Transportation
All prices are subject to change. Please use them as an approximate cost only.
Our Personal Thoughts:
Transportation information from the Cancun Airport TO Playa del Carmen:
Shared Vans/Colectivos about $18, taxis about $65-70, bus about $7 or private vans. We can give you a quote on private transportation.
Please note: You could also assume prices to be a little less if going somewhere north of Playa del Carmen and maybe more if going South of Playa… this will just give you an idea of options and ball-park price ranges.
When you come outside of the Cancun Airport terminal after customs (this is not charter flights…if you are on a charter flight, you will have to get to the main terminal for a bus)… you will see a boothes and people asking you if you need transportation…Tell them you want a shared van also called “colectivo” or taxi if you wish. For the shared van they will set you up with the next group. I think they need a minimum of 3 or 4 people in the van before they will leave or sometimes they will wait for 10 people. It is much less expensive than a taxi so it may be worth the wait. (You may have to wait until the shared van is full of riders before you can leave).
Usually it is about $65-70 for a taxi to Playa del Carmen and about $18 per person for the colectivo / shared van. There is also a bus option…you can buy tickets for the bus inside the terminal at the far end of the National arrivals terminal. (It is not a huge airport) The buses are near the national arrivals end of the terminal. They leave every hour on the :45. (at least this was true the last we checked) It costs approx. 65 pesos - about $7 US.
To return to the airport , most hotels usually can help you to book an airport transfer back to the airport approx. $15 US each. If your hotel isn’t able to help, then there are places all up and down 5th Avenue in Playa that offer this service. Just make sure you reserve it the day before.
As far as taxis go, you might (not always) be able to get them down on the price back to the airport if you ask The rate from Playa del Carmen back to the airport is approx. $45-$55 US.( Yes, more expensive when you come in!- It is just the way it is.) If you prefer to have someone waiting for you or your group, we now have reasonable rates for private pick-ups. See below.
Shuttle Bus
ADO Terminal
| Airport - Playa del Carmen | Playa del Carmen - Airport |
| 10:45 | 08:00 |
| 11:45 | 9:00 |
| 12:45 | 10:30 |
| 13:45 | 11:45 |
| 14:45 | 13:00 |
| 15:45 | 14:00 |
| 16:45 | 15:00 |
| 17:45 | 16:00 |
| 19:00 | 17:00 |
| 20:30 | 18:15 |
Taxi Fares in Playa Del Carmen
Always carry small bills or correct change.
Ask your concierge for the price so you don’t get any surprises, and confirm it with the driver.
Most taxi drivers don’t speak English so have your directions written down on paper.
The current average cost for a taxi within Playa del Carmen is 16 pesos.
(These prices are approximate.)
Distances and Taxi Costs from Playa Del Carmen to (in PESOS)
| To | Kilometers | Miles | Time | Approximate Taxi Cost |
| Xcaret | 7 | 4 | 6 minutes | $80 |
| Puerto Aventuras | 19 | 11 | 20 minutes | $120 |
| Akumal | 32 | 20 | 28 minutes | $195 |
| Xel-Ha | 49 | 30 | 43 minutes | $310 |
| Tulum | 62 | 39 | 55 minutes | $345 |
| Puerto Morelos | 32 | 20 | 25 minutes | $220 |
| Cancun Center | 67 | 42 | 60 minutes | $355 |
| Cancun Airport | 55 | 38 | 50 minutes | $335 |
| Cancun Hotel Zone | 67 | 42 | 60 minutes | $390 |
| Paamul | 17 | 10 | 15 minutes | $115 |
| Coba | 100 | 60 | 1 1/2 hours | $500 |
Taxi Approx. Costs from Different Hotels to Playa Del Carmen
| From | Taxi Cost in Mexican Pesos |
| Hotel Caracoles | $75 |
| Hotel Capitan Lafitte & Kailum | $80 |
| Hotel Mayaluum | $80 |
| Hotel Mandarin | $105 |
| Hotel Venta Club | $160 |
| Hotel Punta Maroma | $160 |
| Hotel Iberostar Playa Paraiso | $170 |
| Hotel Mayan Palace | $170 |
| Aventura Palace | $120 |
| Barcelo Maya | $140 |
| Copacabana | $140 |
| Xpu Ha Palace | $140 |
| Robinson Club | $140 |
| El Dorado | $160 |
| Bahia Principe | $200 |
| Parque Eco Xpu HA | $140 |
Taxis in Tulum
Taxis from Tulum to Cancun Airport cost $75 USD approximately but if you bargain with them, you can maybe end up paying less. This can be achieved by not calling the taxi service but by stopping a taxi in the street, arranging a price and then telling him to come and pick you up at your hotel.
Taxi from Tulum to Playa Del Carmen approx. rate $45.
Bus & Public Transportation
The Bus terminal is located 1 Block from the ferry and directly in front of MacDonald’s, Avenida 5 con Juarez.
Buses to can Cancun run every 10 minutes and cost 32 Pesos.
Buses to Tulum run every 30 minutes
Check a local rental car company for rates: