Playa del Carmen travel guide

Air

There are flights to Cozumel from the nearby airstrip, speak to a tourist office in Playa del Carmen about chartering a plane.

Bus

The ADO bus terminal is on Av Juárez between Av 5 and 10. All buses depart from here. The following prices and times are for ADO buses (1st class, a/c, usually showing a video on longer journeys); Premier, also 1st class; Maya de Oro, supposed to be 1st class but quality of buses can be poor; OCC, good 1st-class service. To Cancún, frequent departures, 1½ hrs, US$3; 2nd-class services with Mayab, less frequent, US$2. To Cancún airport, Riviera, frequent between 0700 and 1915, 1 hr, US$6.50. To Chetumal, ADO, frequent departures, 4½ hrs, US$14.50; and many 2nd-class buses. To Chichén Itzá, 4 departures, 0610, 0730, 0800, 1150, 4 hrs, US$8.50-15.50. To Mérida, frequent departures, 5 hrs, US$20.50. To Mexico City, ADO, 1230, 1930, 2130, 24½ hrs, US$87. To San Cristóbal de las Casas, OCC, 1545, 1715, 2200, 16 hrs, US$46.50; and an ADO GL, 1900, US$55.50; and 3 TRF departures, US$30. To Tulum, frequent departures, 1 hr, US$3.50. To Valladolid, frequent, 3 hrs, US$8.50 (most buses going to Mérida stop at Valladolid. 2nd-class buses to Valladolid go via Tulum). To Xcaret, frequent departures, 15 mins, US$0.80. To Xel Há, frequent departures, 1 hr, US$3.50.

Car hire

Avis, Av 20, between Calle 4 and 6, T984-803 0713; Budget, Hwy 307 southbound and Calle 34, T984-873 2772; Executive, Av 5a between Calle 10 and 12, T984-873 0477, Happy Rent a Car, Av 10a and Constituyentes, T984-873 1739; Hertz Rent-a-Car, Highway 307 and Calle 12, T984-873 2151; Rodar, Av 5a between Calle 2 and 4, T984-873 0088.

Ferry

Ferries to Cozumel depart from the main dock, just off the plaza. There are 2 competing companies, right next to each other, journeys take 30 mins with both, hourly departures on the hour from 0500 until 2200, US$20 return, more to bring a car across. Buy ticket 1 hr before journey.

Taxi

Cancún airport US$35. Beware of those who charge only US$5 as they are likely to charge an extra US$20 for luggage. Tours to Tulum and Xel-Há from kiosk by boat dock are around US$30; tours to Tulum, Xel-Há and Xcaret, 5-6 hrs, US$60; taxi to Xcaret US$6.65. Taxis congregate on the Av Juárez side of the square (Sindicato Lázaro Cárdenas del Río, T998-873 0032).

Banks

Banamex, Av Juárez between Calle 20 and 25. A few doors down is Santander. Bancomer, Av Juárez between Calle 25 and 30. Banorte, Av 5 between Av Juárez and the beach. Inverlat, Av 5 between Av Juárez and Calle 2. HSBC, Av Juárez between Calle 10 and 15, also at Av 30 between Calle 4 and 6. There are several casas de cambio along Av 5, which change TCs with no commission. Count your money carefully as short changing is not uncommon and rates can be hit and miss.

Immigration office

Centro Comercial, Plaza Antigua, Av 10 Sur, T984- 873 1884.

Internet

All the cybercafés in town charge between US$1.50-2 per hour.

Laundry

Av Juárez, 2 blocks from bus station; another on Av 5. Maya Laundry, Av 5 between Calle 2 and Calle 4, Mon-Sat 0800-2100. Laundry in by 1000, ready in the afternoon, many others around town.

Medical services

Dentist: Perla de Rocha Torres, Av 20 Norte between 4 and 6, T984-873 0021, speaks English. Recommended. International Medical Services: Dr Victor Macías Orosco, Av 35 between Calle 2 and 4, T984-873 0493. 24-hr emergency service, land and air ambulance, ultrasound, most major insurance accepted. Tourist Divers Medical Centre, Dr Mario Abarca, Av 10 between Av Juárez and Calle 2, T984-873 0512. Air and land ambulance service, hyperbaric and diving medicine, affiliated with South Miami Hospital, all insurance accepted.

Police

Av Juárez, T984-873 0291.

Post office

Calle 2 and Av 20, Mon-Fri 0800-1700, Sat 0900-1300.