Is It Better to Stay in Playa Del Carmen or Playacar?
If you are planning a trip to the Riviera Maya, one of the most important decisions you will make is where to stay. Many travelers narrow it down to two options: Playa Del Carmen or Playacar. While Playacar is technically part of Playa Del Carmen, the two areas offer very different experiences. Understanding the differences in atmosphere, beach access, cost, convenience, and lifestyle can help you choose the location that fits your expectation of a vacation.
Playa Del Carmen is a vibrant coastal town known for its walkability, restaurants, nightlife, and easy access to tours and transportation. Playacar is a gated community located just south of downtown, offering a quieter, more residential and resort-oriented environment. Both share the same Caribbean coastline, but the daily experience of staying in each area can feel completely different.
Location and Layout
Playa Del Carmen is centered around Quinta Avenida, also known as 5th Avenue, which runs parallel to the beach. This pedestrian friendly street is filled with restaurants, bars, boutiques, coffee shops, and nightlife venues. The downtown area stretches outward from the beach toward the highway, with neighborhoods ranging from busy tourist zones to quieter local residential streets.
Playacar sits immediately south of downtown and is divided into two main phases. Phase One is closest to the beach and downtown, featuring luxury homes and small boutique hotels. Phase Two is larger and includes all-inclusive resorts, a few shops & restaurants, private villas, condominiums, and the golf course at Playacar Golf Club. Entry into Playacar is controlled through security gates, which gives it a more private and contained feel.
If you want to step outside your hotel and immediately be surrounded by activity, Playa Del Carmen delivers that energy. If you prefer landscaped streets, controlled access, and less traffic, Playacar offers that environment.
Playa Del Carmen Beaches Vs Playacar Beaches
Both areas sit on the same stretch of Caribbean coastline, but the beach experience can vary depending on where you stay. In central Playa Del Carmen, beaches are public and easily accessible from multiple entry points. You will find beach clubs, vendors, music, and a social atmosphere. Popular areas near downtown can be lively, especially during high season.
Some of the beaches in the downtown area get more locals than other, like the beach by Juarez Avenue and Park Fundadores. Other beaches are narrower and, depending on the currents, some beaches can suffer erosion at times.
What the Playacar Beaches Are Like
In Playacar, the beaches are generally less crowded. Because access is more limited through the gated community and many properties are resorts or private residences, there are fewer outside visitors. The beach in Playacar often feels wider and more peaceful. Vendors are less common, and the overall atmosphere is calmer. In case you like stopping by a store to pick up a few things for the beach, there are no stores near the beach in Playacar, only a few stores on the main loop road.
The smaller part of Playacar is Phase 1. Access to the beaches from Playacar Phase 1 is easy since there are many access points. There are no beach clubs in Phase 1. There are only two smaller hotels that have beach chairs for guests of the hotels.
The larger phase of Playacar is Phase 2. Almost all of the beach front of Playacar Phase 2 is all inclusive hotels. Each hotel has its own access to the beach. If you are staying at a rental in Playacar Phase 2, the only official access is through the Reef Club. This is the beach club for owners and renters in Playacar Phase 2. There is limited capacity and it is a first come basis. The alternative is walking through the woods to Phase 1 where you can walk onto the beach and just set up your chair or towel.
Comparing the beaches between Phase 1 and Phase 2
Phase 1 tends to get a little more seaweed because the Cozumel Ferry Pier affects the currents. The beaches are a little less maintained since some of Phase 1 is houses and not all-inclusive hotels that are out raking the beaches. The beach in front of Phase 2 is wider and straighter and tends to get less seaweed.
Note: All Beaches in Mexico are public. Access to them is not. There is public access to the beaches of Playacar if you start from the Cozumel Ferry Pier and go south. So even if you are staying downtown, you can walk out to these beaches and see for yourself.
The Seaweed Factor
Since 2014 the growth and movement of sargassum, or commonly referred to as seaweed, has been washing ashore on our beaches. There tends to be more in the summer months when the water is warmer, and it reproduces more quickly. While it is impossible to forecast with any certainty, no one likes to have their dreams of swimming in turquoise waters ruined by seaweed. With this in mind, how do the beaches of downtown Playa Del Carmen compare to the beaches of Playacar?
The natural formation of the coastline has a big impact on how much seaweed accumulates on the beaches. We have a full article and map of what beaches get less seaweed. Playacar is one of the areas that tends to get less seaweed because the beach is straight and has not inlets or bays. Phase 2 of Playacar usually has slightly better conditions than Phase 1. It also helps that in Phase 2 all of the beachfront is all inclusive hotels, and they clean the beaches continually when needed.
Which Beach is Best for You?
If your ideal vacation involves quiet mornings with fewer people around you, Playacar may be more appealing. If you enjoy beach clubs, people watching, and a social vibe, Playa Del Carmen could be the better fit.
Accommodation Options and Budget
Playa Del Carmen offers a wide range of accommodations. You can find budget hostels, mid-range boutique hotels, luxury condos, and high-end penthouses. Because there is more inventory and competition, travelers often have greater flexibility when it comes to price. Long term rentals are also easier to find in different neighborhoods throughout the city.
Playacar tends to lean toward higher end properties. Many of the large all-inclusive resorts are located there, along with private villas and upscale condominiums. Prices can be higher compared to downtown Playa Del Carmen, especially during peak travel seasons. However, travelers who value privacy, resort amenities, and a quieter environment often find the added cost worthwhile. See our article and video about Playacar here.
If you are traveling on a tight budget or want a wide selection of price points, Playa Del Carmen’s downtown area offers more variety. If you are looking for a more polished resort experience, Playacar may align better with
Playa Del Carmen’s All-Inclusive Hotels vs. Playacar’s All-Inclusive Hotels
When you search for all-inclusive hotels in Playa Del Carmen, you get dozens and dozens of hotels. The area of Playa Del Carmen extends both north and south of the city. In the “city” of Playa Del Carmen you can find some all-inclusive hotels on the north end and a couple in the center. And of course you have many large all-inclusive hotels in Playacar Phase 2.
Many people choose an all-inclusive hotel for the setting. The paradisaic grounds, pools, and ocean views. But people also don’t like being trapped on a resort property all week. This is why Playacar hotels are so popular. They give you the best of both worlds. In Playacar there are beautiful, landscaped resorts with tall palms and tropical flowers, but you can also walk to the downtown. Most hotels on the north end of Playacar Phase 2 are a manageable walk to start 5th Avenue and walk for blocks and blocks of shopping.
If you are looking at an all-inclusive hotel for your stay, we much rather prefer staying in Playacar over the downtown all-inclusive hotels. The hotel properties make you feel that you are on vacation and somewhere tropical. Plus, you have access by walking or taxi to the center of Playa for everything else.
Transportation Costs Differences
The differences between Playa Del Carmen downtown and Playacar are going to affect your transportation time and costs. Let’s start by your arrival from the Cancun Airport. Playa Del Carmen is about 1 hour from the Cancun Airport. Playacar is a little more time, about 10 minutes more. The extra time is because Playacar is on the south end of Playa Del Carmen and you need to line up and go through security. Because of the extra time, transportation is a little more expensive to Playacar. For example, a private transfer is $9 USD round trip to Playacar.
See our guides on How to get from the Cancun Airport to Playacar, and How to get from the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen.
If you are going to be staying in Playacar and want to get around Playa Del Carmen, it will mean using a taxi for most destinations. Taxis in Playa Del Carmen are by zones. Since Playacar is another zone, expect to pay about $5-10 USD every time you want to leave the resorts in Playacar.
There is not too much difference in the prices of transportation, but it can eat into your time and add some more costs if you stay in Playacar.
So, Which is Better in Our Opinion?
Playacar is much more resorts, manicured landscaping and wide sandy beaches. If you are more a relaxed person that likes to soak up sun and plan less on where to eat each day, Playacar can be a better option for you. Playacar is also quieter and feels more like a tropical vacation.
If you like being a little more active, you like choosing where to each and doing a little research on vacation, the downtown can offer a fun time. It also helps if you like to go out to a bar, live music venue or club. Staying at an Airbnb or hotel can be cheaper for accommodations and allow you to select where you want to eat.
To some, staying on the north end of Playacar allows you to walk into the downtown and enjoy the best of both worlds.
About The Author
We love staying in Playacar. Sometimes we don’t leave the complex because we have the beach golf, walking around and some good restaurants. The shopping center is just across the highway and easy to get to. So we love the area and plan on visiting each year.