Playa del Carmen is located on the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico and has become a popular destination for travelers of all ages. The coastal resort town sits along the beautiful Caribbean shoreline, offering up white sandy beaches dotted with swaying palm trees, colorful shops, international brand stores and unique cultural and historical sites. It also has several accommodation options, restaurants and activities for visitors, which can make your trip planning feel overwhelming.
For our AAA members who are traveling to Playa del Carmen, we do our best to help you find what you are looking for and maybe even a few surprises along the way. For that reason, we provide this comprehensive guide to Playa del Carmen to get you started on your plan to vacation in this exciting destination.
How to Get Around Playa del Carmen
Whether you plan to relax, explore or party while in Playa del Carmen, it helps to know how best to get around. Here is what you need to know.
Walking
Walking will be one of the best ways to get around Playa del Carmen, especially in the heart of the town. You can easily find your way to upscale shopping, local shops, restaurants, beaches and more here. The pedestrian thoroughfare, Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue), is parallel to the beach, so you’re never far from food and drink.
Bicycle
Playa del Carmen is also easily navigable by bike, with new bike paths laid out to take you through historical sites and natural beauty, including Mayan ruins, jungles and more. Many hotels will include a bicycle with your stay, but if not, you can always rent one from one of the shops here.
Taxis
If you’re heading a little further out, consider taking a taxi. Fares usually average around $2 for most locales, but this will depend on where you are going. Be sure to discuss the rate prior to getting in the cab, so no surprise awaits you later on.
Car
For those planning to explore beyond the resort areas, a car may be necessary. The town itself is simply laid out so you shouldn’t have much trouble getting to and from your destination. There are several car rental agencies throughout the area and you will have to buy Mexican insurance should you choose to rent one.
Bus Service/Colectivo/City Bus
To explore beyond the popular 5th avenue, you can take the Tusca (city bus) or a colectivo, which is local van transportation. Look for the white vans with a stripe of turquoise on their exterior. Both the buses and the colectivos run popular routes and you can hail one from wherever you may be at the time.
Best Time to Visit Playa del Carmen
Thanks to its location, Playa del Carmen is a favorite to visit almost any time of year. When to plan your trip, though, will depend on what you hope to experience while here.
If you are looking for beautiful weather and don’t mind crowds and higher prices, head to Playa del Carmen during high season, which is December through April. During this time of year, you will experience moderate temperatures without the blazing heat and humidity of full summer.
If you prefer a more quiet, tranquil, less crowded time to plan a trip to Playa del Carmen, consider the Fall months. While you might experience high humidity and some rain, you’ll still be able to do all the things you want to do, from scuba diving to sitting at an oceanfront restaurant enjoying the view.
Top Things to Do While in Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is perfect for nature lovers, party people and those looking for a little history and relaxation. Coral reefs to explore lay just offshore also, so you may want to spend time snorkeling or scuba diving while here. In other words, it is one of those destinations that offer a variety of things to do so you never become bored. Below we show you some of the top things to do while here.
Quinta Avenue (5th Avenue)
Enjoy strolling along the pedestrian-only Quinta Avenida for a coastal town feel and stop in quaint, colorful shops, inviting restaurants, nightclubs and European-style stores full of international brands. This walkway is full of surprises, melding Mexican culture with international elements, making it a fun destination all on its own. For a break from all the crowds and noise, you also have several access points to walk over to the beach for a stroll in the sand. If you are here on a Thursday, enjoy local art displayed all along the avenue.
Frida Kahlo Museum
Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is known all over the world and Playa del Carmen plays host to a museum in her name. While the Museo Frida Kahlo showcases Kahlo’s surrealist art, it also tells the story of her life, including her health, relationships and work style. The museum includes animations and interactive exhibits to help visitors grasp her life and talent up close.
CoCo Bongo Playa del Carmen Nightclub
If you’re looking for an entertainment venue, don’t miss the Coco Bongo Playa del Carmen nightclub. Conveniently located just off the main tourist area, it is a quick walk from most downtown attractions and hotels. Inside, you may see a Broadway-style musical, circus performers, celebrity impersonators or you can dance the night away yourself on the large dance floor. Sit at one of the many bars, reserve a VIP table or make your way to different spots here. Shows don’t begin until 11 p.m., however, so plan accordingly.
Playacar Beach
The beach is a massive draw for tourists here and an essential part of why this destination is so popular. You have choices for which beach to enjoy and can go to a different one each day if you choose. One of the most popular and pristine is the Playacar Beach, a short walk from downtown, just past the ferry dock. Once here, you will find a sandy beach with palm trees and inviting turquoise water to enjoy.
Mesoamerican Barrier Reef
For those wanting a closer look at the sea life of the Caribbean on the Riviera Maya, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef lies just offshore. This reef stretches all the way down the coast and is a must-see for nature lovers and first-time travelers here. To get to it, however, you will need to arrange a snorkeling excursion or sign up for a scuba diving trip as it can only be reached by boat.
Barrio del Carmen
For those non-beach days, head to Old Town and the historic neighborhood of Barrio del Carmen. Here, you can enjoy sights such as medieval towers, historic landmarks and colorful street art. This section of Playa del Carmen is described as trendy and hip, with eclectic shops, interesting restaurants and enticing bars to stop in for a drink.
Where to Stay in Playa del Carmen
There are so many wonderful accommodations in and around Playa del Carmen for all budgets. Many of these options are all-inclusives, which include your stay, meals, drinks and even some activities. Whether you wish to stay close to the downtown area or enjoy long stretches of beach outside your door, there is a perfect place to stay in Playa del Carmen. Below, we share five of these to consider.
Banyan Tree Mayakoba
- Address: Carr Federal Chetumal-Puerto Juárez KM 298, Playa del Carmen, QR 77710
- AAA Diamond-designation: Five Diamond
- Great for: families, couples, wellness seekers, business travelers
For those seeking a luxury oceanfront resort hotel, Banyan Tree Mayakoba is an excellent choice. The exterior of the resort is a mix of Mexican and Asian architecture set down in a natural paradise, complete with lush forest, private white sandy beach and freshwater lagoon. You can stay in one of the 162 villas with a private pool, schedule treatments in the award-winning spa and dine in the world-class restaurants here. The Banyan Tree Mayakoba is ideal for couples or families and also has conference space and meeting rooms for business travelers.
Hilton Playa del Carmen Resort
- Address: Constituyentes No. 2, Playa del Carmen, QR
- AAA Diamond-designation: Four Diamond
- Great For: couples, honeymooners
For couples who want to get away, the Hilton Playa del Carmen Resort is just the place. This adults-only resort has everything you need on-site, including restaurants, amenities, swimming pools and activities to enjoy together. Book couples’ treatments in the spa, lounge in the beach cabanas or challenge each other to a game of tennis. For a special treat, reserve one of the swim-up rooms for your vacation stay.
El Dorado Casitas Royal
- Address: Carr Cancun-Tulum KM 45, Playa del Carmen, QR 77710
- AAA Diamond-designation: Four Diamond
- Great For: adults, wedding parties
For total relaxation, stay at the El Dorado Casitas Royale, a spa resort located north of the main Playa del Carmen town center. Here, you can avoid the daily crowds if you choose and linger on the property, enjoying the pristine beach, swim-up bars and various snorkeling or scuba diving excursions. Enjoy sampling various dishes at any of the nine intimate restaurants, join special food and wine pairings and participate in the daily tequila tastings. In addition, this resort devotes one entire floor to wedding-themed spa rooms.
Playacar Palace
- Address: Fracc Playacare phase 1, Bahiadel del Esp Santo, Playa del Carmen, QR
- AAA Diamond-designation: Four Diamond
- Great for: couples, honeymooners
The oceanfront, all-inclusive resort of Playacar Palace offers something for everyone, whether you want to relax on your vacation or stay active. Enjoy the hot tub in your room with glasses of champagne and dine at one of the restaurants on the property. Located near the ferry dock for Cozumel, you’ll also be close enough to the downtown area to enjoy the action.
IBEROSTAR Waves Tucan
- Address: Av Xaman-Ha Lote Hotelero 2 Playacar, Playa del Carmen, QR 77710
- AAA Diamond-designation: Three Diamond
- Great for: couples, families, small groups
Iberostar offers a number of accommodation options along the coastline in or near Playa del Carmen. The Iberostar Waves Tucan is one of these and is an all-inclusive resort property encased in a lush tropical landscape along an expansive beach. You can choose among seven dining options, attend live theater shows every night and celebrate at a Mexican fiesta with buffet and live music every Friday. This resort also has a spa and unique hydrotherapy circuit to enjoy.
Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya
- Address: Carr Cancun-Tulum KM 45, Playa del Carmen, QR, 77710
- AAA Diamond-designation: Four Diamond
- Great for: Families
Families with children of all ages will be fascinated by what the Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya has to offer. One in particular is the outdoor water park, where you can spend hours a day having fun together. Up to five can comfortably fit in many of the rooms and kids' club areas are scattered throughout the resort. Enjoy meals in themed restaurants, catch mesmerizing shows and join in on the variety of activities planned each day.
Where to Eat in Playa del Carmen
The variety of restaurants here rivals even the biggest cities of Europe and beyond. We provide hints below about what you can expect and where to consider eating while in Playa del Carmen.
Ha’
- Address: Carretera Federal Chetumal KM 282, Playa del Carmen, QR, 77710
- AAA Diamond-designation: Five Diamond
- Cuisine: Mexican
Visiting Playa del Carmen presents you with opportunities to enjoy upscale Mexican fine dining in beautiful atmospheres. One of those places is the Ha’ restaurant, an astonishingly immersive dining experience complete with nine-course tasting menus that change often, all paired with fine wines from Mexico itself.
Itzam
- Address: Paseo Kauai 16, Playa del Carmen, QR
- AAA Diamond-designation: Four Diamond
- Cuisine: Mexican
Another option for delving into all things Mexican can be found at the Itzam restaurant. This classy restaurant offers spectacular views as you sip your glass of wine or enjoy a cocktail while waiting for your meal. Both traditional and upscale Mexican dishes can be ordered here, along with various steak and seafood, including grilled octopus.
Piaf
- Address: Carr Cancun-Tulum KM 62, Playa del Carmen, QR 77710
- AAA Diamond-designation: Four Diamond
- Cuisine: French
Gain a sense of how international this resort town is with a meal at the Piaf restaurant. Not only will the look of the restaurant bring to mind Paris, but the food is prepared by authentic French chefs. When your meal arrives at your table, you can expect the beautiful presentation to be almost as good as the meal itself. Service here is world-class, so you feel like a true honored guest.
Saffron
- Address: Carretera Federal Chetumal-Puerto Juárez KM 298
- AAA Diamond-designation: Four Diamond
- Cuisine: Thai
When you’re ready to enjoy an Asian-themed meal, reserve a table at the Saffron restaurant, where the view rivals anywhere else on the Maya Riviera. The restaurant takes up three decks built out over the water and provides unique views of a mangrove lagoon. You can also choose to sit inside at a cozy table while enjoying modern Thai food, including several curry dishes.
Harry’s Steakhouse & Raw Bar Playa del Carmen
- Address: Quinta Avenida 1-lote 88, Playa del Carmen, QR, 77710
- AAA Diamond-designation: Three Diamond
- Cuisine: Steak and Seafood
For those looking for something more familiar, Harry’s Steakhouse & Raw Bar will be a welcome venue for lunch or dinner. The atmosphere here is still refined and live music accompanies you during your meals most nights. Order everything from USDA Prime beef or Kobe to Alaskan king crab or oysters.
Playa del Carmen Photo Spots
You'll most likely want to capture beautiful and fun moments as you explore all that Playa del Carmen has to offer. Below, we tell you some of the best photo spots to do just that.
1. Downtown Playa del Carmen
As we mentioned earlier in this guide, the downtown area of Playa del Carmen is a great destination for a variety of reasons. Now we add taking photos to that list of reasons. Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue) is ideal for finding the backdrops and subjects to capture the varied sights of this diverse town. Enjoy street art murals and statues, find unique buildings and shops, discover colorful local arts and crafts, capture both the tropical and cosmopolitan vibes here. You may even catch street performers in the act.
2. Playacar Beach
Head over to Playacar Beach from downtown and find white sand, palm trees and beautiful blue water for your photos. Go at sunset or sunrise for even more beauty to capture.
3. Parque Los Fundadores
Parque Los Fundadores is a seaside park located at Av Benito Juárez 251, Centro, where you will find unique coastal sculptures, a playground and a walkway to enjoy. Stop at the Portal Maya, a 50+ foot high arched sculpture of women and men caught up in a swirl of wind and water.
4. 3D Museum of Wonders
A newer addition to Playa del Carmen is the 3D Museum of Wonders. Inside you will find multiple galleries of three-dimensional looking paintings to interact with. Take photos of huge murals, pretend to climb a mountain or surf a wave and be surprised by the unique presentations in this unique museum.
5. Capilla de Nuestra Señora del Carmen
For something more serene, look no further than the Capilla de Nuestra Señora del Carmen, an impressive white chapel near the Parque Los Fundadores. Be sure to go inside and see the glass wall that lets you see the water and palm trees while sitting in one of the pews. Both locals and visitors often have weddings here so you may see it decorated for such an event while visiting.
Day Trips from Playa del Carmen
While there is plenty to do (or not do) right here in Playa del Carmen, you may want to venture out on a day trip. If so, we list five possibilities to enhance your visit to Mexico.
Cozumel
- Distance from Playa del Carmen: 45 minutes by ferry
Offshore from Playa del Carmen is the popular island of Cozumel, a top scuba diving destination and fun topside locale full of shops and restaurants. Ferries for the island leave on the hour starting at 8:00 a.m. from the downtown pier and the ride over takes about 45 minutes. Go for lunch or spend the entire day there. The ferry’s last return is usually around 10 p.m.
Tulum
- Distance from Playa del Carmen: Approximately 55 minutes
Make time to explore the historic Mayan ruins of Tulum. Situated on a rugged coastline with spectacular views, plan your day around exploring the Temple of the Frescoes and picnicking on the beach.
Merida
- Distance from Playa del Carmen: Approximately three hours
For an inland view of Mexico, venture to the Yucatan’s charming capital city of Merida. This colonial city blends Mayan and Spanish customs and more. Spend time exploring the Plaza de la Independencia, with its various museums, cathedrals and government buildings. Stroll down the historic Paseo de Montejo or spend your time here in colorful streets and bustling plazas.
Cenote Azul and Chaak Tun
- Distance from Playa del Carmen: varies
Mexico is full of cenotes, which are pristine natural sinkholes filled with water. Cenote Azul is near Playa del Carmen and the water here is varying shades of blue. Don a mask, snorkel and a pair of fins to explore these waters or just enjoy a swim. Another one to see close by is the Chaak Tun, an underground cenote in which you can join a guided tour that takes a little over two hours.
Xplor Adventure Park
- Distance: 20-minute drive
An exciting day trip from Playa del Carmen is the Xplor Adventure Park, a destination for all ages. This adventure park has a lot to experience, depending on your preferences, including rafting, zip-lining and underground rivers. Situated in the jungle, you feel as if you are in the true interior of Mexico yet still so close to the coast.
Visiting Playa del Carmen on a Budget
If you are on a budget when traveling to Playa del Carmen, there are plenty of things you can do to ensure a good time with less worry. Here are some tips.
1. Plan your trip here in the low season. Avoid times of big crowds (e.g., Spring Breakers) and peak season (December through April). While blazing hot in summer, the months of July and August offer the best bargains. If you are not averse to risking potential storm season, September through November is another time to visit on a budget.
2. Take advantage of your AAA membership. Enjoy discounts on vehicle rentals, tickets and hotels.
3. Plan to walk or cycle. Plan to stay close to the things you want to experience here so you can walk or cycle to them. The town is pedestrian-friendly and you have access to various restaurants, shops, parks and nightclubs. Your accommodation may offer free bicycles to use during your stay or you can rent one.
3. Take self-guided tours. Pick up maps, brochures and lists of sites to see and set off on your own to explore this area on the coast. Stroll through Centro Playa del Carmen and find the various murals and sculptures or identify the historical buildings and sites you wish to visit.
4. Enjoy lunches instead of dinners at restaurants. Dinner prices in Playa del Carmen can sometimes cost a small fortune. Instead, go for lunch at different restaurants or cafés. Lunches usually consist of smaller portions of the same dinner menu items or are combinations of appetizers and main dishes. You still get to enjoy incredible food and drinks but at a lower price.
5. Find free sites to visit. There are plenty of free things to do and see here in Playa del Carmen and some places offer free admission on certain days. For example, if you want to see Mayan ruins but prefer not to pay for day trips to Tulum or other sites, explore the local Xaman-Ha ruins, which date back to AD 1200. This archaeological site takes just a ten-minute walk to get to and you can spend all the time you want exploring the stone structures and their history.
6. Gain entrance to nightclubs before midnight. Being on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t go out at night. The nightlife of Playa del Carmen is always exciting and to save money, make sure you enter the nightclubs and venues before midnight when the cover charge is lower.
Plan Your Trip to Playa del Carmen with AAA
Playa del Carmen combines the elements of a cosmopolitan city with the best of Mexico’s vibrant culture. Chic resorts, boutique hotels, entertainment venues, spectacular restaurants, art and culture and sheer fun await, all if you know where to look.
Once you’ve gathered inspiration for your dream Playa del Carmen trip on TripCanvas, contact one of AAA’s Travel Agents today to start making your dream a reality, using your AAA membership to access exclusive deals. No matter your budget, they can help you simplify the planning process with prepackaged trips or à la carte options.