While it’s only about an hour south of Cancun by shuttle or taxi, Playa del Carmen is a very different destination. Unlike the endlessly long strip of beach hotels and timeshare buildings that makes up the tourist part of Cancun, Playa del Carmen is an actual tourist town, and a very charming one at that.
The more casual restaurants and bars in Playa del Carmen will quote prices in Mexican Pesos, and they offer very good value for most visitors. Higher end places will quote prices in US Dollars, and those can seem a bit expensive in comparison. Visitors on lower budgets will have plenty of excellent options among hotels and eateries, especially if they are willing to stay a couple blocks away from the beach.
The larger resorts are mostly a bit out of the town center, and those are obviously less convenient for the city services. Many of them are all-inclusive hotels, which are also very good value.
| Population | 150,000 |
| Area | 150,000 |
| Timezone | UTC-5 |
| Currency | Mexican peso |
Food and drinks in Playa del Carmen are usually great value as long as you are in the town rather than at a resort hotel. The places along the main 5th Avenue shopping street often have happy hour and lunch specials, so eating and drinking on a budget is pretty easy.
| Budget breakfast | These prices are for cheap meals in the Hotel Zone. If you go Downtown you can eat for far less. | $3.12 - $6.81 |
| Budget lunch | In the Hotel Zone the best deals are the small local places in the heart of the nightlife/tourist area. | $5.11 - $8.52 |
| Budget dinner | You might have to look around for reasonably priced places unless you head Downtown, which is probably not worth the savings. | $9.65 - $14.20 |
| Beer (.33l bottle) | Look out for happy hours and bucket specials to avoid paying the highest prices. The clubs charge double this range. | $1.99 - $3.69 |
| $- |
| Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 82 | 64 | 2.4 |
| February | 83 | 65 | 2.0 |
| March | 85 | 66 | 1.1 |
| April | 87 | 70 | 2.0 |
| May | 89 | 73 | 3.0 |
| June | 90 | 75 | 6.0 |
| July | 91 | 74 | 5.0 |
| August | 91 | 74 | 5.0 |
| September | 91 | 74 | 6.6 |
| October | 87 | 71 | 11.2 |
| November | 85 | 70 | 5.1 |
| December | 84 | 65 | 2.9 |
Generally speaking, Playa del Carmen’s best weather months are from February through to about March or April. Though the humidity is high throughout the entire year, the summer months also bring tropical storms to the area, making taking a walk or a swim a little more of a hassle and possibly a bit dangerous. During those months, June through September, the weather also gets a bit hotter, even into the night, making the need for ceiling fans and air conditioning a reality. During the winter months, though temperatures do tend to stay in the high 70’s to low 80’s, they do go down a little during the night, making nights cool, comfortable and relaxing.
| 21 Mar | 6:51am | 7:00pm |
| 21 Jun | 6:09am | 7:23pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:37am | 6:45pm |
| 21 Dec | 7:20am | 6:31pm |
Cancun is perfect for those who want to check into a big hotel and then take a taxi to a nightclub. But if you would rather choose from hundreds of different restaurants and bars and shops and attractions, Playa del Carmen is the better choice.
During the winter months, Playa del Carmen sees a surge in visitors who are escaping the cold north for more of a tropical and warmer winter season. Within the winter months, the holiday season seems to be the busiest time for both hotels and resorts, particularly the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s. During springtime, Easter also becomes extremely busy, with lots of families and groups visiting the area during that time. If you’re looking to visit during the summer months, you’ll find lower prices throughout the accommodation world as fewer visitors are found in the area, creating a decrease in nightly rates. This time of the year is considered the low season while the winter months are considered the high season.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 53.00 - 75.00 |
| 58.00 - 124.00 |
| 78.00 - 142.00 |
| 96.00 - 257.00 |
| 258.00 - 459.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 10.75 - 36.00 |