Cozumel vs Playa del Carmen: 12 Differences

Narrowing down travel plans grips a traveler-to-be with excitement and hesitation.

Was two (ahem…twenty) hours enough research?

Will you kick yourself in the flip-flop when you arrive, realizing you overlooked something?

If you’ve been around the travel block, you already know that no amount of research can prepare you for the ultimate “should haves” that will follow during your vacation.

But I’ll help you make those regrets a little less trip-shattering by highlighting the significant and small differences between Cozumel vs Playa del Carmen.

Accessibility Note: If you’re a wheelchair user, check out our guides on accessibility in Cozumel and Playa del Carmen.

An Overview of Cozumel vs Playa del Carmen

Below is a run-down of some of the most notable ways Cozumel and Playa del Carmen diverge.

Feature	Cozumel	Playa del Carmen
Arrival method	Ferry or flight	Vehicle
Cost	Expensive	Budget-friendly
Atmosphere	Laid-back	Party
Day Trips	Limited	Abundant
Beach Quality	Excellent	Moderate to poor
Infrastructure	Underdeveloped	Modern amenities
Getting around	Car or scooter	Walking

Playa del Carmen and Cozumel are both great destinations but attract different crowds. The good news is that you can base yourself in either Cozumel or Playa del Carmen and visit the other as a day trip.

More on that soon.

12 Differences Between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen

I lived in Playa for several months and visited Cozumel three times on a day trip. Below are my takeaways about how these destinations are different. I pulled them from my experience and the conversations I’ve had with those “should-have” travelers.

1. Playa del Carmen Is on the Mainland

You likely already have a grasp of Playa del Carmen and Cozumel’s location. But if not, let me help: Playa sits between Cancun and Tulum on the mainland Yucatan Peninsula.

In contrast, Cozumel is an island that sits about a 45-minute ferry ride from Playa. And Playa del Carmen is the only place where you can take the ferry to Cozumel.

For some travelers debating whether to visit Playa del Carmen or Cozumel, this difference is enough to help them make up their minds. If you’re afraid of boat rides and have already booked your flight to mainland Mexico, sticking with Playa del Carmen makes sense.

Playa is about a 1.5-hour drive from the Cancun airport. A bit of a jaunt after a long flight, but doable.

Otherwise, know that whereas you can only arrive in Playa del Carmen via land, it’s possible to travel to Cozumel via ferry or flight.

The Cozumel International Airport operates many flights from destinations abroad, including the U.S. and Canada.

2. Cozumel Is More Expensive

When comparing Cozumel vs Playa del Carmen, Cozumel wins (or loses, depending on your point of view) for being the most expensive.

It’s an island, after all.

But even so, it doesn’t compare to prices on islands like Isla Mujeres, where you can still find a sprinkling of budget-friendly options.

Playa del Carmen is on the extreme opposite end of Cozumel, wallet-wise.

Backpackers flock to Playa for its many hostels, cheap street food, and low cost of long-term living (though prices have been increasing in recent years).

In contrast, you’ll be hard-pressed to find accommodation in (one of the very few) hostels in Cozumel for under $30 per night. And that’s a bed in a dorm room.

Yeah, you get to pay that price to hear strangers snore.

3. Playa del Carmen Is Better for Parties

Cozumel isn’t devoid of Coronas and margaritas. But its streets don’t come alive at night with music blaring from nightclubs like in Playa del Carmen.

Not only does Playa have clubs, but it has some of the hottest ones around. Think Coco Bongo and Mandala.

With such options, who needs Cancun?

If smaller bars are more your style, Playa del Carmen has plenty of those too. So basically, if you’re on the fence about traveling to Cozumel or Playa del Carmen and looking for a party scene, Playa is hands-down the best option.

In contrast, Cozumel is a better fit if you want to have some beers while listening to reggaeton at a beach club.

4. Cozumel Abounds With Secluded Beaches

When comparing Playa del Carmen vs Cozumel, there’s no competition in terms of beaches—Cozumel’s are better.

The beaches in Cozumel have fewer people, the water is more turquoise, and many beaches have wider stretches of sand.

I highly recommend renting a car or scooter and driving along Cozumel’s coast. You’ll be able to snap some incredible photos of palm trees hanging over untouched beaches.

There’s a caveat, though: Avoid walking on beaches that are too secluded.

While Cozumel is overall a very safe island, thieves sometimes wait in the brush for tourists who stroll down the island’s many desolate beaches. You can read more about this in my guide on Is Cozumel Safe?

Psst! While you’re at it, read my article on Is Playa del Carmen safe? for comparison. Spoiler: Cozumel is safer, minus the secluded beach situation.

In contrast, Playa del Carmen has fewer beach options than Cozumel. Most tourists congregate on the beach below 5th Avenue in the tourist center around Parque Los Fundadores.

It can be a push-and-shove situation on any day of the week to find space to lay your beach towel, especially during the high tourist season. But the crowds become even more extreme on the weekend.

That said, there are some beaches in the northern part of Playa del Carmen that locals frequent more than tourists, making them relatively quieter. They’re not as picturesque as the beaches in Cozumel, though.

5. Day Trips Are Easier From Playa del Carmen

Since Playa del Carmen sits on the mainland Yucatan Peninsula, it naturally offers more day trip options than Cozumel.

Some of the best day trips you can take from Playa del Carmen include:

• Cozumel (how can I not put this one first?)
• Tulum
• Chichen Itza
• Akumal Beach
• Cancun

You’ll also be a short drive away from popular theme parks in the Riviera Maya, such as Xcaret and Xel-Ha Parks.

In contrast, the best day trip from Cozumel is to Playa del Carmen. Ferry departures are frequent throughout the day, and when you arrive at the port in Playa, you’ll already be in the heart of all things touristy.

In theory, the ferry runs early and late enough so that you could also take a day trip to the other day trip destinations I listed for Playa. But it would make for a long day, and you risk bad weather interfering with your ability to get on or off the island.

Read my article on the Best Time To Visit Cozumel for more details.

The reality is that instead of leaving the island, most tourists take full-day tours around Cozumel, either as a group or driving on their own.

Some great activities around Cozumel include:

• Diving or snorkeling
• San Gervasio ruins
• Punta Sur Ecological Park
• Chankanaab Beach Adventure Park

So, whether you visit Cozumel or Playa del Carmen, you’ll have many options for sightseeing. It’s just a matter of how far you’re willing to travel and how many destinations you want to see within the Yucatan.

Should you base yourself in Playa, learn 14 must-know tips on taking a Playa del Carmen to Cozumel day trip.

6. Water Activites Are Better in Cozumel

When comparing Cozumel vs Playa del Carmen, you’ll have the best diving and snorkeling opportunities in Cozumel.

That’s because the Mesoamerican Reef surrounds Cozumel. This reef is the second-largest barrier reef system in the world.

And, unlike Playa del Carmen, fewer people visit Cozumel. So, the immediate marine environment around the island has less damage than the reefs closer to Playa.

Diving and snorkeling tours are still an option in Playa del Carmen. And if you have little experience doing either, you’ll likely be satisfied with the marine life you see. But diving and snorkeling veterans will have a more thrilling experience off Cozumel’s coast.

Regardless of which destination you end up visiting, be aware that sargassum season happens in Cozumel and Playa del Carmen from May to October. Sargassum is a brown alga that’s naturally occurring but has been multiplying in unmanageable amounts due to warmer ocean temperatures and agricultural run-off.

Sargassum, which some people call plain ‘ole seaweed, won’t hurt you.

But it’s a nuisance to swim in, and it can block your vision in the water. Especially if you’re snorkeling.

7. Playa del Carmen Is Better for Digital Nomads

If you’re like me and can work from anywhere as long as you have a laptop, WiFi, and a working outlet, you’re likely familiar with the struggles that those last two items can create when you’re in a developing country.

So, pick Playa del Carmen if you’re a digital nomad trying to choose between Playa or Cozumel.

Playa’s infrastructure is way better. And because of its lower-cost living and abundance of apartments, it’s a hub for digital nomads settling in for a multi-month stay.

I rarely had issues while working in Playa, both when I used Selina’s cowork and when staying at an Airbnb.

Even when a hurricane passed through, the electricity and WiFi barely went out. Granted, it was teetering on the edge of being categorized as a tropical storm. But still…

That’s not to say you won’t have WiFi in Cozumel. You will, and it most likely will be fine.

But if you’ll be relying on the Internet to work while in Mexico, Playa del Carmen is the safer choice.

8. Cozumel Is Safer

Speaking of safety, Playa del Carmen is the safer choice for reliable WiFi, but Cozumel is safer as a whole.

Interestingly, the Department of State (DOS) lumps Cozumel and Playa del Carmen into the same Level 2 category. That’s because they both sit within Quintana Roo state, where the DOS recommends travelers “exercise increased caution.”

Check out my guide exploring safety in Quintana Roo for more details.

When comparing Playa del Carmen vs Cozumel, the difference in safety is palpable.

It’s nearly impossible to walk down 5th Avenue in Playa without someone offering you drugs. And when you’re in Mexico, drug dealers almost always have a connection with a cartel.

I never felt in danger per se in Playa. But Cozumel has always felt safer to me.

Don’t get me wrong—there are still drugs and other bad things that happen in Cozumel.

Part of the reason Cozumel feels safer is that it’s more well-controlled; rival cartel groups can’t easily access the island to stir up trouble.

Numbeo also backs up my hunch. According to them, Cozumel’s crime index is only 33.54, whereas Playa del Carmen’s crime index is 48.98 on a scale of 100.

9. Playa del Carmen Receives Fewer Day Trippers

You can visit Cozumel or Playa del Carmen as a day trip while using the other as your base.

But when it comes to Cozumel, the day trip numbers spike far higher than Playa’s because Cozumel is a popular cruise port stop.

Cozumel’s cruise terminal sits in the heart of San Miguel de Cozumel. You’ll know when the cruise day trippers arrive, for the brightly colored San Miguel comes to life with tons of people and vendors vying for their attention.

But here’s the good news: Unless your accommodation is in San Miguel, you likely won’t even feel the cruise day trippers’ presence.

Instead, you can enjoy the tranquility of the beach in front of your hotel. And if you want to visit the ruins or another popular tourist spot, you’ll have the luxury of being able to visit early before people disembark from their cruise.

That said, some cruises include Playa del Carmen in their itinerary. But it’s not as common, and Playa’s streets are crowded with or without cruise day trippers, so the difference isn’t as noticeable as in Cozumel.

10. Beach Clubs Are Popular in Cozumel

Playa del Carmen’s beaches are public and free to visit.

Free beaches exist in Cozumel too. But they tend to be the more desolate ones you should avoid.

Instead, many of Cozumel’s best beaches with the longest stretches of sand belong to beach clubs. Most beach clubs welcome anyone, including children.

They charge a fee to enter, but then you’ll have use of their chairs, beach umbrellas, restrooms, lockers, and more.

Some of the beach clubs waive your entrance fee if you spend a minimum amount on food and drinks (for a pretty peso, of course).

At night, many of the beach clubs in Cozumel turn into casual bar-like settings. But during the day, they’re almost all PG for children.

Needless to say, when comparing Cozumel vs Playa del Carmen, Cozumel is best if you’re looking for a more upscale beach experience, and Playa is better for wedging yourself in the sand between strangers-turned-friends with a beer in hand.

11. You Don’t Need a Car in Playa del Carmen

It would be a shame to travel to Cozumel and not use a scooter, car, or taxi to get around. I did it during my first Cozumel visit, and let me tell you: It. Was. A. Shame.

Cozumel is too big to explore on foot.

It’s even too big for a bicycle unless you’re a super cycler. I tried biking during my first visit to Cozumel.

Again, a shame.

In contrast, you can get pretty much anywhere of tourist interest in Playa on foot. 5th Avenue will lead you to all the tourist must-sees, which are admittedly few in Playa proper.

The beach is where it’s at.

So, if you’re waffling between Playa del Carmen or Cozumel and don’t love the thought of driving in Mexico or relying on a taxi to get around, choose Playa.

Travel Tip: Rideshare apps don’t operate in Cozumel or Playa del Carmen. Never take a taxi off the street in Playa; always arrange your ride through a taxi company for safety reasons.

12. Cozumel Has Ruins

When comparing Playa del Carmen vs Cozumel, Playa is a newer city. If you have any doubts, visiting one of its high-end malls should clear them up.

In contrast, Cozumel dates back to the Mayan times. As a result, it has a rich history, and you can even tour its San Gervasio ruins.

Playa del Carmen doesn’t have notable ruins (piles of empty beer cans don’t count). The exception is a small ruin in Playacar that’s free to visit and essentially unknown to the public.

But by staying in Playa, you can easily access bigger ruins on a day trip. Chichen Itza is the most popular, given that it’s one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

You can also visit the Tulum ruins, Coba, and Ek Balam.

Which IS Better: Cozumel or Playa del Carmen?

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all destination when considering whether Cozumel or Playa del Carmen is better.

Playa del Carmen is better for people on a budget, wanting to party, and having more modern amenities and day trip options at their fingertips. In contrast, Cozumel is better for people looking for a quieter beach vacation in a resort-style setting.

Do you have questions about Cozumel vs Playa del Carmen that I didn’t answer? Leave a comment, and I’ll do my best to help.

I’d also love to hear about your experience traveling to Playa and/or Cozumel. I’m sure other readers will appreciate your insight 🙂

P.S.—Check out my guide on Cozumel vs Isla Mujeres if you’re undecided about the Mexican island you want to visit.