≈ US$110)
  • High-end bedBoutique or mid-range double room, a night, per roomMX$4,500 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget MX$900 (≈ US$50) · Mid MX$2,200 (≈ US$120) · High MX$4,500 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue)Cozumel ferry and Mesoamerican Barrier Reef divingCenotes south of townBull shark dives November–March
Airports
CUN Cancún International (Main gateway, about 50 min by ADO bus or private transfer) · CZM Cozumel International (Smaller; taxi to the ferry terminal then a 30–45 min boat to Playa) · TQO Tulum International (Felipe Carrillo Puerto) (Newer airport; roughly 1.5–2 h by road to Playa)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Playa del Carmen: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

28°C

19°C

6 rd

Feb

29°C

19°C

4 rd

Mar

31°C

21°C

3 rd

Apr

32°C

22°C

3 rd

May

33°C

24°C

6 rd

Jun

33°C

25°C

11 rd

Jul

33°C

24°C

10 rd

Aug

33°C

24°C

10 rd

Sep

32°C

24°C

14 rd

Oct

31°C

23°C

13 rd

Nov

30°C

21°C

8 rd

Dec

29°C

20°C

7 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is a walkable grid: 5th Avenue is pedestrian-only, and El Zócalo to Avenida Constituyentes is about a 10-minute walk. Taxis are the main paid option (agree the fare first). There is no Uber or DiDi in Playa. Colectivos (shared vans) run along Highway 307 to Tulum and Cancún from near Chedraui, roughly every 5–10 minutes, about MXN 50. ADO buses leave from two terminals: Turistica (5th Avenue, airport and tourist routes) and Alterna (Calle 12 & Avenida 20, longer-distance routes).

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Cozumel

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Walk to the ferry dock south of El Zócalo, then Winjet or Ultramar

Boats roughly hourly, 08:00–20:00, about 30–45 min; buy at the official counter, not from touts.

Tulum

go

Door to door: About 1 h

ADO bus from either terminal, or colectivo on Highway 307

Ruins plus beach; go early to beat heat and tour buses.

Puerto Morelos

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Colectivo or ADO north on Highway 307

Quiet village and good snorkelling on the reef.

Cancún

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

ADO bus from either terminal

Fine for the airport or a night out; the hotel zone is a different trip.

Bacalar

overnight

Door to door: About 4 h

ADO bus from Terminal Alterna

Too far for a return day; sleep one night by the lagoon.

Mahahual

overnight

Door to door: About 4 h

ADO or connecting bus south via Highway 307

Cruise port and reef village; better as an overnight.

Chetumal

overnight

Door to door: About 4 h 30 min

ADO bus from Terminal Alterna

Belize border town; useful as a stop, not a day trip.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Centro / around 5th Avenue

Walk to beach, bars and the ADO bus terminal; noisiest at night.

North of Constituyentes

Quieter blocks, more local restaurants, 10–15 min walk to the beach.

Playacar

Gated resort and golf area south of Centro; security checks cars and often pedestrians at the gate.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
MXN 900–1,600 excl. bed
Mid
MXN 1,800–3,500 (≈ US$100–190) excl. bed
High
MXN 4,000 (≈ US$250)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Boutique or mid-range double room1 × 3 nights × MX$2,000MX$6,000
Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × MX$2,200MX$13,200
ADO bus Cancún airport → Playa, one way2 × MX$240MX$480
Cozumel ferry, return2 × MX$520MX$1,040
Cenote entry with guided tour2 × MX$500MX$1,000
eSIM, about a week of data2 × MX$300MX$600
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeMX$2,232
Trip total≈ MX$4,092 per person per day, bed includedMX$24,552≈ US$1,400

2026 estimate in pesos; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeMXN 40–80
Tacos or a set lunch (comida corrida)MXN 80–180
Beer: draught in a bar / can at an OXXOMXN 50–90 / MXN 20–35
Taxi within CentroAgree the fare first; more at night.MXN 50–120
Colectivo to Tulum or CancúnMXN 50
Cozumel ferry, one wayMXN 260
Cenote entryMore with facilities or a guided tour.MXN 100–500

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

The tourist core is busy and generally safe by day; the real risks are night-time taxi overcharging, drink spiking in bars, strong currents on the beach and sargassum season. Keep to lit streets, agree fares first and watch your drink.
  • Agree the taxi fare before you get in; some drivers ask far more at night.
  • Sargassum seaweed can cover the beach from roughly May to August — check current conditions.
  • Many 'travel agencies' on 5th Avenue are timeshare sales offices, not tour operators.
  • Tap water is not drinkable; use garrafón or filtered water.
  • Put toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.

Emergency numbers

Police (emergency)
911
Tourist assistance (Ángeles Verdes)
078
Fire and ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Playa del CarmenPlaya del Carmen

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police (emergency)911
  • Tourist assistance (Ángeles Verdes)078
  • Fire and ambulance911

Embassy

The US has a consular agency in Playa del Carmen (check the address); most other countries: consulates in Cancún or embassies in Mexico City.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • CUN → Playa, ADO bus: about MXN 240, about 50 min
  • Playa → Cozumel ferry: about MXN 260 one way, 30–45 min
  • Taxi Centro → Playacar: MXN 100–150

Say or show

  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-toh KWES-tah)
  • La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (lah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR)
  • ¿Dónde está el ferry? — Where is the ferry? (DON-deh es-TAH el FEH-rri)
  • No quiero el tour de tiempo compartido — I don't want the timeshare tour (noh KYEH-roh el toor deh TYEM-poh kom-par-TEE-doh)
  • ¿Tarjeta o efectivo? — Card or cash? (tar-HEH-tah oh eh-fek-TEE-voh)
  • ¡Ayuda! — Help! (ah-YOO-dah)

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Playa del Carmen. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Dec–Apr (dry, cooler) · avoid Sep–Oct (rain and storm season), late Dec–early Jan and Easter (crowds and peak prices) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for CUN: ADO times, private-transfer fallback, late-arrival rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: El Zócalo and the ferry dock, 5th Avenue north, Avenida 30, Playacar gate.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (cenotes, Xcaret, ferry counters) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Sargassum and storm-season fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Mexico

Sources