The 14 Best Day Trips from Playa del Carmen
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
Free day-by-day itinerary in seconds. No account needed to start.
There are 14 good day trips from Playa del Carmen, Mexico, led by Cancún, Cozumel, Valladolid. The closest is Cozumel, about 30 min by car, and 2 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 14 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Playa del Carmen
- 1
Cancún, Mexico
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 15 min by car65 km north of Playa del CarmenKnown for Museo Subacuático de Arte.
- 2
Cozumel, Mexico
Half-day tripAbout 30 min by car20 km south-east of Playa del Carmen - 3
Valladolid, Mexico
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car117 km west of Playa del Carmen - 4
Tizimín, Mexico
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 55 min by car125 km north-west of Playa del Carmen - 5
Tulum, Mexico
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 10 min by car61 km south-west of Playa del Carmen - 6
Chemax, Mexico
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car89 km west of Playa del Carmen - 7
Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car76 km north-east of Playa del Carmen - 8
Espita, Mexico
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 5 min by car134 km west of Playa del Carmen - 9
Kantunilkín, Mexico
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car68 km north-west of Playa del Carmen - 10
Temozon, Mexico
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car118 km west of Playa del Carmen - 11
Puerto Aventuras, Mexico
Half-day tripAbout 30 min by car21 km south-west of Playa del Carmen - 12
Chichimila, Mexico
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car118 km west of Playa del Carmen - 13
Panabá, Mexico
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car144 km north-west of Playa del Carmen - 14
X-Cán, Mexico
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 15 min by car66 km north-west of Playa del Carmen
A sample day: Playa del Carmen to Cancún
- 08:30Leave Playa del Carmen
- 09:45Arrive in Cancún (1 hr 15 min drive)
- 10:00Museo Subacuático de Arte
- 12:00Lunch
- 13:15Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Cancún
- 15:45Head back to Playa del Carmen
- 17:00Home in Playa del Carmen
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Playa del Carmen?
- The best day trips from Playa del Carmen are Cancún, Cozumel, Valladolid, Tizimín, Tulum. The closest is Cozumel, about 30 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Playa del Carmen?
- Cozumel is the closest, 20 km south-east of Playa del Carmen, roughly 30 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Playa del Carmen?
- 2 places are within about an hour's drive of Playa del Carmen: Cozumel (30 min), Puerto Aventuras (30 min).
- What is the biggest city near Playa del Carmen for a day out?
- Cancún is the largest city in day-trip range, 65 km north of Playa del Carmen and about 1 hr 15 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Playa del Carmen?
- For a weekend away from Playa del Carmen, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Panabá (144 km, 2 hr 15 min), Espita (134 km, 2 hr 5 min), Tizimín (125 km, 1 hr 55 min), Chichimila (118 km, 1 hr 50 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Playa del Carmen?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Panabá at 144 km, around 2 hr 15 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.
Ready to plan your Playa del Carmen trip?
Free day-by-day itinerary in seconds. No account needed to start.
Keep exploring