Ah, the Riviera Maya. Your decision to visit Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula may have been easy, but since you found me here, choosing where to go once you touch down in the land of tequila might be proving to be more difficult than you thought.
I get it—I felt the same way until I spent time there.
Now, equipped with multiple trips to Cancun and a three-month stay in Playa del Carmen, I’ll share some of the most common mistakes I see people make when considering Playa del Carmen vs. Cancun.
Accessibility Note: Cancun offers slightly better wheelchair accessibility than Playa del Carmen. Check out our guides on Cancun and Playa del Carmen for more details about wheeling around these destinations.
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Playa del Carmen vs. Cancun Overview
Before we dive into the biases people can have when considering a trip to Playa del Carmen or Cancun, I put together this nifty little chart to give you a glimpse of their similarities and differences.
Feature | Playa del Carmen | Cancun |
---|---|---|
International airport | No | Yes |
Bus station in central location | Yes | No |
Wide beaches | No | Yes |
Crowded beaches | Yes | Yes |
More budget-friendly options | Yes | No |
Big party scene | Yes | Yes |
Easy to walk around | Yes | No |
Base for day tripss | Yes | Yes |
If you’d like more context for these destinations in the Yucatan, check out my guide on Cancun vs Riviera Maya.
9 Playa del Carmen vs. Cancun Mistakes
Ready to become a savvy Riviera Maya traveler?
Grab a pen or pull up the notes on your phone so that you can weigh the pros and cons of visiting Playa del Carmen and Cancun.
Mistake #1: The Nicest Hotels Are in Cancun
Take one look at Cancun’s skyline and you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to realize that there must be some really nice hotels among those glistening high-rises.
While it’s true that you’ll have your pick of fancy resorts in Cancun, that doesn’t mean that Playa is packed full of hostels…it’s only partially packed with them.
There’s no doubt about it—Playa del Carmen attracts a more backpacker-type crowd than Cancun.
However, there are still some really nice hotels and resorts in Playa del Carmen.
For example, anything in the gated Playacar district will give you a luxurious vacation far enough from the party noise of downtown but close enough so you can get there via a quick cab ride or a long walk.
If you want to be closer to all the action, Playacar Palace, seated by the ferry port but outside the gated portion of Playacar, is an excellent choice.
Of course, if budget hotels and hostels are more your style, you’ll have plenty to choose from in Playa. I wrote a review on Selina Playa del Carmen if you’re looking for a well-located hostel with a cowork space.
That’s not to say that Cancun doesn’t have its fair share of hostels, though. Selina offers a hostel right on the water and one by the ADO Cancun bus station. And there are plenty of others around too.
Mistake #2: Playa del Carmen Has Loads of Wildlife
Yes, you’ll likely hear more birds chirping and see more trees in Playa del Carmen than in Cancun. Nevertheless, Playa isn’t a great destination for above-ground nature enthusiasts.
If you’re into snorkeling or scuba diving, though, both Playa del Carmen and Cancun are excellent destinations for exploring the underwater world.
In Cancun, you’ll be a short boat ride away from the Cancun Underwater Museum of Art. Here, you’ll get to snorkel or dive around approximately 500 sunken sculptures. In fact, it’s the largest underwater museum in the world!
Playa del Carmen, on the other hand, is close to Cozumel, which is home to the Mesoamerican Reef. This reef is the largest in the western hemisphere and the second-largest reef in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
Long story short, more secluded destinations like Tulum are a better option for animal sightseeing on land. But if your main goal is to see marine wildlife, both Playa del Carmen and Cancun are excellent options.
Mistake #3: Cancun is a Better Hub for Day Trips
When you’re walking around the Hotel Zone, you’ll be bombarded with signs and people from tour agencies offering day trips from Cancun. Needless to say, Cancun is an excellent hub for day trips.
But so is Playa.
In fact, by basing your stay in Playa del Carmen, you’ll be closer to popular and lesser-known, but beautiful, day trips including:
- Cozumel
- Chichen Itza
- Tulum
- Akumal
You can easily visit these destinations as day trips from Cancun, too. However, if you’re thinking that you might like Playa’s vibe better but are concerned about how hard it’ll be to take day trips, I’m here to help put those worries aside.
Just like in Cancun, there are tour agencies hoping to get tourists’ attention with signs on street corners and people selling tours as you pass by.
You can also hop on local transportation in Playa del Carmen (and Cancun, to be fair), saving you lots of money and letting you be more in control of your time at these destinations.
Mistake #4: You Need a Car in Playa del Carmen
If you’re thinking about visiting Cancun, there’s a 99.9% chance that a vehicle’s going to have to come into the mix—ADO buses at the airport and downtown Cancun bus station don’t pass through the Hotel Zone, which is where the beaches are located.
That’s not to say that you have to rent a car in Cancun, but you will need to take taxis or more rickety local buses to get where you need to go.
Playa del Carmen is blissfully the opposite.
Whether you fly into the Cancun airport or are at the Cancun downtown bus station, you can take an ADO bus directly to Playa.
You might be wondering—but what about once I arrive in Playa del Carmen?
No car needed.
The ADO bus station is located right on 5th Avenue, which is a 5-mile pedestrian street packed with everything you need, including accommodation.
In fact, renting a car in Playa del Carmen is actually more of a hassle than not having a vehicle; there’s next to no parking, and you can’t access many points of interest with a vehicle since so many attractions are located on and around 5th Avenue.
Mistake #5: The Best Parties Are in Cancun
Hands-down, the fanciest parties are in Cancun.
But the best parties? Well, that depends on your opinion.
You see, Playa del Carmen is similar to Cancun in that it’s a party town. However, the parties tend to be geared towards backpacker-type travelers, and there are relatively fewer options than in Cancun.
Nevertheless, like Cancun, Playa del Carmen has a world-famous Coco Bongo. It also has a couple of Senor Frogs, which is a chain restaurant/bar that’s also found in Cancun (among other destinations in the world).
Like Cancun, every night is a party night in Playa. People congregate in the pedestrian 5th Avenue of Playa, with clubs and bars staying open into the not-so-wee hours of the morning.
If your goal is to get some R&R, I recommend choosing a place to stay that’s set back from 5th Avenue. Otherwise, blaring music and shouts from drunken crowds will likely wake you during the night.
Mistake #6: Playa del Carmen’s Beaches Are Less Crowded
I don’t have the statistics on me, but I think it’s safe to say that more tourists visit Cancun than Playa del Carmen.
However, Cancun’s beaches are significantly longer and wider than those in Playa. As a result, when comparing Playa del Carmen vs. Cancun, Cancun’s beaches often feel roomier than Playa’s.
If you’re planning on lounging at the beach in Playa, I have a few recommendations for how you can snag some sand space:
- Arrive early to claim your spot.
- Visit on a weekday. The beach becomes extra crowded on weekends with locals off from work.
- Head to Playa’s northern beaches. They still have a narrow strip of sand, but fewer people frequent them.
Nevertheless, that isn’t to say that you’ll have an endless beach to your own in Cancun. But there’s more sand surface area and beach options for beachgoers to choose from.
Mistake #7: Everything is Expensive in Cancun
If you’re anywhere along the Hotel Zone of Cancun, expect to overpay for anything you buy. I’m talking U.S. prices at best, and U.S. prices in tourist cities at worst.
However, Cancun doesn’t have to be expensive.
If you stay in downtown Cancun, you’ll have access to $3 lunches and dinners, with portions large enough to give you two or three meals. There are Walmarts and other grocery stores where you can purchase cheap snacks and water. Accommodations are also a fraction of the price compared to the Hotel Zone.
Of course, staying in downtown Cancun comes with its downsides.
Namely, there’s no beach, safety is often mediocre, and there aren’t many touristy things to see. Did I mention there isn’t a beach?
For these reasons, budget travelers tend to flock to Playa del Carmen where they can get cheap accommodation and food just a few blocks from the beach and attractions.
That said, if you need to base yourself in Cancun and don’t want to spend loads of money, know that it’s possible to do.
Psst! Check out my guides on Is Cancun Safe? and Is Playa del Carmen Safe? for safety info. Spoiler: Playa feels safer to me than Cancun.
Mistake #8: WiFi Is Worse in Playa del Carmen
It’s natural to assume that WiFi will be spotty in Playa del Carmen’s small town compared to a modern metropolis like Cancun.
But when examining Playa del Carmen vs. Cancun, from my experience, the WiFi situation is pretty equal.
In fact, Playa is a huge hub for remote workers. A lot of this likely has to do with the year-round warm climate, cheap living, and smaller town feel compared to Cancun. But it’s also a great sign that good WiFi is in abundance.
That said, I’m not about to tell you that you’re going to have perfect WiFi all the time in Cancun or Playa del Carmen.
As a digital nomad myself, I’ve experienced dropped connections in both locations.
Both is the operative word there. Usually, a quick reset of the router takes care of the issue.
The same can’t be said for other parts of Mexico, such as Valladolid, where I’m currently writing this offline keeping my fingers crossed that the WiFi company will resolve their internet issue yet again.
Mistake #9: It’s Too Hard to Visit Either In a Day
Maybe you’re not looking for an either/or type of answer from this post rather than a, which of the two places should I spend more time in?
In that case, this may comfort you—it’s easy to visit Playa del Carmen from Cancun in a day and vice versa.
You can technically drive from Cancun to Playa in just over an hour. But based on the many times I’ve traveled this route, I find that it takes closer to 80 – 90 minutes. Part of this is based on traffic in Cancun and the other part on whether or not they’re doing roadwork.
Although Playa isn’t a good place to have a vehicle, it’s a great asset to have when leaving town. Therefore, if you’re traveling from Playa del Carmen to Cancun, I recommend renting a car.
There are lots of car rental agencies in downtown Playa. That’ll get you to where you want to go in Cancun quicker, especially if you only have a day to visit.
For those traveling from Cancun to Playa del Carmen, the ADO bus is my favorite option. It’ll drop you off in the center of town where you’ll be within walking distance to Playa’s highlights.
That way, you won’t have the hassle (and expense) of finding a parking spot for your vehicle.
FAQ: Playa del Carmen vs. Cancun
Do you still have lingering questions about visiting Playa del Carmen or Cancun? I’ll address some of the most common ones below.
However, if you have questions that I don’t cover here, let me know in the comments section and I’ll be happy to help.
Is Cancun or Playa del Carmen better for a long-term stay?
Personally, I prefer Playa del Carmen for a long-term stay, although I won’t go so far as to say that I’m with the majority—or minority, for that matter. It really comes down to personal opinion. Both destinations offer necessities for long-term living: banks, WiFi, gyms, parks, etc.
Does Playa del Carmen or Cancun have the best beach?
Cancun’s beach is better than Playa del Carmen’s since the beaches are wider and longer. I even think the sand looks whiter and feels softer in Cancun than Playa.
How far is Playa del Carmen from Cancun?
On average it takes around 1 hour, 15 minutes to drive from Playa del Carmen to Cancun. Travel time may be more or less depending on where in Cancun you’re departing from, traffic, and road construction (there’s a lot of it!).
How can you travel between Playa del Carmen and Cancun?
You can drive, take a colectivo (a small, local van), or take an ADO bus (a massive, modern, air-conditioned bus) between Playa del Carmen and Cancun.
Is the bus station in Playa del Carmen within walking distance to the center?
Yes. The ADO bus station is located on 5th Avenue, a pedestrian street in the heart of Playa del Carmen. You’ll want to get off at the touristica station, as there’s a second bus station in Playa del Carmen that’s off the main drag.
That said, it’s only a 10-minute walk or so to reach 5th Avenue from that bus station if you happen to get off at it. Most ADO buses coming from Cancun go directly to the touristica bus station, though, so it’s unlikely you’ll have to worry about it.
Is the bus station in Cancun within walking distance to the center?
The bus station in Cancun is located in downtown, but it isn’t in the tourist center, which is the Hotel Zone.
There are a lot of cheap restaurants around the Cancun bus station, and you’ll be a short walk from Parque de las Palapas, which is a park worth the visit for its snack stands and the cultural activities they sometimes have.
Which Destination Will it Be?
Hopefully, this post helped clear up your dilemma of deciding between a stay in Playa del Carmen vs. Cancun.
Personally, I prefer Playa over Cancun.
However, I’d love to hear your thoughts—whether you have questions or have visited these destinations and have insight to add, feel free to leave a comment.
Psst! Are you also trying to decide between a trip to Playa del Carmen and Tulum? Check out my post on Tulum vs. Playa del Carmen and Cancun vs. Tulum. I’ve also written a guide on Cozumel vs. Cancun.
I enjoyed this article but am still confused. I’m pretty sure that it is Playa del Carmen area but we are looking for a resort, all inclusive , that would be good for 3 generations with ages from 17 to 79. Do you have any recommendations?
Hi Carrol,
I haven’t stayed at an all-inclusive resort in the Playa del Carmen region to offer a personal suggestion, though my first instinct is to advise that you’ll have many more options for all-inclusive resorts in Cancun than Playa del Carmen. There are also several all-inclusive resorts in the Riviera Maya region between Cancun and Playa del Carmen.
That said, Iberostar Tucan is an all-inclusive, family-friendly resort option in the Playacar area of Playa del Carmen. Grand Velas Riviera Maya is another option, located slightly north of Playa.
HI-
I read that the water in Cancun is bluer/prettier than in Playa. Playa being brown?? Is this the case?
Hi Dana,
From my experience, I’d say that’s generally true. I’m not sure I’d go so far as saying the water in Playa is brown, unless we’re talking about seaweed season, which is from around May to October. In that case, Cancun’s water also turns a browner color from the floating seaweed.
But overall, from my time spent in Cancun, the water in Cancun was bluer than in Playa del Carmen.
I’m in a small portable electric wheelchair and stayed in two different resorts last month: 1) Fishermans Beach Resort: Here I could access most facilities with somewhat excessively steep ramps and our room was OK but without handgrips in the shower or bathroom. Show floors are extremely slippery and dangerous but just towels on the floor help and we always travel with our own shower stool. Our room was on the ground floor and adjacent to the beach. They made me a little ramp to access the outside patio. 2) Hacienda Tresrios Resort just east of Playa del Carmen: Here again, the room was pretty good but without grab bars in the shower or bathroom and dangerously slippery. Bring your own shower stool if you use one. The elevators were great and access to the many pools was great but the ramps were a tad too steep. We did find a couple of places to charge my wheelchair at the pools. Unfortunately, there was no handicapped access to the pools.
I’m very grateful for this information, Dirk. I’ll also post your comment in our article on accessibility in Playa del Carmen to maximize its reach.
Hi, I am struggling to decide on resort. I am thinking Cancun but I have been told it’s all 18-30 type party hotels which we don’t want – is that true as I have also read that there is a ‘party hotel zone’ too so am confused.
Hi Rachel,
I haven’t heard of a ‘party hotel zone’ in Cancun. If I had to guess, I’d say they’re probably referring to the northernmost portion of the Hotel Zone. Hotels/restaurants/clubs are denser in that area; if you book a resort in the southern part of the Hotel Zone it’ll be quieter.
Although I haven’t stayed at a resort in the Hotel Zone myself, I have a hard time believing they all cater to 18 – 30-year-olds. Some are very expensive, so they’re likely out of budget for many people in that age group.
Hi Laura, loved your articles. I am traveling to Playa with my daughter 39/19f. We are flying into Cancun and I am there earlier than her, flight deals lol. So I was thinking to go to Isla Mujeres for an overnight then head to Playa. Ahhhh so much to ask!!! Would you stay overnight in Cozumel or just go in the ferry for the day or 2? I am thinking of an excursion for Tulum and Cenotes. How would you enjoy and maximize 7 days on the area.
Thank you for your assistance!
Hi Sarah,
What an exciting mother/daughter trip!
Whether you visit Cozumel for the day or spend the night depends on what you want to do there. Cozumel is a large island, so there’s certainly plenty of activities to fill two days or more. Renting a car is a great option, especially if you’ll only be there for one day, since it gives you the flexibility to see the sights you want at a pace that works for you and your daughter. You could also sign up for tours or hire a taxi to take you around the island. The important thing to keep in mind with Cozumel is that you will need transportation; Isla Mujeres and Playa del Carmen are walkable, Cozumel isn’t.
A tour to Tulum and the cenotes is a great choice. I highly recommend visiting the Tulum Ruins during your excursion. Chichen Itza is an iconic day tour which you can take from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum, though the tours from Cancun are typically cheaper since more tourists base themselves there. If you’d prefer to stay away from the crowds that Chichen Itza has, the Cobá ruins are quieter and a short drive from Tulum.