What Is Playa del Carmen? A Riviera Maya Town Guide
A fishing village turned lively beach city, with a gated villa neighborhood on the sand and the whole coast within reach.
Playa del Carmen
A lively Riviera Maya beach town with Quinta Avenida, the Cozumel ferry and Playacar’s gated beachfront villas.
Playa del Carmen is the lively center of the Riviera Maya, about an hour south of Cancún airport: a fishing village turned beach city, with pedestrian Quinta Avenida, the ferry to Cozumel, and Playacar, a gated neighborhood of beachfront villas just south of downtown.
Its strength is position and ease: a private house on the sand, restaurants on foot, and Cozumel, cenotes, Akumal and Tulum all within about an hour. Our guides cover what the town is like, where to stay, how to arrive and how Playacar works.
Start here
What Playa del Carmen is like today, how the town is laid out and who it suits.
Quick facts
- State
- Quintana Roo
- Municipality
- Solidaridad
- Airport
- Cancún (CUN), about an hour north
- Main street
- Quinta Avenida, one block from the beach
- Villa neighborhood
- Playacar Phase 1, south of downtown
- Ferry
- To Cozumel, under an hour
- Tulum
- About an hour south
Plan your trip
Where to Stay in Playa del Carmen: Areas Compared
Downtown for energy, Playacar Phase 1 for a private beach house within walking distance, Phase 2 for golf and resorts.
Getting to Playa del Carmen from Cancún Airport
About an hour down the coast from Cancún: how to choose a transfer, handle a group’s luggage and add Cozumel or Tulum.
Playacar, Playa del Carmen: A Guide to the Villa Enclave
A gated neighborhood of beach houses a short walk from Quinta Avenida, and how it differs from the golf-course side.
How Luxury Vacation Rental Rates Work—and What Your Quote Should Include
A price for your dates, a “from” rate or a rate confirmed on request: what each one means for villas, chalets and other luxury vacation homes—and what your written quote should include before you pay.
Staying in a private villa
Browse villas in Playa del Carmen (opens in a new tab)
The publisher has an ownership interest in this rental business.