Travel Tips Playa Del Carmen – The beach town of Playa del Carmen, Mexico, is a top vacation destination for travelers. It has all the makings of a tropical paradise: white sand beaches, clear blue ocean and a safe and lively city.
During the Northeast winter, I stayed there long-term to enjoy the sunshine and escape the cold – and I highly recommend it! If you want to go too, I’ve provided these tips for traveling to Playa del Carmen Mexico and a thorough PDC travel guide to help you plan every aspect of your trip.
Travel Tips Playa Del Carmen
Thinking of traveling to Mexico for your next getaway? Playa del Carmen is the way to go for fast Wi-Fi, Caribbean beaches along the Riviera Maya and a wonderful food scene. This table of contents breaks it down further if you need to skip around, but I highly recommend you dive right in!
Gay Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
Playa del Carmen is located in the heart of the Mayan Riviera on the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, one of the best tourist destinations in eastern Mexico. However, before the influx of tourists, Playa del Carmen was a small fishing town with a ferry to Cozumel.
Historically, Playa del Carmen was once a resting place for the Mayans whenever they traveled from the north. After the Spanish colonized the country in 1518, they turned an old outpost into a bustling commercial center in Playa del Carmen.
Nowadays, Playa is known as a must-visit vacation destination along the Quintana Roo coast. The coral reef immediately offers some of the best snorkeling and diving in Mexico and there are opportunities to swim with dolphins, explore cenotes and even take cooking classes.
Wondering about the safety of Playa del Carmen? Yes, Playa del Carmen is safe to visit in its entirety, but there are precautions to be taken.
Top Tips For Traveling To Playa Del Carmen
Some petty crimes and scams happen just like in any other tourist town, so use your wits and avoid getting intoxicated or participating in illegal activities such as drug buying (it’s associated with a lot of crime).
For female and solo travelers, Playa del Carmen is safe to visit – I recommend staying in populated and well-lit areas if you’re walking alone.
I use the Happy Shuttle from the Cancun airport to get to Playa del Carmen, which costs $75 each way for a private shuttle or $125 round trip.
You have two options here: shared transportation or private transfer. The shuttle allows you to travel with others arriving at the airport at the same time as you, and runs every 30 minutes from 7am to 11pm.
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You can book with Happy Shuttle a safe and comfortable private ride that 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 secure (plus private options are available and you can request custom transportation to an Airbnb location).
Since there is no local airport for Playa del Carmen, the best airport near Playa del Carmen is Cancun International Airport (CUN). It is about 45 minutes north of PDC, and you can reach the city by private transport or public transport.
Pro tip: If you book a flight inclusive through a resort, chances are they have a driver or shuttle service that can pick you up from the airport.
The cheapest option is to travel from Cancun to Playa del Carmen by bus. If you are interested in taking a bus, the ADO bus takes passengers from the airport and drops them off at the bus station in the center of Playa del Carmen.
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ADO is a popular bus option and a safe bus. Tickets are usually less than $10 and you can buy tickets online or at the ADO bus counter. If you opt for this, you can take a taxi to your hotel or other accommodation once you arrive in the city centre.
Colectivos, or minivans, are another form of public transportation you can use to get to Playa del Carmen. It costs about $2, and the van usually leaves after it’s full. This option gives you some flexibility, as you can get off at any point on the route.
In Playa del Carmen, there’s no shortage of accommodation options to suit every budget, from downtown hostels starting at around $9 a night for a dorm bed to luxury beach hotels for over $300 a 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 on where to stay, I have prepared some of the most interesting, beautiful and comfortable accommodation options in this travel guide as well.
Where To Stay In Playa Del Carmen: Best Areas & Hotels
Since I stay in Playa del Carmen longer and travel slowly, I want to stay at home, rental with all amenities. My last Airbnb was perfectly located on Calle 34 near Avenue 10, which was an easy walk to the beach, restaurants and more. On average, a home rental costs about $2,500-$3,500 per month for a 2-bedroom condo with an in-ground pool.
This is an elegant and luxurious boutique hotel surrounded by jungle between Tulum and Playa del Carmen – perfect for people who want to see both places. You can choose to stay in apartments or villas, and the ambiance is Mediterranean style.
If you’re traveling as a family, they even have room for up to nine people. It is on a quieter part of the beach, so you can come here for deep peace and quiet.
You should check out the Riviera del Sol for a more mid-range budget stay in the heart of it all. It is a lively and beautiful hotel that immerses you in authentic Mexican decor.
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The rooms are styled like a hacienda and have a patio that you can look out on. If you want to relax, there are additional amenities and activities such as massages and yoga classes. Just a note, this is perfectly nestled in the noise of it all, so bring your earplugs!
The Palm at Playa is an adults-only hotel and the ultimate energetic getaway for singles or couples travelers. The rooms are nice and spacious and it is located right on the beach.
The party really starts during the day on the rooftop, where you can relax by the cocktail bar, and in the evening the space comes alive with music and guests who want to hang out and dance.
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 of 5th Avenue and two blocks from the beach, this small boutique hotel makes a big impression. The roof terrace has a hot tub and lounge chairs where you can enjoy the sun or gaze at the stars.
Things To Do In Playa Del Carmen Mexico Great Travel Tips
This boutique hotel is in the heart of the city. The Lunata Hotel’s location is great thanks to its walking distance to everything: restaurants, bars, shops and just one block from the beach.
The rooms are brightly decorated with Mexican decor, comfortable beds and air conditioning. There is a rooftop lounge for watching the sunset and a small pool for cooling off during the day.
When it comes to where to eat in Playa del Carmen, you’re spoiled for choice with options from traditional Mexican cuisine to fresh seafood and international fare. This makes it easy to find something to suit your taste and budget while exploring this fun city.
I’m so obsessed with the food in Playa del Carmen that there will be a whole separate restaurant guide, but here are some of my favorites for now.
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With a full bar and an amazing selection of meats and seafood, you won’t be disappointed eating here. It’s a unique dining experience and one of my favorites when I travel to Playa del Carmen. Their secret to salty meals is that they cook the food on wooden or Himalayan salt slabs.
It’s not as crowded here as the other touristy taco places 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 city center, making it convenient when you’re out exploring.
The best Cochinita Pibil is here at La Cochi Loka. This dish is truly a Yucatan delight using traditional Mayan pothouse cooking techniques. If you haven’t tried it before, your time visiting Playa del Carmen, Mexico will be the perfect opportunity.
It’s a slightly sour dish that melts in your mouth with pork, banana leaves, orange juice, and maybe a little habanero, and some places will even add red onion and lemon.
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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 accessories