Sandos Hotels & Resorts' travel guide on Playa Del Carmen

Travel & Selling Tips / Sandos Hotels & Resorts' travel guide on Playa Del Carmen

HOT TIPS on getting around Riviera Maya

Every traveller goes their own way about moving around Playa del Carmen, but is it the most effective? Sandos Hotels & Resorts is giving out insiders tips for all of your clients’ options so that you can choose what’s best.

Heading off from the airport

1. Family & Group Travel

Is a shuttle included in your clients' reservation? More times than not, the answer will be "no".

Try using Seek & Go. It’s the best option when travelling with family or in a group of more than four people. As soon as they step outside the airport they will meet their personal driver.

Check out Seek & Go!

2. The trusty shuttle bus

If your clients don't mind shared transportation then there are shuttle buses that come to all 4 terminals of Cancun airport. It will take your clients to Playa del Carmen for just $10 USD on average.

How is the wait? The service is offered every half hour throughout the entirety of the day so your clients don’t have to wait too long nor do they need to worry if they just missed one.

Check out the Cancun Shuttle here!

3. Travelling private

There is an abundance of rental car agencies straight out of baggage claim if your clients are interested in driving themselves. If not then they can always take a taxi from Cancun Airport.

You can advise your clients that it would be approximately $90 USD to Sandos Caracol and $120 USD to Sandos Playacar. This price is for up-to 4 people for a regular taxi and up-to 12 people for a taxi van.

Going down Fifth Avenue

Playa del Carmen’s main pedestrian street runs North-to-South along the entirety of the city of Playa del Carmen. This makes it really simple to get there and tends to be a very easy route from any major hotel or resort.

1. Walk on by through Playacar

There are some residential areas and resort complexes that have their own routes or different transportation options despite being part of the city of Playa del Carmen.

There’s no better example of this than Playacar where most of the hotels are located.

The Playacar neighbourhood has its own security gates but if your clients are staying there, they will identify them by their hotel bracelet.

Tell them not to worry when walking through Playacar! They can enjoy the lush greenery on their way to the entrance, which takes them right to the beginning of 5th Avenue.

2. Driving down the city street

For those who prefer to reach 5th Avenue by car, they can take a taxi. As long as they’re within Playa del Carmen, the taxi rate will never be more than $20 USD (up to 4 people).

3. Cycle through the city

There are great perks when staying at Sandos Playacar. One of them? They lend out bikes, chains and locks to their guests.

The ride down to 5th Avenue would take just around 15 minutes.

From Playa Del Carmen to Tulum or South of the Riviera Maya

When visiting nearby towns, Sandos Hotels & Resorts recommends taking the public transportation available on the corner of 15th Avenue and 2nd Street. Your clients will easily spot the white vans with red stripes.

Getting to Cancun from Playa Del Carmen

1. Bus it!

To get to Cancun, have your clients make their way to the bus station located on the corner of Juarez Street and 5th Avenue (close to the entrance of Playacar).

The trip is comfortable since the bus is well-equipped with air conditioning, a TV, and reclining seats. As soon as they arrive to the Cancun bus station they can hop on the city bus to the Cancun Hotel Zone.

2. On a budget!

For the absolute cheapest option, your clients can try the public vans.

For Sandos Playacar they recommend taking the vans from their terminal (corner of 15th Avenue and 2nd Street). For Sandos Caracol they can flag down the public vans from the National Highway (outside the resort complex).

These vans go by around every 5 minutes during the day.

HOT TOP: Remember that on the way to Cancun, there is a small and popular beach town called Puerto Morelos, a top destination for divers and snorkelers that travellers can stop in. Let them know that of course they have to try the fresh seafood.

Travel to Cozumel

A visit to the nearby island of Cozumel is completely worth it. Use the above tips to get to 5th Avenue and from there head to the ferry dock (click here for a map) where your clients can buy boat tickets.

A round-trip boat ticket is $300 Pesos. The ferry includes live music, air conditioning and a TV. They’ll be in Cozumel in a quick 35 minutes.

Travel to Isla Mujeres

The second most popular nearby island is Isla Mujeres, located just off the coast of Cancun.

The good thing about the Hotel Zone is that it’s closer to the bus station while Puerto Juarez offers a less expensive and shorter trip to the island. So your clients can use either methods above to get there.

HOT TIP: Rent a golf cart while on Isla Mujeres!