Playa del Carmen Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Playa del Carmen tours, the heart of the Riviera Maya: the Mayan wonder of Chichen Itza, the clifftop ruins of Tulum, swimming in crystal-clear cenotes, snorkelling with sea turtles and whale sharks, the eco-parks of Xcaret, Xel-Há and Xplor, sailing to Isla Mujeres, and thrilling ATV and zipline adventures. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Caribbean trip.
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Explore Playa del Carmen by interest
Whatever brings you to Playa del Carmen — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Chichen Itza
A wonder of the world.
ExploreTulum ruins
Ruins above the sea.
ExploreCenotes & snorkeling
Sinkholes and turtles.
ExploreEco-parks
Xcaret, Xel-Há, Xplor.
ExploreIsla Mujeres
Catamaran island day.
ExploreATV & adventure
Jungle thrills.
ExploreWhale sharks
Swim with giants.
ExploreDay trips
Cozumel and beyond.
ExploreTop attractions in Playa del Carmen
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Chichen Itza
The great pyramid.
Tulum Ruins
Ruins above the sea.
Cenotes
Crystal sinkholes.
Xcaret
Eco-park and show.
Isla Mujeres
Catamaran island.
Jungle Adventure
ATVs and ziplines.
Akumal
Swim with turtles.
Cozumel
Diving island.
Playa del Carmen in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Chichen Itza
- 2Day 2: Tulum & cenote
- 3Valladolid
- 4Sea turtles
Playa del Carmen in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Chichen Itza
- 2Day 2: Tulum & cenote
- 3Day 3: Eco-park
- 4Ruins, cenotes & fun
2.5 hrs awayChichen Itza
A wonder of the world.
1 hr awayTulum
Ruins above the sea.
Near the city awayXcaret
Eco-park and show.
Boat trip awayIsla Mujeres
Catamaran island.
30 min awayAkumal Turtles
Snorkel with turtles.
Ferry awayCozumel
Diving island.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Playa del Carmen visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
December to April brings warm, sunny, dry weather — the prime time to visit Playa del Carmen, though also the busiest and priciest.
Peak season (Dec–Apr)
Warm, dry and sunny, perfect for ruins, cenotes and beaches; book well ahead as the Riviera Maya fills up.
Shoulder (May & Nov)
Still warm and sunny with fewer crowds and better deals, with only occasional showers — great value.
Whale shark season
From roughly June to September you can snorkel with whale sharks — a magical seasonal highlight.
Rainy season (Jun–Oct)
Hotter and more humid with afternoon showers and a small hurricane risk; lush, green and cheapest.
Sargassum seaweed
Seaweed can wash up on beaches mostly in spring and summer; cenotes, parks and ruins are unaffected.
One day
Tulum, a cenote and sea turtles.
Two days
Add the wonder of Chichen Itza.
Three days
The sweet spot: Chichen Itza, Tulum and an eco-park.
Four to five days
Add Isla Mujeres, Cozumel and adventure tours.
A week or more
Relax on the beach and explore the whole Riviera Maya.
Travelling with kids
Mix eco-parks, cenotes and beaches.
On foot
Playa’s heart, including the lively Fifth Avenue (Quinta Avenida), beach and restaurants, is very walkable.
Tour transfers
Most tours — Chichen Itza, Tulum, cenotes and eco-parks — include hotel pickup, the easiest way to get around.
Colectivos
Shared colectivo vans run cheaply along the highway to Tulum, cenotes and nearby towns.
Cozumel ferry
Frequent ferries cross from Playa del Carmen to the diving island of Cozumel in about 45 minutes.
Taxis & car hire
Taxis are plentiful (agree fares first); a hire car gives freedom to explore cenotes and ruins at your own pace.
From the airport
Cancún Airport is about an hour from Playa del Carmen by pre-booked transfer, shuttle or bus.
Money & currency
Mexico uses the peso, though US dollars are widely accepted; carry pesos for colectivos, tips and small vendors, and cards work in most places.
Reef-safe sun care
Bring reef-safe (biodegradable) sunscreen — it’s required at cenotes and eco-parks to protect the water and reefs.
Book pickup tours
Choose tours with hotel pickup, as the Riviera Maya’s sights are spread along the coast and inland.
Start Chichen Itza early
Set off early for Chichen Itza to beat the heat and the biggest crowds.
Tip your guides
Tipping guides, drivers and servers is customary and appreciated in Mexico.
Pre-book popular tours
Chichen Itza, eco-parks and whale sharks fill up — book ahead.
Chichen Itza
Popular full-day tours sell out — book ahead.
Eco-parks
Xcaret, Xel-Há and Xplor tickets are in demand — reserve early.
Whale sharks
Seasonal tours have limited places — pre-book.
Tulum tours
Tulum and cenote combos are busy — book ahead.
Isla Mujeres
Catamaran sails fill up — reserve early.
Winter high season
December–April is busy — plan ahead.
Chichen Itza
Around €50–100 for a Chichen Itza day tour with cenote.
Tulum & cenote
About €40–80 for a Tulum, cenote and turtle tour.
Eco-parks
Roughly €100–160 for Xcaret, Xel-Há or Xplor with transport.
Isla Mujeres
Around €60–110 for a catamaran sail with open bar.
Whale sharks
About €120–180 for a seasonal whale-shark snorkelling tour.
How to save
Join group tours, use colectivos for cenotes and Tulum, and travel in the shoulder months.
Playa del Carmen through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Dry, sunny weather.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Ideal; book ahead.
- Best for
- Sun and value.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great; occasional rain.
- Best for
- Swim with giants.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Hot, humid; special.
- Best for
- Low prices, green.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Showers; storm risk.