How to travel from Mexico City to Playa del Carmen, Mexico

The distance between Mexico City and Playa del Carmen is around 1,347km (837 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 3h 25m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Mexico City to Playa del Carmen by plane, bus, helicopter and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out Playa del CarmenMexico City if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
💰 Cheapest
1
plane
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bus
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Plane and Bus

Fly from Mexico City (MEX) to Cancun (CUN) then take the bus to Playa del Carmen Terminal Turística.

  • Duration3h 25m
  • Flight time2h 15m
  • Typical cost
    MX$1,800($86)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

2
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Playa del Carmen Alterna.

  • Duration1 day 2h
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    MX$2,110($100)
Operated by

ADO

3
bus
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helicopter
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helicopter
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Bus and Helicopter

Take the bus to Villahermosa then jump in a helicopter to Cancún International Airport and then to Playa del Carmen Airport.

  • Duration13hrs
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    MX$96,200($4,600)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Playa del Carmen.

  • Duration19h 10m
  • Distance1,590km (988 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Mexico City and Playa del Carmen

There are several options for getting from Mexico City to Playa del Carmen by plane, bus, helicopter and car. The cheapest option is to fly and then take the bus which costs around MX$1,800 ($86) and will take around 3h 25m.

The distance between Mexico City and Playa del Carmen is around 1,347km (837 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 1,266km (787 miles)

It takes around 3h 25m to get from Mexico City and Playa del Carmen by plane and bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 19h 10m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Mexico City to Playa del Carmen is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 3h 25m and will set you back approx MX$1,800 ($86).

The cheapest way to travel between Mexico City and Playa del Carmen, if you exclude driving, is to fly and then take the bus which will typically cost around MX$1,800 ($86) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Mexico City and Playa del Carmen. We recommend that you fly from Mexico City (MEX) to Cancun (CUN) then take the bus to Playa del Carmen Terminal Turística. instead which will take 3h 25m.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Mexico City and Playa del Carmen. It typically takes around 1 day 2h and departs twice daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Mexico City to Playa del Carmen. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Terminal Central De Autobuses Del Norte. These services run twice daily and will take a minimum of 1 day 2h.

ADO run regular bus services between Mexico City and Playa del Carmen. Buses run twice daily and take around 1 day 2h on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Mexico City to Playa del Carmen. We recommend that you fly from Mexico City (MEX) to Cancun (CUN) then take the bus to Playa del Carmen Terminal Turística. instead which will take 3h 25m.

The closest major airport to Playa del Carmen is Cozumel International Airport (CZM) (CZM) which is approximately 20km (13 miles) from Playa del Carmen. Cancún International Airport (CUN) (CUN) and Chetumal International Airport (CTM) (CTM) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Mexico City and Playa del Carmen. The distance is around 1,590km (988 miles) by road and it will take around 19h 10m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Mexico City to Playa del Carmen is to fly and then take the bus which takes, on average, 3h 25m and will usually cost around MX$1,800 ($86).

How do I get from Mexico City to Playa del Carmen

Compare travel optionsbetween Mexico City and Playa del Carmen

Transport options from Mexico City to Playa del Carmen
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Plane and Bus + 2 similar
3h 25m
MX$1,800($86)
hourly1,347km (837 miles)
Bus and Plane4h 45m
MX$2,490($120)
hourly1,386km (861 miles)
Plane, Helicopter and Bus4hrs
MX$12,415($595)
hourly1,396km (867 miles)
Bus
1 day 2h
MX$2,110($100)
twice daily1,622km (1,008 miles)
Bus and Helicopter
13hrs
MX$96,200($4,600)
twice daily1,531km (951 miles)
Drive
19h 10m
MX$2,780($135)
on demand1,590km (988 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Mexico City and Playa del Carmen

Airlines

Bus companies

helicopters

Airports near Playa del Carmen

The following major airports near Playa del Carmen offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Mexico and internationally.

CZM
Cozumel International Airport (CZM)
International Airport
Distance
20km (13 miles) from Playa del Carmen
CUN
Cancún International Airport (CUN)
International Airport
Distance
50km (31 miles) from Playa del Carmen
CTM
Chetumal International Airport (CTM)
International Airport
Distance
270km (168 miles) from Playa del Carmen