Best Day Trips from Playa del Carmen

If you’ve visited Playa del Carmen (where we’ve lived the past year!), you know that there is no shortage of things to do in Playa del Carmen. And outside the city there’s even more – within just a few hours drive of Playa are endless things to see and do. Here are some of our recommendations for must-do, best day trips from Playa del Carmen.

Playa del Carmen Day Trips

I’ve organized the best day trips from Playa del Carmen by category, and tried to list the first Playa del Carmen day trip within each category as our top recommendation for that category.

Mayan Ruins to See on a Day Trip from Playa del Carmen

1. Chichén Itzá

When you get the chance to see one of the 7 Wonders of the World, you have to go. The ruins and mysterious history behind Chichén Itzá make it a definite must-do in the Yucatan. El Castillo, the main pyramid shaped ruin of Chichén Itzá, is the most well-known Mayan ruin worldwide. But the grounds of Chichén Itzá are filled with several other amazing ruins such as the Great Ball Court, Temple of the Warriors, and the Sacred Cenote. This is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Yucatan Peninsula, so you can expect crowds. However, if you get there when the gates open at 8:00AM, you will likely have about an hour or so before the majority of the crowds start to arrive. One of the easiest ways to get there is to book a bus from Playa del Carmen to Chichén Itzá through Bookaway.

2. Coba

Coba is another town with Mayan ruins that is slightly closer and less expensive than Chichén Itzá. What makes Coba extra unique is that you can climb the main ruin all the way to the top! It gives you an incredible view of the surrounding jungle and a feel for what the Mayans may have seen. In addition to the main ruin, Coba is a massive civilization where an estimated 50,0000 people lived. Built around 900 or 1000AD, Coba also includes a temple, ball court and other ruins which give a glimpse into how Mayans in Coba lived. The main pyramid that you can climb is a pretty long walk, so I would suggest renting a bike or a rickshaw bicycle taxi. They are fairly inexpensive and save you time from walking so that you have more time to explore the ruins. One of the most popular Mayan ruins is Ek Balam. These ruins are full of rich Mayan history. YOu can also climb areas of these ruins which is an added bonus. Unfortunately for us we tried to visit during a thunderstorm and ended up not going. So I will update this once we visit. It isn’t as popular as Chichen Itza, but if you are looking for an easy day trip, Cenote Maya offers a package tour which includes transportation, cenote visit, Mayan cultural experience, and a local Mayan lunch.

3. Ek Balam

Another one of the most popular Mayan ruins is Ek Balam. These ruins are rich in Mayan history. As an added bonus, you can also climb areas of these ruins. Unfortunately for us. we tried to visit during a thunderstorm and ended up not being able to go – so I will update this once we visit. Ek Balam isn’t as popular as Chichén Itzá, but it is another incredible Mayan ruin to visit while you are in Yucatan state.

Extreme Experience in Playa del Carmen

4. Skydiving

This is possibly my favorite experience and we didn’t even have to drive anywhere! Located right in downtown Playa del Carmen is Skydive Playa. We can’t say enough good things about our experience with them. They’re a top of the line company that makes safety their #1 priority. Em’s tandem jumpmaster had completed over 18,000 jumps! We loaded into the plane and before we knew it, we were freefalling from 10,000 feet! The feeling was incredible and the view was amazing. I can’t believe how blue the ocean was! After an unbelievable 40 second freefall, our parachute deployed and we floated safely to the ground. The jumpmasters land right on the beach!! It was a perfect landing and a perfect experience! If you’re like us and you’ve been wanting to go skydiving, Skydive Playa is the perfect place to go! Here’s more info about our experience skydiving in Playa del Carmen.

Islands off the Yucatan Peninsula

5. Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres is the easiest island to access from the Cancun airport. It is a quick 20 minute ferry from the mainland. At first glance, this only-7 mile-long island might look a lot like Isla Holbox (see #5!). However, these islands offer a completely different experience. Isla Mujeres has no lack of restaurants, beach clubs, and other basic amenities. Its only mode of transportation is also golf carts and mopeds, but the roads are paved and lined with dozens of local hotels and restaurants. The beaches (and the town in general) are more crowded than Isla Holbox but have picture perfect blue water. Our favorite activity on Isla Mujeres is definitely swimming with whale sharks in Isla Mujeres. If you visit Isla Mujeres in the summer months, I highly recommend doing this! Based on my research, Isla Mujeres is the best place to book a whale shark tour from (the other options are Isla Holbox, Cancun, or Playa) because it is the closest location to where the whale sharks typically are and is a great place to hang out in case your tour gets delayed due to bad weather. Some of our other favorite things to do on the island are relaxing at Playa Norte beach, seeing the first Mexican sunrise at Punta Sur, visiting the turtle sanctuary, and eating at the delicious restaurants and food trucks. I wrote a whole blog post about our favorite things to do in Isla Mujeres!

6. Isla Holbox

Isla Holox is the best way to experience a primitive island while still having hotels and restaurants. Although you still have all the basic amenities on Isla Holbox, this island is definitely more primitive than Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum. The roads aren’t paved and the only vehicles are mopeds and golf carts (even the taxi are golf carts)! If it rains (like it did when we were visiting), the roads become temporary rivers. There aren’t any big resorts or restaurants on the island, but the primitiveness of Holbox is its charm. Isla Holbox is a unique place to visit and a great place to relax!

Our favorite things to do in Isla Holbox are lounging in the ocean hammocks, walking on the forever long sandbar, and tasting the island’s iconic lobster pizza. Some things we didn’t get to do but are worth checking out if you have the time include seeing the bioluminescent beaches at night, and walk the whole way down the sandbar (or take a boat tour) to see flamingos! You can also book a whale shark tour from Isla Holbox, but I suggest booking a tour leaving from Isla Mujeres instead. Although I put Isla Holbox on this day trip list, if you have the time it’s best 1-2 nights on the island. We only spent one night and were able to pack almost everything in our favorite eBags backpack. But, because because of the drive time from Playa to Chiquila (where you catch the ferry for Isla Holbox), two nights would be better. Just remember to pack some serious bug spay and try to avoid sitting outside at dusk or dawn – the mosquitoes are no joke!

7. Cozumel

Cozumel is the biggest island off of the Riviera Maya and is famous because of its cruise ports and world class scuba diving. Cozumel is also the easiest island to access from Playa del Carmen because the ferry leaves directly from downtown. This is one of the very best day trips from Playa del Carmen because it is a short 35 minute ferry ride from mainland Playa to the island of Cozumel, which makes for an easy day trip. There are several amazing places to stay (if you want to extend your day trip) and eat on the island. I wrote a whole blog post about our favorite things to do in Cozumel. Some great activities are Punta Sur Ecological Park, Playa Palancar (beach), and swimming with starfish at El Cielo. We loved taking a moped to the other side of the island. The east side of the island has a whole different feel to it. It is so much fun cruising along the beach and stopping at different beach bars and restaurants.

A trip to Cozumel wouldn’t be complete without going scuba diving. This is where Em and I did our first dives and got our Open Water PADI certifications. The Cozumel currents make a truly unique dive experience drifting through the ocean like you are standing on a moving walkway at the airport…except for, instead of seeing terminals and people, you are looking at colorful coral and fish! Here are our tips for scuba diving in Cozumel.

Lagoons & Cenotes near Playa del Carmen

8. Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

Sian Ka’an has some of the most diverse wildlife in the Yucatan. There are countless different species living in this reserve, which is located in a dense jungle and lagoon. If you are hoping to see wildlife in the Yucatan Peninsula, this is the place to go. We heard that there are over 300 different bird species, crocodiles, turtles, pumas, jaguars, dolphins, manatees, whales, tapir, and more. You can technically explore Sian Ka’an on your own, but we’ve heard from a number of people that a guided tour is highly recommended. Because it’s so big, it can be difficult to find out the best way to visit this incredible biosphere. We did some research and found the company Community Tours Sian Ka’an. What really drew us to this company in particular is their commitment to protecting the environment and the local Mayan culture. Our tour guide Gilberto is Mayan and has a great respect for the area and its history.  The tour that we chose was the Ancient Canal Tour of Sian Ka’an. If you’re a fan of lazy rivers then this tour is for you. For 45 minutes we floated through mangroves, down an ancient canal that was used by the Mayans. The natural current of the canal was about the same speed as an amusement park’s lazy river. But instead of crowds of people and dirty water, we were surrounded by the peaceful instead of crowds of people and dirty water, we were surrounded by the peaceful surroundings of the backdrop of the biosphere. The whole float we could hear the chirping of birds and see fish swimming past us as we glided down the canal. It was one of the most peaceful experiences we’ve had in the Yucatan Peninsula. 

9. Bacalar

Bacalar is the most popular and beautiful lagoon in the Yucatan. Fed by cenotes, almost every kind of blue imaginable can be found in the Bacalar Lagoon. It is a great place to relax or see wildlife. We haven’t been there yet, but plan on visiting and touring around the lagoon soon. So I will update this after our visit.

10. Scuba Diving Dos Ojos

Ever since we got our scuba certification earlier this year, we have wanted to dive in a cenote. Cenotes are breathtaking caves and caverns filled with crystal clear water. Some are open, closed, deep, shallow. But they all are incredibly beautiful and filled with freezing water. Another great thing about cenotes is just how many there are and how different each one is. One of the most popular cenotes for divers is Dos Ojos. We booked our tour with Underwater Expeditions, who made it such a fun and easy experience. Not only did they provide transportation and gear, but our guide Arturo was extremely knowledgeable and helpful! Underwater Expeditions offers diving all over the Yucatan – including diving with bull sharks and snorkeling with whale sharks – as well as a host of other incredible experiences such as custom private tours. To be honest, I was pretty nervous about the idea of diving in a cavern — even though I knew Dos Ojos was extremely well-marked and we would be with a guide who has dove there many times — because there’s just something about not being able to go straight up for air. But as soon as we started our dive, the fear quickly went away and I was blown away by the cavern’s amazing beauty. It felt like we were flying through the cenote. We were weaving around gigantic stalactites and stalagmites, seeing ancient fossils, and swimming through incredible rock formations. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to visit another cenote the same way!

11. Cenote Maya

If you are looking for adventure, culture, and amazing local food then you should definitely check out Cenote Maya Native Park. There are over 6,000 registered cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula, and Cenote Maya has the largest cave. It is more expensive than some other cenotes, but it is a full experience including a Mayan ceremony, local Mayan meal, ziplines and rappelling down into the cenote! There is a little of something for everyone. Our favorite experience at Cenote Maya was the 70 foot rappel into the cave. This is a great way to experience just how massive the room of the cenote is. The idea of hanging 70 feet in the air is a little scary, but our guide did a great job of walking us through it and making it seem easy! My mom was visiting us and she usually doesn’t love heights, but she really enjoyed rappelling. In the cave, there are also two ziplines into the water, a rope walk, and a jumping platform.

To make it an easy day trip, Alltournative provides transportation from Playa del Carmen to Cenote Maya Native Park. You can also book their package tour which also includes transportation to Ek Balam (see #3 above). If you don’t have many days in the area, this is a very convenient way to experience culture, history, local food, and adventure all in one place.

12. Emotions Native Park

Another Alltournative day trip from Playa del Carmen is Emotions Native Park. This is just a few miles down the road from Playa and for the price of one ticket, we not only got to swim in a cenote but also ride ATVs, go ziplining, eat local food, and learn more about the native Mayan culture. If you are looking for a day of adventure, this is definitely one of the best bang-for-your-buck experiences.  Usually I am not the biggest fan of group ATV rides. I think they are more similar to a golf-cart tour than an adventure tour. But this ride was different! Our guide was great and let the front of the group ride at our own pace while the back of the group went at a speed that they felt comfortable with. Next, we went from driving through the jungle to soaring on top of it!  It was really cool riding the three long ziplines over the jungle canopy. It also gave me a better perspective of just how big and thick the Yucatan jungle really is! After ziplining, we went swimming in a cenote and saw bats in a cave! And one of my favorite experiences of the day was seeing two wild spider monkeys swinging through the jungle canopy!  Emotions Native Park provides transportation to and from the park. The transportation and close proximity to downtown Playa makes it really easy to get to experience some thrills, explore the jungle, and learn about Mayan culture and be back in Playa within half a day!

13. Other Cenotes

Whether you are looking for caves, rivers, wildlife, adventure, or just a place to relax, chances are there is a cenote for you. :) There are literally thousands of cenotes within a days drive of Playa del Carmen, so I’ll save all of our cenote recommendations for a different post, but some of our favorites near Valladolid are:

Cenote Suytun

Cenote Ik Kil

Cenote Oxman

and our favorite cenotes closer to Tulum are:

Cenote Calavera

Gran Cenote

Casa Cenote

Towns to Visit on a Day Trip from Playa del Carmen

14. Tulum

Famous for its incredible beaches, ruins, and bohemian beach style. Tulum is one of the most popular towns in the Riviera Maya. After Chichén Itzá and Cozumel, this is probably the most popular of the best day trips from Playa del Carmen! Whether you are looking for 8 peso tacos or high end beachfront hotels and restaurants, there is a little bit of something for everyone here. It is unlike any other town in the Riviera Maya.

There is the town of Tulum, and then there is the beach road of Tulum – which are two completely different experiences, and we love both! But when most tourists refer to Tulum, they are talking about the beach side, so we will focus on that for this post. Between the beaches, ruins, cenotes, and dozens of popular Instagram spots, there is plenty to do in Tulum. There are some incredible public access beaches, but the majority of the beach access is closed to hotels and restaurants. However, you can usually access the beach by getting some drinks at the restaurant or even just politely asking if you can walk through to the beach. (In high season this isn’t as likely of option and they may have a minimum spend at the restaurant.)

Some of our favorite things to do in Tulum are the ruins, Gran Cenote and Cenote Calavera (see #10), and Playa Paraiso. There are also dozens of places that aren’t really activities but are Instagram famous picture spots along the beach. Here are some of the most popular: the leaning palm tree at Playa  Paraiso, Azulik Hotel hanging nets and art museum, Coco Tulum swings, Casa Malca, Matcha Mama, and more.

Two of our favorite lunch spots in Tulum are The Real Coconut and La Popular, but if you are trying to save some money you can just sit and get drinks at the expensive beach restaurants, and then return to town for some 8 peso tacos at restaurants such as Antojitos La Chiapaneca!

15. Akumal

If you want to swim with sea turtles, the beach in Akumal is the place to go. A lot has changed and is even now currently changing in Akumal to help protect the turtles. In the past, you could just show up and go swimming wherever you wanted. Unfortunately, in recent years several turtles have died. So in efforts to protect the turtles, they have changed the areas in which people are allowed to swim. It is possible to see turtles without a guide. However, the free swimming area is small and close to the shore. We went and paid 50 pesos each for the beach access. You can also order drinks and enter through the nearby restaurant (Lol-Ha) without having to pay the entrance fee, but then you don’t get access to the bathrooms, showers, and locker. (There is a 100 peso deposit for the lockers but you get it back when you return the key.)

If you want to take a tour to swim further out, you will have a better chance of seeing turtles. We talked with several people in the area and a lot of things have changed recently surrounding the different options for this but, from what we understand, you can either pay a company for a guided swimming or boat tour or pay a local guide for a swimming tour. We paid a local guide which included a life jacket, snorkel gear, and a private tour. (We paid 500 pesos total. The original price was 800 pesos but we went in the middle of the week during off season and it wasn’t too busy.) Our guide told us that the best time to come is either first thing in the morning before the bus tours arrive or in the afternoon after the tours have left. There is a limit of how many people can take the tours each day (currently the limit is 350 people), so if you don’t want to risk missing out it is best to come first thing in the morning. At the beginning of our tour, we were a little nervous at first that we weren’t going to see any turtles. But after about an hour of swimming around, we saw about 5 or 6 turtles and several different fish. Apparently, years ago there were dozens of turtles all around, so this might not be worth it for some people – but we were happy with our experience. Afterwards we headed to the local Oxxo and bought some tacos and snacks and had our own little picnic on the beach.

16. Valladolid

A charming inland city in Yucatan state, Valladolid is the biggest city closest to Chichén Itzá. There are also several cenotes around the area (see #10 above). A lot of people stay here on their way to the ruins. However, Valladolid itself shouldn’t be overlooked. It is a beautiful city! When walking around Valladolid, you might notice the city’s old Volkswagen Beetle population. Between the colorful buildings and the iconic cars, there are several picturesque streets downtown. Highlights in the city are the city square and the cathedral, Convent de San Bernardino de Siena, and the Mercado Municipal (market). If you are staying in Valladolid on your way to Chichén Itzá, be sure to save some time to explore around town!

So those are our recommendations for the best day trips from Playa del Carmen! We hope you have the best time exploring the beautiful Yucatan Peninsula – and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out anytime. We’re definitely not experts, but we’d be happy to share about our experience living in Playa del Carmen! If you’re looking for more than just the best day trips from Playa del Carmen, here are our other blog posts about our favorite things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula: Cozumel Playa del Carmen Isla Mujeres Swimming with Whale Sharks

How to Get to Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is an incredible city to visit! If you’re planning a trip there, we recommend booking transportation to Playa del Carmen through Bookaway. Bookaway sells online transportation tickets such as bus, ferry, and trains worldwide – so it’s super easy to book your transportation tickets through them and focus on planning the rest of your trip!