white and brown concrete building near body of water during daytime

Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is a walkable beach town on Mexico's Caribbean coast, with ferries to Cozumel and day trips to Tulum and the cenotes.

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Playa del Carmen is a beach town on the Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo, in southeastern Mexico, on the stretch of shore called the Riviera Maya. Most visitors fly into Cancún, and the drive south takes about an hour. Quinta Avenida, the pedestrian street that runs down toward the sea, holds most of the shops, restaurants and evening crowds.

The town works well as a base. Ferries leave for Cozumel, the island offshore. Day trips reach the Maya ruins at Tulum and the cenotes, limestone sinkholes filled with groundwater, where you can swim. It suits first-time visitors who want a walkable beach stay with simple logistics, and families and couples planning a few days on the sand with one or two excursions. December through April is the drier high season. The Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November. Three to four nights leaves room for one or two day trips.

Playa del Carmen in five

Choose your end of town firstQuinta Avenida is a pedestrian strip with bars until late, while the beach north of Calle 38 is calmer and Playacar is gated and resort-style. Pick the mood, then the hotel.Where to stay in Playa del Carmen
Skip the airport taxi queueThe ADO coach from Cancún airport takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes and costs around 270 pesos one way on ADO's own page. Compare it with shuttles, taxis and the Tren Maya before you land.Cancún airport to Playa del Carmen
Catch the early ferry to CozumelPassenger ferries leave the main pier for Cozumel in about 30 to 45 minutes. Early boats give you the reef before the cruise crowds, so check the day's timetable the night before.Isla Cozumel
Pay the Quintana Roo VisitaxForeign tourists must pay Quintana Roo's Visitax. Pay on the state's official portal, or through a company the state tax agency authorizes, and read the amount on the payment screen.Official Visitax portal
Check seaweed reports before the beachSargassum washes onto Caribbean beaches in some years and seasons. Mexico's navy publishes bulletins for the Caribbean coast, so look before you commit to a beach-only stay.

Things to do in Playa del Carmen

See all attractions in Playa del Carmen

Beach · Playa del CarmenPlaya Punta EsmeraldaAim for around 10am for a morning visit.

palm trees on beach shore under blue sky during daytime

Park · Playa del CarmenParque La CeibaBring a bag for your rubbish; bins are not available inside the park.

Sight · Playa del CarmenQuinta avenidaGo early in the morning or later in the evening for a calmer walk.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to Playa del CarmenPut the places you like in Playa del Carmen on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Cancún (CUN), about 1 hour by road
Getting there: ADO coach (about 1 hr 15 min or more), shuttle or private transfer from the airport
Getting around: Walking in town; colectivo vans and taxis on Highway 307
Best base: Centro or north of Calle 38 for a first trip
Time needed: 3 to 4 days with day trips

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh26°Low22°Dry, busy
FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh27°Low22°Dry, warm
MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh28°Low23°Spring break
AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Dry, hot
MayRain14 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Sargassum risk
JuneRain19 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Hurricane season
JulyRain16 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low26°Hot, humid
AugustRain19 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low26°Hot, storms
SeptemberRain22 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low26°Peak storm risk
OctoberRain21 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh29°Low25°Storm risk
NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh28°Low23°Drier, quieter
DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh27°Low23°Holidays

Average daily high and low in Playa del Carmen, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Playa del Carmen

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 29°
Humidity: 84%
Wind: 7 km/h
Chance of rain: 90%

Riviera Maya

07:56 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today31°23°90%Monday: Rain. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 90%.
Tue29°22°25%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 25%.
Wed30°23°61%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 61%.
Thu30°22°41%Thursday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 41%.
Fri30°23°33%Friday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 33%.
Sat29°23°39%Saturday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 39%.
Sun29°24°59%Sunday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 59%.

Updated 05:40 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 18.81 MXN

Amount

Converted to

MXN · Mexican Peso

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Before you go to Playa del Carmen

Cozumel and cenote toursReef boats, cenotes and ruinsCompare day trips

Hotels on and off 5th AvenueBoutique, adults-only and resortCheck availability

eSIM for Playa del CarmenMaps and ride apps from the airportRead the guide

Travel insurance for MexicoCover for reef, cenote and ATV daysRead the guide

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Rules for Playa del Carmen, checked

Foreign tourists must pay Quintana Roo's Visitax. The portal does not print the amount on its info pages; read it at payment.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
The Cozumel ferry costs about 640 to 645 pesos round trip per adult on the two main operators' tourist fares. Fares can change.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source

All Playa del Carmen guides

How toCancún airport to Playa del Carmen: bus, shuttle, taxi or rental carChecked Oct 1, 2026

Head to headPlaya del Carmen, Tulum or Cancún: which Riviera Maya base to chooseChecked Oct 1, 2026

Where to stayWhere to stay in Playa del Carmen: four bases, from the strip to PlayacarChecked Oct 1, 2026

Plan around Playa del Carmen

All of Mexico

Beaches, colonial cities, ruins and highlands

Read the guide Riviera Maya

The whole coast from Cancún to Tulum

Read the guide Puerto Morelos

A quieter reef town about 30 to 40 minutes north

Read the guide

Playa del Carmen FAQ

How many days do you need in Playa del Carmen?

Three to four days covers the beach, a day trip to Tulum or Cozumel and a cenote morning. Add days only if you plan to base here for the whole Riviera Maya, since most sights are an hour or less by road.

Is Playa del Carmen worth visiting?

Yes if you want a walkable Caribbean town with easy transport, restaurants and tours. It is more developed than Tulum or Puerto Morelos, so skip it if you want a quiet fishing village.

Is Playa del Carmen safe for tourists?

The tourist zone around Quinta Avenida and the beach is busy and patrolled, but petty theft and overpriced taxis happen. Use app rides or official taxis at night and check your government's current advice for Quintana Roo.

Can you get from Playa del Carmen to Tulum without a car?

Yes. Colectivo vans and ADO buses run along Highway 307 in about an hour, and taxis are plentiful. A rental car helps only if you want several cenotes and ruins in one day.

When is the best time to visit Playa del Carmen?

November to April is dry and clear; December to Easter is busiest and priciest. May to October brings heat, storms and a higher chance of seaweed, but better prices. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November and peaks around mid-August to mid-October.