Playa Del Carmen Guide

Playa Del Carmen (a.k.a. Playa) [google maps] is about 45 minutes south of Cancún. I think Playa is better than Cancún because it's cheaper and more fun. It's best to go between nov-apr because it gets oppressively hot/humid in the summer. It helps to know some spanish, but it's a very tourist-y area so many people know english.

Go to Playa if you like

  1. Restaurants
  2. Bars
  3. Clubs
  4. Beaches
  5. Walkable Cities

Getting There#

  • Fly to Cancún airport (CUN).
    • Technically there's some $13 tourism tax called VISITAX, but you really don't ever have to pay it for some reason. So don't do it.
  • Get ADO bus tickets here: https://book.distribusion.com/?retailerPartnerNumber=343401
    • This is a nice big bus that can bring you to/from cancun airport to Playa (about 12 dollars) for a very low price. It's a nice ride. They leave about every 30 minutes.
    • You can get dropped off at either stop in Playa they are very nearby each other.

Things to do#

  • Stay anywhere along/near the street Quinta Avendida. The bus will drop you off toward the bottom of it. It is a long street with many businesses, restaurants, clubs, and no cars. It also runs parallel to the beach.
  • Don't take taxis they are scams. You can walk or even uber.
  • You can go in the soccer stadium any time (even around 11pm) and it's an open workout / activity zone. (Assuming there's no game there in that moment).
  • Best restaurants
    • ferron's jerk chicken
    • el doctorcito
    • el fogón
  • Avoid these restaurants
    • asian food (sushi in particular is very overpriced)
  • restaurant want to try for next time:
    • gober
    • don sirloin
    • go to cozumel?
    • some type of boat ride

Other Tips#

  • Marijuana possesion is illegal in mexico and there's a decent amount of police around to potentially shake you down.
  • You can use your credit card mostly everywhere. After swiping your card, if you are given the choice to pay in USD or Pesos (still on the card), choose Pesos.
    • If you want physical Pesos, the easiset way is to use $20 USD bill to buy something at a 7-11 or an Oxxo store (both are very common). But overall I recommend using your card in general.

– by Kevin Leutzinger