6-day Playa del Carmen Itinerary for an Unforgettable Time

Playa del Carmen is one of my favorite destinations when I need a relaxing vacation. Caribbean waters, palm trees, delicious food, and amazing weather. While I am not necessarily an all-inclusive kinda gal, I stayed in two of them in Playa. Even if you stay at a resort, it’s one of those destinations that almost pushes you to explore outside the resort gates. The chances of staying inside one for a week there are slim because of how easy it is to explore the surrounding areas.

In this post, first I will cover the logistics of basing yourself in Playa while exploring the surrounding areas. You can easily spend a month there but my goal is to give you the best options for a short stay. I will talk about travel logistics, give you my honest opinion of places to see, and finally, you’ll find a downloadable itinerary for your stay.

Table of Contents show

Note that you may encounter some affiliate links in this post. They will not make anything more expensive for you but rather provide a small commission for me should you choose to book it via the link I provide. Since I do not charge for any of my awesome travel advice and don’t make you sign up for anything to download my stuff, I appreciate any link clicks and bookings through here 🙂

Let’s get to the logistics

Playa del Carmen vs Cancun

One of the most frequently asked questions about visiting eastern Mexico is which destination should I choose: Cancun or Playa del Carmen? Playa del Carmen is a town in the Quintana Roo state on the Caribbean side of Mexico, about 1 hour south of Cancun. While Cancun is more recognized as a travel destination, it is very touristy and obnoxious. While Playa is obviously also a popular tourist destination, I think it offers a little more local vibes and is the perfect spot for exploring nearby areas. The journey from Cancun to Playa del Carmen will take you between 45 min to an hour.

Playa is also north of Tulum, another spot that the current “woke” crowd frequently flocks to. I personally am not a fan of Tulum and if you keep on reading you’ll find out why. Playa del Carmen to Tulum distance is about 40 miles or an hour of travel. But with this post, I will try to convince you why Playa is 10x more awesome than Cancun or Tulum.

US citizen info

US citizens do not have any visa requirements despite the strict reverse rules on Mexican citizens entering our country. Upon arrival, you will receive a small piece of paper which will be your visa. It is easy to mistake it for something non-important. Pay attention to what it looks like and do not lose it. If you do, you will get stuck at the airport upon exiting as my own mother did a couple of years ago. In a true Mexican fashion, it takes a while to verify your stay and you risk missing your flight home.

How Many Days Should I Stay in Playa del Carmen?

How long to stay in Playa del Carmen depends on what you want to do. If you’re just traveling to base yourself in a resort with the freedom to explore outside, give yourself about a week. The city itself does not have that many attractions but the surrounding towns are FULL of things to do. A lot of ex-pats choose to live in Playa as their base for working remotely too. Personally, I traveled twice for 6 days at a time and it was the perfect sweet spot for a short getaway.

How to navigate Playa and its surrounding areas

There is no airport for Playa del Carmen, so traveling there will require you to land at Cancun Airport instead. With so many flight connections to the city so you can find major airlines from all major airports having flights around the clock.

TIP: If you’re planning to stay at an all-inclusive, make sure to book your flight as a part of a package. You will save a TON on it rather than booking the two separately.

To get yourself to Playa, you will need to arrange a pick up from your hotel, take an expensive taxi or rent a car. Playa del Carmen car rental is an adventure within itself that is actually worth the pain so I will make a separate point about this below. If you’re staying in the main city, you can walk around, rent a bike, or take taxis. However, if you want to go explore the cenotes, ruins, or other towns, you can take the local buses or arrange transport through organized tours. Note: During rona times, I would skip the crowded buses full of tour people.

Public transport is doable but confusing and mostly used by the locals. If you’re staying for an extended period of time, take advantage of this because it can save you a ton of money. This post goes into public transport in great detail. However, if Playa is your home for only a couple of days, save yourself the trouble and either take a taxi or as I mentioned, rent a car.

Playa del Carmen Car Rental

There are two locations to rent a car for your Playa trip, one at the airport and the other in town. Renting a car at Cancun airport is a complete shit-show and I will get straight to the point on how to make this process a little less painful. First, let’s assume you’ve booked a car online prior to your trip and picked it up upon arrival. If that’s the case, once you land, a little shuttle will take you to a rental car hub where all the companies operate from.

Now let’s get into the details of why this might not be as smooth as you want it to be.

Situation 1: You book a car online and you see the total is $18 for the week. You scored the deal of a lifetime and you’re excited to explore Mexico in your sweet ride.

Problem: Even if you read all the terms and conditions, when you get to the rental place they’ll try to tell you about a separate law that requires you to pay $20/day extra insurance. It’s likely that you did not see this in your rental agreement, it’s non-negotiable and the manager won’t budge on anything.
Solution: Read and re-read the terms and conditions on what is included in the rental. The extra insurance that they say is mandatory, isn’t really mandatory and other companies can waive it for you. Also as a reference point, a car rental should be around $50-$100 for the week depending on the season and type. Renting in the city of Playa is also significantly cheaper although much more inconvenient and with less availability.

Situation 2: You read all the terms and conditions and have your travel credit card that includes car-rental insurance. You think you outsmarted the system and that you can get away with the insurance “scam” charge.

Problem: The counter person can do the two of the following based on my experience: a) tell you that although you have insurance, they don’t have proof from your bank that you have the required coverage or b) the car you rented is no longer available.
Solution: Before you start declining ALL coverage, check if your card actually provides it. In case you didn’t know, you need to decline everything the rental company offers in order to get the full credit card coverage. I always use the Chase Saphire perks and they covered two previous damages that were done to my rental cars without much issue. So a) make sure you get the letter of coverage from your bank, read more about that here and b) if the counter sees that you’re overprepared, they might try to tell you that the car is no longer available. Most car companies have sister ones next door, so insist they find you one and don’t give up.

There is also just the simple option of pre-paying for all the insurance online and not haggling when you get there. However, if you have a card like Chase Sapphire or any other that includes similar perks, there is no reason to pay the extra fees.

Other Important Things to Note:

Take pictures of the car, be throughout of any scratches and fuel levels.
If something happens to the car, make sure to take pictures, and get an accident/incident report from either the police or the rental company.
When you’re at a gas station, avoid the following scams:
- Make sure the meter starts at 0, not at the previous fill-up level
- If two people approach you to help be vigilant about what is happening around you
- If you’re paying cash, count out loud how much money you’re handing to the attendant as they might try to convince you that you gave them a $50 instead of $500 for example
Driving can seem hectic but if you’ve ever driven in states Jersey you’ll be fine 🙂 I also recently rented a car in the Dominican Republic which made Mexico driving seem like a piece of cake!
Always follow the speed limit but if for some reason you get pulled over, make a “donation” to the cop and he shall leave you alone.
Check signs for payments on the streets. The parking people are on their a-game there.

playa del carmen mexico — *When you’re getting frustrated with the car rental place, think of Mexico beaches! You’re so close 🙂*

People

Most local people are fine. If you’re staying at a resort, you’re likely to experience amazing service. In town, the locals are usually friendly. For example, I was a couple of minutes from getting a parking ticket and ended up having an awesome convo with the parking person instead of getting a ticket.

The one thing that constantly bothered me, however, is the “little scams” that they pull on you at each corner. For example, you negotiate a good deal on a trinket you want to buy and you agree on a price in American dollars. You get to register to realize that you’ve been overcharged in pesos. Another situation is booking an organized tour and then finding out 3 hidden costs during the excursion. I recommend being a skeptic and knowing how much everything should cost or what they expect from a place. Otherwise being overly naive will lead to being taken advantage of.

Playa del Carmen Safety

Quintana Roo region is generally safe. The horror stories of abduction and Mexican cartel threads are low in this area and your risk of getting hurt is just like in any comparable place. This doesn’t mean you should let your guard down in any way. There have been some recent reports of solo female travelers being approached by sketchy males in the city of Playa so before traveling, check out the most recent stories for any hesitations.

My favorite Playa safety guide that I recommend reading comes from Claire, she lived in Playa so her tips are actually very helpful.

Food

You probably know this, but if you’re staying in a resort, you won’t be eating authentic Mexican food. The real deal can be found in the town at the local restaurants or street carts. I promise that if you find those local holes in the walls, it will change your life. Here is a post on the most popular spots in town and another for even more picks!

Accommodations in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen has amazing all-inclusive resorts. Being the hostel queen that I am, it’s rare that I stay at all-inclusive resorts. Chances are if you’re traveling for a week, you want to relax and escape reality. A beachfront all-inclusive is the place just for that. Being a seasoned traveler means experiencing all types of accommodations therefore Playa might just be the perfect place for trying something new.

I stayed in Riu Tequila in 2015 and Riu Palace in 2020. Riu Tequila is more home-y and has hacienda-type feels while Riu Palace is a modern and more vegas type of place with beachfront access. Both are located in the gated area of Playa which is called Playa Phase I.

Airbnb in Playa del Carmen could also be a good option if you don’t like an all-inclusive vibe. With the rise of digital nomads, the options in town are stylish and safe, perfect for your 6-day Playa del Carmen itinerary.

Booking.com

IMG 5193 Mexico — *No matter how you feel about resorts, there is no denying that they are pretty sweet!*

IMG 4676 Mexico — *No matter how you feel about resorts, there is no denying that they are pretty sweet!*

Perfect Things To Do in and around Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen isn’t a place where you’ll find architecture, museums, or grand cathedrals. Rather, you will enjoy a beach town, filled with tourists or ex-pats taking advantage of the cheap yet relaxed lifestyle. I recommend venturing outside of town to experience the beautiful Quintana Roo state while having Playa as your home base.

Below I list my personal Perfect Things to do in or near Playa, but if you’d like to jump straight to my downloadable itineraries, they’re at the bottom of the post 🙂

5th Ave Playa del Carmen

Avenida Quinta or 5th Ave is the main street in town with all the shops, restaurants, bars, and all things tourist. It’s pretty long but worth the visit and pausing in one of the bars or restaurants on the strip. There are more known ones like Patio 8, Kitxen, or chains like Fat Tuesday or Señor Frogs but I personally liked this small bar called Karen’s. Being on the most touristy street, expect to pay more than you would in more local areas. 5th Ave is a place that will make you feel like you’re on vacation. During the day you can explore and day-drink but at night come back to party as that area changes its vibe. Calle 12 is where you want to be at night.

Right near the Avenida Quinta, you can find Parque Los Fundadores, a beachfront park with sculptures, live performances, and local vendors. Consider making a stop here to enjoy the ambiance or a lively touristy place. Note, in October 2020, it was temporarily closed for renovations.

Stay at a resort

I rarely stay at resorts and don’t usually recommend them. Are they ethical and are they owned by the guys you’re scared of? Man, I don’t know. It’s a tricky battle of questions you’ll be playing with yourself. I digress.

Playa del Carmen, however, has some sweet resorts in its Phase I community area as well as off the main highway. If you’re going to the area to have your beers brought to you as you’re tanning under a palm tree, this is your must-do activity.

Adventure Parks

While Playa doesn’t offer those typical in-city attractions that travelers crave, they certainly make up for it in adventure park options. I would choose one based on the type of activities you want to prioritize since the tickets can be quite pricey. However, they are worth it and you should block out some time to squeeze one in.

Xplor: Zip-lining, cave swimming, buggy rides, and much more! I loved this park! I would say this one has a little more adrenaline kick compared to others too. It’s around $120 USD per person not including transportation, but if you buy more tickets or get them from a vendor, you can save a little more too. Totally worth the price as you get to do a LOT of things there.
Xcaret: Another nature park with very similar options as Xplor but your day will be a little longer here as they have some shows at night and also a little more cultural displays. It’s slightly more expensive too.
Xel-ha: Offers a lot more water activities compared to the two parks above. The entrance is ~$90 USD.
Xenses: This is a smaller more relaxed version of all the parks above with an admission fee of ~$65 USD.
Río Secreto: This stunning cave with hanging deposits will leave you in complete shock. A guide will take you swimming inside the caves as the main attraction and then you can also do a couple of small activities after. Tickets run around $80 USD a person and I highly recommend this place.
Xoximilco: This is a cheesy party on the water type adventure in which you will sit in a traditional colorful trajinera and float on the water. Your $90 USD ticket will include an open bar, food, and some live music. It’s totally staged and very “Hard Rock Dad” style type activity but it’s super cute and worth it 🙂

Here is a treat for you from my Xplor adventure. Why don’t we just all petition for Xplor to make me their poster child? 🙂

5968300 Mexico — Million dollar smile you guys!

5969082 Mexico — Million dollar smile you guys!

Cenotes

Cenotes are those cool caves, giant pits filled with groundwater. A good chunk of them is located in the area of Playa del Carmen so this is a must-do during your trip there. They differ in terms of size, popularity, and the accessibility of snorkeling or diving in them. I recommend choosing one or two for your stay. If you’re a diver, you might want to look at these in more detail for what’s available at each site.

Bring a bathing suit and biodegradable sunscreen as you cannot wear any chemicals going into these natural beauties. Most spots will have lockers and snorkeling equipment for rent. Some notable cenotes include:

Gran Cenote: This one is located near Tulum so you can either take a taxi from there or even ride a bike. Snorkeling is possible there too. It’s extremely popular so prepare for crowds.
Cenote Dos Ojos: Also located close to Tulum, this is actually an area of three different cenotes. Dos Ojos is a collection of two beautiful covered ones where you can snorkel or dive with a guide. When you arrive at the gate, you will be able to select which one you want to visit.
Cenote Sac Akun: Located in the same area as Dos Ojos, this impressive cenote features amazing droopy limestone formations. It’s stunning but also one of the most expensive ones.
Cenote Nicte-ha: The third one in that same area talked above, this is an open-air one which makes it a little different compared to the others. This one doesn’t get that crowded but arriving at the opening guarantees having the place to yourself.
Cenote Calavera: This famous spot that looks like a hole in the ground with the swing has become a spot for that perfect insta-shot. If you arrive in the morning, be prepared to encounter a couple of influencers.
Cenote Azul: Located right between Tulum and Playa, this open-air cenote is also another stunning spot. You can jump off of a cliff into it and arriving early will give you the privacy you want.
Jardin de Eden: Azul’s open-air neighbor but it was closed for weather damage in October 2020. Little fish will give you a nice fish spa pedicure along the sides.
Cenote Suytun: Located almost 2 hours away from Playa, this cenote is the one you probably have seen in a lot of travel photos. It has that long circle platform that people line up to get a shot on. Although it is beautiful, if you’re looking for peaceful swimming you might now find that there.
Cenote Ik Kil: This is about 2.5 hours away from Playa but if you’re making a trip to Chichen Itza, this should be on your stop list. Although a lot of tours will stop here in the afternoon, coming in the morning will guarantee a little peace. It’s a stunning spot worth a visit.

IMG 4961 Mexico — *Look how clear the water is!*

IMG 4938 Mexico — *Look how clear the water is!*

Playa del Carmen Beaches

Beaches in this area are simply amazing. Here is a couple you should visit:

The main beach in town is a public spot in the town surrounded by vendors, bars, and a ton of people.
Playacar Phase I has amazing beaches in front of resorts and condos. The lounge chairs belong to those spots but you can still walk down them.
Punta Esmeralda: A nice spot on the Northern side of the city. You’ll find some locals and tourists here.
Xpu Ha: A short 30-minute drive from the city, this hidden gem won’t disappoint. There is a small entrance fee and some restaurants on location. It’s certainly worth a trip!

After some lounging and sunbathing, make sure to do at least one water sport. Parasailing is very popular and an awesome activity to experience in that area. Jet skis are also widely available for rentals. If water sports aren’t your thing, an ocean-front massage is also a great option.

Chichen Itza

It’s one of the 7 Wonders of the World and a place you should see for yourself. The pyramid is stunning and the whole history is extremely fascinating. I strongly recommend getting a tour guide as you’ll be able to appreciate the ruins more compared to simply just walking around. Arrive early to get some good shots before the crowds show up and then take a tour after.

Although it is a 3 hour trip outside of Playa, you’ll enjoy the ride and you can make a full day trip of it with stops at Cenote Ik-Kil or the gorgeous town of Valladolid. The entrance is about $25 USD. If you didn’t rent a car, there are dozens of tours to Chichen Itza from Playa del Carmen to take you there.

While I think Chichen Itza is a beautiful sight, I also think it’s become a huge tourist circus. As soon as you arrive your entire experience involves vendors pushing you to buy something and huge crowds of people resulting in a very commercialized experience. Would I still recommend visiting it? Well, you can get past what I just mentioned and simply enjoy the ruins then yes. If this kinda atmosphere isn’t for you, then no.

Coba Ruins

Another archeological site in the area is a much less crowded site compared to Chichen Itza. You can climb all the way to the top of this steep pyramid for some amazing views. The ruins are located about 1.5 hours from Playa but there are also a couple of cenotes nearby that you can enjoy after.

My good friend recently chose to visit Coba instead of Chichen Itza and she was in awe of how beautiful this place was. I hope that this place remains a little less touristy.

Day trip to Tulum from Playa del Carmen

Tulum Ruins

Tulum is a town composed of a couple of areas: the ruins, the town, and the beach area. The ruins are located right on the beach and the color contrast between the stones, the greenery, and the ocean blue makes this space feel extremely special and unique. Get a guide to help you understand the history otherwise, you’ll be walking around in extreme heat taking pictures among buildings you won’t know a thing about.

Tip: If you rented a car, you will turn into the ruins area from the highway. As soon as you turn, a bunch of people will start waving at you and screaming to pull over. This will make you feel like you’re doing something wrong. Ignore them. The tour guides are trying to sell you a parking spot and an overpriced tour. You can continue driving until you cannot go anymore and park in one of the parking lots for around $5. Then you can walk to the ruins on foot.

Tulum town

As mentioned above, Tulum has a couple of nooks. Aside from the ruins, there is also the town which can be reached directly off of the highway. Located about an hour from Playa, it’s a day trip a lot of people are excited to take. It’s full of trinket shops and some good local restaurants. Then you drive about 15 minutes toward the beach and you reach a dirt road that’s lined with those fancy hotels, Airbnbs, and overpriced “local” shops.

And then there is Tulum Beach …

Tulum started as a cool concept with some free souls looking for a spiritual corner. It’s now a base for a lot of influencers taking advantage of the land and jacking up prices at all the local spots. If you’re a “normal” traveler, walking around Tulum beach makes you cringe and question how this place became so shallow. Although it’s advertised as a green space, it’s completely eating the nature around it with all the waste and fuels.

Many will disagree with me here but Tulum is not a place I enjoyed. Don’t get me wrong, the beach is stunning and the hotels do look cool. But when you see the lines of influencers getting the best shots at the same places, it will make you want to leave. I can see how people want to experience it for themselves and that’s why I list it here but please be aware of the major issues with this area.

This very long article from The Cut is the best and most informative piece I read on the reality of Tulum. Aside from Tulum being a strong representation of what is wrong with the Insta-driven society, there are so many other issues that this place is causing. Having been there twice, I highly doubt I will ever return.

Akumal

This is a beach where you can swim with the big turtles! It’s located 30 minutes south of Playa and you can either drive, take a taxi, or a colectivo that will drop you off fairly close. There is a small entrance fee and a lot of people will approach you for tour options. If you don’t know what the expect, you might get “scammed” or ripped off (not just here but in all of Mexico I felt like this). If this is something you’re planning on doing please do yourself a favor and read this post from Travel Addicts which perfectly outlines what to expect and do when you get there.

Neighboring Islands

If you’re into snorkeling to diving, consider venturing out to the local islands for better views. Do your research! There are SO many companies offering tours so check out the reviews or other blogs for their top picks to make a good decision.

Cozumel: Normally this is a big stop for cruise ships so the island would fill up with people and then quickly empty out on departure. During rona, however, there are no cruise ships. When I visited, the emptiness was quite eerie and a ton of businesses were closed. I took a horrible snorkeling tour and I’m pretty sure I was scammed so I won’t recommend that company. However, I have seen a ton of travelers that went on stunning tours so I know it’s possible. You can do a bunch of things there like an ATV tour, diving, snorkeling, water sports, and much more. From Playa you will take a quick ferry (~$20) roundtrip. There are two companies that run on altering days. Don’t bother printing your ticket as you have to wait in a long line to get it printed by them anyway.

Isla Mujeres: This is closer to Cancun than Playa so you will have to take a ferry from there instead. Many people rent golf carts to explore the island. It’s a similar feel to Cozumel. An underground water museum is located there so it’s a popular activity among travelers.

Unique things to do in Playa del Carmen

Jungle and ATVs in Playa del Carmen: There are many companies offering ATV tours very close to town. I did one in an adventure park and wish I did one outside one too. The tours usually take you to caves and nearby smaller cenotes.
Beercicleta: A cheesy drinking activity in town.
Local Food Tours: I love learning about cities through food and having a local take me around to show me the best spots. This tour group gets consistently good reviews and has different options for this awesome activity.
Salsa dancing: A quite popular activity in town, check out places like La Bodeguita del Medio or Zenzi on the beach for Sunday night Salsa!

Some tour options

Here are some top-rated tours in the area. Personally, I took a tour of Cozumel and Chichen Itza with a group and I visited Tulum and Cenotes by myself. There are pros and cons to either option so I would go by your travel style to choose the best option. If you’re an independent traveler who isn’t afraid of a couple of unexpected bumps on the road, then you can visit all these places by yourself. On the other hand, if you don’t want to worry about a thing, then an organized tour is the way to go.

More awesome nearby locations:

There are a couple of notable places outside of Playa that you might want to consider visiting:

Cancun: Since I wrote about Tulum, I feel like I should include Cancun in this post too. It’s only an hour north of Playa. It’s a complete tourist trap with a bunch of non-Mexican restaurants and party hotels. But to each your own so if that’s what you’re looking for, visit it.
Valladolid: A colorful and authentic colonial town located a little under two hours outside of Playa. This town preserves a little more of a local character so it’s worth exploring for that reason. Shop around or eat at one of the local restaurants. It’s close to Chichen Itza and a couple of cenotes too.
Merida: Another stunning town (3+ hours west of Playa), is also a colorful more authentic spot in the area.
Holbox: A more secluded fishing island that is a little more difficult to get to but certainly a place for that nomadic lifestyle feel. To get there you will need to get to Chiquila and then take a ferry from there.
Las Coloradas: These pink salt lakes are a bit of a drive from Playa (3 hours) but they’re super pretty. I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to drive there just because as during the past couple of years as its popularity grew, the place changed. You can’t enter the water and there is a bunch of fees at every corner. However, if for some reason you’re in the area, it might be worth taking a stop. Note: the water isn’t always pink either as its color is highly dependent on the salt content. It could be brownish if water was added or drained.

Perfect Playa del Carmen Itinerary: FREE Downloadable Guide for your 6-day stay

Playa is one of those cities you should not spend a day, two or three in. You need at least 5 to 6 days in that area to get the bare minimum of what it has to offer. You will need to venture out a little bit outside it to experience the region. The reason why I call it the Perfect Playa del Carmen Itinerary is because I strongly suggest making this your base for all your exploration.

The itinerary below is a condensed version of the details above. Please make sure to read everything in order to be best prepared for your activities! Enjoy Playa 🙂

Playa del Carmen 6 day Itinerary Download