How to Get from Cancun to Playa del Carmen
Reviewed by Jean Nájera, Transportation Industry Expert
Need Playa del Carmen → Cancun? See the reverse guide.From Cancun to Playa del Carmen, the ADO bus is the easy choice: US$7 to US$8 per person from the downtown terminal and about 1 hour 10 minutes on the road.
Buses leave from early morning until close to midnight.
For two or more people, or if you are going straight to your hotel, a private transfer from US$74 per vehicle takes you door to door in about an hour.
The detail everyone misses: the bus leaves from downtown Cancun, not the Hotel Zone.
From a Hotel Zone resort, add 20 to 30 minutes and a taxi or city bus to the terminal.
A shuttle or private transfer with hotel pickup avoids that. If you are flying in, ADO also runs direct buses from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen.
At a glance
- Distance: about 68 km south on Highway 307
- Cheapest: colectivo, about 60 to 100 MXN per person
- Best for most people: the ADO bus, US$7 to US$8 per person
- Best for two or more: a private transfer, from US$74 per vehicle, hotel to hotel
- Avoid: counting on Uber for the return. Uber works in Cancun, but pickups in Playa del Carmen are unreliable
Cancun to Playa del Carmen transport options
Compare fares and travel times, then select an option for pickup and booking details.
| Transport | Estimated fare | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| ADO busDirect public transport | Estimated fareUS$7 to US$8per person | Travel time1h 05m to 1h 30m |
| Shared shuttleShared ride | Estimated fareUS$24per person | Travel timeAbout 1h |
| Private transferHotel to hotel | Estimated fareFrom US$74per vehicle (1 to 7 people) | Travel timeAbout 1h |
| ColectivoShared van | Estimated fare60 to 100 MXNper person | Travel timeAbout 1h to 1h 15m |
| Rental carSelf-drive | Estimated fareVaries by rentalplus fuel | Travel timeAbout 1h |
| Taxi or UberPoint to point | Estimated fareAgree the fare or check the appper vehicle | Travel timeAbout 1h, depending on traffic |
Fares and travel times are estimates. Confirm current prices, pickup details, and departures before booking.
More routes from Cancun
1. ADO bus, the one I’d book
ADO buses leave from the downtown terminal on Avenida Tulum, at the corner of Avenida Uxmal.
GuateGo lists 16 departures a day, from 6:10 in the morning to 23:59, at US$7 to US$8 per person.
Most take 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, depending on stops.
You arrive at the ADO terminal on Fifth Avenue at Avenida Juárez, in the center of Playa del Carmen.
Some departures use the second terminal on Calle 12 bis, so check your ticket. Both are walkable from most downtown hotels.
My verdict: the best value for solo travelers and couples. In high season, book a day ahead for the popular morning and afternoon buses.
Traveling light from downtown Cancun?
2. Shared shuttle, if you want a hotel drop-off
Shared vans run from Cancun to Playa del Carmen and drop you at your hotel.
GuateGo lists a shared shuttle at US$24 per person, about an hour on the road, with departures every hour from 8:00 to 20:00.
Bookaway listed other shared options from about US$17.
My verdict: worth it if you travel alone with luggage and want a drop-off at your door.
Want a drop-off at your hotel?
3. Private transfer, the best deal for groups
A driver picks you up at your Cancun hotel, downtown or Hotel Zone, and drops you at your hotel in Playa del Carmen in about an hour.
GuateGo lists US$74 for 1 to 7 passengers, US$88 for 8 to 10 and US$145 for 11 to 16, per vehicle.
My verdict: the one I would book for families, groups, or anyone leaving from a Hotel Zone resort. Split four ways, it costs under US$20 per person.
Two or more of you?
4. Colectivo, the cheapest
Shared white vans to Playa del Carmen leave from the stands on Avenida Uxmal, across from the ADO terminal.
They leave when full, usually every 10 to 15 minutes, and cost about 60 to 100 MXN per person.
The ride takes about an hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, with stops along the highway.
My verdict: fine with a small bag. With big suitcases, the bus is more comfortable for a few dollars more.
5. Rental car, for day trips along the coast
Playa del Carmen is about 68 km south on Highway 307, roughly an hour outside rush hour. A car lets you stop at Puerto Morelos or a cenote on the way.
Parking near Fifth Avenue is limited and often paid, so check with your hotel. To compare prices, see rental cars in Cancun.
My verdict: only worth it if you plan to keep exploring the Riviera Maya by car.
6. Taxi or Uber, a fallback
Uber works in Cancun, so you can ride from your hotel to Playa del Carmen. Getting one back is harder, since Uber pickups in Playa are unreliable.
Cancun taxis do not use meters for long trips, so agree on the fare before you get in.
My verdict: fine if you need to leave right now. For two or more people, a booked transfer usually costs less.
Arriving in Playa del Carmen
The main ADO terminal sits at Fifth Avenue and Avenida Juárez, a block from the beach and the main pedestrian street.
Most hotels in the center are a 5 to 15 minute walk.
For Playacar or hotels north of town, take a taxi from the rank by the terminal and agree on the fare first.
Haven’t booked a place yet? See hotels in Playa del Carmen.
Staying near Fifth Avenue keeps you walking distance from the bus and the Cozumel ferry.
Practical notes
Carry pesos. Colectivos and taxis take cash only.
Going to Cozumel? The ferry pier is a short walk from the ADO terminal in Playa del Carmen.
Heading back? See our Playa del Carmen to Cancun guide.
Tours in Playa del Carmen
From Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, the cenotes and Tulum make easy day trips.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the bus from Cancun to Playa del Carmen?
The ADO bus costs US$7 to US$8 per person from the downtown Cancun terminal.
How long does it take to get from Cancun to Playa del Carmen?
About 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by ADO bus, and about an hour by shuttle, private transfer or car.
Where does the bus to Playa del Carmen leave from in Cancun?
From the ADO terminal in downtown Cancun, on Avenida Tulum at Avenida Uxmal. From the Hotel Zone, take a taxi or the R-1 or R-2 city bus there first.
What time is the first and last bus from Cancun to Playa del Carmen?
Departures run from 6:10 in the morning until 23:59.
Where does the bus arrive in Playa del Carmen?
At the ADO terminal on Fifth Avenue and Avenida Juárez, in the center of town. Some buses use the terminal on Calle 12 bis.
How much is a private transfer from Cancun to Playa del Carmen?
From US$74 per vehicle for 1 to 7 passengers, with hotel pickup and drop-off.
What is the cheapest way from Cancun to Playa del Carmen?
The colectivo, for about 60 to 100 MXN per person, from the stands across from the ADO terminal.
Can I take Uber from Cancun to Playa del Carmen?
Yes, Uber works in Cancun. For the return, Uber pickups in Playa del Carmen are unreliable, so plan on a bus, colectivo or booked transfer.
Planning more of your Mexico trip?
Prices last verified: November 2026. Sources: ADO, shared shuttle and private transfer fares, times and departures from GuateGo’s live listings; other shared shuttle fares from Bookaway’s route page; colectivo fares and departure point from local travel guides.
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AnaMaria is a dedicated SEO specialist and content strategist with profound expertise in Transport in Costa Rica, Transportation in Mexico, Transport in Guatemala, Transport in Peru, and Transport in Thailand.
- About the Author
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Jean Nájera is the CEO of GuateGo, an online marketplace to buy transportation tickets in more than 200 cities. He has profound expertise in Transport in Costa Rica, Transportation in Mexico, Transport in Guatemala, Transport in Peru, and Transport in Thailand.
