Getting around Playa del Carmen

In town

   The main road into Playa del Carmen is named Avenida Juarez (Juarez Avenue). It takes you from Carretera 307 (Highway 307 or the Cancun-Tulum Highway) to la Quinta Avenida and the ferry dock. Playa del Carmen has a small center, so most hotels and restaurants are within walking distance.

Car rental: For those who prefer the freedom that comes with renting a car, Playa del Carmen has several car rentals shops located along Avenida Juarez and la Quinta Avenida. Avis is located one block from the bus station and Dollar is just across the street. If you’re going to rent a car, you should be forewarned that the best deals are found in Cancun, not Playa del Carmen. So if you think you’ll need a car for the whole trip, your best bet is to get one before arriving here.

Taxis: In front of the bus station you will find a row of taxis and men with their triciclos (tricycles). Both can take you practically anywhere in town if you’re not interested in a stroll. If you are going to the Playacar hotel complex, you can take a taxi. Be forewarned, however, that once inside Playacar, the taxi fares more than double. In town, fares are around $20 pesos (US$2) to most places, but once inside the Playacar complex they rise to about $50 to $60 pesos (US$5 to US$6) for the same distance.

Local buses: Although the city has its own local buses, most run through some rather rough neighborhoods that you would do well to avoid. Not all of the neighborhoods are that bad, however, and if you wander into the local neighborhoods, you will find unpaved roads with no drainage. During the rainy season they become muddy. For the rest of the year, they are quite dusty.

Out of town buses: Playa del Carmen has two bus stations. The first is located at the corner of Avenida Juarez and la Quinta Avenida. All of the premiere, first-class, and second-class buses that serve the Riviera Maya stop here, including those from Cancun, Tulum, Chichen Itza, and Merida.

Bus station Quinta Avenida

First-class and premiere buses tend to run directly to their destinations with no stops, while second-class buses stop frequently. The other bus station in town is located on Avenida 20 between Calle 12 and Calle 14 by Playa del Carmen City Hall. It serves mostly first-class service for areas outside of the Riviera Maya. You can buy tickets in either station, and some buses stop at both terminals. The ticket counter personnel will be able to tell you which terminal your bus will depart from. Click here for schedules and prices to the destinations they serve. If you are heading to a town, beach or hotel between either Playa del Carmen and Cancun, or Playa del Carmen and Tulum, the second-class bus service is an excellent deal. The companies that provide this service are MAYAB and Playa Express. They make stops whenever passengers ask them to. You can catch the MAYAB bus at the bus station on la Quinta Avenida. The price to Cancun is around $30 pesos (US$3), and to Tulum it’s $25 pesos (US$3). The Playa Express is the cheaper of the two. You can catch it on Avenida 15 by Calle 8 on either side of the street. The fare to Cancun is $25 pesos (US$3), and to Tulum it’s 20 pesos (US$2).

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