Transport in Playa del Carmen
The first thing that you must consider, it is that you need to present a passport to enter in Mexico. After going through customs and immigration in Mexico you will be given a "tourist card"; which you must carry all the time, while you stay in the country.
There are several ways to arrive to Playa del Carmen. The most comfortable and speed is without doubt by plane. The airport more important that is close to Playa del Carmen is Cancun; which receives local and international flights mainly from Mexico D.F. and USA. There is another airport in the Cozumel Island which is in front to Playa del Carmen. It lasts around two hours from Mexico city to Playa del Carmen by plane and cost around 800 pesos ($73 approximately). The Mexican authorities will ask your tourist card in the airports; both Cancun and Cozumel.
You can arrive to Cozumel by ferry; there are two services: the open air boat, which takes 45 minutes approximately and the air conditioned catamaran, which takes 30 minutes and leaves from the opposite side of the pier. Usually ferries run between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel every hour from 5:00 to 22:00 and the tariff is around 180 pesos ($17 approximately).
The bus is another option to arrive to this place. The Mexican service of buses is quite good; it is superior to Canadian and American services. Besides, it is the cheapest way to travel in Mexico. Obviously there are several kinds of bus service, whose prices vary depending of the quality of bus. Some vehicles are very luxury whereas others are quite poorer. Nevertheless, the average tariff between Mexico City and Playa del Carmen is around 500 pesos ($46 approximately) and the trip lasts almost 24 hours.
Playa del Carmen has two bus terminals, “Terminal del Centro” which is located in the Downtown just in front to the main square at 5th avenue; it receives the buses that arrives from all Riviera Maya (Tulum, Playacar,etc) .The other bus terminal is at “Juarez ”avenue and receives the rest of buses. Traveling by bus through the “Riviera Maya” is cheapest; for example you can take a bus to Tulum for 30 pesos (around $2.7) and to Cancun for 32 pesos. The buses leave from Playa del Carmen every 10 minutes.
In Playa del Carmen you can use taxis, buses, “colectivos” or bike to transport. The most of taxis are circulating along the streets of the city looking for passengers. Usually you must pay 20 pesos ($2) by trip in the city. Nevertheless the tariffs are more expensive, if you want a trip to Cancun (around $40 and 45 minutes) or another place in the zone like Playacar or Tulum.
But probably the most popular form of transport in Mexico is the “Colectivo” (collective) which usually is a mini-van, nevertheless in zones like the “Riviera Maya”, these vehicles have conditioned-air amongst other comforts. There are “colectivos” that travel to Cancun (40 pesos, around $4 ) and to Tulum (20 pesos, around $2). The “colectivos” run every day from 5:00 to 22:00.
But if you prefer more flexibility, you can rent a car. The companies in Playa del Carmen rent cars for prices, which are amongst $45 and $60 per day, depending to quality and model of the vehicle.
Back to:
Spanish in Mexico
Spanish in Latin America
Spanish courses
| 
Send to a friend
