Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Getting around Playa del Carmen

How to travel around Playa del Carmen — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Last updated 2026-08-11

1. Colectivos

White shared vans along the highway to Tulum and Cancún, leaving when full and very cheap.

Cost: MXN 40–60 to Tulum

2. ADO buses

Air-conditioned coaches to Cancún airport, Mérida and Chichén Itzá, booked online.

3. Cozumel ferries

Two operators from the pier, roughly every hour.

Cost: MXN 200–300 each way

4. Cancún airport transfer

Around 55km north; pre-booked shuttles avoid the arrivals hall entirely.

Watch outThe arrivals gauntlet at Cancún is aggressive, and much of it is timeshare sales dressed as transport desks. Walk through to the official counters outside.

5. Taxis

A strong local taxi union means no Uber pickups in some places, and fares are by zone rather than metered.

Watch outAgree the fare first; taxi–rideshare conflict here occasionally involves drivers being blocked at pickup points.

Booking apps in Mexico

Agreeing the fare in an app before you travel removes the argument at the end of the journey, which is where most transport scams happen. Links go to each app's official page — lookalike apps are themselves a scam.

Uber

Widely used across Mexico, with fares agreed before pickup.

Coverage: Mexico City, Cancún, Guadalajara, Monterrey and most tourist cities.
Why it helps: Removes the dollar-quoted fares and airport transfer desks that end at a timeshare presentation.

DiDi

Very widely used in Mexico and frequently cheaper than Uber.

Coverage: Nationwide.
Why it helps: Fare is agreed in the app before the trip, and the route is recorded — which removes the refused meter, the tampered meter and the fixed 'foreigner price' in one move.