Colectivo/City Bus
This is a good option if you really want to see more of the city, beyond 5th Ave. The shopping on 30th Ave is getting more popular with tourists lately, and a colectivo or bus is the perfect way to get around.
A colectivo is a van that is also a part of the Taxi Union with a route running up and down 30th Ave, Colosio, 115 Ave, and Juarez. Also known colloquially as “combis”, these are white with a turquoise stripe. The various stops are written on the windshield in shoe polish so you will know where you’re going. No matter where your stop is, the cost is always the same: 5 pesos. Children under 3 years of age ride for free.
The city bus (marked Tucsa), run similar routes as the colectivos but they are just larger and slower. They also cost 5 pesos and have the various stops written on the windshield as is the custom with public transportation here.
TIP: There are a few designated bus stops in town. But you can hail a bus or colectivo virtually anywhere along its route just by waving your arm. To disembark somewhere that isn’t a specified stop, just yell out to the driver you want off. (“Baja aquí, por favor” = getting off here please. Pronounced “BAH-ha a-KEY por fah-VOR”)
Tucsa buses when traveling inside the town
When traveling inside the city of Playa del Carmen there are city buses – Tucsa buses. There are also colectivos that specifically run along Playa’s main thoroughfares. Both fares are 5 to 10 pesos per person. You should always carry exact change or a collection of coins. Bus drivers are limited to giving back change. As a tourist or a new resident, the Tucsa buses are good for going to the larger malls like Plaza Las Americas and Centro Maya. With inexpensive fares comes no-frill rides that provide no air conditioning and usually standing room only. http://www.topmexicorealestate.com/blog/2017/09/playa-del-carmen-public-transportation/
The current cost is 5 pesos. The route the bus takes is written on the windshield (for example: Plaza Las Americas, Colosio, Central Maya, 30-30, etc.) Colectivos run from 2nd. From 15th up to 25 they are generally stopped and loitering. From here you can get a collective north or south.
Almost every bus travels down the center of Playa Del Carmen on 30th Avenue (this is why we tell people not to bike on 30th Avenue).
Both types of busses are the same price. It is 5 pesos in the center and 7 pesos for outer areas of Playa Del Carmen. Try to carry small coins. The drivers will give you change but only within reason and it is always appreciated if you have exact change.
http://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/public-bus-information-for-playa-del-carmen/#prettyPhoto
Look for the sign on the sidewalk Paradero Servicio Urbano to note where the busses pick up people. In some outer areas people just know where to stand to get the bus and if you are lost just wave your arm to see if the bus will pick you up.
Playa Del Carmen does have a bus system but rarely will you need to use. This it because it usually just takes people back home to neighborhoods and there are not tourist destinations or areas of interest to see outside of the downtown of Playa
There are two types of busses that run in Playa. One is the Tusca bus. This type of bus is larger and has seating and standing room. You pay when you get on and exit the rear of the bus when possible. To get off press the buzzer and the driver will let you off at the next stop. The other is the smaller van colectivos. These are faster because they take less people but they can get full with standing room only and can be especially miserable when it is hot. To let the driver know you want to get off, you just yell out “bajan” which means I want to get off or down from the bus.
Neither bus type has air conditioning
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