TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE CANCUN AIRPORT
Prior to your visit, you will be contacted by our property management company (Moskito) regarding meeting you at the condo. They will provide you with a set of directions and coordinate this meeting with you. Because our condo is sometimes difficult to locate the first time, I also like to send our guests a more detailed description of how to get to the condo, including pictures. I am sure this is overkill, but I just hate the thought of a guest of ours being stranded and lost! I will send this information to you a few weeks before your trip. If you would like it sooner, you can let me know.
You will need to make arrangements for getting from the airport in Cancun to Playa del Carmen. Moskito can help you with that, or you can “do it yourself” by using the information provided here. Your choices will vary depending how many in your party, and what time of day or night you are arriving, and your budget. If you are thinking about renting a car, go to the bottom of this page where I discuss Getting Around Town and visit the links to learn more about renting cars.
TAXIS AND SHUTTLES
Taxis run somewhere around $80-115 US dollars from the airport to Playa del Carmen. They will take you straight to the condo, so they are the fastest option. If you choose to take a taxi and there are more than 2 of you with lots of luggage, be sure and tell them that you need a van when you purchase your ticket. Pay for your taxi at the counter/booth in the airport (location is described later in this section) and they will give you a ticket/receipt. Take this and proceed all the way outside. Once you are outside, veer slightly to the left. Someone with airport clothing will approach you and look at your ticket and direct you where to stand and wait for your taxi. They will ask you where you are going. Tell them you are going to Playacar Phase 2 in Playa del Carmen and show them the directions provided to you. Don't pack these in your luggage!
Before you get into a taxi at the airport
Our condo complex is small, and not well known by name by taxi drivers. We will provide you with instructions to use to direct the taxi to the condo, but we would suggest getting a driver who speaks English at the airport if you choose this option and do not speak very much Spanish.
You need to also be sure that the taxi driver at least knows how to get you to Playacar Phase 2 (our neighborhood), in Playa del Carmen, so ask before you get in and leave. Some cab drivers at the airport are only familiar with Cancun and the very largest hotels in Playa. Worst case scenario and they get lost – hop out anywhere once you are in Playa del Carmen where you see lots of traffic and grab another taxi. The local (Playa) cab drivers ALL know where the neighborhood is, and this shouldn’t add more than $5 US to your expense. Much better, in my opinion, than fretting and driving around for an hour, lost at the end of your travel day.
To take a taxi back to the airport to go home, you can flag one down anywhere in town and negotiate a price. It is generally cheaper going the other way.
Airport shuttles
We are not big fans of the shuttles that you purchase at the airport ticket counter – they are geared more towards the large hotels, and may or may not take you straight to the condo. They will most likely be more expensive and, with all of the stops that they make with other guests, it can take 2-3X as long to reach your final destination. If you choose to take a shuttle, it is best to pre-arrange and pay for it before you leave home (see next category).
Pre-arranged shuttles
There are also quite a few shuttle companies who will pick you up and shuttle you straight to our place - these are a better option than the ones at the airport counters. You should arrange for these before your trip. Moskito, our managers, have some options you can consider. They cost around 85 dollars. Or you can just google "Playa del Carmen airport transportation" and several listings will show up for you to research. You do not share the ride with others and they will take you directly to the condo. This is probably the best option, other than the bus, especially for more than 3 people. You will still need the directions to the condo that we will send you before you leave home.
To find your pre-arranged shuttle at the airport, pass by the ticket counters and all of the other “vendors” trying to stop you on your way outside. Once you are outside, look for someone with a sign of the shuttle company you have paid for. Your name should be on their list.
TAKING THE BUS
This is our preferred mode of transportation, as long as we don’t arrive too late at night and only have 2 or 3 in our party. You purchase your tickets, which are the equivalent of about $12 US per person, outside at the bus. This is not your average bus - they are new, clean, air conditioned and show movies (in Spanish). They also have restrooms on them but I have never wanted to use a bus restroom no matter how clean it might be. But it is nice to have the option if you need it!
Timing
The primary disadvantage to the bus is that during some times of the day they only run once per hour. If your timing is bad and you arrive as one is just pulling away, you could have a wait. There is the little beer hut right by the buses to pass the time. You will generally wait 10-20 minutes before getting loaded into a taxi anyway, so we like to save money and take the bus. They can tell you when the next bus is leaving, so just ask them before your ticket is purchased. If it is too long of a wait for you, you can select another option. FYI – I believe that bus frequencies after 7:00pm are even farther apart, and the last bus leaves around 9:30pm, so if you are coming in on a late flight, this may not be the best option.
Finding the bus
As of this writing in the spring of 2016, there is a lot of construction at the airport in both terminals 2 and 3. I used to be able to provide guests with step by step instructions for finding the bus, but it now changes on a weekly or monthly basis. So you are just best off asking someone for directions to the "ADO" once you are outside. The problem may be that many people will try to talk you into their transportation option so just be prepared to find someone else to ask if you are getting the runaround. I find that those with the "official Taxi" shirts often are the most helpful. You are looking for a big white bus that says “ADO” in red on it. Often they will also have “aeropuerto” marked on the side. There are a few variations of the look of the bus, but they are all white with red, and have ADO on them. The buses generally arrive in their parking spot 5 minutes or so before they leave, so they are not there all the time – don’t panic if you get to the right spot and nothing is there – that is why it is helpful to know when they are leaving. Before getting on, be sure that the front panel of the ADO bus says “Playa del Carmen”, and not “Cancun”! Those two buses look the same, but the destination is clearly marked on the front of the bus. Of course, it will say “aeropuerto” on the front as it is pulling in, wait to see it change.
The bus will take you into Playa del Carmen to the main bus terminal on Juarez and 5th Avenue. Sometimes the bus will make a brief stop after about 15 minutes in Puerto Morelos to let a few people off. Don’t get off here. Wait until you reach the very last stop and everyone gets off. Taxis are plentiful here and will take you to the condo for about $5-7 US, or you can walk which is what we normally do unless it is just too hot or we have lots of luggage.
Bus back to the airport
If you want to take the bus back to the airport to go home, just go to the main bus station at 5th Avenue and Juarez (where you were dropped off) the day before you leave to inquire about the schedule and buy a ticket. These buses are normally full, so don’t wait til the last minute to buy your ticket. Allow an hour and 20 minutes for travel to the airport and plan to arrive at the airport 3 hours prior to your flight. Don’t skimp on this - they often hand check your bags and the lines can be awfully long, especially on Saturday afternoons or with the construction. On the bus ride back to the airport, you should sit in the assigned seat on your ticket.
BUYING YOUR TICKETS FOR THE BUS, SHUTTLES OR TAXI
Once you exit customs where you have played the "red light, green light game", you will be bombarded by people who will be asking you questions, all with the intent of getting you into THEIR mode of transportation, timeshare presentation, etc. Do not stop to talk to any of these people or you will never get away.
If you didn’t arrange for transportation before coming down, you can buy tickets for taxis, shuttles (higher priced than if you arrange ahead) and the bus just after you leave customs.
HINT: Go to the bathroom before you get into your transportation – it is a 45 minute ride to the condo. The bathrooms are located on the back side of the little palapa beer hut if you didn't go before picking up your luggage.
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR GETTING AROUND TOWN
Taxis are plentiful and very easy to find. You can hail one easily on most streets. Most taxi rides will cost you from $3 - $8 US. Check out our tab on taxi rates for more info. They are also available to take you outside of Playa del Carmen. There is some rate information on these side trips in the condo. As you might imagine, this is the most expensive option for trips out of town.
Walking - We normally walk most everywhere, unless we buy lots of groceries and then we take a cab home from the store. We find that we enjoy walking in Playa, much more than at home. Plus, we need the exercise with all of the great food we eat while here! Our condo’s location means most everything we want to do is close by.
Colectivos are another great choice, but are not for everyone. These are generally white vans with turquoise markings that drive a route, similar to a city bus, and people get on and get off by flagging the driver down. They are great for exploring up and down the highway such as going to Tulum (the town, not the ruins), Akumal, Puerto Aventuras, etc. But they are often crowded and will stop many times. There are not normally many tourists on board. The cheap price, about $3 US all the way to Tulum, is more than worth it for us. There are very specific instructions in the guidebook in the condo for using the colectivos. Read it before you try, as there are not usually many people on board who speak English. It’s an easy system to use, however, once you know the basics. To compare, our favorite side trip is Akumal, which is about $25 US one way by taxi. Good info here on colectivos: http://www.travelyucatan.com/collectivo.php
Taking the bus is an easy and inexpensive way to see the Riviera Maya. The signs are all in Spanish, but you can walk into the bus station at the corner of Juarez and 5th Avenue and inquire at the ticket window the time and cost of any ticket. We have always found someone who speaks English at the window. The buses are nice, air conditioned and very clean.
We used to rent a car when we came to this area, but that was before we bought this lovely condo that is in the perfect location and close to everything! This is always an option if you plan to do lots of travel, but please research this carefully on the internet before you do. There are lots of things that you need to know before renting a car in Mexico, including several popular scams to be aware of. (Good info on www.travelyucatan.com, “Things to Know” http://www.travelyucatan.com/trans-1.htm).
Prior to your visit, you will be contacted by our property management company (Moskito) regarding meeting you at the condo. They will provide you with a set of directions and coordinate this meeting with you. Because our condo is sometimes difficult to locate the first time, I also like to send our guests a more detailed description of how to get to the condo, including pictures. I am sure this is overkill, but I just hate the thought of a guest of ours being stranded and lost! I will send this information to you a few weeks before your trip. If you would like it sooner, you can let me know.
You will need to make arrangements for getting from the airport in Cancun to Playa del Carmen. Moskito can help you with that, or you can “do it yourself” by using the information provided here. Your choices will vary depending how many in your party, and what time of day or night you are arriving, and your budget. If you are thinking about renting a car, go to the bottom of this page where I discuss Getting Around Town and visit the links to learn more about renting cars.
TAXIS AND SHUTTLES
Taxis run somewhere around $80-115 US dollars from the airport to Playa del Carmen. They will take you straight to the condo, so they are the fastest option. If you choose to take a taxi and there are more than 2 of you with lots of luggage, be sure and tell them that you need a van when you purchase your ticket. Pay for your taxi at the counter/booth in the airport (location is described later in this section) and they will give you a ticket/receipt. Take this and proceed all the way outside. Once you are outside, veer slightly to the left. Someone with airport clothing will approach you and look at your ticket and direct you where to stand and wait for your taxi. They will ask you where you are going. Tell them you are going to Playacar Phase 2 in Playa del Carmen and show them the directions provided to you. Don't pack these in your luggage!
Before you get into a taxi at the airport
Our condo complex is small, and not well known by name by taxi drivers. We will provide you with instructions to use to direct the taxi to the condo, but we would suggest getting a driver who speaks English at the airport if you choose this option and do not speak very much Spanish.
You need to also be sure that the taxi driver at least knows how to get you to Playacar Phase 2 (our neighborhood), in Playa del Carmen, so ask before you get in and leave. Some cab drivers at the airport are only familiar with Cancun and the very largest hotels in Playa. Worst case scenario and they get lost – hop out anywhere once you are in Playa del Carmen where you see lots of traffic and grab another taxi. The local (Playa) cab drivers ALL know where the neighborhood is, and this shouldn’t add more than $5 US to your expense. Much better, in my opinion, than fretting and driving around for an hour, lost at the end of your travel day.
To take a taxi back to the airport to go home, you can flag one down anywhere in town and negotiate a price. It is generally cheaper going the other way.
Airport shuttles
We are not big fans of the shuttles that you purchase at the airport ticket counter – they are geared more towards the large hotels, and may or may not take you straight to the condo. They will most likely be more expensive and, with all of the stops that they make with other guests, it can take 2-3X as long to reach your final destination. If you choose to take a shuttle, it is best to pre-arrange and pay for it before you leave home (see next category).
Pre-arranged shuttles
There are also quite a few shuttle companies who will pick you up and shuttle you straight to our place - these are a better option than the ones at the airport counters. You should arrange for these before your trip. Moskito, our managers, have some options you can consider. They cost around 85 dollars. Or you can just google "Playa del Carmen airport transportation" and several listings will show up for you to research. You do not share the ride with others and they will take you directly to the condo. This is probably the best option, other than the bus, especially for more than 3 people. You will still need the directions to the condo that we will send you before you leave home.
To find your pre-arranged shuttle at the airport, pass by the ticket counters and all of the other “vendors” trying to stop you on your way outside. Once you are outside, look for someone with a sign of the shuttle company you have paid for. Your name should be on their list.
TAKING THE BUS
This is our preferred mode of transportation, as long as we don’t arrive too late at night and only have 2 or 3 in our party. You purchase your tickets, which are the equivalent of about $12 US per person, outside at the bus. This is not your average bus - they are new, clean, air conditioned and show movies (in Spanish). They also have restrooms on them but I have never wanted to use a bus restroom no matter how clean it might be. But it is nice to have the option if you need it!
Timing
The primary disadvantage to the bus is that during some times of the day they only run once per hour. If your timing is bad and you arrive as one is just pulling away, you could have a wait. There is the little beer hut right by the buses to pass the time. You will generally wait 10-20 minutes before getting loaded into a taxi anyway, so we like to save money and take the bus. They can tell you when the next bus is leaving, so just ask them before your ticket is purchased. If it is too long of a wait for you, you can select another option. FYI – I believe that bus frequencies after 7:00pm are even farther apart, and the last bus leaves around 9:30pm, so if you are coming in on a late flight, this may not be the best option.
Finding the bus
As of this writing in the spring of 2016, there is a lot of construction at the airport in both terminals 2 and 3. I used to be able to provide guests with step by step instructions for finding the bus, but it now changes on a weekly or monthly basis. So you are just best off asking someone for directions to the "ADO" once you are outside. The problem may be that many people will try to talk you into their transportation option so just be prepared to find someone else to ask if you are getting the runaround. I find that those with the "official Taxi" shirts often are the most helpful. You are looking for a big white bus that says “ADO” in red on it. Often they will also have “aeropuerto” marked on the side. There are a few variations of the look of the bus, but they are all white with red, and have ADO on them. The buses generally arrive in their parking spot 5 minutes or so before they leave, so they are not there all the time – don’t panic if you get to the right spot and nothing is there – that is why it is helpful to know when they are leaving. Before getting on, be sure that the front panel of the ADO bus says “Playa del Carmen”, and not “Cancun”! Those two buses look the same, but the destination is clearly marked on the front of the bus. Of course, it will say “aeropuerto” on the front as it is pulling in, wait to see it change.
The bus will take you into Playa del Carmen to the main bus terminal on Juarez and 5th Avenue. Sometimes the bus will make a brief stop after about 15 minutes in Puerto Morelos to let a few people off. Don’t get off here. Wait until you reach the very last stop and everyone gets off. Taxis are plentiful here and will take you to the condo for about $5-7 US, or you can walk which is what we normally do unless it is just too hot or we have lots of luggage.
Bus back to the airport
If you want to take the bus back to the airport to go home, just go to the main bus station at 5th Avenue and Juarez (where you were dropped off) the day before you leave to inquire about the schedule and buy a ticket. These buses are normally full, so don’t wait til the last minute to buy your ticket. Allow an hour and 20 minutes for travel to the airport and plan to arrive at the airport 3 hours prior to your flight. Don’t skimp on this - they often hand check your bags and the lines can be awfully long, especially on Saturday afternoons or with the construction. On the bus ride back to the airport, you should sit in the assigned seat on your ticket.
BUYING YOUR TICKETS FOR THE BUS, SHUTTLES OR TAXI
Once you exit customs where you have played the "red light, green light game", you will be bombarded by people who will be asking you questions, all with the intent of getting you into THEIR mode of transportation, timeshare presentation, etc. Do not stop to talk to any of these people or you will never get away.
If you didn’t arrange for transportation before coming down, you can buy tickets for taxis, shuttles (higher priced than if you arrange ahead) and the bus just after you leave customs.
HINT: Go to the bathroom before you get into your transportation – it is a 45 minute ride to the condo. The bathrooms are located on the back side of the little palapa beer hut if you didn't go before picking up your luggage.
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR GETTING AROUND TOWN
Taxis are plentiful and very easy to find. You can hail one easily on most streets. Most taxi rides will cost you from $3 - $8 US. Check out our tab on taxi rates for more info. They are also available to take you outside of Playa del Carmen. There is some rate information on these side trips in the condo. As you might imagine, this is the most expensive option for trips out of town.
Walking - We normally walk most everywhere, unless we buy lots of groceries and then we take a cab home from the store. We find that we enjoy walking in Playa, much more than at home. Plus, we need the exercise with all of the great food we eat while here! Our condo’s location means most everything we want to do is close by.
Colectivos are another great choice, but are not for everyone. These are generally white vans with turquoise markings that drive a route, similar to a city bus, and people get on and get off by flagging the driver down. They are great for exploring up and down the highway such as going to Tulum (the town, not the ruins), Akumal, Puerto Aventuras, etc. But they are often crowded and will stop many times. There are not normally many tourists on board. The cheap price, about $3 US all the way to Tulum, is more than worth it for us. There are very specific instructions in the guidebook in the condo for using the colectivos. Read it before you try, as there are not usually many people on board who speak English. It’s an easy system to use, however, once you know the basics. To compare, our favorite side trip is Akumal, which is about $25 US one way by taxi. Good info here on colectivos: http://www.travelyucatan.com/collectivo.php
Taking the bus is an easy and inexpensive way to see the Riviera Maya. The signs are all in Spanish, but you can walk into the bus station at the corner of Juarez and 5th Avenue and inquire at the ticket window the time and cost of any ticket. We have always found someone who speaks English at the window. The buses are nice, air conditioned and very clean.
We used to rent a car when we came to this area, but that was before we bought this lovely condo that is in the perfect location and close to everything! This is always an option if you plan to do lots of travel, but please research this carefully on the internet before you do. There are lots of things that you need to know before renting a car in Mexico, including several popular scams to be aware of. (Good info on www.travelyucatan.com, “Things to Know” http://www.travelyucatan.com/trans-1.htm).