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Hotels in Playa del Carmen

A Caribbean resort with a pedestrian avenue, cenotes and a ferry to Cozumel

Playa del Carmen

LanguageSpanish
CurrencyMXN
TimezoneAmerica/Cancun
Temperature18-32 °C
Dial Code+52
Population129M
Area1,964,375 km²
SocketsType A / Type B
Tap waterNot drinkable

Discover Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is a resort on Mexico's Caribbean coast, about fifty kilometres south of Cancún airport, in the middle of the Riviera Maya. Over thirty years a fishing village has turned into a tourist destination of nearly three hundred thousand people, with the pedestrian Quinta Avenida lined with shops, bars and restaurants. The beaches have white sand and turquoise sea, and the surroundings hold hundreds of cenotes, the Xcaret and Xplor theme parks and Maya ruins. The ferry to Cozumel leaves from here and buses run to Tulum, Cancún and elsewhere on the coast. Playa is a good base for those who want restaurants, nightlife and day trips close at hand rather than paying for everything in a hotel. The main season runs from December to April, hurricane season from June to November, and sargassum seaweed can appear on the beaches. Czech citizens need only a passport to enter Mexico.

What to see

The places worth your time in Playa del Carmen, and what to expect at each

Quinta Avenida

Quinta Avenida

centre

A pedestrian avenue parallel to the coast, about five kilometres long, that forms the heart of the town. You find restaurants, bars, souvenir shops and street performers from morning till night. By day it is hot, and in the evening the avenue lights up and fills with music.

Tip: Plan the stroll for late afternoon when the sun eases; restaurant prices on the main avenue are higher than two streets away. Prices for souvenirs are negotiated before you buy.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
1–2 hrs

Playa Mamitas and Punta Esmeralda

coast

Two beaches on either side of the centre: Mamitas is a beach club with loungers, Punta Esmeralda is a free beach with a small lagoon and a cenote where fresh water mixes with the sea. The water is calm and clean, with a sandy bottom.

Tip: Punta Esmeralda is a fifteen-minute walk along the shore from the centre, best in the morning. Do not use sunscreen in the cenote lagoon — it is not allowed.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half a day
Xcaret

Xcaret

south of town

A huge eco-theme park six kilometres south of Playa del Carmen combining Maya history, nature and shows. You can swim in underground rivers, snorkel in a cove, see jaguars and in the evening watch the México Espectacular show. It is the most expensive, but also the best-made, excursion in the area.

Tip: Arrive at opening at nine, as the evening show is always included. Buses run from the hotels and online tickets are cheaper than on the spot; only biodegradable sunscreen and repellent may be used.

Admission:
from 2,500 MXN
Time needed:
full day

Xplor

south of town

An adrenaline park with zip lines, amphibious vehicles and swimming in caves with stalactites. Zip lines hundreds of metres long run over the jungle, and underground you swim a river between stalactites. The best choice for younger visitors and families with older children.

Tip: In season book ahead and choose a morning entry. Bring swimwear, a towel and sturdy shoes; belongings can be left in a locker.

Admission:
from 2,000 MXN
Time needed:
half a day

Cozumel Island

island

Mexico's biggest Caribbean island, world-famous for diving on the Palancar and Colombia reefs. The ferry from Playa del Carmen takes forty minutes and the island can be toured in a day on a scooter. The west side has calm beaches, the east is wild and windy.

Tip: Ferries leave from the Ultramar pier roughly every hour. It is best to take the first one in the morning and return before six in the evening. Arrange diving and snorkelling in advance.

Admission:
ferry about 300 MXN
Time needed:
full day

Cenote Dos Ojos

south of Playa

A system of flooded caves about twenty kilometres north of Tulum with two connected 'eyes' of crystal-clear water. Freshwater cenotes are water-filled karst sinkholes that you swim or dive in. The water is about twenty-five degrees all year.

Tip: Come in the morning around the eight o'clock opening, as midday is crowded. Sunscreen and repellent are not allowed in the cenote, so shower thoroughly beforehand.

Admission:
about 450 MXN
Time needed:
2–3 hrs

Akumal

south of Playa

A bay about forty kilometres south of Playa del Carmen where green sea turtles come to graze on the seagrass in the shallows. With a guide you can snorkel over the turtles, the least disruptive way to do it. The beach is quiet and the water clear.

Tip: Swimming is allowed only with an official guide and in a life jacket, to protect the turtles. In the morning turtles are most active and the water is calm.

Admission:
snorkelling from 500 MXN
Time needed:
half a day
Playacar

Playacar

Playacar

A gated residential district south of the harbour with a wide beach, a golf course and several resorts. The beach is clean, groomed and less busy than along Quinta Avenida. Hotels have their own sections of beach and the link to the centre is on foot or by taxi.

Tip: From the centre it is a ten-minute walk through the harbour. The beach in front of the hotels is public and free, but facilities are paid.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half a day
Puerto Morelos and the Reef

Puerto Morelos and the Reef

north of Playa

A calm fishing town thirty kilometres north of Playa with a small square and a lighthouse that tilted in a hurricane. The reef lies close to the shore and is reached by boat; a cenote trail leads into the jungle. It is quieter than Playa and offers a more authentic atmosphere.

Tip: In the morning set off to snorkel on the reef and have lunch by the pier in the afternoon. A bus from Playa takes about forty minutes.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half a day

Photos: Quinta Avenida — Dennis Sylvester Hurd (CC BY 2.0) · Xcaret — Karla Quiñonez (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Playacar — Gustavozzz (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Puerto Morelos and the Reef — Luis Fernández García (CC BY-SA 2.5 es)

Where to stay

Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking

Centro and Quinta Avenida

Best for: restaurants, bars and transport

The middle of town around the pedestrian avenue, the harbour and the bus station. The most hotels, nightlife and shops, all within walking distance. The district is noisy after dark and the beach here is crowded.

Playa Norte and Calle 38

Best for: younger, bars and beach clubs

Beaches north of the harbour with beach clubs and hip venues. Calle 38 is a lively street of bars and street food. Hotels are mid-range and prices lower than in Playacar.

Playacar

Best for: resorts and calm

A gated district south of the harbour with luxury resorts, golf and a wide beach. It is safer and quieter, but far from evening bars. Suits families and couples who want calm.

Southern Riviera Maya

Best for: all-inclusive resorts

The coast south of town to Tulum with all-inclusive resorts, golf courses and coves. Hotels have their own beaches, but you drive to the centre. A good choice for a holiday without leaving the resort.

Search hotels →

Getting around

From the airport

The nearest airport is Cancún International (CUN), about fifty-five kilometres north of Playa del Carmen. Direct flights from Europe are common in season, otherwise you connect. The ADO bus runs from the airport straight to Playa in about an hour, with shared shuttles and private transfers also available. The new Tren Maya train also passes from Cancún, with a station in Playa.

Cancún – International Airport (CUN) · 55 km

  • ADO bus to Playa del Carmen· 1 hr· 300 MXN
  • Shared shuttle· 1–1.5 hrs· USD 30
  • Private transfer· 50 min· USD 75

Around town

The centre of Playa is covered on foot. Between town and the beaches north and south run colectivos, fixed-price minivans, and taxis without meters, so agree the price in advance. ADO buses and colectivos from the street run to Tulum and Cancún. The ferry to Cozumel leaves from the harbour, and scooters are rented here.

On footThe centre, harbour and beaches fit within three kilometres.
ColectivoMinivan on the Cancún–Tulum route, stops on request. · 50 MXN
TaxiNo meter, agree the price in advance. · 100 MXN
ADO busTo Tulum, Cancún and Chichén Itzá. · 100 MXN

Useful apps: Uber, Google Maps, ADO, Maps.me

When to go

Playa del Carmen has a tropical climate with warm sea all year. The best season is the dry one from December to April, at twenty-eight to thirty degrees with almost no rain. From June to November it is hot and humid with frequent storms and hurricane season, the riskiest months being August to October. In summer and autumn sargassum seaweed can reach the beaches, in amounts that vary from year to year.

Best time

December to April

What to avoid

September and October (hurricanes and sargassum)

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Day28°29°30°31°32°32°32°33°32°30°29°28°
Night20°20°21°23°24°25°25°25°25°24°22°21°
Rainy days75448131212151398
Sea26°26°26°27°28°29°29°30°30°29°28°27°

Food & drink

Playa del Carmen offers Mexican food in thousands of forms, from street tacos to gourmet restaurants on Quinta Avenida. The best food and best prices are a few streets from the main avenue, where locals eat lunch. Margaritas, micheladas and fresh juices are the drinks of the coast.

What to try

Cochinita pibil

Pork marinated in sour orange juice and achiote, slow-roasted in a banana leaf. A signature dish of Yucatán, served in a tortilla with pickled red onion.

Sopa de lima

A chicken broth with lime, tortilla chips and pieces of meat. A light soup eaten at lunch.

Tacos al pastor

Pork from a rotating spit with pineapple, onion and coriander in a small tortilla. A few pieces cost a few dozen pesos.

Ceviche

Raw fish or prawns cured in lime juice with onion, tomato and chilli. Best made from freshly caught fish.

Elote and esquites

A roasted corn cob with mayonnaise, cheese and chilli, or boiled kernels in a cup. Street food for twenty to forty pesos.

Marquesitas

A crisp crêpe rolled with Edam cheese and Nutella or caramel. A Yucatán dessert baked on the street.

Michelada and margarita

Beer with lime, salt and sauce, and a cocktail of tequila, lime and orange liqueur. They belong to the coast as much as the sombrero.

What it costs

Street tacos

20–40 MXN

Lunch in a restaurant

150–300 MXN

A beer in a bar

50–90 MXN

Colectivo ride to Tulum

50–80 MXN

Ferry to Cozumel

300 MXN

Xcaret

2,500 MXN

3★ hotel (night)

1,500–3,500 MXN

Private transfer from the airport

USD 75

Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.

Practical information

SocketsAtwo flat pins (US/JP)Btwo flat pins plus ground (US)
Voltage127V / 60Hz
Tap waterDo not drink tap water — Tap water in Mexico is not for drinking. Bottled water is cheap and hotels provide it free; ice cubes in restaurants are usually made from clean water.
TippingTipping is expected in Mexico: ten to fifteen per cent in a restaurant, twenty pesos for bar staff and hotel porters. For taxi drivers rounding up is enough.
Driving on theright
SafetyPlaya is a tourist town with a heavy police presence, but be careful at night: watch your belongings, stick to lit streets and use licensed taxis or Uber. Drug-related problems occur in the region, so follow your foreign ministry's current advice. The sea has strong currents, so obey the flags. The emergency number is 911.
Opening hoursShops are open from ten to ten, restaurants from eight to midnight. Most local shops are open on Sunday. Cenotes and parks open at eight or nine in the morning.
Customs & etiquetteMexicans are welcoming and like to chat; greet with 'buenos días'. Do not sunbathe topless on beaches except in designated areas. Do not enter cenotes with sunscreen or repellent — they must be biodegradable.
A few local wordsGood day — Buenos díasThank you — GraciasHow much is it? — ¿Cuánto cuesta?The bill, please — La cuenta, por favorCheers — SaludWhere is the toilet? — ¿Dónde está el baño?Help! — ¡Ayuda!

How to plan your days

1 day

A day in Playa del Carmen

  1. 1Morning breakfast and Mamitas beach.
  2. 2Lunch on Quinta Avenida or a street away.
  3. 3Afternoon at Punta Esmeralda and a swim in the cenote.
  4. 4Evening stroll along Quinta Avenida and dinner with ceviche.

2 days

Two days: the island and the town

  1. 1Day one as above.
  2. 2Day two morning by ferry to Cozumel, snorkelling or a scooter ride.
  3. 3Afternoon back on the ferry.
  4. 4Evening michelada on the beach.

3 days

Three days: Playa with a park and a cenote

  1. 1Days one and two as above.
  2. 2Day three Xcaret or Xplor — a full day with an evening show.
  3. 3Alternatively snorkelling with turtles at Akumal and Cenote Dos Ojos.

Day trips

Cozumel

20 km · 40 min by ferry

An island with the best diving in Mexico and a calm coast. The ferry runs from the harbour every hour; the trip fits in one day.

Tulum

60 km · 1 hr by bus

Coastal Maya ruins on a cliff above the sea, beaches and cenotes. An ADO bus and colectivos run from Playa every fifteen minutes.

Chichén Itzá

200 km · 2.5 hrs by bus

The largest Maya city of the peninsula with the pyramid of Kukulcán, a UNESCO site. Organised tours run from Playa, and there is a direct ADO bus.

Frequently asked questions

Is Playa del Carmen suitable for families?+

Yes, the beaches have a gentle entry into the sea and nearby are the Xcaret and Xplor parks, an aquarium and cenotes. For families Playacar or the resorts in the south are better. In sargassum season it is wise to have a plan B, such as a pool or a cenote.

How do I get from Cancún airport to Playa?+

The cheapest is the ADO bus, which goes straight to Playa in about an hour and costs around three hundred pesos. A shared shuttle costs about thirty dollars and a private transfer seventy-five. Uber does not pick up at the airport, so agree with a taxi in advance.

When is the best time to visit?+

From December to April, when it is dry, twenty-eight to thirty degrees and almost no rain. From June to November it is hot, humid and hurricane season. Outside the season hotels are noticeably cheaper.

What is sargassum?+

A brown seaweed that in some years accumulates on Caribbean beaches between April and October. The amount varies from year to year and beaches are cleaned, but it can spoil the swimming experience. Current conditions are shown on hotel websites and beach social media pages.

Do I need a visa for Mexico?+

Czech citizens do not need a visa for a tourist stay of up to a hundred and eighty days, but must have a passport valid for at least six months and complete an immigration form. In Quintana Roo a Visitax tourist fee is charged. Conditions change, so check with your foreign ministry.

Is Playa del Carmen safe?+

For tourists mostly yes, especially in the main districts and hotel zones. At night be careful, avoid remote streets and use licensed taxis. For current advice follow your foreign ministry's website.

Is it better to stay in Playa or Tulum?+

Playa is more convenient, cheaper and better connected, which suits a short stay and families. Tulum is calmer and more natural, but pricier and spread out. Many choose Playa as a base and visit Tulum for a day.

What should I bring to a cenote?+

Swimwear, a towel, water shoes and biodegradable sunscreen — or a UV-protection shirt instead. Rinse off before swimming, as creams and repellents damage cenotes. The water is around twenty-five degrees all year.

Visa Requirements

Check the latest visa requirements for entering this country. Some nationalities may need to apply for a visa or e-visa before travel.

Check visa requirements

Emergency Numbers

Police911Ambulance911Fire911

Language

Spanish

Currency

MXN

Timezone

America/Cancun

Dial Code

+52

Population

129M

Area

1,964,375 km²

Voltage

127V / 60Hz

Driving Side

Right

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