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Mexico · Quintana Roo

Playa del Carmen travel guide

A lively beach town on the Riviera Maya

Playa del Carmen beach. Photo: unknown, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

10h 15mflight from London
CUNnearest main airport
29° in Augwarmest month
25° in Jancoolest month

Playa del Carmen is a busy beach town between Cancún and Tulum, centred on Fifth Avenue, a long pedestrian street of shops, bars and restaurants.

It's a good base for cenotes, eco-parks like Xcaret and ferries to Cozumel, one of the world's top dive spots.

Good forBeachesDivingFoodNightlife

What Playa del Carmen is known for

  • Fifth Avenue

    Walking street of shops and bars.

  • Cozumel

    World-class reef diving.

  • Eco-parks

    Xcaret, Xel-Há and Xplor.

  • Beach clubs

    Day beds and DJs.

Top things to do in Playa del Carmen

  1. 1

    Xcaret Park

    Underground rivers and an evening show.

    Find tours and tickets
  2. 2

    Cozumel

    Ferry to snorkel or dive the reef.

    Find tours and tickets
  3. 3

    Cenote Azul

    An open-air swimming hole.

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  4. 4

    Akumal

    Snorkel with sea turtles.

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See all tours and tickets in Playa del Carmen

Where to stay in Playa del Carmen

Find a hotel in Playa del Carmen

Best time to visit Playa del Carmen

Best value: May–Jun, Nov. December to April.

  • Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
  • PeakBusiest, highest prices
  • QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
24.6 C25°J25.1 C25°F25.6 C26°M26.6 C27°A27.6 C28°M28 C28°J28.3 C28°J28.7 C29°A28.4 C28°S27.5 C28°O26 C26°N25.3 C25°D
Bar height is the average temperature in Playa del Carmen, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 10h 15m from London to CUN, and flights from most UK airports.

Walk around town. Colectivo minibuses run along the coast cheaply.

Find flights to Playa del Carmen (CUN)

Shows the cheapest fares for next month on Aviasales, our flight partner. We may earn a commission, at no cost to you. Flight times are straight-line estimates for a direct flight from Heathrow.

Good to know

  • Book eco-parks online for discounts.
  • The Cozumel ferry can be choppy.
  • Use reef-safe sunscreen.
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Playa del Carmen FAQ

Playa del Carmen or Cancún?

Playa for a town feel, Cancún for big resorts.

How far from the airport?

About 45 minutes.

More places in Mexico

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