6 Incredible Day Trips from Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is one of the best bases to explore the Riviera Maya.
Compared to Cancún, many of the top sights are closer, which means shorter transfers, more comfortable day trips, and less time stuck on the road.
Below I’m sharing the excursions that are truly worth doing from Playa del Carmen, based on my own experience. At the end, I’ll also show you how I’d plan them depending on whether you have 3 days, 5 days, or a full week.
⭐ Travel Essentials for Playa del Carmen
- Airport transfer: Pre-booking your transfer from Cancun Airport saves time and stress after landing.
- Accommodation: This 4-star hotel is perfectly located near the beach and Fifth Avenue. I share more details in my guide on where to stay in Playa del Carmen.
- Free walking tour: A great way to get oriented and learn a bit about the town.
- Travel insurance: Absolutely essential for Mexico. Medical care can get very expensive fast. I always travel insured and recommend booking in advance (you can get a discount here!)
6 Best Day Trips from Playa del Carmen
1. Chichén Itzá
Chichén Itzá is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
The stepped pyramid of Kukulkán is the most iconic image, but the site is huge, you’ll need at least two hours to explore it properly.
💡 From Playa del Carmen, I strongly recommend choosing a tour that combines Chichén Itzá with another stop, like Valladolid, a cenote, or even Cobá. It’s a long day, but incredibly complete and one of the best ways to experience Mayan ruins + nature in a single excursion, especially if you don’t have many days.
🎫 Tickets: You can buy them on-site, but lines can be long. Booking in advance helps avoid waiting.
How to get there
- Rental car: A good option if you’re traveling with family. Keep in mind you won’t have a guide unless you book one separately. In any case, you can book the 2-hour guided tour in English here, with the option to select different times.
- Guided tours in English: By far the most comfortable and informative option.
Best Chichén Itzá tours from Playa del Carmen
- Chichén Itzá only: Leaves early to beat the crowds, but given the long drive, I personally prefer tours that include more stops.
- Chichen Itzá + cenote day trip
- ⭐ Chichen Itzá + cenote + Valladolid: My favorite option. Valladolid is a beautiful colonial town, even if you only get about 30 minutes there, it’s still worth it. Check out the details of the tour and prices here.
- Chichen Itzá + Cobá + cenote: My second choice. That said, it’s a lot of ruins in one day. I personally prefer pairing Cobá with Tulum (ruins + sea)
⭐ Traveling with a group? This private tour to Chichén Itzá + Tulum + Cobá + cenote is an excellent all-in-one option.
2. Tulum
Tulum is one of the most beautiful and closest excursions from Playa del Carmen.
What makes it unique is its location: Mayan ruins perched on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The visit is easy, scenic, and not overly long.
💡 From Playa del Carmen, I really like the Tulum + Cobá combo, because it lets you see two very different archaeological sites in one day. If you’d rather avoid too many ruins, Tulum + Akumal + a cenote is another great alternative.
3. Cobá
Cobá feels completely different from Chichén Itzá or Tulum.
These are Mayan ruins hidden deep in the jungle, surrounded by a much more natural and wild setting. This is also where you’ll find the tallest pyramid in the Yucatán Peninsula.
The site is large and can be explored on foot or by renting a bicycle, which makes the experience really fun.
💡 While there are tours that only visit Cobá, I think it works best when combined with Tulum.
4. Cenote Tours from Playa del Carmen
Visiting cenotes is one of the absolute must-dos in the Riviera Maya. The natural setting is stunning, and it’s well worth seeing at least a few.
There are specific cenote-hopping tours from Playa del Carmen, but if you want to save money, you can also visit cenotes as part of other excursions.
For example:
5. Day trip from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel: Guided Tour or DIY?
Cozumel is an excellent day trip from Playa del Carmen.
It’s famous for snorkeling and scuba diving thanks to its coral reef. While there are full tours with transfers, lunch, and a guide, from Playa del Carmen I prefer going on my own:
- Taxi or colectivo to the ferry pier
- Ferry to Cozumel (about 45 minutes), bookable round-trip in advance
Once on the island, you’ll realize how big it is. You can explore by bike, taxi, or join activities like:
- Snorkeling tours
- Jeep island tour
- Submarine experience
- Glass-bottom boat + snorkeling
- Intro scuba diving
- One tank scuba dive
💡 I wouldn’t recommend Cozumel as a day trip from Cancún, but from Playa del Carmen it works perfectly.
6. Isla Mujeres day trip from Playa del Carmen
Isla Mujeres is an excursion I recommend more from Cancún.
From Playa del Carmen, I personally wouldn’t do it, because there are beaches just as beautiful (or better) much closer.
The exception: combining Isla Mujeres with Isla Contoy. In that case, it’s absolutely worth it. Isla Contoy is a protected paradise and feels completely different.
Other Tours Worth Considering
- Day trip to Akumal: Guided snorkeling with sea turtles (highly recommended)
- Xcaret: Great if you enjoy theme parks. You can buy just the entrance ticket online to skip lines or book with transport included.
- Río Secreto: I haven’t done it yet, but it’s very well-reviewed. It’s the longest semi-flooded cave system in the Yucatán, perfect if you love nature and unique experiences.
- Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
Day Trips I Don’t Recommend from Playa del Carmen
Some excursions are popular, but I don’t recommend them as day trips due to long distances.
- Bacalar Lagoon: Too far for a day trip. It deserves at least a couple of nights. But if you don’t have enough time, you can see a good tour here.
- Holbox: I wouldn’t go for less than two nights. It’s a peaceful, car-free paradise. If you still want to go for a day, tours exist but expect a long travel day.
Comparison Table: Playa del Carmen Day Tours
⭐ = my personal favorites!
| Excursion | Best For | How I Recommend Doing It |
|---|---|---|
| Chichén Itzá | World Wonder & Mayan history | ⭐Chichen Itzá + cenote + Valladolid |
| Tulum | Ruins by the sea | Tulum + Cobá |
| Cobá | Jungle ruins & tallest pyramid | Combined with Tulum |
| Cenotes | Nature & landscapes | Dedicated cenotes tour |
| Cozumel | Snorkeling & reefs | ⭐Ferry DIY from Playa del Carmen |
| Akumal | Sea turtles | Guided snorkeling tour |
| Isla Mujeres | Beach & tourist vibe | ⭐Isla Mujeres + Isla Contoy |
| Isla Contoy | Protected paradise | Combined with Isla Mujeres |
| Xcaret | Parks & night show | Buy ticket online + transport |
What to Do in Playa del Carmen Based on Your Time
🗓️ If You Only Have 3 Days
Less is more. I’d choose nearby and very different experiences:
⏩ I’d skip Chichén Itzá on such a short trip, it’s a very long day.
🗓️ 5 Days in Playa del Carmen
A great balance of culture, nature, and beach time:
⏩ No separate cenote tour needed, you’ll already visit one with Chichén Itzá.
🗓️ One Week in Playa del Carmen
This is the ideal amount of time:
- Chichen Itzá + cenote + Valladolid
- Tulum + Cobá
- Akumal snorkeling
- Cozumel (DIY ferry)
- Xcaret (if you like parks)
- Isla Mujeres + Isla Contoy
⏩ I’d still skip Bacalar. Alternate tour days with rest days for a more relaxed trip.
FAQs: Playa del Carmen day trips
Cozumel, it’s easy to reach by ferry and perfect for snorkeling.
Chichén Itzá and Tulum are the top highlights.
Tulum, Akumal, and Cozumel are the easiest and fastest.
Yes, smart combos save time and money.
Always read what’s included, taxes and fees add up.
Between $60 and $160 USD, depending on what’s included.
