Playa del Carmen vs Tulum Travel Comparison 2025

In this Tulum vs Playa Del Carmen travel guide we compare these two tourist hot spots in Riviera Maya. I stayed over week in the area checking out Playa Del Carmen and Tulum. This is my third time to the area of Riviera Maya. In this Tulum travel guide we show tell you everything you need to know in this Playa Del Carmen vlog.

00:00 Intro
00:26 Price
2:15 Vibes
3:34 Safety
5:02 Things To Do
6:40 Food
7:10 Shopping
7:57 Transportation
9:02 Outro

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[Benito-fnip]

Been to both several times . Just spent 6 wks in Playa del Carmen. Easy to take ADO to Tulum for a day trip. Tulum has some of the best beaches ( beautiful white sand) in the world and a number of nearby Cenotes....Have never paid more than $10-$11 for a taxi from DT Tulum to Public Beach area....I also hear people discuss outrageous taxi prices in Playa. Never spent more than $7-$10 from one end of city (45th and 5th)to the other.(Playacar area.) Negotiate. It's MX.
Although in Tulum taxi fares are set.

[alanharvey]

I would think Tulum would have a shuttle bus option to get from the city to the beach area.

[pete]

I’ve done all inclusive in Cancun. I’m looking at Tulum, but I’m finding it much more difficult to try to plan and I’m getting overwhelmed. Which area to stay, which airport to fly into, Cancun is cheaper and non stop but can’t book package deal with Tulum hotel. Do I need a car, if not, how do I get around. Where do I go each day and each night. With all inclusive you just pick a nice resort, good flight and you are pretty much done. Just pick a few activities that look good after that.

[marktrayner]

LOL, re safety, saying it's no worse than in your country? Classic US person thing to say 🤣!! Definitely never worried about my safety ANYWHERE at home in Australia!!

[RexPonder-yb]

Now it's gotten very expensive on both. Most things are as much or more than the United States. And the new government is very scary now be careful things are changing in Mexico now be safe.

[JohnJones-fl]

Big fan of Playa....DT Tulum is boring. Really need to negotiate taxi fare. No gracias, when you feel a taxis driver are scamming. Tulum airport to DT $130 I was quoted a dozen times...After my 2 month stay for aa special physical therapy program, my cab driver delivered me to new Tulum airport for spent 6 weeks in Playa October-November...Never spent than $9 for a ride.