How do you get from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen?
The 307 highway connects Cancun Airport to the resort towns along the Riviera Maya. The best way for visitors to travel is with a private transport company rather than a taxi. Choose from a private driver or shuttle bus and expect the trip to take 50 to 90 minutes.
Do all Cancun Airport shuttle buses leave on a set schedule?
No, it totally depends on the company. Some shuttle companies have pre-made arrival and departure schedules, while others only depart when the van or bus is full. If you are traveling on a shuttle bus, read the policy carefully to determine the type of travel that is right for you.
How much is a ride from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen?
Transportation costs depend on the company, type of vehicle, and level of door-to-door service you choose. Booking ahead of time is usually cheaper than at the airport. When booking with Daytrip, you have options for as low as $10 per person.
Should I rent a car from the Cancun Airport?
In most cases, no. Renting a car comes with the added responsibility of returning it at the end of your visit, getting gas, and guaranteeing its safety while it is parked. Driving in Mexico is not for beginners, and with so many private transport options, you wonât miss driving.
What is the fastest way to get from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen?
Traveling by private car with door-to-door service is the fastest way to get to Playa del Carmen, with only 50 minutes of travel time. You wonât have to wait for a scheduled departure time with the shuttle bus, nor travel to your hotel from the drop-off point in Playa.
What is the easiest way to get from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen?
Booking a private driver with Daytrip before your flight to Cancun is the easiest way to give yourself peace of mind and guarantee a seamless, door-to-door ride from the airport to your accommodation in Playa del Carmen. Plus, you can stop for sightseeing!
Overview: transportation from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen
As you step off of the plane at the Cancun Airport, the warm, tropical air is the first to greet you. The second will be your Daytrip driver because you planned your transfer from the Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen ahead of time. Instead of haggling with taxi drivers and other transport companies at the arrivals hall, you are greeted by a professional English-speaking driver who helps with your luggage and whisks you away to Playa del Carmen!
The ride is a quick 50-minute cruise down the coast of the Caribbean Sea on the 307 Highwayâthe backbone of transportation between the airport, resorts, and cities. Once you arrive in Playa del Carmen, your driver will take you right to your hotel and help with your bags. Step one of your vacation is complete and now it is time to explore Playa del Carmen!
About Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen (or simply, Playa) is located about 35 miles (56 km) south of Cancun._ _It is the gateway to Cozumel and home to Xcaret eco-park. The drive from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen is the only thing in between you and your dream Caribbean vacation.
The Riviera Maya stretches from Cancun down along the shores of the Caribbean Sea to Chetumal. It is a lush, tropical region originally inhabited by the Mayans. Playa del Carmen is the closest point on the mainland to Cozumel, a sacred island for Mayan people. Young women made pilgrimages in canoes to Cozumel with offerings and prayers for the fertility goddess.
Playa: a planned community
After centuries of Spanish colonization, the region fell into obscurity with little more than isolated fishing villages. Mayan astrological centers, temples, and cities fell into ruin.
In the 1970s, the Mexican government supported the intentional development of the Riviera Maya for luxury resorts and eco-tourism. Cancun became the main focus, with high-rise hotels, gourmet restaurants, and a thriving nightlife scene. As it became home to Cancun International Airport (CUN), the floodgates opened and the Riviera Maya became the hottest tropical destination for decades.
Further down the coast, Playa del Carmen grew from a small town into another popular resort destination. It is far smaller than Cancun and has a more intimate and calm atmosphere than Cancun. 15 million people visit Playa each year for the raw beauty of its beaches and forests, its family-friendly resorts, and its short distance from Mayan archeological sites.
From Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen: travel tips
Flying is already stressful enough! Keep these tips in mind so your transfer from the Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen is as carefree as the swaying palm trees.
Book your transportation back to Cancun Airport before your trip
Donât start your vacation with a to-do list! When booking your transport to Playa del Carmen, go ahead and book the return car to catch your flight home. You will mark 2 things off of your to-do list at once, and you will not have to keep reminding yourself to get it done when youâre supposed to be relaxing!
Pack a change of clothes in your carry-on
Luggage can get lost or delayed when flying. While most cases of delayed luggage are resolved within one day of your flight, it is annoying to have to immediately purchase clothes and toiletries, especially if your flight arrives in the evening. Keep a comfortable outfit (or at least a swimsuit) in your carry-on to change into just in case something spills during your flight or you need to wait on luggage delivery from the airline the next day.
How to get from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen
The best way to get around the Cancun area is by shuttle bus or private driver. Renting a car in this region is burdensome and adds complications to your vacation plans, such as arranging accommodation with available parking and higher costs. Taxis have been known to prey on tourists with bait-and-switch pricing. For your transfer from the Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen, you can choose from a private driver or a shuttle bus.
Playa is only accessible from the Cancun Airport via the 307 highway, so the difference in speed between a private driver and a shuttle bus comes down to the shuttle bus schedules and the order of the pick-up and drop-off points.
Private drivers from the Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen
For the fastest and most direct airport transfer, hire a private driver from Daytrip. We perform door-to-door service tailored to your familyâs needs. You can transport pets, request childrenâs car seats, and add sightseeing stops if your flight arrives far earlier than your hotelâs check-in time.
Be greeted at the arrivals hall with a local, professional driver waiting just for you and your family. Leave on your schedule and have the peace of mind that only comes with booking from a company thatâs earned Tripadvisorâs Travelers' Choice Award for 8 straight years.
Shuttle buses from the Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen
Shuttle buses are a lower-cost option but aren't as flexible as a private car. Daytrip shuttles depart the airport at set times, while other services don't leave until all the seats have been filled and will either make multiple drop-offs around Playa or leave everyone in one central place.
With Daytrip's shuttle service, you can look forward to an English-speaking driver who's happy to give local insights. While shuttles are cheaper, remember you still need to get from the drop-off point to your hotel when determining the final price and headache-factor.
Things to do when you get to Playa del Carmen
With your transfer from the Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen behind you, your vacation can truly begin. Playa is about Πthe size of Cancun but has all the amenities and closeness with nature that visitors crave. Unpack your bags, load up on sunscreen, and get outside!
Visit Isla Cozumel
For the Mayans, Cozumel was a sacred space for Ixchel, the goddess of fertility. Young Mayan women made pilgrimages across the waters to bring offerings to Ixchel and pray at altars for their future children. Over 40 archeological sites have been mapped so far on its 185 square miles (477 square km) of lush forest and sparkling shores.
But Cozumel is more than just an anthropologistâs dream, it is also UNESCO-protected for its rich diversity of marine life. Over 1,000 species call Cozumel home, and its coral reefs are a key piece to the broader ecosystem. They compose part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (also called the Great Mayan Reef ). This is the second largest coral reef in the world, second only to Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
Cozumel is a short ferry or private boat ride away from the mainland and can be a day trip or an overnight stay. Once on shore, you can go snorkeling, relax on the beaches, or take tours of the Mayan religious sites. If you only stay for the day, keep a close eye on the ferryâs timetable so you arenât stranded overnight!
Xcaret in Playa del Carmen
Playa is home to Xcaret, a sprawling eco-park that has been compared to a more nature-inspired Disney World. Xcaret, and its sister sites like Xel-Ha, have dozens of activities for all ages. Swim in underwater rivers, pet dolphins, watch live performances of traditional dances, and attend workshops on Mexican handicrafts all under one roof!
Xcaret is uniquely integrated into nature to bring guests as close to wildlife, native landscapes, and Mayan heritage as possible, while still being a short distance from the city. It is located 3 miles (6 km) south of Playaâs city center and is an all-day affair. Guests who are staying in Playa tend to divide their time up between two days, especially for families of small children. When purchasing tickets, check their policy on returning for a second day at a discount.
What is the best time to visit Playa del Carmen
The best time to visit Playa del Carmen is the dry season! Mexicoâs tropical regions have two seasons: dry and rainy. The dry season (November through April) brings long, sunny days with very little rain. The weather is warm, but not humid, and is a comfortable 75 to 85°F (24 to 29°C). Your drive from the Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen will have clear skies! Try to time your visit to the beginning or end of the dry season for fewer crowds.
The rainy season runs from May through October and brings tropical storms, high winds, heavy rainfall, and the occasional hurricane. This season is very important for the ecosystem: it churns up vital nutrients from the seafloor and brings much-needed rain to the land. However, if you visit during this time, you risk having flights and excursions canceled due to dangerous weather conditions.
Visitez ces sites en chemin
Playa Delfines
Playa Delfines is popular with local surfers and is located right in the heart of Cancunâs Hotel Zone. Â Surf like the dolphinsÂ
Jardin Botanico Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marin
One of the largest nature reserves in Mexico, this lush patch of jungle is home to the last troop of spider monkeys on the coast. The Jungle TroopÂ
Cenotes Kin-Ha
A small hole in the ground opens up into a beautifully illuminated cave where you can swim and dive. Sun and WaterÂ
Cenote Chaak Tun
Sunlight and trees pour into a small hole in the heart of this stunning underground cenote ornamented by beautiful cave formations. Light in the DarkÂ
