How to get from Cancún Airport to Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is a popular town to visit along Mexico’s Caribbean coast, and its surrounding region has lots going for it.
It is here you can enjoy numerous cenotes, swim in crystal-clear waters, and visit nearby ancient Mayan ruins as well as live it up in a town that has a pulsating atmosphere.
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Cancún Airport to Playa del Carmen
This guide looks at some of the most popular ways of getting from Cancún Airport to Playa del Carmen. We’ll also take a look at where to stay as well as some other tips based on my time spent here. You can see my Playa del Carmen itinerary for more ideas.
Things to know BEFORE visiting Playa del Carmen
- Stay close to the beach – This seems obvious from a travel perspective, given the beach and all of the great atmosphere are centred between the sands and Avenida 30. However, further inland (around Avenida 45 and after the motorway bridge), it can get quite sketchy and less safe for tourists. So my best recommendation here is to aim to stay as close to the beach as you can, which is considered a safe part of Playa del Carmen.
- Use colectivos for day trips – whilst not as comfortable as, say, the ADO buses or taxis, you’ll save much more by using local colectivos. They’re also pretty safe too, making it a good option when visiting nearby ruins, cenotes and towns such as Puerto Aventuras and Akumal.
- Caribbean climate year-round – What makes Playa del Carmen so popular throughout the year is that it remains hot in all months. This means you’ll want to pack beachwear and light clothes and also to keep reapplying sunscreen since it can be easy to burn when out for more than a few hours.
Pre-booking transport
It’s very easy to pre-book transport to Playa del Carmen, given it’s both popular and that there are a range of services available for tourists.
The renowned ADO bus is one of these, which can be booked as soon as you land at the airport, directly through their website or on travel sites such as BusBud.
Another option is private transport, which can be arranged to pick you up directly from the airport and take you to your accommodation in Playa del Carmen (we’ll look at both of these options later in this guide).
Overall pre-booking is a great idea to save time and can easily be done online before flying into Cancún Airport.
How to get from Cancún Airport to Playa del Carmen
Having visited here countless times, I’ve found 3 main ways of making the trip to Playa del Carmen from Cancún Airport (at this time of writing).
1. ADO Bus from Cancún Airport to Playa del Carmen
One of the most cost-effective and hassle-free options, the ADO bus is the best bet for travellers to get from the airport to Playa del Carmen.
ADO is a reputable bus company in this area of Mexico and has frequent buses running from just outside of the departures area of Cancún Airport. A one-way ticket costs roughly $16, and takes around 1.5 hours to reach Playa del Carmen.
The great thing about ADO is that you can easily pre-book buses before you arrive or also buy them at the counter inside the airport. If you’re in the centre of Cancún, you can also catch buses directly to Playa del Carmen too.
2. Car rental from Cancún Airport to Playa del Carmen
Travellers who prefer hiring their own vehicle will find it very easy to do so in Cancún Airport. There are many highly rated providers here, such as Hertz, Alamo, Europcar and Dollar.
Rental costs can start as low as $5 a day, and if you have all of the necessary driving requirements for Mexico, then it’s worth looking into.
The biggest benefit is that you’ll have complete freedom to roam around the Riviera Maya region as you like, and it will be especially easy to reach attractions that are located on the highway (such as the town of Akumal as well as the eco-park of Xcaret).
3. Private transport from Cancún Airport to Playa del Carmen
Those who are looking for the most time-efficient and comfortable ride between Cancún Airport and Playa del Carmen will want to go with a private transport option.
As well as saving time (since your driver will be ready waiting for you once you arrive), you will also be dropped off directly at your apartment or hotel.
For most travellers, this is ideal, especially for those with lots of luggage, because the other options can be slightly tedious (the bus only drops you off at the terminals, whilst if renting a car, you’ll need to find parking).
