Cancún Airport to Playa del Carmen

How far is Playa del Carmen from Cancún Airport?

Playa del Carmen is about 55 km (34 miles) from Cancún Airport (CUN). We schedule 55 minutes for the drive. Flying home, allow about 4 hours 10 minutes before departure: that is the check-in lead, the drive back and a traffic buffer, and it is the same calculation we use to set your return pickup.

How to get from Cancún Airport to Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen sits about halfway down the Riviera Maya on Highway 307, so the drive is a straight run south with no turns to speak of until you reach the town itself. The road is divided the whole way and the only real slow point before Playa is Puerto Morelos, where the limit drops and there are bumps at the junction. Once you come off the highway, the time to your hotel depends on which side of town you are on: the Quinta Avenida blocks near the ferry pier are a few minutes from the exit, while the newer developments north towards Xcalacoco add a little.

Our scheduled drive is 55 minutes. In practice the variation is small compared with the longer runs south, and it is mostly at the Cancun end in the late afternoon. If you are arriving on a day when a cruise ship is in, the streets immediately around the ferry pier get busy, which affects the last five minutes rather than the drive.

A private transfer takes you from arrivals to the hotel door with one fixed price and a driver who waits for your actual landing time. ADO runs frequent buses from the airport terminals to the bus station in the middle of Playa, which is a genuinely good option if your hotel is walkable from Quinta Avenida and you are not carrying much. The Tren Maya stops at Playa del Carmen as well, clear of road traffic, with a connection at the far end. Taxis queue at the airport, and a rental car is worth it if you plan to drive to Tulum, the cenotes or Valladolid during the week.

Playa is also the mainland end of the Cozumel ferry. If the island is part of your trip, the pier is in the centre of town, so arriving here by road and walking to the boat is the usual way people do it.

Cancún Airport to Playa del Carmen transfer prices

One all-in price for the whole vehicle, not per person. Tolls and taxes included.

New to Cancún Airport? Read the Cancún Airport guide for terminals, arrivals and the walk to your ride.

Flying home instead? Book the Playa del Carmen to Cancún Airport direction.

Free cancellation

Choose your vehicle

Van (Toyota Hiace)

• Up to 6
• 8 bags

$99 all-in

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Van (7–9)

• Up to 9
• 10 bags

$115 all-in

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Van / Minibus (10–13)

• Up to 13
• 14 bags

$140 all-in

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Sprinter (14–20)

• Up to 20
• 20 bags

$165 all-in

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Suburban VIP

• Up to 5
• 5 bags

$145 all-in

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Resorts we serve in Playa del Carmen

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