Index

Documentation/visa to get into Mexico
Transportation from Airport to Playa del Carmen
Transportation in Playa del Carmen
Children
Temperatures in Riviera Maya
Groceries and Supplies
Shopping basket (January 2010)
Banks / Changing Money
Weather
Medical information & Staying healthy in Mexico
Phone / Internet
What to Wear
Estimated Time From Playa del Carmen to...

To enter Mexico you are required to have a passport regardless of your nationality. On the plane you will be asked to fill out a tourist visa and customs declaration form. The customs official will give you a copy of the tourist visa that you must have to leave Mexico. If you are travelling with a minor, certain requirements apply;

♦ Airport shuttle bus: An airport shuttle bus named “Playa Expressâ€� has direct service to and from Playa del Carmen. After having passed the immigration and customs, you will see several booths for transports and car rentals. Continue outside and turn right to the far corner of the international airport. You may ask a porter or just walk at the end of the front of the terminal. Ticket is $ 8 US per person and the bus leave every hour. Buses are clean and air-conditioned.
♦ Taxi : As you get outside of the airport you will find taxis always available but quite expensive around $ 65 US
♦ Private transportation from/to Cancun Airport : Transportation can be easily arranged on demand
♦ Rental car: easy and convenient. Several agencies are available at the airport. Renting a car is a good option. You need not book it for you entire stay and you can keep it just for a few days giving you a chance to buy groceries, take a few excursions on your own, etc..

Although the town has grown over the last years it is easy to go from one point to another walking. Nevertheless you fill find easily a taxi at any corner of Playa del Carmen for $ 5 US the ride.

Mexico’s Riviera Maya is safe, nice and fun place to be a kid. Unlimited ways for kids to enjoy Playa del Carmen: swimming, snorkelling, jungle tours, eco-parks, interactive dolphin experience and much more.. Babysitting services can be arranged in Playa del Carmen.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Day

80°F / 27°C

82°F / 27°C

83°F / 28°C

84°F / 29°C

86°F / 30°C

86°F / 30°C

88°F / 31°C

86°F / 31°C

86°F / 31°C

83°F / 28°C

82°F / 27°C

82°F / 27°C

Night

68°F / 20°C

68°F / 20°C

69°F / 21°C

71°F / 22°C

74°F / 23°C

75°F / 24°C

75°F / 24°C

75°F / 24°C

75°F / 24°C

72°F / 23°C

71°F / 22°C

70°F / 21°C

Ocean

80°F / 26°C

80°F / 26°C

81°F / 27°C

81°F / 27°C

81°F / 28°C

82°F / 28°C

83°F / 28°C

84°F / 29°C

84°F / 28°C

81°F / 27°C

81°F / 27°C

80°F / 26°C

Playa del Carmen has grown over the last years and now has all the conveniences usually associated with larger places. Supermarkets are usually open 7/7 from 7 a.m to 22 p.m. If you are shopping for groceries and supplies, we recommend the following:
Walmart - located in the center of town on 30 Avenue. A bit costly but has everything from groceries to clothing.
Mega - located on 30 Avenue. Same range of price than Wallmart
Chedraui - located on the main highway. Chedraui is more reasonably priced and is the closest supermarket to Villa Milpa. Chedraui is probably the best place to purchase groceries and other supplies.
Sam's Club - located on the main highway south of Chedraui, Sam's dub has everything but usually in bulk. A membership is required however.

Product	Price
Alcohol: Absolut Vodka natural 750 ml	18.53	USD
Alcohol: Appleton jamaica rum 950 ml	9.92	USD
Alcohol: White Bacardi 750 ml	8.31	USD
Alcohol: Beer : 12 Heineken	10.85	USD
Alcohol: Beer : Sol (mexican) / 12	9.66	USD
Alcohol: White Wine Chardonnay / Chile	10.29	USD
Alcohol: Red Wine Merlot / Chile	11.88	USD
Alcohol: Vodka Smirnoff 1L	11.88	USD
Alcohol: Wisky JB (750 ml)	15.84	USD
Beverage: Canada dry / Can	0.48	USD
Beverage: Coca Cola 1 Liter	0.82	USD
Beverage: Coca Cola Light 1L	0.87	USD
Beverage: Sparkling water 1L 1/2	1.09	USD
Beverage: Water 1L1/2	0.53	USD
Beverage: Pineaple juice 1 liter	1.27	USD
Beverage: Orange Juice 1 liter	1.27	USD
Beverage: Sprite / Can	1.48	USD
Grocery: 12 Eggs	1.51	USD
Grocery: Chips 350g	1.43	USD
Grocery: Olive Oil superior 0,5ml	5.15	USD
Grocery: Soya Oil 1L	2.61	USD
Grocery: Barilla noodles 500g	0.91	USD
Grocery: Fine Salt 1kg	0.38	USD
Grocery: Sugar 1kg	1.50	USD
Fruit: Pineaple / kg	2.13	USD
Fruit: Bananas / kg	0.86	USD
Fruit: Lemon / kg	0.92	USD
Fruit: Orange / Kg	0.54	USD
Fruit: Grapefruit / Kg	0.36	USD
Fruit: Papaw / Kg	0.95	USD
Fruit: Water melon / Kg	0.55	USD
Fruit: Pear / Kg	2.13	USD
Fruit: Apple Golden/kg	1.58	USD
Fruit: Apple Starking / Kg	1.97	USD
Dairies: Butter / 250 g	2.81	USD
Dairies: Butter light / 227g	2.21	USD
Dairies: Cheese (slices) / kg	8.47	USD
Dairies: Milk / 1 l	0.95	USD
Dairies: Yogurth Activia Danone / 4	0.63	USD
Dairies: Yogurth Activia Danone - drink / 6	1.08	USD
Dairies: Swiss with fruits x 4 (180g)	3.56	USD
Vegetables: Avocado / Kg	2.06	USD
Vegetables: Brocolis / Kg	1.26	USD
Vegetables: Carotts / Kg	0.77	USD
Vegetables: Muschrooms / 350g	1.50	USD
Vegetables: Cabbage / Kg	0.47	USD
Vegetables: Cauliflower / piece	1.24	USD
Vegetables: Cucumber / Kg	1.02	USD
Vegetables: Melon / kg	1.07	USD
Vegetables: White Onion / Kg	0.53	USD
Vegetables: Green pepper / kg	3.06	USD
Vegetables: Potatos / Kg	1.16	USD
Vegetables: Salad / 400g	1.58	USD
Vegetables: Tomatos / Kg	1.74	USD
Breakfast: Bread / Baguette	0.55	USD
Breakfast: Bread White sliced / 500g	1.35	USD
Breakfast: Bread Cereals sliced / 540g	1.55	USD
Breakfast: Bread roll / small	0.06	USD
Breakfast: Biscuit Mixed cakes 480g	2.53	USD
Breakfast: Ground coffee: 340g	3.96	USD
Breakfast: Strawberry marmelade	1.65	USD
Breakfast: Orange marmelade	1.65	USD
Breakfast: Corn Flakes (600g)	2.08	USD
Breakfast: Brioche cake (diameter 20 cm)	3.56	USD
Breakfast: Kellogs special K90 (132g)	1.74	USD
Breakfast: Nescafe Classic / Big size	3.56	USD
Breakfast: Nutella 350g	2.93	USD
Breakfast: Biscuit : Petits-beurre 600g	2.30	USD
Fish: Fish filet / Higher quality	9.98	USD
Fish: Salmon filet	10.29	USD
Fish: Gambas / medium size / kg	9.90	USD
Meat: Beef filet	15.99	USD
Meat: 10 frozen hamburgers	4.24	USD
Meat: Chicken Chest / Kg	6.33	USD
Meat: Beef chops / Kg	23.67	USD
Meat: Porc chops / Kg	5.23	USD
Meat: Chicken wings / Kg	3.10	USD
Meat: Ham / Higher quality / Kg	10.69	USD
Meat: Chicken / kg	3.10	USD
Meat: Saussages / Franckfort style /12	3.33	USD
Meat: Sirloin steack / kg	9.42	USD
Meat: Hamburger meat / kg	4.98	USD

It is easy to exchange most major currencies at the bank and money exchanges in Playa del Carmen so visitors just bring their own (major) currency or travellers checks. Banks have ATM machines where you can get pesos using your ATM card. They give the best rates and usually have no lines.

In general it is nice all year round, with the average temperatures between 74-84F. The thermometer rarely dips below 70F. It does get hot around here and the hottest months are July and August. The rainiest months are September and October, but the rain usually falls for an hour or so in the afternoon or at night which is no big deal. Unless your visit is during a hurricane, you are unlikely to have rain for more than 3 days during your vacation.

Playa del Carmen has the widest selection of medical services in Riviera Maya. There are good English speaking doctors and Hospitals in town with 24 hrs. They are used to dealing with tourists.

Do not drink water in Mexico. Use bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth. Most ice in the area comes from factories and is purified. If you are uncertain about the ice, ask your waiter.

Avoid laying out on the beach in the noon day sun. The sun is strong here, and tourists who forget that walk around with painful red sunburns.

They are many internet cafes in town as well as public phones. Mobile cell phone service is pretty good in the Riviera Maya area. Some US and Canadian cell phone providers have agreements with Mexican mobile phone companies to provide service to their customers. It is recommended you check with your provider at home regarding activation of this feature on your cell phone. Check also with your provider on rates and be aware some additional local charges may be added.

The cheapest way to call home from Playa del Carmen is to buy a phone card sold in stores and pharmacy all over town. They work with almost any pay phone.

The dress code along Mexico's Caribbean coast is casual. You can go into most places in a T-shirt and shorts and nobody would look at you funny. However, if you want to dress nicely there are places to go where you won't look out of place. Remember it can get pretty hot here. Men should leave their suits at home, slacks and a golf shirt are about as nice as it gets here. For women, during the summer synthetics are too hot so bring cotton.

A little sweater for winter nights, as well as long pants.

Cancun	1 hour	68km	42 Miles
Puerto Morelos	30 min	36km	22.5 Miles
Cozumel	1 hour by ferry
Xcaret	15 min	12km	8 Miles
Paamul	30 min	24km	14 Miles
Puerto Aventuras	35 min	30km	19 Miles
Akumal	45 min	37km	23 Miles
Xel Ha	1 hour	54km	33.5 Miles
Tulum	1 hour 15 min	63km	39 Miles
Cobá	2 hour	105km	65 Miles
Punta Allen	4 hour	120km	74 Miles