Cancun vs Playa del Carmen

Trying to choose between Cancun vs Playa del Carmen for a Mexico beach escape? It’s a tough call. Both offer soft white sand beaches and crystalline turquoise waters, but each spot has its own distinct energy.

Cancun is packed with high-rise resorts, the ease and convenience of all-inclusive service and big nights out on the town. Playa del Carmen has more of a local vibe – it’s relaxed and walkable, with pristine beaches surrounded by buzzy waterfront bars and scenic cenotes. If you’re weighing up Cancun or Playa del Carmen, our in-depth guide will help you decide.

Getting there & getting around

Cancun and Playa del Carmen are only around 45 minutes apart by road, so you can fly into Cancun airport for both.

The hotel zone in Cancun is a quick transfer away and most of the stays are resort-based, so you only need to move around for sightseeing. The area is full of pedestrian-friendly paths through the main shopping and entertainment areas, with buses and taxis widely available if the heat puts you off taking a stroll.

Playa del Carmen takes a little longer to reach but makes a great base for day trips. The intimate nature of this coastal town means it's entirely walkable, though taxis are plentiful and affordable for longer trips or to escape the midday sun.

Vibe & crowd

Cancun has a high-energy buzz for most of the year and is a top choice for raucous revellers. The flashy, neon-fuelled nightlife is a huge draw – when the Caribbean sun goes down, the party vibes ramp up. High-end hedonists flock here for the heady mix of authentic Mexican cantinas, fun bars with live music and top DJs and glamorous beach parties that’ll have you dancing with your toes in the sand until the sun comes up.

Playa del Carmen has a gentler, more mellow vibe, though it’s still highly social. Waterfront beach clubs line the shore and the centre is easily walkable, so you can barhop until you find your new favourite local. While there are plenty of people about, especially in peak season, you can expect fewer crowds and a quieter buzz compared to Cancun.

Stylish stays

Cancun

Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun – Best for families and foodies. This all-inclusive hotel delivers serious VIP treatment, with nine pools including one with stunning views over the Caribbean and several with swim-up bars. End your evenings with international dining at one of the many on-site restaurants.

The Fives Oceanfront – Best for quiet beachfront luxury. Sleek and sophisticated, and set on a peaceful stretch of coastline in a charming fishing village, this boutique resort offers easy access to central Cancun.

Playa Del Carmen

Paradisus La Perla – Best for adults-only all-inclusive. This luxurious adults-only resort is ideal for honeymooners. Enjoy blissful mornings in the serene spa, afternoons sipping cocktails by the pool and evenings feasting on award-winning dishes at your choice of 11 on-site restaurants.

Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen – Best for modern romance. A private stretch of powdery white sand beach, rooftop pools and elegant suites, this resort has serious style. Expect in-room rolling bars, a swish spa and endless entertainment, from tequila tastings and water sports to live musical experiences in the open-air amphitheatre.

Beaches

Cancun is famous for its long stretches of white sand beach, particularly in the hotel zone, which look like they’re straight out of a postcard. Head north for calm waters and to kick back with a cocktail or go east for adrenaline-pumping water sports and riding the waves. Our top pick is scenic Playa Delfines, which is a big hit with the locals too.

The beaches at Playa del Carmen are less manicured and more intimate, dotted with chilled out beach clubs. Check out North Playa del Carmen beach for live music, DJs and dancing on the sand, or soak up a more relaxed vibe at Central Playa del Carmen.

Food & drink

You’ll never run out of new things to try in Cancun, where variety is king. The dining here is mostly hotel-based and the majority of resorts have multiple restaurants to choose from without having to head off-site. That means you’ve got multiple international cuisines on tap – great for convenience or feeding fussy kids.

Playa del Carmen is still hotel-centric when it comes to food, but you’ll find a little more local flavour here. Get your Instagram game on-point with shots of quirky little cafes and views from vibey rooftop bars, grab lunch on-the-go from a taco stand or pop into a lively mezcal bar to try the smoky Mexican tipple.

Things to do and see

Cancun

The neon-drenched streets of Cancun at night entice you to put on your dancing shoes and dive headfirst into a nocturnal adventure, with clubs like Coco Bongo throwing a non-stop confetti-strewn party. The fun doesn’t stop at sun-up either, with day clubs and party boats taking things to the next level.

When you need a break from the 24-hour fiesta, plan a day trip to Chichén Itzá – the ancient Mayan centre of the universe lies just over a two-hour drive away. Ancient pyramids, temples and preserved ruins bring thousands of years of history to vivid life. Cool off on the way back with a swim at Cenote Ikil, a picturesque idyll of shimmering waters, verdant vines and a high dive for adventurous types.

Closer to home, Isla Mujeres is a haven for water sports and first-class snorkelling, while many Cancun beaches offer jet skiing, parasailing, banana boating and more straight from the sand.

Playa del Carmen

The cenotes are one of the key draws at Playa del Carmen, so take a cenote-hopping trip to discover these magical spots of natural beauty. Explore the connected underwater caves of Dos Ojos (Two Eyes), go diving in the crystal-clear waters of Gran Cenote and get up close and personal with the marine life at Cenote Azul.

If snorkelling and diving are your thing, Cozumel is just 45 minutes away by ferry and is a haven for underwater creatures. Spot turtles, starfish and kaleidoscopic fish peeking out from behind the coral reefs as you paddle gently through the cool turquoise waters. On land, take a journey back in time to the Mayan ruins of the Coba pyramids, surrounded by lush tropical jungle, or head to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve to see some of the most diverse flora and fauna on the planet.

Quinta Avenida, or 5th Avenue, forms the centrepiece of both day and nightlife in the heart of Playa del Carmen. Lined with colourful shops, stalls and boutiques, you can pick up everything from a handcrafted souvenir to a designer dress here. Come nightfall, the area transforms into a real feast for the senses. Watch street performers while breathing in the delicious scents of sizzling seafood and spices, then dance the night away fuelled by rounds of punchy margaritas.

Best time to visit Mexico

For dry, sun-soaked days, plan your trip between November and April. While the weather is warm year-round, hurricane season falls between September and October. The Christmas and Easter holidays are the most popular times to visit, so avoid these if you want to escape the peak crowds.

See more

While deciding between Cancun or Playa del Carmen can be a challenge, we recommend mixing it up. Pair Playa del Carmen with Isla Mujeres for an unbeatable combo of beach-town energy and laid-back island time or team Cancun with Isla Holbox for buzzing resort life followed by barefoot, car-free calm. If time allows, why not visit both Cancun and Playa del Carmen? That way you get to experience both sides of the Riviera Maya in one seamless trip.

So, which will it be?

If you’re after big beach resorts with all the bells and whistles, a thrumming nightlife scene and all-inclusive ease, Cancun is the place for you. For low-key beachy charm, stunning cenotes and laid-back cool, it has to be Playa del Carmen. Or split your stay between the two – they’re close enough to combine for the ultimate Mexican getaway.

This feature was created on 20th June 2025. The information within this feature is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication.