{"id":700,"date":"2016-02-03T12:52:52","date_gmt":"2016-02-03T12:52:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.seasidemexico.com\/playa-del-carmen\/?page_id=700"},"modified":"2017-03-07T19:10:29","modified_gmt":"2017-03-07T19:10:29","slug":"travel-information","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.seasidemexico.com\/playa-del-carmen\/travel-information\/","title":{"rendered":"Playa del Carmen Travel Information"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Playa del Carmen is a coastal resort town on Mexico\u2019s <strong>Yucatan Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo.<\/strong> It is situated I the center of the Mayan Riviera, approximately 43 miles south of Cancun, 12 miles west of Cozumel, and 40 miles north of Tulum. It\u2019s known for beautiful palm-lined beaches, coral reefs full of exotic fish, and for pedestrian thoroughfares brimming with shops, restaurants and nightlife.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Getting to Playa del Carmen<\/h2>\n<p>The closest airport to Playa del Carmen is the\u00a0<strong>Canc\u00fan International Airport<\/strong> (CUN), which will require a 50-minute airport shuttle into Playa del Carmen ($10-$70). You may occasionally find a deal flying into Cozumel International Airport (CZM) and be able to take a ferry across, but these flights are generally much more expensive.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Driving in Playa del Carmen<\/h2>\n<p>To reach Playa by car, you will need to take Highway 307. As you approach Playa del Carmen from Cancun, you\u2019ll need to turn left to Playa. If you wish to go around Playa del Carmen, you can head right on an elevated express highway. The first east-west artery, Playa Avenida Constituyentes, will get you to northern Playa. Avenida Ju\u00e1rez will take you to the main square in town.<\/p>\n<h3>Mexican customs and border crossing<\/h3>\n<p>Visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mexonline.com\">www.mexonline.com<\/a> to learn more about the various import restrictions, particularly if you will be traveling with:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Plants or produce<\/li>\n<li>Alcohol or tobacco<\/li>\n<li>Firearms<\/li>\n<li>Medication<\/li>\n<li>Movies or camera film<\/li>\n<li>Large sums of money<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Ground Transportation in Playa del Carmen<\/h2>\n<p>Once you are in Playa del Carmen, you can get around by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Taxi<\/strong> <strong>\u2013<\/strong> Taxis are plentiful around Quinta Avenida (5<sup>th<\/sup> Ave). There are no meters, so you can expect to pay by zone. The cost is usually around 70 pesos ($5 USD) to get most places, but drivers may charge as they please.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bus \u2013<\/strong> You can hop a bus to Cancun, Tulum or Xcarat from the Playa bus station at the southern end of Fifth Avenue and Avenida Juarez, near the Ferry to Cozumel. There is another bus station at 20<sup>th<\/sup> and 12<sup>th<\/sup><\/li>\n<li><strong>Rental Car \u2013 <\/strong>Car rentals are found at the north end of 5<sup>th<\/sup> Avenue with major brands like Hertz and National available. Beware of the third-party insurance, which could tack on an extra $20 per day.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Foot \u2013 <\/strong>It is very easy to get around the rectangular grid of downtown Playa del Carmen. Avenida Juarez is the main east-west avenue and 5<sup>th<\/sup> Avenue is the main north-south street (which happens to be closed to traffic). Nearly the whole town is situated north-west of the town square, El Zocalo, but many of the resort hotels and golf properties are south of the city.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bike \u2013 <\/strong>You\u2019ll find bike rental shops at the north end of 5<sup>th<\/sup> Playa del Carmen\u2019s Avenida 10 and Highway 307 to Xcaret feature ample cycling paths to get you around.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Playa del Carmen safety information<\/h2>\n<p>Mexico as a whole gets a bad rap as far as safety is concerned, but Playa del Carmen is one of the safest places to travel. The biggest crime is \u201cthe crime of paying too much\u201d \u2013 for shopping, dining, and taxis. To avoid this, shop around instead of buying the first item you see. Street vendors may be willing to haggle. Local restaurants are not legally allowed to tack on taxes, tips\u00a0or fees\u00a0onto their advertised prices, so be sure to add up your bill to see that there is nothing extra. Only about 10% of local cabbies are able to speak good English, so it can save you at least five pesos to brush up on your Spanish. The cheaper taxis are usually hailed from the street, rather than from stands. Some taxis charge more at night.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Playa del Carmen travel tips:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Cross at intersections or on the raised boardwalks, but do not expect traffic to stop.<\/li>\n<li>Keep a close guard on your wallet should you run up against any \u201cladies of the night.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>If you go clubbing, take a friend and arrange a meeting point in case you get separated.<\/li>\n<li>Keep your valuables organized, use the resort safe, and only request maid service as needed.<\/li>\n<li>Be prepared to show ID to get into larger resorts and know that you are being filmed for security.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Emergency assistance in Playa del Carmen<\/h3>\n<p>Should you have an emergency, you may dial:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Police: 060<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Ambulance: 065<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Urgent Care: 066<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Harbor Master: 01 (984) 873 0067<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Fire Department: 01 (984) 879 3669<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Bureau of Immigration: 01 (984) 873 1884<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Mexican Red Cross: 01 (984) 873 1233<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Hospitals in Playa del Carmen<\/h3>\n<p>No one wants to imagine an emergency occurring while on vacation, but you are wise to plan for unforeseen circumstances. Fortunately, Playa del Carmen is blessed with some of the most modern medical facilities in all of Mexico. The ones listed offer advanced diagnostics and fully equipped surgical suites, as well as English-speaking staff accustomed to treating visitors and expatriates.<\/p>\n<p>The main facilities equipped to handle urgent care in Playa del Carmen include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/costamed.com.mx\/welcome\/our-facilities\/playa-del-carmen-facility\/\">COSTAMED<\/a> (24-hour emergency hotline: 1-800-COSTAMED)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hospiten.com.mx\/es\/hospitales-y-centros\/hospiten-riviera-maya\">HOSPITEN<\/a> (984-803-1002)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Playa del Carmen weather<\/h2>\n<p>Playa del Carmen is blessed with wonderfully warm weather and a subtropical climate all year round. With 340 days of sunshine per year, you are pretty much guaranteed a nice vacation, no matter when you decide to travel. The average temperature reaches a low of 69 degrees in January or as high as 92 in July. The summer months (May-September) can be humid. The water is always good for swimming, but the locals don\u2019t usually enter the water during the winter months (December-February).<\/p>\n<p>There is technically a \u201churricane season\u201d from June through September, but a major hurricane has not hit Playa del Carmen in more than 10 years, so it\u2019s more likely a \u201crainy season.\u201d September and October typically see more than 8 inches of rain. If you do get hit with a rainy day, you can always go for a massage, ride ATVs through the mud in rain jackets, check out the underground caves at Rio Secreto, or see a movie.<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind, the weather forecast is always subject to change and it\u2019s rarely accurate looking two weeks out. Before planning your day, you can check The Weather Network, World Weather Online, or WindGuru for more detailed information regarding projected time and amount of rain, wind speed, and hours of sunshine.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>When to visit Playa del Carmen<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Weather:\u00a0<strong>November \u2013 March<\/strong> offers comfortable temperatures between the mid-70s and mid-80s and little precipitation. The rainiest months are September and October. June through September is \u201cHurricane season.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Low Traffic:<strong> April \u2013 May<\/strong> is considered Playa del Carmen\u2019s \u201cshoulder season,\u201d where the weather is still decent, but the crowds tend to die down slightly. The week preceding Easter is, by far, the busiest time to visit Playa del Carmen, so avoid that time if you don\u2019t like crowds. Christmas and New Years are other busy times.<\/li>\n<li>Cost:<strong> Late January to February, late April to June, and October<\/strong> are generally the best times to find a cheaper flight and resort property. Prices can increase by as much as 25% during peak seasons or holidays.<\/li>\n<li>Activities: The biggest attractions in Playa del Carmen include the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival, Ironman Cozumel Competition and Day of the Dead <strong>(November)<\/strong>; New Years and the BPM Electronic Music Festival <strong>(January); <\/strong>Carnival <strong>(February or March)<\/strong> and the Riviera Maya Film\u00a0Festival <strong>(April).\n<p><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Additional Playa del Carmen Travel Information and Resources:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/playa-del-carmen\/\">Playa del Carmen Vacation Rentals<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/playa-del-carmen\/activities\/\"><u>Things to Do in Playa del Carmen<\/u><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Playa del Carmen is a coastal resort town on Mexico\u2019s Yucatan Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo. It is situated I the center of the Mayan Riviera, approximately 43 miles south of Cancun, 12 miles west of Cozumel, and 40 miles north of Tulum. It\u2019s known for beautiful palm-lined beaches, coral reefs full of exotic fish, and for pedestrian thoroughfares brimming with shops, restaurants and nightlife. &nbsp; Getting to Playa del Carmen The closest airport to Playa del Carmen is the\u00a0Canc\u00fan International Airport (CUN), which will require a 50-minute airport shuttle into Playa del Carmen ($10-$70). You may occasionally [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"search-result.php","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-700","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v17.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Sea Side Mexico offers the best Playa del Carmen travel information including how to get there, where to find help if you need it, and safety tips.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.seasidemexico.com\/playa-del-carmen\/travel-information\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" 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