Kuxaan Guidebook - Have Fun & Visit the Area
Major Attractions
Must see places in Riviera Maya
GET TO CHICHEN ITZA MAYAN RUINS:
1. Rent a car - easy with Google Maps GPS
2. Bus - Daily ADO Bus. Leaves from Playa del Carmen Bus Station at 8:00 AM. It returns from Chichen Itza to Playa at 4:30 PM. Travel time is ~ 3 h 45 min
1362 locals recommend
Chichen Itza
GET TO CHICHEN ITZA MAYAN RUINS:
1. Rent a car - easy with Google Maps GPS
2. Bus - Daily ADO Bus. Leaves from Playa del Carmen Bus Station at 8:00 AM. It returns from Chichen Itza to Playa at 4:30 PM. Travel time is ~ 3 h 45 min
FERRY TO COZUMEL
There are two Ferry companies:
Ultramar and Winjet
Check their websites. Pre-booking is suggested. You will save time and plan your day.
Get there with anticipation!
Cost should be ~MXN$400 roundtrip or ~MXN$220 oneway
255 locals recommend
San Miguel de Cozumel
FERRY TO COZUMEL
There are two Ferry companies:
Ultramar and Winjet
Check their websites. Pre-booking is suggested. You will save time and plan your day.
Get there with anticipation!
Cost should be ~MXN$400 roundtrip or ~MXN$220 oneway
GO TO CANCUN!
Local tip: For a more affordable and authentic wrestling experience, downtown Cancún's Plaza de Toros, a former bullfighting ring, hosts events from time to time.
Take the Ferry to Isla Mujeres
The ferry crossing to Isla Mujeres takes about 20 to 30 minutes, meaning day-trippers can easily be back in Cancún for dinner. To see the quieter south side of the island, rent a golf cart or scooter and stop at beach club Garrafón de Castilla for snorkeling or take in a sunset from lookout point Punta Sur.
For a taste of local culture, public square Parque de las Palapas comes alive at night with free concerts, vibrant dance performances and street artists working the crowds with amusing slapstick routines.
171 locals recommend
Cancún
GO TO CANCUN!
Local tip: For a more affordable and authentic wrestling experience, downtown Cancún's Plaza de Toros, a former bullfighting ring, hosts events from time to time.
Take the Ferry to Isla Mujeres
The ferry crossing to Isla Mujeres takes about 20 to 30 minutes, meaning day-trippers can easily be back in Cancún for dinner. To see the quieter south side of the island, rent a golf cart or scooter and stop at beach club Garrafón de Castilla for snorkeling or take in a sunset from lookout point Punta Sur.
For a taste of local culture, public square Parque de las Palapas comes alive at night with free concerts, vibrant dance performances and street artists working the crowds with amusing slapstick routines.
Sightseeing
OPTION TO VISIT TULUM FROM PLAYA DEL CARMEN
There are many ways you can get to Tulum from Playa del Carmen. Before starting, there’s a difference between the town of Tulum and the Tulum ruins. Although they are fairly close, the stops will be different on 'colectivos' and you will need to tell your taxi driver where you’re headed. We’re going to cover the main methods of getting down to Tulum, along with our personal recommendation on the easiest way to go! It all depends on your budget, time, and preferences.
OPTIONS
1. Rent a car - easy with Google Maps GPS
2. Taxi -The cost to take a taxi to Tulum from Playa del Carmen is about 650 pesos.
3. Bus - Daily ADO Bus. Leaves from Playa del Carmen Bus Station.
how to get from playa del carmen to tulumYou can take the ADO bus from Playa del Carmen to Tulum, but we don’t recommend it. The trip costs about 70 pesos each way and takes about an hour. The bus is certainly more comfortable than the colectivos, has air conditioning, and plays movies. However, the increased cost and time it takes to get back and forth make it much less than ideal.
If you do choose to take the ADO bus, you can catch it at 5th Avenue and Benito Juarez.
999 locals recommend
Tulum
OPTION TO VISIT TULUM FROM PLAYA DEL CARMEN
There are many ways you can get to Tulum from Playa del Carmen. Before starting, there’s a difference between the town of Tulum and the Tulum ruins. Although they are fairly close, the stops will be different on 'colectivos' and you will need to tell your taxi driver where you’re headed. We’re going to cover the main methods of getting down to Tulum, along with our personal recommendation on the easiest way to go! It all depends on your budget, time, and preferences.
OPTIONS
1. Rent a car - easy with Google Maps GPS
2. Taxi -The cost to take a taxi to Tulum from Playa del Carmen is about 650 pesos.
3. Bus - Daily ADO Bus. Leaves from Playa del Carmen Bus Station.
how to get from playa del carmen to tulumYou can take the ADO bus from Playa del Carmen to Tulum, but we don’t recommend it. The trip costs about 70 pesos each way and takes about an hour. The bus is certainly more comfortable than the colectivos, has air conditioning, and plays movies. However, the increased cost and time it takes to get back and forth make it much less than ideal.
If you do choose to take the ADO bus, you can catch it at 5th Avenue and Benito Juarez.
Natural water park and incredible local culture adventure
Xcaret is a MUST go place!
Xcaret is one of several eco-parks in the Riviera Maya. Definitely a tourist attraction, you can swim with stingrays, play with dolphins (learn more about this in our post How to Swim with Dolphins in Playa del Carmen), go parasailing, feed nurse sharks, and see a reenactment of an ancient Maya village. Xcaret offers fun for the whole family and is under ten kilometers from Playa del Carmen.
You can get a day pass to visit Xcaret and buy additional activities. They’ve worked with the National Institute of Anthropology and History, funding the preservation and rebuilding of many ruins within park grounds. You can get discounted tickets to Xcaret here.
131 locals recommend
XCARET
XcaretXcaret is a MUST go place!
Xcaret is one of several eco-parks in the Riviera Maya. Definitely a tourist attraction, you can swim with stingrays, play with dolphins (learn more about this in our post How to Swim with Dolphins in Playa del Carmen), go parasailing, feed nurse sharks, and see a reenactment of an ancient Maya village. Xcaret offers fun for the whole family and is under ten kilometers from Playa del Carmen.
You can get a day pass to visit Xcaret and buy additional activities. They’ve worked with the National Institute of Anthropology and History, funding the preservation and rebuilding of many ruins within park grounds. You can get discounted tickets to Xcaret here.
Nigthclub
Coco Bongo in Cancun isn’t your typical nightclub. There’s no traditional dance floor. Instead, the popular venue hosts energetic performances including acrobats, bands, and musical impersonators who belt out tunes by artists ranging from Rihanna to Elvis. This lively spot is a must-visit for those looking for a fun night out in Cancun but don’t want to simply dance to DJs.
Great for adults wanting a great show and nightlife!
619 locals recommend
Coco Bongo
Coco Bongo in Cancun isn’t your typical nightclub. There’s no traditional dance floor. Instead, the popular venue hosts energetic performances including acrobats, bands, and musical impersonators who belt out tunes by artists ranging from Rihanna to Elvis. This lively spot is a must-visit for those looking for a fun night out in Cancun but don’t want to simply dance to DJs.
Great for adults wanting a great show and nightlife!
Traveler advice
What to pack
Bring summer clothes and sunscreen
Playa del Carmen is a paradise! It is hot and humid and the beaches are beautiful. Bring your most comfortable flip-flops/sandals and shorts. We recommend cotton and nothing made with jeans/denim.
There are very nice restaurants and nightclubs in Playa, bring more casual clothes to go out and look nice. Black clothing is always a good idea.
Don't forget your favorite sunscreen!
Ways to save
Buy Groceries and use Kuxaan's Kitchen for Breakfast
We do not recommend always cooking because there are many restaurants with delicious food in Playa, however, you can save money by having a nice breakfast at home. Then have a delicious lunch/dinner in La 5a Avenida. We suggest you try a different restaurant every day!
Customs and culture
Only Biodegradable sunblocks
BIODEGRADABLE SUNBLOCK. Biodegradable sunscreen is the only type of sunscreen that is allowed on any snorkeling tour, scuba diving trip, or other water activity inside Cozumel's protected marine park, or at the major parks like Chankanaab, Xcaret, Xel Ha, and Garrafon.