Playa Del Carmen – Your Guide to Mexico’s Beach Town

My husband and I spent one week working remotely in Playa del Carmen in May of 2024, and we fell in love with this town! From the beautiful beaches to the stunning cenotes, from the delicious mexican cuisine to aquatic activities – “Playa” has something for everyone.

Planning Your Trip

Accommodation:

The big question for people when coming to the Yucatán peninsula is whether or not to stay in an all-inclusive resort. We decided to rent an apartment and explore on our own, but we also tried an all inclusive resort. Here are some things to consider!

All-Inclusive:

• Pros: Great hospitality, don’t have to plan meals, lots of amenities, concierge service, english speaking staff
• Cons: Less variety of food and lower quality (since it’s buffet or batch prepared), often expensive depending on where you go, likely won’t explore as much or experience as much of the local culture

Airbnb/Apartment: 

• Pros: Affordable, didn’t overpay for food and got to try a lot of local places, less crowded amenities, private and quiet, closer to the city
• Cons: No direct beach access, could be more difficult if you don’t speak spanish, no concierge service to book excursions for you, less pools/variety of amenities

Getting to Playa del Carmen:

By Car: We booked a car to take us from Cancun Airport (CUN) to Playa. We were able to find a driver on Booking.com, and we paid about $70 for the ~1 hour ride.

By Bus: We wanted to take the bus, but were concerned about booking ahead of time and missing it, or not booking it and it being sold out. This will always be a gamble, but none of the buses I saw were full. Next time, I’d probably just go to the ADO station when we land and try to buy a ticket for the next bus out. Worst case scenario, you either wait or pay for a taxi.

We took the bus from PDC back to the airport, and it was a breeze! Only $13pp, efficient, and comfortable.

Getting Around Playa del Carmen:

By Walking: The best way to get around Playa del Carmen is just by walking! The downtown area is pretty small, safe, and walkable – so you can lace up your walking shoes and make it most places. This wouldn’t apply if you’re staying at a resort outside the main downtown area.

By Taxi: There are taxis in Playa del Carmen, but they can be a little difficult to find. The easiest way to get one is to hail one from the taxi line at a hotel. If you’re not at a hotel, you can use Radio Taxi PDC and call a taxi via Whatsapp. We also asked our airport driver if he knew any local drivers, took their numbers, and called them directly for a ride.

By Car: For the most flexibility and mobility – you can rent a car. We had planned to rent a car for the whole time, then read a bunch of blogs about scams and insurance, and decided to cancel. Later, we ended up booking a car for a day and it was actually a breeze. Most international rental car insurance (we have it through credit cards) will cover you in Mexico – but CHECK with your insurance provider. You can check the safety section for tips on the scams.

By Bus: Another great way to get around is using the ADO buses. These are clean, air conditioned, safe buses that drive all over the peninsula. You can get the ADO app and book your ticket ahead of time or just buy a ticket at the station for your route. We took the bus from PDC to the Cancun Airport and it was a breeze!

Best Excursions from Playa del Carmen

Chichén Itzá: When you’re on the peninsula, you have to see this amazing world wonder at least once! Chichén Itzá is a complex of Mayan ruins centered around a massive step pyramid, known as El Castillo. We visited through a tour, which I would recommend so you don’t have to deal with the transportation, tickets, logistics, etc. We did this tour which worked out well. My only complaint is that I would have booked one directly from Playa, since this one picked us up, brought us to Cancún, and then to the tour, which added an extra hour of driving each way.

The tours are usually $40-$80 depending on the size and what comes with it. The one we did came with a buffet lunch and an afternoon at Cenote Chichikan. Make sure you check if your ticket includes the Chichen Itza tax ($39 USD adults; $6 USD children), because it is a pretty big cost that may or may not be included.

Cozumel: Another favorite stop on our trip. We took a ferry from Playa to Cozumel, rented a scooter, and explored the whole island. Check out my blog on Cozumel for our whole itinerary. 

Akumal: A great day trip to go snorkel with sea turtles! This was a really cool experience, just about a 45 min drive south of Playa. I read so many blogs about the dynamics of Akumal and whether you can snorkel on your own or not and I just got really confused. We ended up getting a guide from Akumal Dive Center for 700 MXN per person including gear. The guide was great! They took us out in a boat and guided us on a swim back where we saw many turtles! 

You can also check the weather to see if it is windy or wavy. If it is too windy, the visibility will be low because the sand stirs up from the sea bed.

Cenote Jardín Del Eden: One of my favorite spots – a must visit! About 30 minutes south of Playa is this beautiful cenote! You will need a car to get there, so this is the day we rented a car. This is a more secluded and DEEP cenote. It’s much less touristy, and a lot of scuba divers were training and diving in the cenote. The entrance was 200 pesos per person, not including life vest or any snorkeling gear.