Playa del Carmen Travel Info
Getting to Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is a beautiful oasis located in the Riviera Maya area off the Caribbean Sea in Solidaridad, part of the Mexican state Quintana Roo. Playa del Carmen attracts visitors from all over the world with its breathtaking views, wonderful food options, and attractions to make your trip one to remember forever.
Getting to Playa del Carmen
Cancun International Airport, code CUN, is the largest international airport nearby. From the airport you’ll take what is known as a transfer. A transfer can be one of many options. These options include taking a bus, taking a taxi or cab, hiring private transportation, or several other options. Another way to get from the Cancun International Airport to your final destination is to ask your hotel or resort if they offer transfer from the airport. Many of them do, so it is always a good idea to ask and make sure.
The Tulum International Airport (TQO) opened in December, 2023, and also provides easy access to the Riviera Maya. While it is closer to Playa del Carmen, it is a good idea to check flight availability from your departure city, and to compare costs.
For getting around the area, you can rent a car at the airport to drive yourself down to where you are staying. You can also choose from one of many privately owned transfer bus or private transportation companies, who will get you where you need to go safely and quickly.
With so many options, it may be a tough decision to make! So we recommend taking some time to think this through before getting on your flight to Cancun International Airport. This way, when you arrive, you will be fully prepared and know exactly what to do and how to do it. Also, keep in mind that the drive from Cancun International Airport to Playa del Carmen is about 40 minutes, so you will want to choose an option that is both affordable to you and comfortable to you to ensure you have the best trip possible.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Cancun International Airport (CUN) is the closest international airport to Playa del Carmen, at about an hour away. The Cancun airport serves major international airlines from across the world, making it one of the most accessible options for flying to the Yucatan. From Cancun, travelers need to take a transfer to Playa del Carmen, generally via a pre-booked shuttle, ride share, or the most popular and economic ADO Bus service directly from the airport.
In addition, the Tulum International Airport (TQO), in operation since March, 2024, is 2 hours from Playa del Carmen. There are more than 10 domestic and international flight currently flying to Tulum, with direct flights from more than 15 cities.
Most activities in Playa del Carmen revolve around the area’s gorgeous beaches and aqua blue waters, where fishing, diving and snorkeling are excellent year-round. Playa also plays host to several international events, including the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival and Carnival. If you’re interested in local nightlife, there are many trendy rooftop clubs where you can dance all night and party in style. Enjoy your time in Playa with this list of things to do:
- Shop, wine, dine and people watch on La Quinta Avenida
- Visit the ruins and unspoiled beaches of Tulum
- Enjoy a variety of water sports on Playacar beach
- Swim, snorkel or dive in the deep blue Cenotes (natural sinkholes)
- Snorkel with sea turtles in Akumal Bay
- Revel in the wild stage shows at Coco Bongo nightclub
- Take a boat trip to Cozumel Island
- Zip-lining, swimming and cave diving at XPlor Adventure Park
- Explore the beautiful caves of Rio Secreto
- Go cave or wreck diving
- Take a romantic sunset sail aboard a luxury catamaran
Yes! The expansive shoreline stretching along Playa del Carmen offers several family-friendly spots along over two miles of soft sandy beaches. Top beaches include the quieter Punta Esmeralda on the northeast end of town, as well as the more lively Playa Mamitas, and the main beach just blocks from the popular la Quinta shopping area. There are numerous access points to the central beach.
Calle 10 Beach
Revel in the beauty of the Caribbean’s stunning turquoise waters at Calle 10 Beach – another hot spot for sun lovers. This enticing stretch of shoreline is perhaps most famous for its abundance of trendy beach clubs — chic venues where you can enjoy live music while sipping on a frosty drink. Zenzi, El Pirata and Lido are among the area’s favored places to hang out. With most visitors patronizing the clubs, the rest of the beach is practically empty, so if you crave a quiet day by the surf, Calle 10 is an excellent option.
Mamita’s Beach
Mamita’s is arguably the liveliest of all Playa del Carmen beaches, drawing a younger crowd of party-loving 20-somethings. This beautiful, wide beach is the site of the annual BPM music festival and features two popular beach clubs that serve up delicious food, drinks and entertainment from the world’s top DJs. If you’re interested in watersports, this is the place to be. You’ll find Jet Ski and banana boats for rent, and there are parasailing and catamaran tours on offer.
Mexico’s Mayan Riviera is one of the most visited parts of the country, welcoming millions of visitors each year. As a top tourist destination, local safety measures help ensure peace of mind for travelers while enjoying the area’s beaches and historic sites. In general, visitors to Playa del Carmen are encouraged to exercise caution while traveling, and stick to well-lit areas after the sun has gone down.
Seaweed (sargassum) is a natural occurrence and tends to peak on some of the beaches in the Playa del Carmen area during the summer months. Since the arrival of seaweed is unpredictable, this can happen as early as April or extend through August. Seaweed is generally cleaned off the beaches quickly, while some beaches may have more seaweed than others. It’s also worth noting that not every beach gets seaweed.
Winter is the peak season in Playa del Carmen, with great weather and clearer beaches (from seaweed), and more people. Travelers can expect hot and humid weather along the Mayan Riviera during the summer, with July being the warmest. Similarly, the rainy season on the Yucatan peninsula generally extends from June thru early October, with frequent though brief showers. Summer months are less crowded, though visitors can expect more seaweed on area beaches.
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