Comparison · Cozumel vs Playa del Carmen · Mexico
Cozumel vs Playa del Carmen
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: NASA, Public domain
Quick answer
Choose Cozumel for Drift diving and Palancar Reef; choose Playa del Carmen for Quinta Avenida, Caribbean beaches and nightlife. Playa del Carmen is generally less expensive, and the two are about 19 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 19 km
- Less expensive
- Playa del Carmen
- Best time for Cozumel
- December–April
- Best time for Playa del Carmen
- November–April
Side by side
| Cozumel | Playa del Carmen | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Mexico | Mexico |
| Known for | Drift diving, Palancar Reef and Snorkelling | Quinta Avenida, Caribbean beaches and Cozumel ferry |
| Best time to visit | December–April | November–April |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 6 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $130–$250 | $110–$220 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | May, 32°C (90°F) | July, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 28°C (82°F) | January, 28°C (82°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 4 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 6 |
| Beaches | Playa Palancar | Mamitas Beach |
| Airports | CZM, CUN | CUN, CZM |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Cozumel for…
Drift diving and Palancar Reef. Cozumel is a flat, jungle-covered island about 18 km off Playa del Carmen, and one of the world's best-known drift-diving destinations thanks to the coral walls of Palancar, Columbia and Santa Rosa in the Cozumel Reefs National Park. Its only town, San…
Choose Playa del Carmen for…
Quinta Avenida, Caribbean beaches and nightlife. Playa del Carmen grew from a fishing village into the Riviera Maya's main town, strung along a white-sand coast about 55 km south of Cancún airport. Its spine is Quinta Avenida, a pedestrian street of shops, restaurants and bars running parallel to the beach…
Top sights compared
| # | Cozumel | Playa del Carmen |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palancar Reef | Quinta Avenida |
| 2 | Santa Rosa and Columbia walls | Parque Fundadores and Portal Maya |
| 3 | El Cielo | Mamitas Beach |
| 4 | Chankanaab park | Punta Esmeralda |
| 5 | Punta Sur Eco Beach Park | Xcaret |
Food compared
| Cozumel | Playa del Carmen |
|---|---|
| Fish tacos | Tacos al pastor |
| Cochinita pibil | Cochinita pibil torta |
| Ceviche | Fish and shrimp tacos |
| Tikin xic | Ceviche |
Which is cheaper?
Playa del Carmen is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $110–$220 per person there, against $130–$250 in Cozumel (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Playa del Carmen on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Cozumel and Playa del Carmen are about 19 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 5 days in Cozumel and 6 in Playa del Carmen.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Cozumel or Playa del Carmen cheaper?
Playa del Carmen is usually less expensive: about $110–$220 a day mid-range against $130–$250 (estimates).
+Is Cozumel or Playa del Carmen better for a first trip?
Pick Cozumel for Drift diving and Palancar Reef, or Playa del Carmen for Quinta Avenida, Caribbean beaches and nightlife.
+How far is Cozumel from Playa del Carmen?
About 19 km in a straight line.