A Travel Price Comparison for Mexico Playa del Carmen vs. Acapulco de Juarez for Nightlife, Resorts, Scuba Diving & Snorkeling, and Beaches

Should you visit Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is a vibrant, picture-perfect, and scenic town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking.

Acapulco de Juarez

Acapulco de Juarez is a vibrant, built-up, and well-known city. Other popular activities here include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.

Playa del Carmen and Acapulco de Juarez: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Playa del Carmen than Acapulco de Juarez. While Acapulco de Juarez is larger than Playa del Carmen, Playa del Carmen has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Playa del Carmen is more touristy than Acapulco de Juarez and is known for its coral reefs, luxury resorts, and white sand beaches. It is also well known for La Quinta Avenida. Acapulco de Juarez is famous for its large hotels, golf courses, and lively bars and clubs.

How is Playa del Carmen different from Acapulco de Juarez?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Acapulco de Juarez and Playa del Carmen. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez.

Playa del Carmen offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. If you're willing to head out of town, there are world class Mayan ruins not far away, but if you want to hang out near town, then you'll likely spend most of your time enjoying outdoor water activities.

While most people don't head to Acapulco de Juarez specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. There are a couple of history and cultural museums in the city that can be a nice way to spend a rainy day.

Is the Food Better in Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Playa del Carmen and Acapulco de Juarez can be difficult as they are each nice in their own way.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Playa del Carmen area. You'll find a good number of overpriced tourist restaurants in the area, but if you do some research you'll also find amazing and authentic Mexican food as well. There is everything from food trucks to fine dining that offer ceviche, tacos, or burritos. There are also plenty of places to grab pizza or burgers.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Acapulco de Juarez. The local cuisine is influenced by the area's indigenous cultures combined with Hispanic influences. Seafood is common as well.

Is Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez has a better nightlife scene.

Playa del Carmen has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. It rivals some of the country's best nightlife and you'll find plenty of venues to choose from, ranging from dive bars to swanky cocktail lounges. Head to the main walking street for some of the most active venues.

Acapulco de Juarez is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. The nightlife scene is part of what originally put this city on the map. Spring break is a prime time for partying and you'll find many bars along Costera Street, with the liveliest around Condesa Beach.

Is Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Resorts?

Playa del Carmen and Acapulco de Juarez offer a relatively similar set of first-rate luxury resort options.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Playa del Carmen is a great choice. You'll find a huge number of luxury resorts in the area, particularly along the beach. There are fancy pools and beachfront properties that offer the perfect vacation retreat.

If you're looking for a fantastic resort destination, Acapulco de Juarez is a perfect choice. You'll find no shortage of resorts in the city, most with large pools and beachfront views.

Is Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Playa del Carmen is an unbeatable place for snorkeling and scuba diving. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling.

The clear water and abundant marine life make Playa del Carmen a world-class scuba diving and snorkeling destination. There's not a lot to see right off of the beach, but there are plenty of snorkeling excursions in the area that take you to beautiful reefs. The diving is world class as well and you'll find wonderful reefs, bull sharks, and hidden gems.

There is a nice variety of marine life that makes scuba diving and snorkeling great in Acapulco de Juarez. There are plenty of dive shops that offer snorkeling and scuba diving trips to premier spots.

Is Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Beaches?

Playa del Carmen is an unbeatable place for the beach. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for its beaches.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Playa del Carmen. The area is filled with world class beaches, long stretches of white sand, and beautiful blue water. You might even stumble across a sea turtle or two while you're swimming.

Acapulco de Juarez is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. The beaches are well developed with restaurants, hotels and bars lining the long stretches of sand. You'll find all kinds of water sports and activities nearby and several of the most popular beaches include Condesa Beach, Caleta Beach, and Icacos Beach.

Is Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Hiking?

Playa del Carmen is a popular place for its hiking experiences. However, Acapulco de Juarez is not a hiking destination.

Playa del Carmen is a good destination for hiking. There are well marked trails in the area that get you out in nature or take you along the coastline.

Acapulco de Juarez is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Acapulco de Juarez and Playa del Carmen.

Many visitors go to Playa del Carmen to go shopping. Much of the shopping is geared towards the tourists, but you'll find some local items, interesting galleries, and colorful markets to explore.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Acapulco de Juarez. You'll find tons of beachside shops where you can pick up any beach supplies you may need as well as souvenirs from your trip. The city also has retail outlets and shopping centers.

Is Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Families?

Playa del Carmen is an unbeatable place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Playa del Carmen is a very family-friendly destination. From eco parks to kid-friendly snorkeling opportunities, there are many activities for kids of all ages. There are also adventure parks and playgrounds that are perfect for a fun afternoon.

Acapulco de Juarez is a very family-friendly destination. It may have been made famous by spring breakers, but families with kids will find plenty to do as well. There are water parks, playgrounds, museums and, of course, the beach.

Is Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Playa del Carmen and Acapulco de Juarez make for a first-rate place to visit.

Playa del Carmen makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. Beautiful beaches and tropical jungles make this a paradise honeymoon destination. You'll find luxury resorts, fine dining restaurants, and countless opportunities to enjoy the stunning setting. Take a sunset cruise of explore one of the many natural wonders in the area.

For those traveling as a couple, Acapulco de Juarez has plenty to offer. Whether you're looking for an active nightlife scene, or romantic sunset walks, then this city has it all. The beach is active and beautiful, there are also botanical gardens and wonderful restaurants to experience.

Is Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Playa del Carmen is a popular place for backpackers. However, Acapulco de Juarez is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Playa del Carmen. It's filled with tourists staying at luxury resorts, but you'll also find a couple of hostels tucked away in town. If you're interesting in scuba diving, then it's well worth the trip.

Acapulco de Juarez is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are more hotels and resorts than hostels, so most backpackers head elsewhere. There is a young crowd during the spring break season.

Is Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Playa del Carmen and Acapulco de Juarez.

You'll find some public transit in Playa del Carmen, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are local buses, collectivos and the ADO bus.

While Acapulco de Juarez offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's an elaborate and fun bus system that travels around the city.

Is Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez a more walkable city?

Playa del Carmen is an unbeatable place for its ease of walking around. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Getting around Playa del Carmen on foot is easy. It's a compact and very walkable town. La Quinta is the main strip and it's pedestrian-only.

Acapulco de Juarez is somewhat walkable. The downtown and beachfront areas are the most walkable and many sights are within a short distance of each other.

For even more information, also check out Is Playa del Carmen Worth Visiting? and Is Acapulco de Juarez Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Acapulco de Juarez or Playa del Carmen?

How long in Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez?

In either Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Playa del Carmen than Acapulco de Juarez because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Playa del Carmen, and 3-5 days is enough time in Acapulco de Juarez.

Families should spend more time in Playa del Carmen than Acapulco de Juarez. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Playa del Carmen, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Playa del Carmen than Acapulco de Juarez. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Playa del Carmen that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Playa del Carmen than Acapulco de Juarez if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Playa del Carmen.

One day in Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the stunning destination of Playa del Carmen. This town offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the vibrant destination of Acapulco de Juarez. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

A weekend in Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez?

Playa del Carmen is a popular place to visit. Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the vibrant town of Playa del Carmen. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

You'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the vibrant city of Acapulco de Juarez. It's also a relaxing resort destination. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Most people head to the area for the nightlife. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring.

Five days in Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez?

Visitors enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the destination of Playa del Carmen. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Most people come for the beaches. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Playa del Carmen has to offer.

Acapulco de Juarez is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A week in Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez?

Playa del Carmen is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this town makes for a great vacation. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. It offers something for everyone. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.

Acapulco de Juarez is a great place to explore. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Most people head to the area for the nightlife. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Mexico.

When comparing the travel costs between Playa del Carmen and Acapulco de Juarez, we can see that Playa del Carmen is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Playa del Carmen Expensive? and Is Acapulco de Juarez Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez?

Acapulco de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen and Acapulco de Juarez, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez in the Summer?

Both Acapulco de Juarez and Playa del Carmen are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Playa del Carmen because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Acapulco de Juarez this time of year.

Playa del Carmen is around the same temperature as Acapulco de Juarez in the summer. The daily temperature in Playa del Carmen averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Acapulco de Juarez fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

It's quite sunny in Acapulco de Juarez. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Acapulco de Juarez during summer. Playa del Carmen gets 223 hours of sunny skies, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 224 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Acapulco de Juarez. It's quite rainy in Playa del Carmen. In July, Playa del Carmen usually receives less rain than Acapulco de Juarez. Playa del Carmen gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 209 mm (8.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez in the Autumn?

Both Acapulco de Juarez and Playa del Carmen during the autumn are popular places to visit. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Playa del Carmen this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Acapulco de Juarez for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Playa del Carmen is around the same temperature as Acapulco de Juarez. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Playa del Carmen in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Acapulco de Juarez averages at about 28°C (83°F).

In Acapulco de Juarez, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Playa del Carmen. In the autumn, Playa del Carmen often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Acapulco de Juarez. Playa del Carmen gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 245 hours of full sun.

Acapulco de Juarez gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen usually gets less rain in October than Acapulco de Juarez. Playa del Carmen gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, the hurricane season in Playa del Carmen is June to October.

Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Playa del Carmen and Acapulco de Juarez. Many travelers come to Playa del Carmen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Acapulco de Juarez in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Playa del Carmen is generally cooler than Acapulco de Juarez. Daily temperatures in Playa del Carmen average around 23°C (73°F), and Acapulco de Juarez fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Acapulco de Juarez this time of the year. In Playa del Carmen, it's very sunny this time of the year. Playa del Carmen usually receives less sunshine than Acapulco de Juarez during winter. Playa del Carmen gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 272 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Playa del Carmen usually receives more rain than Acapulco de Juarez. Playa del Carmen gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Acapulco de Juarez in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Playa del Carmen as well as Acapulco de Juarez. Many visitors come to Playa del Carmen in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Acapulco de Juarez for the beaches during these months.

Playa del Carmen is around the same temperature as Acapulco de Juarez in the spring. The daily temperature in Playa del Carmen averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Acapulco de Juarez fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Acapulco de Juarez. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Carmen this time of the year. In the spring, Playa del Carmen often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Acapulco de Juarez. Playa del Carmen gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 274 hours of full sun.

Playa del Carmen usually gets more rain in April than Acapulco de Juarez. Playa del Carmen gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year. Keep in mind that June to October is the hurricane season in Playa del Carmen.

Typical Weather for Acapulco de Juarez and Playa del Carmen