Why is Playa del Carmen better than Cancun
Even those who do not know anything about Mexico, they have heard of the fact that Cancun, together with Acapulco and Los Cabos are the most famous holiday destinations in Mexico. All three of them are lovely even though in a very different way.
Anyway, I spent 3 days in Cancun and while there are many things to really love about it, I am still a little bit confused about Cancun.
But then I went to Playa del Carmen (as well in Quintana Roo, one of the 32 states of Mexico) which is only 45 minutes from Cancun in the area called the Mayan Riviera and I spent almost 2 weeks there. So 3 days in Cancun and 2 weeks in Playa del Carmen, it says something, right?
The truth is that if I had to choose again between Cancun and some other place close by, I’d prefer Playa del Carmen. I don’t say you should not visit Cancun. On the contrary, Cancun has a lot to offer, too. And I would not recommend you not to pay a visit to Cancun, as you really should to see the difference by yourself.
Playa del Carmen beach
Tourists and Americanisation
Cancun is probably the most Americanised place in Mexico – everywhere you go, you will find the US people. Absolutely everywhere around you there’s the American English accent. Not that I don’t like it because I really do, but if you go on holidays to Mexico, I guess you would like to hear some funny Mexican Spanish instead. If you want to feel like in the US, then go and visit. And please, if I come to Cancun and I talk to you in Spanish, do not answer me in English if you are Mexican! What’s the point?!
Playa del Carmen is a bit Americanised too in comparison with most of the Mexican towns, but still less than Cancun. Many nationalities come to Playa del Carmen so it looks more multicultural. At least you hear more languages around. However, both Cancun and Playa del Carmen are extremely touristic so don’t expect a quiet forgotten place, not even in Playa del Carmen which is quickly becoming more touristy.
The Americanisation causes the prices are higher in these two towns than in the rest of Mexico. Easily you can pay both in the US dollars and Mexican pesos. Obviously, Playa del Carmen being smaller and less touristic, is a bit cheaper than Cancun – cheaper food, accommodation, taxis, just everything.
I find the atmosphere nicer in Playa del Carmen than in Cancun. I’d say more friendly in Playa and a bit more snobbish in Cancun. Cancun is visited mostly by the US families and groups of young people – Spring breakers going there just to party, drink, party, drink and once again the same. However, Playa del Carmen is full of different kinds of people, including many young travelers/backpackers like us. But how many solo/budget backpackers would get an all inclusive holidays in one of the top hotels in Cancun?
beginning of 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen
Orientation
Playa del Carmen with its 150,000 inhabitants in 2010 is much smaller than Cancun (more than 600,000 in 2010) so it is easier to move through Playa. The streets are all numbered in an easy way to remember. You can walk whole Playa del Carmen and get to know it well very easily.
The main street is the 5th Avenue (Quinta Avenida in Spanish) and it is parallel to the sea shore and full of small hotels, shops, souvenirs, rentals, travel agencies, banks, restaurants (Mexican, Italian, Japanese etc), simply said with anything a tourist/traveler needs. More hotels are situated between the 5a Avenida and the beach. And the main bus station is just a few minutes walking from the beach, too.
If you want to see the life of the locals, in Playa del Carmen you can just head off to 30th North Avenue (Treinta Avenida Norte) which is just 5 streets from the 5th (10, 15, 20, 25, 30) but not crowded with tourists. And It has a Walmart shopping centre and the best restaurants with healthy food as well. I was there every day at least once.
But in Cancun, if you’d like to dig deeper into the local life, you would have to take a bus or an expensive taxi to the town centre which can be up to even 30 km from the hotel zone (Kukulcan Avenue) at the beach.
I heard almost no tourists go there, and I have to say that during my 3 days in Cancun, the only non-Mexicans in the Cancun centre was me and my friend. But the souvenirs in there are so much cheaper than closer to the beach and easily you can run into a local fiesta.
No need to find the public entrances/exits to and from the beach in Playa del Carmen as you can choose any of the streets going to the beach – numbered 2,4,6,8,10 etc.
In Cancun there is just nine public exits with no other possibility to get to the beach, unless you stay in a hotel at the beach. In Playa del Carmen, the hotels are not next to each other so between the hotels you can just pass to the beach without any problems. And if you get hungry at the beach in Playa, within 5 minutes walking you can find restaurants to order a meal. But in Cancun it’s more difficult.
Ferry to Cozumel from Playa del Carmen Avenida Juarez
Nearby places
Are you a lover of snorkel and scuba diving? Then Playa del Carmen is better than Cancun as it is closer to the 2nd biggest coral reef in the world – Cozumel island. You can take a ferry at Avenida Juarez (actually the street number 1) to get to Cozumel on your own and there for example try snorkel/scuba diving in Chankanaab National Park. Watching the underwater statues will be definitely an experience to remember.
Playa del Carmen is a lovely place to visit and enjoy. In my humble opinion, and in the opinion of many Mexicans I talked to, Playa del Carmen is better than Cancun in many ways, it’s cheaper, less snobbish, more friendly, easy walkable and close to some great interesting places, such as the biggest world aquarium Xel-ha, really hot Tulum ruins at the beach or Coba ruins in the jungle.
Damien
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Hi there, i am going to playa del carmen in January 2015. I am a single Australian in my early 30’s and looking for the best place to stay for my age group. I have seen a lot of great all inclusive resort deals but i am worries i will be stuck in a resort with familys and old people. Do you have any recommendations of where to stay. I want to meet people, party, relax.
Thanks
Brenda
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Hi, im goin in two weeks and also trying to find a nice place to stay for solo travelers in early 30s… Where did you end up staying? Any recommendation?
Bianca M
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Thanks for the article :) I agree, although Cancun is great for a visit and the water is beautiful, Playa wins hands down. I just find Cancun to be to commercial, I prefer a smaller place with a more laid back vibe!
victoria
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I’m currently looking for a place to stay in. Could you please refer me to where you were?
Hans Jonas Hansen
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Because of all the blog posts about Cancun and Playa del Carmen my girlfriend and I chose to stay in Playa del Carmen for one month. We are staying in a neighborhood where there is a lot of locals. The food is so cheap here. In downtown Playa del Carmen it’s more expensive.
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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So jealous of you guys! I miss that place.
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler via Facebook
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bikini and beach clothes is very light, no help needed Bill Dolezal :P
Bill Dolezal via Facebook
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U can hire me to carry your bags…ha!!!
crazy sexy fun traveler
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Comment@ http://www.travelwithkevinandruth.com:
Oh yes, I have visited Huatulco and some of its beaches. Really lovely over there!
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler via Facebook
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probably soon :)
Bill Dolezal via Facebook
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Time to return to Mexico?
www.travelwithkevinandruth.com
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We agree that Cancun is very touristy and that Playa del Carmen is a better place to be. For us it is still too touristy though. Have you tried any on the beaches on the Pacific coast. Hualtuco has a beautiful beach called Playa La Entrega where the snorkeling is fantastic. https://www.travelwithkevinandruth.com/2009/02/near-playa-la-entrega.html Hardly any American/Canadian tourists go there but it is a busy place with mostly Mexican tourists. We love it there. There are also other beaches all up the coast to just before Acapulco that you could have almost to yourself rarely see a tourist other than Mexicans, prices are much, much cheaper.
crazy sexy fun travelerc
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Comment@ Ruth (Tanama Tales):
Definitely, me too. Cancun beautiful beach is not enough for me to like it.
Ruth (Tanama Tales)
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Totally agree with you girl!!! I found Cancun boring. I didn’t like the hotel zone or how the hotels take ownership of the beach. I believe this is a place for people staying at the resorts. It is difficult to find it interesting when you are an independent traveler. Like you said, I believe people should get a taste of both and decide by themselves. I chose Playa.
crazy sexy fun traveler
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Comment@ Sandy:
Sandy, no worries, all the tourists usually take a normal all inclusive holidays in Cancun … their lost!
crazy sexy fun traveler
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Comment@ Tony and Cheri:
Thanks, I hope so! Playa del Carmen is one of my favorite places in Mexico!
Sandy
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Shh! Please do not tell too many people this info.!…We want people to stay in Cancun!!!! as we do not want Player to turn into Cancun!!…
Tony and Cheri
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Great article. You really captured the essence of our little town.
crazy sexy fun traveler
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Comment@ melo villareal:
Thanks Melo, I need to go back to Mexico :)
melo villareal
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beautiful photos, Mexico is also on my bucket list:)
crazy sexy fun traveler
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Good you agree with me :) Playa is better for backpackers :)
Globetrottergirls
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These photos make us want to go back to Playa! We spent a month there last year and loved the beach. We took a day trip to Cancun and couldn’t stand it, and we were happy that we didn’t stay there, but in Playa instead.