What is Coco Bongo in Playa del Carmen?

Coco Bongo is an entertainment venue at Calle 12 and 5th Avenue with acrobatic shows, live performers, and DJs running from 10pm to 5am. It is the same concept as the famous Cancún original. Entry costs 400–800 MXN (£16–£32) and includes a drink. Book tickets in advance to avoid queueing.

How do I get from Playa del Carmen to Tulum?

ADO bus from Playa del Carmen ADO terminal (Calle 12) to Tulum: approximately 80 MXN, 1 hour, runs several times per day. Colectivo (shared van) from the stop on Avenida Juárez: 40–50 MXN, 45 minutes, runs frequently. Colectivos are faster and cheaper but drop you at the Tulum town junction, not the beach zone.

Playa del Carmen 5th Avenue and Beach Club Scene | Party Hostels & Festival Guide

Name: Playa del Carmen 5th Avenue and Beach Club Scene
Location: Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Playa del Carmen 5th Avenue and Beach Club Scene

Quinta Avenida runs 14 blocks from the ferry pier to the best beach clubs in the Riviera Maya: rooftop bars above the pedestrian strip, open-air clubs one block from the Caribbean, and a nightlife circuit that peaks well after midnight.

DatesYear-round (peak: December to March and July to August)

LocationPlaya Del Carmen

Attendance

Entry5th Avenue bars free entry; beach clubs 200–600 MXN (approximately £8–£24) sometimes with minimum spend credit

Year-round. Dry season (November to April) is peak tourist season. Spring Break (late February to mid-March) brings the largest US crowds. Summer (July to August) is busy with Mexican and Latin American domestic tourists.

What Is Playa del Carmen 5th Avenue and Beach Club Scene?

Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue, or La Quinta) is a 4km pedestrianised street that runs parallel to the Caribbean coast through the centre of Playa del Carmen. The first 14 blocks from the ferry pier (Calle 1 to Calle 28) concentrate most of the nightlife: restaurants on the ground floor of colonial-style buildings, rooftop bars above, and open-air clubs on the beach side streets. Coco Bongo at Calle 12, the Playa branch of the famous Cancún entertainment venue, runs acrobatics, live shows, and DJ sets until 5am.

The beach clubs — Mamita's Beach Club on Calle 28 and Kool Beach Club further north — run day-into-night events with sunbeds, DJs, and a crowd that transitions from beach day to party evening without ever going home. Entry to beach clubs costs 200–600 MXN with credit applicable to food and drinks. Drinks on 5th Avenue: a beer is 60–100 MXN; cocktails 120–200 MXN; margaritas from a street vendor 40–60 MXN. Street tacos one block off La Quinta cost 15–25 MXN each.

Information verified

What to Expect

Day-by-day breakdown

Evening

5th Avenue bar circuit and street tacos

Start at the ferry pier end of 5th Avenue (Calle 1) and walk north. The first 8 blocks have the most bars and restaurants: rooftop options at Calle 6 and Calle 12 look over the pedestrian street below. Street taco stands on the parallel Avenida 10 (one block west) serve pastor and carnitas at 15–25 MXN per taco — better and cheaper than anything on La Quinta itself. Beer on 5th Avenue: 60–100 MXN. Coco Bongo at Calle 12 starts its show programme at 10pm; buying tickets in advance (from 400–600 MXN) avoids the queue.

Late Night

Beach clubs and 5th Avenue clubs

Mamita's Beach Club (Calle 28) runs DJ events on weekend nights with a cover charge or minimum spend: 300–600 MXN. The beach side of 5th Avenue has open-air clubs that run until 3am–4am — Las Ranitas, Diablito Cha Cha Cha, and the cluster around Calle 12. Salsa nights at La Bodeguita del Medio (Calle 40) run on Thursdays from 10pm with live Cuban music and free salsa lessons from 9pm. Most of the main clubs on 5th Avenue do not charge entry, making it easy to walk in, have a drink, and move on.

Practical Tips

Playa del Carmen is 1 hour from Cancún Airport by ADO bus

ADO buses from Cancún International Airport to Playa del Carmen Calle 12 ADO terminal run frequently and cost approximately 230 MXN. Journey time is 60–75 minutes. Taxis from the airport cost 800–1,200 MXN and take the same amount of time. The ADO bus is by far the more cost-effective option.

Ferry to Cozumel takes 45 minutes from the pier at Calle 1

Ferries to Cozumel island depart from the main ferry pier at the bottom of 5th Avenue every hour. The crossing takes 45 minutes and costs approximately 300 MXN return (Ultramar or Mexico Waterjets). Cozumel has some of the best reef diving and snorkelling in the Caribbean: a day trip is straightforward from Playa del Carmen.

Stay on 5th Avenue and the beach side streets: avoid the roads west of Avenida 20 at night

The tourist zone of Playa del Carmen (5th Avenue and the blocks east of it toward the beach) is well-patrolled and generally safe. Streets west of Avenida 20 are residential and have a different character at night. Stick to the tourist corridor and use Uber or licensed taxis for any journeys outside it.

Pay in Mexican pesos: USD is accepted but at unfavourable exchange rates

Most bars and restaurants on 5th Avenue accept USD but apply their own exchange rate, usually 15–18 MXN to the dollar when the market rate is around 17–18 MXN. Paying in pesos from an ATM withdrawal is consistently better value. Use a Wise or similar low-fee card for ATM withdrawals.

Spring Break (late February to mid-March) transforms the atmosphere

US Spring Break significantly changes Playa del Carmen's demographic from late February to mid-March. The beach clubs and 5th Avenue bars are at their most crowded and loudest. If you want this atmosphere, it is the time to visit. If you prefer a more mixed crowd, avoid this window.

Stay between Calle 1 and Calle 20 on or east of 5th Avenue

Hostels within this grid are within walking distance of everything. Dorm beds in peak season: 250–450 MXN per night. Booking 3–4 weeks ahead is sufficient outside Spring Break and Christmas/New Year. During these peak periods, book 6–8 weeks ahead.

Airport Transfers to Playa Del Carmen

Pre-booked private transfers and shared shuttles for your arrival.