Playa del Carmen Travel Guide (best tips for traveling to PDC, Mexico)

The beach town of Playa del Carmen, Mexico, is a top vacation destination for travelers. If you want to go too, I provided these tips for traveling to Playa del Carmen Mexico, plus a thorough Playa del Carmen travel guide to help you plan every aspect of your trip.

During the northeast winter, I’ve stayed there long-term to enjoy the sunshine and escape the cold — and I highly recommend it! It has all the makings of a tropical paradise: white sand beaches, a clear blue ocean, and a safe and vibrant city.

Playa del Carmen is the way to go for fast wifi, Caribbean beaches along the Riviera Maya, and an awesome food scene. This table of contents breaks it down further if you need to skip around, but I highly recommend you fully dive in!

Playa del Carmen lies in the heart of the Riviera Maya on the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, one of the top tourist destinations in eastern Mexico. However, before the influx of tourists, Playa del Carmen was a small fishing town with a ferry service to Cozumel. 

Historically, Playa del Carmen was once the resting point for the Mayans whenever they traveled from the north. After the Spanish colonized the land in 1518, they turned an old outpost into a bustling trade center in Playa del Carmen. 

Nowadays, Playa is known as a must-visit vacation destination along the coast of Quintana Roo. The coral reef just offshore offers some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in Mexico and there are opportunities to swim with dolphins, explore cenotes, or even take cooking classes.

facts about Playa del Carmen:

• Language: Spanish
• Currency: Mexican peso
• Time zone: Eastern Standard Time but don’t observe daylight savings so are an hour behind from March-October
• Best time to visit: November-May for the drier season

Wondering about Playa del Carmen safety? Yes, Playa del Carmen is safe to visit overall but here are precautions to consider.

Some petty crimes and scams occur just like in any other touristy city, so use your wits, and avoid getting heavily intoxicated or participating in illegal activity like buying drugs (that is where much of the crime is linked to).

For female and solo travelers, Playa del Carmen is safe to visit — I recommend staying in populated and well lit areas if you will be walking alone.

How to visit Playa del Carmen by Private Transport or Shuttle

I use Happy Shuttle from the Cancun airport to get to Playa del Carmen, which costs $75 each way for private transport or $125 round trip.

You have two options here: shared shuttle or private transfer. The shuttle allows you to travel with others who arrive at the airport at the same time as you, and it runs every 30 minutes from 7 am to 11 pm. 

You can book with Happy Shuttle for a safe and comfortable private ride, and it takes you to many different hotels around Playa del Carmen. Many people like me like this option because it can be arranged ahead of time and is incredibly safe and reliable (plus private options are available and you can request custom transport to an Airbnb location too).

How to visit Playa del Carmen by Airplane

Since there is no local airport for Playa del Carmen, the best airport near Playa del Carmen is Cancún International Airport (CUN), which there are many flight deals for from major cities. It is about 45 minutes north of PDC, and you can get to the city through private transport or public transit. 

Expert Tip: If you book an all-inclusive vacation through a resort, chances are they have their own driver or shuttle service who can collect you from the airport. 

How to visit Playa del Carmen by Public Transport

The cheapest option is to travel from Cancun to Playa del Carmen by bus. If you are interested in taking the bus, the ADO bus takes travelers from the airport and drops them off at the bus station in downtown Playa del Carmen.

ADO is a popular bus and safe coach option. Tickets are usually less than $10, and you can purchase tickets online or at the ADO bus counter. If you opt for this, you can grab a taxi to your hotel or other accommodation after arriving downtown. 

Colectivos, or minivans, are another form of public transportation that you can take to get to Playa del Carmen. It costs about $2, and the van usually leaves once it is full. This option gives you some flexibility, for you can get off at any point during the route. 

In Playa del Carmen, there is no shortage of accommodation options to suit every budget, from hostels in the city center starting at around $9 per night for a dorm bed up to luxury hotels on the beach for over $300 per night for a double room. 

For long-term visitors, I recommend looking outside the city center for better value as you can easily get into town by bus for just $1 per ride (or walk if you’re feeling energetic). If you are looking for some recommendations as to where to stay, I have prepared some of the most interesting, beautiful, and convenient accommodation options in this travel guide as well. 

Airbnb in Playa del Carmen

Since I stay in Playa del Carmen longer and slow travel, I love staying at home rentals with all the amenities. My last Airbnb was perfectly located on Calle 34 near avenida 10, which was easy walking distance to the beach, restaurants, and more. On average a home rental costs about $2,500-3,500 a month for 2 bedroom apartments with a building pool.

Hotel Esencia

This is an elegant and luxurious boutique hotel surrounded by the jungle between Tulum and Playa del Carmen — perfect for people who want to see both places. You can choose to stay in suites or villas, and the ambiance is that of Mediterranean style.

If you are traveling as a family, they even have spaces to accommodate up to nine people. It is on a quieter stretch of the beach, so you can come here for some deep peace and quiet. 

Riviera del Sol

You should check out Riviera del Sol for more of a mid-range budget stay in the heart of it all. It is a lively and beautiful hotel that immerses you in authentic Mexican decor.

The rooms are styled like a hacienda and have patios for you to look out at. If you are looking to unwind, there are extra amenities and activities such as massages and yoga classes. Just note, this is perfectly situated in the buzz of it all so bring your earplugs!

The Palm at Playa

The Palm at Playa is an adults-only hotel and the ultimate vibrant getaway for the single or couples traveler. The rooms are beautiful and spacious and it is right at the beach.

The fun truly begins during the day on the rooftop, where you can relax by the cocktail bar, and at night, the space comes alive with music and guests who want to hang out and dance. 

Casa Kaoba Hotel and Suites

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Playa del Carmen on a budget, I recommend staying at Casa Kaoba Hotel and Suites. Located three blocks from the main action on 5th Avenue and two blocks from the beach, this little boutique hotel makes a big impression. The rooftop terrace has a hot tub and loungers where you can soak up some sun or gaze at the stars.

Hotel Lunata

This boutique hotel is in the heart of the city. The location of Hotel Lunata is excellent thanks to its walking distance to everything: restaurants, bars, stores, and only one block from the beach.

The rooms are brightly decorated with Mexican decor, comfortable beds, and air conditioning. There’s a rooftop lounge to watch the sunset and a small pool to cool off during the day.

When it comes to where to eat in Playa del Carmen, you’re spoiled with options from traditional Mexican cuisine to fresh seafood and international fare. This makes it easy to find something that suits your tastes and budget as you explore this fun town.

I am SO obsessed with the food in PDC that there is an entirely separate guide on the best restaurants in Playa del Carmen, but here are some of my faves for now.

El Chuleton

You definitely can’t go wrong grabbing tacos here — they are cheap and delicious! IYKYK

It doesn’t get too crowded here as other touristy taco spots around Playa del Carmen, and they don’t speak English, but trust me — you’re in for a real treat. It’s close to the central part of town, making it convenient when you are out exploring. 

Plank Gourmet Grill & Patio Bar 

With a full bar and an incredible selection of meats and seafood, you won’t be disappointed eating here. It has a unique dining experience and one of my favorites when traveling to Playa del Carmen. Their secret to savory meals is that they cook their food on wooden or Himalayan salt planks. 

La Cochi Loka

The best Cochinita Pibil is here at La Cochi Loka. This dish is truly a Yucatan delight using traditional Mayan cooking techniques in a pib. If you haven’t tried it before, your time visiting Playa del Carmen, Mexico would be the perfect opportunity.

It is a slightly acidic, melt-in-your-mouth dish with pork, banana tree leaves, orange juice, and maybe some habanero, and some places will even add red onion and lemon to it.

Trattoria del Centro

In my opinion, you can never have too much Mexican food, but just in case, I wanted to share one of the best non-traditional restaurants. If you enjoy Neapolitan-style pizza, then you will love their pizzas and fresh pasta here. From the toppings to the dough, every ingredient is incredibly fresh and cooked well in the oven. 

Street Marquesitas

Fancy a dessert while strolling Playa’s streets? Definitely try a Marquesita. It is basically a waffle made crepe style but rolled into a tubular shape. You can fill it with nutella, banana, other fruits, and more. Only 40 pesos.

There are an endless amount of things to do when traveling to Playa del Carmen. You may have to make several trips here in order to see all the Quintana Roo has to offer! There are many ways to explore Playa del Carmen and the surrounding area. Here are just a few:

Stroll La Quinta

While it is a tourist destination, it’s still a small town. The main street “La Quinta”, or Fifth Avenue, is only about seven blocks long and lined with shops, restaurants, and bars.

It is closed to traffic in the center of town so pedestrians can stroll freely through its many restaurants, bars, and shops. Most of the (touristy) action takes place here, including the famous Coco Bongo nightclub and the ferry terminal to Cozumel. 

Take a day trip to Tulum

It is located about 35 miles south of Playa del Carmen on the Caribbean coast. Tulum served as an important Mayan port until its abandonment in the 15th century. The ruins themselves are impressive — if slightly overrun by tourists at times — but the real attraction is the white-sand beach with calm turquoise waters.

There are plenty of tour companies that can arrange transportation from Playa del Carmen if you are interested in doing that. Some buses and taxis could take you to Tulum as well, but note it’ll cost around $100 USD for the 40-minute ride. 

Dine in a cave

Book a dinner reservation at Alux Restaurant and you’ll not only have an amazing meal, but also a once-in-a-lifetime experience dining inside an actual caverna! When you are done eating feel free to stroll the uplit marked trail through the cave.

Spend time on the beach

If you are traveling to Playa, you are probably coming to the beach! All the beaches are public, so feel free to relax and swim wherever you’d like! Just watch out for the sargassum.

Take the ferry to Cozumel

Ferry trips to Cozumel depart every hour or so from Playa del Carmen’s main pier, and the ride takes about 45 minutes and costs 65 pesos (about $3.50). The island itself is a popular destination for scuba diving enthusiasts, and you can take a boat tour for 700 pesos (about $38) that includes snorkeling, lunch, and unlimited beverages.

Playa del Carmen is right on the Riviera Maya, which is part of the Caribbean Sea. That means stretches of turquoise water for miles! Here are some great beaches to visit while in PDC.

Playacar Beach

This beach is a part of a residential area, so it is less rocky and less crowded. The sand on the beach is well managed and exceptionally clean. Keep in mind that there isn’t much room for shade, so you will want to get a spot early underneath the palm trees. 

Coco Reef

You could consider Coco Reef to be the only secluded beach in Playa because there are no restaurants, bars, beach clubs, or anything of that sort. If you enjoy snorkeling, then this could be your next favorite spot!

Playa Maroma

While this beach is popular and can have a lot of tourists, it is also a very active beach if you are looking to go horseback riding, kayaking, or snorkeling. 

Cenotes in Playa del Carmen

There are tons of cenotes in the Yucatan, but not a ton directly in Playa del Carmen. If you want a fun cenote experience without going too far from Playa del Carmen try Rio Secreto, an eco-park that has awesome cenote adventures right outside of downtown PDC. Here is a guide to more cenotes near Playa del Carmen if you end up loving it!

Enjoy your Playa Del Carmen, Mexico vacation!

Playa del Carmen is a beautiful city with so much to offer that it’s hard to put into one list. The best thing you can do is experience it yourself and see what the Playa del Carmen lifestyle is all about.

There is plenty of authentic Mexican food, music and dancing opportunities, and numerous beaches that you can lounge on for days. The nightlife scene is also quite active, and there are many nightclubs that you can spend some time in. It’s one of the most balanced cities in Mexico, as it offers a little bit of something for everyone—at least in my experience!

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