Playa del Carmen in Mexico

Located approximately one hour from Cancun airport, this Caribbean town on the Riviera Maya offers a wide range of activities, shops, bars and restaurants for every taste. Accommodation varies from low budget hostels and guest houses to top of the range hotels and resorts.

The town once only had only a few avenidas and calles and to these days it is still undergoing amazing development. It is also the gateaway to Cozumel Island, famous for its beautiful diving.

5ta Avenida is shopping heaven for tourists and you can find all sorts of bars and restaurants from traditional Mexican food to Italian pasta and Pizza. But if you prefer more laid back local places then the back streets and avenues can offer a wide choice of cheap local traditional restaurants.

Car rentals are readily available at a number of locations at the north end of 5th Ave. Large companies, National, Hertz, etc. are convenient, as well as local agencies, which are generally less expensive. Scooters are a bit dangerous, but offer an alternative to cars.

5th Ave. ('Quinta Avenida' or '5ta Av.') is a pedestrianized street and taxis are available at various intersections along its length. A taxi taken from a 'sitio' (place where taxis park) will cost a few dollars more than a taxi hailed on the street. It costs US$5 to get to Playacar, and about US$1.50 to get around the rest of Playa.

Scheduled bus service to destinations in the region (e.g. Xcaret, Xel-ha, Tulum, Cancun airport, Cancun, etc.) and beyond depart from bus station at southern end of Fifth Avenue near Playacar and Ferry terminal to Cozumel.

First class ADO bus departs hourly or so for tourist destination of Xcaret, Xel-ha and Tulum-fares are in US$4 range. The ADO Bus goes directly to the entrances of Xcaret and Xel-ha. ADO also runs direct service to Cancun airport from Playa Del Carmen for approximately US$8 (80 pesos).

Second class local Mayab buses also leave from Fifth Avenue station. Mayab buses stop more frequently enroute and drop off alongside the highway to Tulum, requiring walking from the highway to the entrances of Xcaret or Xel-ha.

An alternative to the buses is to catch a collectivo van. These leave/return to a separate location in Playa Del Carmen than the bus stop. Collectivos are cheap government regulated air-conditioned vans which transport people on Hwy. 307, which runs north/south along the coast. Pick-up times for these collectivos vary, roughly every 10 minutes and pick-up is simply along the freeway, but one can get you a ride to any destination between Tulum and Cancun for as little as US$6.

Organized bus tours are also available from a variety of companies, including Tours Aldebaran http://www.aldebarantours.com, that cross the Riviera Maya & Yucatan (Tulum, Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Mahahual, Ek Balam, Celestun, Rio Lagartos, Merida, Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Coba, Sian Ka'an, Xcaret, Xelha, etc.).