The Riviera Maya coast south of Cancún — trendy, walkable Playa del Carmen with its buzzing Quinta Avenida of shops, bars and restaurants and great beaches, and quieter fishing-village Puerto Morelos, gateway to the reef and cenotes. Lively, beachy and hipper than Cancún, well-placed for the ruins, cenotes and Tulum; the base for travellers who want a more walkable, characterful beach town near the region's wonders. A cooler coastal alternative. Vibrant and central to the sights.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
€80–160
typical per night in Mexico
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Cancún — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is Playa del Carmen & Puerto Morelos and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- El Rey Ruins & the Hotel Zone169 min taxi56.2 km
- Nichupté Lagoon activities186 min taxi62.1 km
- Authentic Mexican food downtown191 min taxi63.5 km
- Mercado 28 & markets193 min taxi64.3 km
- Cancún nightlife197 min taxi65.5 km
- Hotel Zone (Zona Hotelera) (beach)197 min taxi65.6 km
- The Caribbean beaches197 min taxi65.6 km
- Snorkelling & the reef209 min taxi69.5 km
- Isla Mujeres228 min taxi75.9 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 3.Swimming in a cenote — One of the Yucatán's most magical experiences — swimming in a cenote, a natural sinkhole of crystal-clear, cool fresh water in the jungle, formed where the limestone bedrock collapsed to reveal the vast underground river system the Maya held sacred. Some are open pools, others dramatic caverns hung with stalactites and shafts of light. Snorkel, swim or dive in the ethereal blue water; the cenotes near Cancún (Ik Kil, Dos Ojos, Gran Cenote) are stunning and refreshing. A serene, unforgettable and uniquely Yucatán highlight. Utterly magical; a must.
- 5.Tulum ruins & beach — The most beautifully sited Maya ruins anywhere — Tulum, a clifftop ancient city perched dramatically above a turquoise Caribbean beach, its weathered temples framed by the sea (you can swim on the beach below the ruins). Beyond the ruins, the trendy town of Tulum has become a boho-chic hotspot of beach clubs, cenotes, cool restaurants and eco-hotels. A gorgeous day trip (or overnight) combining spectacular seaside archaeology with a dip and a boho beach scene. An unmissable, photogenic highlight of the Riviera Maya. Stunning and unique.
- 7.Playa del Carmen & the Riviera — The hip heart of the Riviera Maya — Playa del Carmen, a lively, walkable beach town whose famous Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue) is a buzzing pedestrian strip of shops, bars, restaurants and street performers, backed by good beaches and the ferry to Cozumel. Cooler and more walkable than Cancún, it's a great base or day trip for the beach scene, shopping, dining and nightlife, and a springboard for cenotes and ruins. Stroll La Quinta, hit the beach, and enjoy the buzzing atmosphere. A fun, vibrant highlight of the coast. Lively and enjoyable.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Playa del Carmen & Puerto Morelos; flights via Google Flights.