from cancun to playa del carmen

How to Get from Cancun to Playa del Carmen

Wondering how to get from Cancun to Playa del Carmen?

I just made this trip very recently in 2025, and I’ll walk you through the current options and give you pros (and cons, if there are any) of each option.

Getting from Cancun to Playa del Carmen is very easy, and there are a few different ways to do it.

Whether you’re:

  • going straight from the Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen, OR
  • staying in Cancun for a while before making your way over to Playa del Carmen

It’s pretty easy to make the journey by public or private transportation, depending on your preference.

a map showing cancun to playa del carmen
Playa del Carmen is about 68 km (42 miles) from downtown Cancun, and 57 km (35 miles) from the Cancun airport

Most people head straight to Playa del Carmen from the Cancun airport, but I decided to stay in Cancun for a couple of nights first.

So, I know both ways of getting to Playa del Carmen from:

  • the Cancun International Airport
  • downtown Cancun

Both options are very easy, and take around an hour. (Cancun airport takes slightly because its closer to Play del Carmen than the downtown area is.)

So, vamos – I’ll quickly summarize how to get to Playa del Carmen from the Cancun Airport AND Downtown.

How to Get to Playa del Carmen from the Cancun AIRPORT

street in playa del carmen
Downtown Playa del Carmen

1. Take the ADO bus

Approximate cost: $10 USD

The ADO bus company is the cheapest, and one of the most secure ways to get from the Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen.

To get an ADO bus to Playa del Carmen from the airport, you can either:

  • Go up to the ADO counters at the Cancun airport (available in Terminals 2 and 3) and book on the spot. If you’re not at one of those terminals, you can easily take a shuttle there.
  • Book your bus in advance, and even choose which terminal you leave from

Pro Tip: When booking the bus in advance, just make sure you give yourself enough time for your plane to land and for you to grab your luggage and go through customs. I would book a ticket that leaves at least an hour after you land.

ado bus station in playa del carmen
The ADO Bus station in Playa del Carmen

There are actually two ADO bus stations in Playa del Carmen. I recommend you book a bus that goes to Playa del Carmen Turistica if you’re staying in the downtown area.

From Playa del Carmen Turistica bus station (pictured above) you may very well be within walking distance to your accommodation if you’re staying downtown.

My hotel for example, (Hotel Lunata) was only a 5-minute walk from the bus station.

the outside (street view) of the Ado bus station in playa del carmen
the outside (street view) of the ADO bus station in Playa del Carmen

2. Take a private shuttle

Approximate cost: $20-50 per person

There are plenty of private shuttle options from the Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen which you can book in advance.

These shuttles tend to be in larger vans and can carry around 6-8 passengers, sometimes more. Here are a few options that I found on Viator:

I personally don’t think its necessary to book the private shuttle when the bus is so cheap and comfortable. However, it is an easier option if you’re not used to travelling via bus in Mexico. For elderly travellers, or families with young kids – a private shuttle might be a more convenient and comfortable option

2. Take a taxi

Approximate cost: $44 USD (set price)

If you’re thinking of hopping into a cab from the Cancun airport and taking it to Playa del Carmen, know that it is possible – but you should read this important message from the Cancun airport, and book your taxi in advance.

Do not arrive at the airport and plan to find a cab on the spot. The reading above will explain that there are many unauthorized cab drivers that will try to hassle you to go with them. Ignore them.

It’s much safer to book a cab in advance through the link I provided above and ignore any random solicitors offering rides at the airport.

Read my post here for things to do in Playa del Carmen for after you arrive

4. Take the Tren Maya

Approximate cost: $15 per adult

The Tren Maya is a new way of getting from the Cancun airport around the Yucatan peninsula, as the construction only just finished in December 2024.

The train travels all throughout the major cities and towns in Quinta Roo and the Yucatan.

A sign pointing travellers to the Tren Maya at the Cancun airport

The train is a fairly recent project, and there aren’t a LOT of time tables yet. You can book your ticket or check the timetable on their website here.

You can also buy your ticket in person at the Cancun airport!

If you take the Tren Maya to Playa del Carmen, it will bring you to Estación de Tren Maya Playa Del Carmen, which is – to be honest, quite far from the downtown area (2 hour walk!)

But, you could easily take a cab from there to wherever you need to be.

the shoreline in Playa del Carmen

The Tren Maya is in general, definitely worth considering if you want a unique way to see many of the cities in Chiapas and the Yucatan, which are some of the best cities in Mexico.

5. Rent a Car and Drive Yourself

Approximate cost: $30+ per day, plus insurance

There are lots of places to rent a car at the airport – Enterprise, Hertz, and many of the other usuals that you often see at airports.

If you’ll be travelling around the Mayan Riviera, you could just drive to Playa del Carmen on your own.

Things to keep in mind about renting a car in Mexico:

  • Mexicans usually drive standard, so if you want an automatic car, it will probably cost extra
  • Finding parking in Playa del Carmen may be a challenge. Depending on which hotel you stay at, they may not have parking available if they’re located right downtown.
  • If your hotel is along the main strip (Quinta Avenida, also known as Fifth Avenue) then there are many hotels that aren’t even accessible by car, so you need to check that

In summary: If you’re going straight to Playa del Carmen from the Cancun airport, then the ADO Bus is the cheapest and probably your best bet. It brings you right to Playa del Carmen Turistica, which is right by 5th Avenue where many of the hotels were. I took the ADO Bus there and it was only a 15-minute walk to my hotel.

What you Need to Know about Taking an Uber from Cancun airport

Approximate cost: around $80 USD

It was recently decided that Uber is allowed to operate at the Cancun airport.

Prior to this, Uber drivers weren’t allowed to pick up passengers at the Cancun airport.

However, Uber is not allowed in Playa del Carmen, so unless you’re staying well outside Playa del Carmen, Uber is likely not an option for where you’re going.

It may be ok if you’re staying in the outskirts – but personally, I wouldn’t risk it. Go with one of the above options instead!

Downtown Cancun

How to Get from Cancun DOWNTOWN to Playa del Carmen

Can’t choose between Playa del Carmen vs Cancun and want to see both? The advice for getting to Playa del Carmen from downtown Cancun is pretty similar from going from the airport. The only difference is WHERE you take the bus from

1. Take the ADO bus!

Cost: Around $10 USD

Taking the bus is the cheapest, most eco-friendly option for getting from downtown Cancun to Playa del Carmen. The best and most reputable bus company in Mexico is called ADO.

There is an ADO Bus station in downtown Cancún which has very frequent service to Playa del Carmen (the buses leave almost hourly.)

ado bus station downtown cancun
ADO bus station downtown Cancun

You can buy a ticket online in advance, show up and take the bus -it’s that simple.

I took the ADO bus from downtown Cancun to Playa del Carmen and the whole process was so simple, and cheap – I’d recommend it. The seats are also very comfy.

If you’re not staying near the ADO Bus station in Cancun, then you can easily take an Uber to it (which is what I did.) An Uber in Cancun to the bus station can cost $10-$15 USD, depending on how far from it you are.

You can book your ADO bus ticket to Playa del Carmen on the spot, or on their website here. You can see all the times that it leaves on the day you want to go, and even how many seats are left.

Pro Tip: The ADO buses often do fill up, but not until the very last minute as most people book their tickets on the spot.

2. Take a taxi

Cost: around $50

Taxis were strongly recommended against when I was looking into options for getting around Cancun, and to Playa del Carmen.

I used to take taxis often when I lived in Mexico City, but took people’s advice to not use them in Cancun.

If you show up at the ADO Bus Station that I mentioned/show pictures of above, there are lots of private transport options available there that you can book on the spot.

The cost for taking an Uber from Cancun to Playa del Carmen ranges from about $1,000 – $4,000 MX (about $60 to $240 USD) for a one-way trip.

FAQ: Cancun to Playa del Carmen

Here are the most commonly asked questions about getting to Playa del Carmen from Cancun

Can you Uber from Cancun to Playa del Carmen?

Yes, you can take an Uber from Cancun to Playa del Carmen as long as Uber are available (which they almost always are, every time I check.) Keep in mind though that there are limits and restrictions on where the Uber can bring you in Playa del Carmen. You can even book the ride in advance. The cost is somewhere around X for the ride.

What’s the best way to get from Cancun to Playa del Carmen?

The best way to get to Playa del Carmen is to take the ADO bus. It’s safe, it’s cheap, and reliable – you can’t go wrong. However, for extra comfort you could go with a private shuttle instead which can carry a large family.

How much is a taxi from Cancun to Playa del Carmen?

The cost of a taxi to Playa del Carmen from Cancun ends up being around $45. This can vary depending on if you’re leaving form the airport (which has a set price), or downtown Cancun and also the exact spot in Playa del Carmen you want to be taken to. Overall, you should expect to spend anywhere from $45 up to $100 on a taxi from Cancun to Playa del Carmen, depending on the exact location.

playa del carmen

Final Thoughts on Playa del Carmen from Cancun

Overall, don’t be too nervous. Cancun and Playa del Carmen are relatively safe cities, and as long as you’re aware of the few potential hurdles in advance, then you shouldn’t have a problem.

I want you to know that taking the ADO bus is safe, secure and easy and it’s also the cheapest, and most eco-friendly option. So I would recommend that one above all else. If you’re looking for extra comfort or ease, then one of the private shuttles may be suitable too.

I hope that this article answered all the questions you have – and if it doesn’t feel free to email me or DM me on my social media pages, and I can try to answer your questions. Buen Viaje!