Where to stay · Playa del Carmen · Mexico
Where to stay in Playa del Carmen
6 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Centro and Quinta Avenida. The pedestrian heart of town, two blocks from the beach. Best alternatives — families: Coco Beach and Punta Esmeralda; budget: Colosio.
Key facts
- First visit
- Centro and Quinta Avenida
- Families
- Coco Beach and Punta Esmeralda
- Budget
- Colosio
- Nightlife
- Centro and Quinta Avenida
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Centro and Quinta Avenida | The pedestrian heart of town, two blocks from the beach |
| Families | Coco Beach and Punta Esmeralda | A calmer residential area at the northern end of town |
| Couples | Mamitas and Calle 28–38 | Beach clubs, boutique hotels and a busy stretch of sand |
| Budget | Colosio | A residential neighbourhood of apartments and local food stalls |
| Luxury | Playacar | A gated resort district of all-inclusives, villas and a golf course |
| Nightlife | Centro and Quinta Avenida | The pedestrian heart of town, two blocks from the beach |
| Food lovers | Colosio | A residential neighbourhood of apartments and local food stalls |
| Solo travellers | Centro and Quinta Avenida | The pedestrian heart of town, two blocks from the beach |
| Shopping | Centro and Quinta Avenida | The pedestrian heart of town, two blocks from the beach |
| Quiet stays | Coco Beach and Punta Esmeralda | A calmer residential area at the northern end of town |
| Beach | Mamitas and Calle 28–38 | Beach clubs, boutique hotels and a busy stretch of sand |
Playa del Carmen neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, shopping and solo travellers
Centro and Quinta Avenida
The streets between Avenida Juárez and Calle 40, either side of Quinta Avenida, hold most hotels, restaurants and bars in town. The ferry pier, Parque Fundadores and the main ADO bus terminal are at the southern end, and the beach is a block or two east. It is the most convenient base without a car.
- Good
- Walk to the beach and restaurants; Bus station and ferry close by; Wide choice of hotels
- Watch out
- Noisy at night, especially near Calle 12; Touts and timeshare sellers on Quinta Avenida
- Nearby
- Quinta Avenida, Parque Fundadores, Cozumel ferry pier, Mamitas Beach
$$$ · Best for beach, couples and nightlife
Mamitas and Calle 28–38
North of the centre, the streets around Calle 28 and Calle 38 lead to Mamitas Beach and a run of beach clubs, cafés and mid-sized hotels. The beach is wide and lively, and Quinta Avenida here has more restaurants and fewer souvenir shops than at its southern end.
- Good
- Good beach access; Restaurants and beach clubs; Walk to the centre
- Watch out
- Beach clubs can be loud; Popular stretches get crowded at weekends
- Nearby
- Mamitas Beach, Quinta Avenida, Calle 38 beach
$$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and beach
Coco Beach and Punta Esmeralda
Around Calle 46 and beyond, Coco Beach has apartment complexes and small hotels on quieter streets, with the end of Quinta Avenida close by. Punta Esmeralda, a public beach where a cenote spring flows into a shallow lagoon, is a favourite with local families.
- Good
- Quieter than the centre; Family-friendly beaches; Apartments with pools
- Watch out
- A 20–30 minute walk to the ferry and bus terminal; Fewer restaurants late at night
- Nearby
- Punta Esmeralda, Quinta Avenida north, Coco Beach
$$$$ · Best for families, luxury, quiet stays and beach
Playacar
Playacar lies south of the ferry pier, split into a beachfront section of all-inclusive resorts (Fase 1 and the coast) and a residential section of villas around the golf course (Fase 2). Small Maya ruins stand among the houses, and the town centre is a short walk away.
- Good
- Calm beaches and resort facilities; Walk to the centre; Gated and quiet
- Watch out
- Resort-focused, less local character; Expensive
- Nearby
- Playacar golf course, Xaman Há ruins, Parque Fundadores
$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and food lovers
Colosio
Colosio lies north-west of the centre, beyond Avenida 30, and is home to many people who work in the town's hotels. Rentals and small guesthouses are much cheaper than near the beach, and taquerías, fruit stalls and markets serve local prices.
- Good
- Low prices; Local food scene; Good for longer stays
- Watch out
- Far from the beach on foot; Less attractive streets
- Nearby
- Avenida Constituyentes, Coco Beach, Tren Maya station
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and families
Northern resort strip
Between Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos, beaches such as Xcalacoco and Punta Maroma are backed by large all-inclusive and luxury resorts reached from the highway. They have calmer, less crowded sand and are closer to Cancún airport, but you need a taxi to reach town.
- Good
- Quiet, uncrowded beaches; Closer to the airport; Full resort facilities
- Watch out
- Isolated from town; Taxis needed for everything outside the resort
- Nearby
- Punta Maroma, Xcalacoco beach, Puerto Morelos
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Centro and Quinta Avenida | $$$ | Quinta Avenida, Parque Fundadores, Cozumel ferry pier, Mamitas Beach |
| Mamitas and Calle 28–38 | $$$ | Mamitas Beach, Quinta Avenida, Calle 38 beach |
| Coco Beach and Punta Esmeralda | $$$ | Punta Esmeralda, Quinta Avenida north, Coco Beach |
| Playacar | $$$$ | Playacar golf course, Xaman Há ruins, Parque Fundadores |
| Colosio | $ | Avenida Constituyentes, Coco Beach, Tren Maya station |
| Northern resort strip | $$$$ | Punta Maroma, Xcalacoco beach, Puerto Morelos |
Getting to your hotel
Cancún International Airport (CUN) is about 55 km north; ADO coaches run directly to Playa's bus terminals in about 45–60 minutes, and shuttles and private transfers are widely available. Cozumel's airport (CZM) is across the strait and linked by ferry.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Playa del Carmen for first-time visitors?
Centro and Quinta Avenida. The streets between Avenida Juárez and Calle 40, either side of Quinta Avenida, hold most hotels, restaurants and bars in town.
+Where should families stay in Playa del Carmen?
Coco Beach and Punta Esmeralda: Quieter than the centre.
+Which area of Playa del Carmen is best for a budget stay?
Colosio ($): A residential neighbourhood of apartments and local food stalls.