Playa del Carmen important tips
The city of Playa del Carmen is on the Caribbean coast. Between Cancun and Tulum, facing the island of Cozumel. It is at the crossroads of the Tulum-Cancun/Mexico 307 highway. So, this place is ideal to get around easily. Here are some Playa del Carmen important tips.
How to get to Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is located 1 hour from Cancun, 1 hour from Tulum and 1 hour 50 minutes from Valladolid.
From:
- Downtown Cancun: about 1 hour – by car, by ADO bus from the Cancun terminal or by colectivo Playa Express (in front of the ADO station)
- Cancun’s hotel area: 1h15 by car, or to get there by public transportation you must first go to the ADO terminal in the center (by cab, or by local bus Ruta 1 or Ruta 2)
- Cancun airport: Most travelers arrive in Playa del Carmen from Cancun airport. See the following section, where I have detailed everything!
- Tulum: 1 hour – if you don’t have a car, you can take an ADO bus or a colectivo from the center of Tulum or the entrance of the ruins
- Valladolid: 1h45 by car via Kantunil-Cancun/México 180D and México 305D, or 2h05-2h55 by ADO bus (preferably choose a direct bus)
Playa del Carmen important tips: Getting around
Whether by car, bus or colectivo (shared vans), it is very easy to get to Cancun, other destinations in the Riviera Maya (e.g. Tulum, Puerto Morelos, Akumal, water parks), or even to cities in the interior of the peninsula (e.g. Valladolid, Merida, etc.).
Bus: There are two ADO bus stations in Playa del Carmen: Playa del Carmen turística and Playa del Carmen alterna. Remember this when you buy your tickets!
The colectivos: no matter the destination, they all leave from the station located in front of the Chedraui near Avenida Benito Juarez, more exactly Calle 1 Sur x Avenida 45 norte
They are parked according to the destination: on the left for Tulum and on the right for Cancun. Either way, you can ask without any problem.
Rent a car to visit Playa del Carmen
Many travelers decide to visit the Riviera Maya by rental car. And the advantages are numerous: freedom, speed, flexibility of routes and schedules. As you know, finding a serious car rental agency in Mexico is not an easy thing to do. Unfortunately, there are many scams and disappointments, so do your research.
When to visit?
The best time of the year to visit Playa del Carmen is from late October to mid-December because there are not many tourists and the weather is pleasant. The peak tourist season is from the end of December to March-April, with particularly busy periods around New Year’s Day and the famous American Spring Break.
If you’re wondering when to go to Playa del Carmen, the most important thing to keep in mind is the rainy and hurricane season, which runs from June to October, especially during the months of August (end), September and October.
