What is the best way to get around Playa del Carmen without a car?

Transportation 2 weeks ago 2 answers 38 views JJessica
I don't want to rent or buy a car. Is Playa walkable? How do taxis and colectivos work?

2 Answers

JimmyJimmy 2 weeks ago

Don't forget the option to use ride sharing app, called In-Drive.

AArturo 2 weeks ago

Playa is one of the most walkable cities in Mexico. Almost nobody I know here owns a car, you really don't need one.

Most of the city is on a simple grid. From the beach to about Avenida 40, and from Constituyentes down to the CTM area, everything is within a 15-20 minute walk. That covers restaurants, shops, the beach, everything.

The bicycle is king here. Most expats get around on bikes. You can buy a used one for $1,500-3,000 pesos or rent monthly for $800-1,500. We have bike lanes on the main avenues now. Just get a good lock, theft happens.

For taxis, there are no meters here. You agree on the price before getting in, always. Within centro it's $40-60 pesos. To Playacar $60-80. To Cancún airport $700-900, but for that you should book in advance through ADO or a trusted driver. InDriver and DiDi apps work here too and usually run 20-30% cheaper than flagging a cab on the street.

Colectivos are how most of us move between cities. These are shared vans running set routes, super cheap. To Cancún it's $52 pesos from the stand on Calle 2. To Tulum $45. They leave when they're full, which is every 10-15 minutes. You can also flag them down along the highway.

For longer trips, ADO buses are comfortable coaches. Cancún $98-200 pesos, Tulum $70-120, Mérida $400-700. The terminal is on 5th Ave and Juárez, or book at ado.com.mx.

Scooter rentals are popular too, $3,000-5,000 per month. Fun for exploring cenotes on weekends but be careful in the city. The roads have topes that appear out of nowhere and potholes that could swallow your wheel.

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