How to travel from San Miguel de Allende to Playa del Carmen, Mexico

The distance between San Miguel de Allende and Playa del Carmen is around 1,632km (1,014 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 5h 55m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from San Miguel de Allende to Playa del Carmen by bus, plane, 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 CarmenSan Miguel de Allende if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
bus
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plane
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bus
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Bus and Plane

Take the bus to San Luis Potosí then fly from San Luis Potosi (SLP) to Cancun (CUN) then take the bus to Playa del Carmen Terminal Turística.

  • Duration5h 55m
  • Flight time2h 20m
  • Typical cost
    MX$3,660($175)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

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

2
3 x bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Querétaro then México Norte and then to Playa del Carmen Alterna.

  • Duration1 day 5h
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    MX$2,530($120)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

3
bus
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bus
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helicopter
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helicopter
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Bus and Helicopter

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

  • Duration18hrs
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    MX$95,765($4,580)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Playa del Carmen.

  • Duration21h 45m
  • Distance1,846km (1,147 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between San Miguel de Allende and Playa del Carmen

There are several options for getting from San Miguel de Allende to Playa del Carmen by bus, plane, helicopter and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then fly which costs around MX$2,260 ($110) and will take around 7h 10m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the bus and then fly and arrive in approximately 5h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately MX$3,660 ($175).

The distance between San Miguel de Allende and Playa del Carmen is around 1,632km (1,014 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 1,421km (883 miles)

It takes around 5h 55m to get from San Miguel de Allende and Playa del Carmen by bus and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 21h 45m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from San Miguel de Allende to Playa del Carmen is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 5h 55m and will set you back approx MX$3,660 ($175).

The cheapest way to travel between San Miguel de Allende and Playa del Carmen, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus and then fly which will typically cost around MX$2,260 ($110) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between San Miguel de Allende and Playa del Carmen. We recommend that you take the bus to San Luis Potosí then fly from San Luis Potosi (SLP) to Cancun (CUN) then take the bus to Playa del Carmen Terminal Turística. instead which will take 5h 55m.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from San Miguel de Allende and Playa del Carmen. It typically takes around 1 day 5h and departs twice daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from San Miguel de Allende to Playa del Carmen. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Querétaro and México Norte. These services run twice daily and will take a minimum of 1 day 5h.

Pegasso, ETN, Futura Select, Primera Plus, Coordinados, Chihuahuenses, Grupo Senda, Autobuses Anáhuac, Autobuses Elite, Transportes Frontera and ADO run regular bus services between San Miguel de Allende and Playa del Carmen. Buses run twice daily and take around 1 day 5h on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from San Miguel de Allende to Playa del Carmen. We recommend that you take the bus to San Luis Potosí then fly from San Luis Potosi (SLP) to Cancun (CUN) then take the bus to Playa del Carmen Terminal Turística. instead which will take 5h 55m.

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 San Miguel de Allende and Playa del Carmen. The distance is around 1,846km (1,147 miles) by road and it will take around 21h 45m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from San Miguel de Allende to Playa del Carmen is to take the bus and then fly which takes, on average, 5h 55m and will usually cost around MX$3,660 ($175).

How do I get from San Miguel de Allende to Playa del Carmen

Compare travel optionsbetween San Miguel de Allende and Playa del Carmen

Transport options from San Miguel de Allende to Playa del Carmen
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Bus and Plane + 2 similar
5h 55m
MX$3,660($175)
once daily1,713km (1,064 miles)
Bus to Querétaro, plane7h 10m
MX$2,260($110)
hourly1,632km (1,014 miles)
Bus to León, plane7h 25m
MX$4,245($205)
5 times a day1,921km (1,194 miles)
Bus
1 day 5h
MX$2,530($120)
twice daily1,888km (1,173 miles)
Bus and Helicopter
18hrs
MX$95,765($4,580)
once daily1,793km (1,114 miles)
Drive
21h 45m
MX$3,240($155)
on demand1,846km (1,147 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between San Miguel de Allende and Playa del Carmen

Bus companies

Airlines

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