How to Get Between Cancun Hotel Zone to Playa Del Carmen
Traveling between the Cancun Hotel Zone and Playa Del Carmen is not very common for visitors to the Riviera Maya. This means there are not many direct transportation options between the two areas. Usually, people stay in Playa Del Carmen or Cancun for their vacation, but there are situations where people need to get between these two areas. Many people stay in Cancun but want to spend a day exploring Playa Del Carmen’s beaches, shopping, restaurants, and nightlife. The distance between the two destinations is about 66 to 80 kilometers depending on the route, and the drive typically takes around one hour to one hour and thirty minutes depending on traffic.
There are several transportation options available ranging from inexpensive public transportation to private transfers that take you directly to your hotel. Understanding how each option works will help you choose the best one for your schedule and budget. We will try to give you are many details as possible so you can plan which option works best for you.
Taking a Private Transfer Between Cancun Hotel Zone and Playa Del Carmen
One of the easiest and most comfortable ways to travel between the Cancun Hotel Zone and Playa Del Carmen is by booking a private transportation service. These companies operate throughout the Riviera Maya and provide door to door service between hotels, condos, and vacation rentals.
Unlike many airport shuttle services that only run between the airport and hotels, many private transportation companies in the region offer point to point transfers anywhere along the Riviera Maya. That means they can pick you up at your hotel in the Cancun Hotel Zone and drive you directly to a hotel, condo, or Airbnb in Playa Del Carmen without any additional stops.
The main advantage of private transportation is convenience and set price. A driver meets you at your hotel and takes you straight to your destination. There is no need to change buses or travel into downtown Cancun first. This is especially useful for travelers with luggage, families with children, or groups who want a simple transfer. This will be a cheaper option if several people are traveling together.
Travel time is usually around one hour depending on traffic along Highway 307. Prices vary by vehicle size, but many private transfers cost around $139 USD per vehicle rather than per person. This means the cost can be reasonable if you are traveling with two or more people.
Another benefit is flexibility. Private transfers can be scheduled at almost any time of day, which is helpful if you want to leave early in the morning or late at night. Important note: Transfers usually need to be booked at least a day in advance so the company can schedule drivers. Tip: Look for the Hotel to Hotel one way or Hotel to Hotel Round trip options then put in your hotels or destinations.
Taking Two ADO Buses Between Cancun Hotel Zone and Playa Del Carmen
The only public bus option is the ADO bus. You will need to take two buses and connect in the middle at the Cancun Airport. These buses are modern coach buses with air conditioning, assigned seating, and luggage storage underneath the bus. It is important to note that you will need to take two ADO buses and will need to check the schedules to make sure you can line up the two ADO buses.
Note: The ADO bus only has four stops in the Hotel Zone of Cancun. The ADO bus starts from Zona Hotelera Plaza Fiesta, then stops at Playa la Fiesta, then Museo Maya, Aquaworld and then the airport. If you are not leaving from or going to an area near a stop, this might not be the best option for you. Remember the hotel zone is 14 miles (22.5km) long. Taxis can charge $10-20 USD for the final leg of your trip if the ADO bus stop is not near your hotel.
If this transportation option is good for you, here are the steps you need to take to make this trip. Reverse the steps to go the other direction.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Book the ADO bus from the Hotel Zone to the Cancun Airport. It does not matter what terminal you get off at because all of the terminals have the other ADO bus to Playa Del Carmen. Most people will use the first terminal #4. This trip can take one hour, and the cost is about 170 pesos.
Step 2: Buy your ticket to Playa Del Carmen. The ADO bus only goes the bus station on 5th Avenue and Juarez Avenue in Playa Del Carmen. Remember tickets are timed, so make sure you have enough time to switch buses at the airport. The trip to Playa takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes and cost 270 pesos.
In total this trip will take about 3 hours and if no additional transportation is necessary, will cost about 440 pesos.
You can buy your tickets in advance online on the official website of ADO or at bus station. You can also check the latest schedules on their website. Currently there are about 8 ADO buses a day going between the Cancun Airport and the Hotel Zone bus stop.
This option is often the best choice for budget travelers because it combines reliability, comfort, and low cost.
Tip: If the bus schedules do not line up or you want door to door service, you can combine the ADO bus and shared shuttles to make this trip. See more below about shared shuttles.
Shared Shuttles Between Playa Del Carmen and the Hotel Zone in Cancun
A little more expensive than the ADO are the shared shuttles that service the Cancun Airport. These are prebooked vans that will pick up or drop off at a few hotels. This means this might take a little longer, but it does provide door to door service if you use a shared shuttle for both legs of your trip. Please note: There are different shared shuttle companies for each leg of this trip. So, make sure you book each one or combine it with the ADO Bus and mix and match transportation.
How to take the shared shuttles
You will need to book one shared shuttle to the Cancun Airport and another shuttle for the other leg of your trip. The costs between the Hotel Zone and the Cancun Airport is about $19 USD per person. The trip between the Cancun Airport and Playa Del Carmen is about $27 USD. So, a one way would be about $46 USD.
The biggest advantage to this option is have transportation pick you up from where you are staying and drop you off at the hotel or place you are traveling to. They are also available all hours of the day. These need to be prebooked. Below is a link to a shared shuttle company that goes between Playa Del Carmen and the Cancun Airport.
Book Your Shared Shuttle Between Playa Del Carmen and the Cancun Airport
Click the link below to book the shared shuttle between Playa Del Camren and the Cancun Airport.
Book the Shared Shuttle Between the Cancun Airport and the Hotel Zone of Cancun
Click the link below to book the shared shuttle between the Cancun Airport and the Hotel Zone.
Taking a Taxi Between Cancun Hotel Zone to Playa Del Carmen
Most people would automatically just assume that taking a taxi is the best option. There are taxis in the Cancun Hotel Zone and can take you directly to Playa Del Carmen or viceversa. Just note that they might charge the most of any transportation option for this trip.
First of all, taxis in Cancun and Playa Del Carmen do not use meters. This means prices are negotiated or you can go by their posted rates at the taxi stands (even though there are fixed rates from taxi stands, some taxis still negotiate). There are two types of fares taxis in both Cancun and Playa Del Carmen. Taxi stands and street taxis are the same taxis; it is just more expensive getting a taxi from a taxi stand because they are waiting there for customers. These taxi stands are outside of hotels in the Hotel Zone in Cancun and in Playa Del Carmen there are taxi stands along 5th Avenue.
Tip: If you are in Cancun or Playa Del Carmen, getting a taxi on the street should be cheaper. It is not guaranteed though since drivers set the prices. If you need help getting a taxi, your hotel in Cancun will use the taxi stand as a taxi for you.
How Much is a Taxi Between the Hotel Zone and Playa Del Carmen?
There is no set price and there are several factors that go into the price. Usually, the price will be about $75-1$140 USD for a one-way trip.
The exact price will depend on:
- Early morning or late-night trips will cost more.
- It will depend on how many people are traveling with you and how much luggage you have.
- The price is usually cheaper if you hail a taxi on the street.
- The Hotel Zone is 14 miles long (22.5km) and it will depend on where you are traveling to and from.
- Playa Del Carmen can describe areas outside of the downtown. The exact location will help dictate the price.
- It will depend on your negotiation skills. Most people don’t have enough info about the area to negotiate too much.
In general, we do not recommend this option because it is the most expensive and has no set price. You also do not get a discount with round trip like the private transfers.
Taking Playa Express or a Colectivo
Another option that many locals use is shared vans known as colectivos or the Playa Express service. These vans run along Highway 307 between Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and other towns along the Riviera Maya.
This option takes you between the Hotel Zone-Downtown Cancun ADO Bus Station-Playa Del Carmen.
The first step is getting from the Cancun Hotel Zone to downtown Cancun. You can take the R1 city bus or a taxi to reach the Cancun ADO bus terminal area. This R1 Bus costs 12 pesos.
Behind the bus station you can find colectivos and Playa Express vans heading toward Playa Del Carmen. These vans operate frequently and leave when they fill up with passengers. They are usually much cheaper than buses and are often used by workers and residents traveling between cities. Vans typically depart every 20 to 30 minutes and the trip takes about one to one and a half hours depending on traffic.
This option takes about a total of 2 hours and 45 minutes one way and costs about 70 pesos one way. It is the cheapest way and the most local. This is not a good option if you are traveling with luggage since colectivos are more for day trips and locals going to work. The advantage of this option they colectivos between Cancun and Playa Del Carmen will make stops along the 307 Highway if you need to get off before the final stop in Playa.
What About UBER or Rideshares Between Playa Del Carmen and the Cancun Hotel Zone
Many people will first think about just booking an Uber for the trip. However, it is important to know that Uber does not work in all of the Riviera. Uber only works in parts of Cancun. Uber has never been able to take off because of opposition from taxi unions. Even though it is officially working in some parts of the Cancun, there are very limited number of drivers and service can be very limited. Uber does not work in Playa Del Carmen.
Which Transportation Option Is Best?
The best transportation option depends on your priorities. Private transportation is usually the most convenient because it takes you directly from one hotel to another without transfers. The ADO bus is the most reliable and comfortable budget option, especially for travelers who do not mind connecting at the Cancun Airport.
Taxis provide direct service but are usually more expensive. Colectivos and Playa Express vans are the cheapest option but require more flexibility and are not ideal if you have large luggage.
For most visitors, the ADO bus or a private transfer tends to be the most practical choice. Both options are widely used by travelers moving between the Cancun Hotel Zone and Playa Del Carmen and provide a safe and relatively quick way to travel along the Riviera Maya.
About The Author
Great post! We sometimes have family staying in the hotel zone in Cancun and we like to stay in Playa, so we do meet up but transportation is always a little hard between the two.