Playa del Carmen has become a great city for digital nomads looking for an affordable beach lifestyle close to the US.
Best way to get to Playa del Carmen - ADO bus from Cancun airport
Most international flights will arrive at Cancun airport. Exit the airport and find the ADO bus counter. ADO is one of the biggest companies with very safe air-conditioned buses. You can pay by credit card at their stand. Current price as of 2018 is 178 MXN one way to Playa del Carmen. The journey will take you about an hour and terminates at the ADO station in Playa on 5th and Benito Juarez. There's no need to book in advance. Buses leave every half hour.
Best Area To Live - Centro
Best Area To Live In Playa
In terms of distance to the beach, gyms, coffee shops, and the best restaurants, most of the expats, digital nomads and location independent entrepreneurs live in this area. It is the rectangle which encompasses the beach on the east, the highway or Avenida 50 on the west, Avenida CTM in the north and Benita Juarez or the old airport in the south. As you move north or west, the further away you go, the less expensive it gets for both lodging and food costs.
As for this central area, there are studios on Airbnb starting at about 9000 MXN. You can find cheaper for a room in a shared apartment and also by scouring the local facebook rental pages. I did a brief search through the facebook groups and found most require long term leases of at least 3 - 6 months and a security deposit. Also, a working knowledge of Spanish to communicate and negotiate.
For month to month rentals on private studios with private bathrooms, air-conditioning, wifi and a small kitchen located in the center close to gyms and coffee shops, they can be found on Airbnb for 10,000 MXN including the fee. My biggest tip is to search for stays of 28 days or more to receive a huge monthly discount. You can also search by the week for smaller discounts, typically 10 - 15%. The most expensive rate will be by the day, but will still be cheaper than most hotels or hostels even (for a private room).
For month to month rentals on private studios with private bathrooms, air-conditioning, wifi and a small kitchen located in the center close to gyms and coffee shops, they can be found on Airbnb for 10,000 MXN including the fee. My biggest tip is to search for stays of 28 days or more to receive a huge monthly discount. You can also search by the week for smaller discounts, typically 10 - 15%. The most expensive rate will be by the day, but will still be cheaper than most hotels or hostels even (for a private room).
There is a fee for using the service. It is a small premium to pay for the security of booking through the Airbnb platform, being able to read the reviews beforehand about the property and owner (to see how responsive they are to issues), viewing photos of the unit, and the ability to pay by credit card (and the protection of your payment through the credit card company). For long term travellers and expats, Airbnb has been a game changer for short term rentals and I highly recommend trying it out. Click this link or the photo below to get $40 off your first stay.
Full disclosure: There's no Airbnb on the San Blas Islands. ;)
Best Bike Shop - Harley Bikes
Playa is flat and perfect for getting around on a bicycle. Most expats who decide to live here purchase a bike. A new pedal brake bike with a basket and lock will set you back around 1800 - 2000 MXN. The best shop in town is Harley Rides. The owner is very friendly, hospitable and speaks English.
Best Coffee Shop For Working Online - Ah Cacao
A good working cafe should have plenty of outlets, air conditioning, easily accessible bathrooms, good wifi, and good coffee and snacks. These two Ah Cacao cafes fit the bill. The first one is on 5th and Constituyentes.
Ah Cacao on 5th & Constituyentes
The second one is the Ah Cacao on 5th and Calle 38th.
Ah Cacao on 5th & Calle 38th
Best Gym - Evolve Gyms
The main location on 5th and 24th.
Evolve gym membership fees
The best gym is part of the chain of Evolve gyms which have 7 locations. You get access to all the locations with your membership. Monthly fees start at 900 MXN.
Best Protein Store - Monster Nutrition
It's often hard to find protein powder when you're on the road. And it's not always the best idea to try and get huge ziplock bags of powder through customs. This shop has a nice stock of your favorite protein powders. It's also located right next to one of the Evolve gym locations.
Best Steak Tacos and Burritos - Don Sirloin
Don Sirloin has the best steak tacos and burritos in the city.
Best Al Pastor Tacos - El Fogon
El Fogon
Plenty has already been written about El Fogon. Just make sure to stop there at least once while you're here.
Best Fish Taco - El Chiltepin
Small swimming pool and breezy venue
Amazing fish and shrimp tacos
The fish tacos here are amazing. Big servings and many great salsas to top it with. This location on Calle 34 gets a nice cross breeze and has a small swimming pool to cool off in.
Best Barber - Peluqueria Acuario's
The most recent price for a basic cut when I stopped by was 70 MXN. I received the best fade I've gotten in a long time there from the younger barber. With tip, still under $5 US.
As with all my travel articles, this post remains a work in progress so please check back for ongoing updates as I usually return to many of these destinations. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions, comments or any tips I should add.
