|

Cancun vs Playa del Carmen vs Cozumel: Which Vacation Spot is Best for You?

Updated on
cancun vs playa del carmen vs cozumel

Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Cozumel are some of the most popular choices when it comes to vacations in Mexico. All these destinations offer beautiful beaches, great food, proximity to the iconic Mayan ruins Chichén itzá, and plenty of activities to keep you busy!

You could easily fit these three vacation spots in a one-week itinerary, but if you only have a few days in the area, which one would be the best choice for your vacation? In this article, I will give you a full comparison of Cancun vs Playa del Carmen vs Cozumel and help you decide which one is right for you!

Luxury under Budget aims at helping you get the best deals by maximizing the value of your time and money. My recommendations are based on first-hand experiences and a full analysis of costs vs. benefits. This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may get a small commission when you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. This helps support my blog and enables me to provide more free and helpful content. Now, let’s go get you that luxury travel while staying under the budget!

Have You Got These Items For Your Trip Yet?

cancun vs playa del carmen vs cozumel

Cancun vs Playa del Carmen vs Cozumel

Cancun is the most developed and touristed destination of the three. It has a wide range of hotels, nightlife, and dining options. Playa del Carmen is the next most developed destination in Riviera Maya after Cancun. It is more laid-back than Cancun, but still has plenty of hotels and restaurants to choose from. Cozumel is the least developed of the three destinations, but it is a beautiful and popular vacation spot for scuba diving and snorkeling.

Cancun vs Playa del Carmen vs Cozumel: Accessibility

Among the three destinations, Cancun is the most accessible, as it has its own airport – Cancun International Airport (CUN) – that receives direct flights from all over the world.

Playa del Carmen is located about one hour drive south of Cancun Hotel Zone and 45 minutes from Cancun Airport, and there are several ways to get there. Driving is the most popular option as it allows you to explore surrounding areas at your own pace.

Make sure you reserve your car with a reputable company through Discover Cars and include car rental insurance (even if you have Auto Collision Damage Waiver from U.S credit card companies) to avoid car rental insurance scams ✔️BOOK NOW

If you are not comfortable with renting a car and driving in Mexico, booking private transportation or a shared shuttle are other safe and easy options.

Private Transfer from Cancun to Playa del Carmen

Shared Transportation from Cancun to Playa del Carmen

Cozumel has its own airport – Cozumel International Airport (CZM) – with fewer international flights than Cancun and the direct flights tend to be more expensive. However, it is easily accessible through a 45-minute ferry ride from Playa del Carmen.

Top 10 All-inclusive resorts in Cancun Mexico and top cancun resorts near Cancun Mexico

Cancun vs Playa del Carmen vs Cozumel: Which Has the Best Beaches?

Cancun is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico. The white sand and clear turquoise waters are legendary, and many visitors come here specifically to enjoy the beaches. The water here is usually calm and clear, making it perfect for swimming.

In addition, the beaches in Cancun are well-maintained and offer a wide range of amenities, such as restaurants, bars, and shower facilities. There are also a number of exciting water activities and water sports such as flying water jetpack, jet skiing, and hoverboard flight in the open-air La Isla Shopping Village.

Playa del Carmen is along the coast of the Riviera Maya in Mexico and is a popular destination for visitors seeking to enjoy the region’s sunny climate and vibrant nightlife. There are many beautiful private beaches at all-inclusive resorts where the sands are white and the water is clear, but the town’s public beaches pale in comparison to Cancun’s beaches as they have rough, brown sand.

Nevertheless, on the beach or along Fifth Avenue (Quinta Avenida) in the city center, you will find plenty of authentic Mexican food stalls, popular chain restaurants, and fun bars with live music and dance.

Cozumel is a beautiful island located off the Yucatan Peninsula, a ferry away from Playa del Carmen. It’s famous for its powdery white-sand beaches, bustling downtown area, coral reefs, and clear turquoise waters that are perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Some of the beaches at Cozumel can be quite rocky, but they open to a beautiful underwater world. I was able to see plenty of colorful fishes and stingrays just by snorkeling off the beach at an all-inclusive resort in Cozumel.

If you’re looking to explore the underwater world, Cozumel beats both Cancun and Playa del Carmen thanks to its diverse marine life and clear water.

cancun vs playa del carmen vs cozumel

Cancun vs Playa del Carmen vs Cozumel: Hotels & Resorts

Along Cancun’s Hotel Zone, you will find plenty of luxury and upscale all-inclusive resorts with beautiful private beaches and world-class amenities. There are a handful of non-all-inclusive hotels in Cancun Hotel Zone, but you won’t find small boutique hotels or hostels on the beach.

Unlike Cancun, which is overrun with large all-inclusive hotels and resorts, Playa del Carmen offers a more intimate and unique experience. Here you can find everything from boutique hotels to apartments and hostels, all within easy walking distance from the beach as well as the best restaurants and bars. The prices for hotels in Playa del Carmen tend to be cheaper than in Cancun, so budget travelers who are looking for affordable accommodation would not be disappointed here.

In Cozumel, you’ll find that there are many options to choose from. Prices tend to be slightly cheaper than in Cancun and Playa del Carmen, though most of the facilities are more dated. That said, there are still some great places to stay on the island. Here are some of the best hotels and resorts in Cozumel.

Cozumel Day Trip from Cancun & Playa del Carmen

Things to Do in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Cozumel

Whether you choose to stay in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Cozumel, you will never run out of things to do! I have taken multiple trips to the area over the year and spent months there, but every time going back I still find new things to do!

Cancun – Best Vacation Spot for Partying, Shopping, Visiting Chichen Itza & Isla Mujeres

Cancun is a bustling city with plenty of activities to keep visitors entertained, such as shopping at luxury malls, exploring ancient ruins, and enjoying the nightlife. When you want a change of scenery, Isla Mujeres is just a short ferry away and Chichen Itza is only a 2.5-3 hour drive away.

Some of the best & unique things to do in Cancun:

Coco Bongo Cancun Gold Member VIP: Coco Bongo is the most famous nightlife venue in Cancun that is located right at the prime location of Hotel Zone! Spend a night out like a celebrity with the VIP Gold Member admission ticket and enjoy special treatment, including skip-the-line and early entry, access to a premium open bar, and front-row seating for the spectacular show.

Captain Hook Pirate Show and Dinner: one of the most fun ways to enjoy the night off the coast from the Cancun Hotel Zone. Whether you’re an experienced sailor or a landlubber at heart, a pirate dinner cruise is a perfect way to step into the world of swashbuckling pirates and Spanish galleons. There’s plenty to keep you entertained throughout your voyage, from fun contests and stage shows to pirate tales and an exciting live-action battle at sea.

Swimming with Whale Sharks in Cancun: Swimming with whale sharks is a unique thing to do in Cancun that is only available from May through mid-September! With an expert guide, you will be able to swim with the world’s largest fish while looking out for dolphins, manta rays, and turtles.

Reef & Shipwreck Snorkeling Tour in Cancun: Try this shipwreck swim and snorkel tour in Cancun where you can paddle through tropical fish, coral reefs, shipwrecks, and giant sea turtles. It’s an unforgettable experience and a great way to see some of Cancun’s most stunning underwater worlds.

Horseback Riding & Cenote Swim: Combining horseback riding and swimming in a cenote, this tour is the perfect way to experience all that the jungle has to offer.

Visit Different Cenotes (Natural Sinkholes): Different cenotes come with different structures, myths, and activities. With a cenotes tour, you will visit four cenotes, where you can paddle through the underground caverns on kayaks, rappel down rock walls into a semi-open cenote, zipline to the water, and float on inner tubes.

Xplor Park ATV
Xplor ATV

Playa del Carmen – Unique Eco-Adventure Parks, Fun Nightlife, Close Proximity to Tulum & Akumal

Playa del Carmen is known for its unique eco-parks, where you can rappel down waterfalls, zip line over the jungle canopy, take an underwater expedition in cave cenote with stalactites, and much more. If you’re looking for a party scene, downtown Playa del Carmen along Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue) is filled with live music cafes and nightclubs. And when you want to explore beyond Playa del Carmen, the ancient ruins of Tulum and the turtle sanctuary of Akumal are both less than an hour away.

Xavage Adventure Park: Xavage Park is the perfect place for action junkies and adventure seekers. The park offers a unique combination of off-roading, ropes courses, rafting, and other exciting outdoor activities, all in one location. With a lunch buffet and unlimited non-alcoholic drinks included, you can refuel and keep the adventure going all day long!

Xcaret Park is one of the most popular things to do in Cancun. Locals and guides call it the Mexican Disneyland. There are more than 50 family attractions and activities among underground river, jungle, the Caribbean Sea, shows, and tropical wildlife. In addition, the night show at Xcaret Park called Xcaret Mexico Espectacular with more than 300 artists on stage who will walk you through the history and legacy of Mexico is absolutely amazing!

Xplor and Xplor Fuego: Pump your adrenaline with thrilling activities at Xplor such as driving ATV through the jungle and doing ziplines from tower to tower! I also love swimming and rafting through stalactites underground rivers. Xplor Fuego is the same adventure park lit up with torches at night.

Xenses theme park offers activities that focus on your “senses”, such as El Pueblo (which challenges your sense of up and down), Xensatorium (a cavern in total darkness that houses all of the planet’s ecosystems), a slide that flows into a cavern, ziplining, and more. Two must-try activities are flying like a bird and sliding in the mud!

Xel-Ha is a natural all-inclusive aquatic archeological and ecological theme park. Food and drinks (alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages) are included! The view is unrivaled from the scenic tower and the best activities at Xelha include diving in the water from the Stone of Value, ziplining and hammock splash, as well as sliding from Riviera Maya’s highest water slide.

Tulum Ruins, Jungle, & Beach: There are so many ways to tour Tulum! You can visit the Mayan ruins, set sail on a catamaran, or drive an ATV through the jungle! One of the most popular Tulum tours is the 3-in-1 Discovery Combo Tour. This tour includes entrance fees, a buffet lunch, and door-to-door transport from hotels in Playa del Carmen to snorkel through the coral reef in the Caribbean Sea, visit the Tulum archeological site, swim in a cenote, and explore a limestone cave.

Swim with turtles in Akumal: Adult sea turtles begin nesting on the beaches in May, and they continue to lay eggs until October. The baby turtles then begin hatching in July and continue their journey into the sea through mid-December. Don’t miss your chance to swim with them at Akumal!

Playa del Carmen Nightlife Highlights: there are many bars and restaurants on and off Fifth Avenue as well as along the beach that make it perfect to bar hop. Some hot spots are Coco Bongo Playa del Carmen, Fusion, Senor Frogs, and Mandalay.

Is September a good time to go to Cancun? Yes for whale sharks

Cozumel – Beautiful Island Best for Snorkeling & Scuba Diving

Cozumel is a small island off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The island is best known for its scuba diving and snorkeling, as the waters around Cozumel are home to some of the world’s most beautiful coral reefs.

🚵ATV Mud Kicking and Snorkeling Experience in Cozumel: If you haven’t done any ATV excursions because of the price tag, this is your chance! I find ATV tours in Cozumel much cheaper than other Mexican beach towns. This ATV tour will take you through the jungle to the Jade cenote, where you can take a dip and cool off in the turquoise water. Afterward, you will head to the Tortugas Beach Club and enjoy snorkeling or relaxing at the beach.

🚢Atlantis Submarine Expedition in Cozumel: The Atlantis Submarine takes you 100 feet below the surface to explore the amazing coral reef and marine life in Chankanaab, an environmentally protected marine park. You will see a wide variety of fish, stingrays, turtles, and a shipwreck!

🚣Cozumel Snorkeling by Glass Bottom Boat with Guide: Board a glass-bottom boat and enjoy views of the coastline as you’re transported to shallow underwater reefs where you can snorkel and see tropical fish, sea turtles, and stingrays. Snorkeling equipment is included, as well as beer, soft drinks, and water.

If you’re just looking for a place to relax and soak up some rays, there are many beach clubs to choose from on the island, such as Paradise Beach and Playa Mia Beach Break. However, I would recommend Mr. Sancho’s Beach Club for the best deal on private beach access, facilities, food, and beverages.

🏖️Save 10% by Booking Mr. Sanchos Beach Club All-Inclusive Day Pass Online

At Mr. Sancho’s, you can enjoy a relaxing day by the ocean or have a day filled with fun activities. Located on 1,500 feet of pristine sandy beach, Mr. Sancho’s Beach Club provides plenty of opportunities for water sports such as snorkeling, diving, wave runners, parasailing, and more. You can also explore both the jungle and the beach on horseback or by ATV.

Playa del Carmen vs Cozumel vs Cancun FAQs

Is it better to stay in Cozumel or Playa del Carmen?

Whether it is better to stay in Cozumel or Playa del Carmen depends on what you’re looking for in a vacation. If you want to be close to the vibrant nightlife scenes with plenty of bars and clubs to keep you entertained, Playa del Carmen is a better option. However, if you’re looking for a place to relax, enjoy the beach, or go snorkeling and scuba diving in the crystal clear water, Cozumel would be the better choice. The island is renowned for its beautiful beaches and is a prime destination for scuba divers.

Are Playa del Carmen beaches better than Cancun?

Some luxury all-inclusive resorts in Playa del Carmen such as Hotel Xcaret have really nice beaches with white sands and clear water, but overall, Playa del Carmen’s beaches have more of a sandy-brown color and are not as nice as the powdery white sand beaches in Cancun.

Cancun vs Cozumel – which is more expensive?

Travel costs can vary depending on the time of year and the availability of discounts and promotions, but generally, Cancun is more expensive than Cozumel. This is due to a number of factors, including the fact that facilities, amenities, and infrastructures are better in Cancun. In addition, Cancun is a more popular destination, which means that there is greater demand for hotel rooms and other tourist services.

The Wrap-Up: Cancun vs Playa del Carmen vs Cozumel

Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Cozumel are all popular vacation destinations in Mexico, each has its own unique charms and attractions. Cancun is more developed, with high-rise hotels and spectacular beaches. Playa del Carmen is a bit more laid-back, offering easy access to some of the best eco-adventure parks in Mexico. Cozumel is mostly known for its world-class diving, but it also has a number of other activities and sights to enjoy.

Ultimately, the best beach town to choose for your vacation will depend on your own preferences and what you hope to get out of your trip. If you’re looking for a party atmosphere and plenty of nightlife options, Cancun is the place for you. If you prefer a more relaxed budget-friendly setting, Playa del Carmen may be a better choice. And if you’re interested in scuba diving, Cozumel is unbeatable.

Still have a hard time choosing? You can consider staying in Cancun and take a day trip to Playa del Carmen, or stay in Playa del Carmen and take a day trip to Cozumel! There are many tour companies that offer day trips with hotel pick-ups and drop-offs in Cancun and Playa del Carmen, so you won’t have to worry about the logistics!

🛺 Cancun to Playa del Carmen’s Adventure Parks with Transportation

⛴️ Playa del Carmen to Cozumel Island Tour with Ferry, Snorkel, Virgin Beach, Buggy and Lunch

Cancun/Riviera Maya Travel Resources

  1. Travel Insurance:
    • No one wants to think about what could go wrong on a vacation, but the truth is that accidents can happen anywhere, at any time. That’s why it’s always a good idea to have travel insurance, so you can relax and enjoy your trip knowing that you’re covered if something does go wrong. Don’t take the risk when you can be covered for cheap.
    • Safety Wing is a great option for budget-conscious travelers, as policies start at just $40 USD for a whole month! Basic policies cover travel emergencies, medical costs, and medical expenses while you’re in Mexico as well as transportation back to your home country under circumstances.
  2. Getting around Cancun
  3. Car Rental Scam
    • Don’t fall for car rental scams in Mexico! Make sure you have full coverage when you make the reservation so car rental agencies can’t upsell their insurance.
    • Discover Cars offers the cheapest car rental rates in Mexico and full coverage insurance for as low as $7 per day. 
  4. Best Places to Stay in and near Cancun
  5. Best Attractions & Activities in Cancun

Bonus: 61+ Best Cancun Quotes for Instagram & Social Media Captions!