Riviera Maya: Currency
The official Mexican currency is PESO and the smallest is cent.
You will find 1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20 pesos bills, and coins are of 10, 5, 2 and 1 peso. It´s kind of hard to find cents coins (50, 20, 10 and 5).
Some stores and taxis doesn´t accept 1,000 or 500 bills.
The exchange rate varies every day. Prices in Pesos will have this symbol $, do not confuse them with de Dollar Symbol.
Prices in Dollars will come specified as US$ or USD.
You can check the exchange rate at :
http://dof.gob.mx/
MasterCard , Visa and American Express are accepted but we recommend to always have available cash. Traveler checks and American Dollars (just bills) are also accepted.
Change of Currency
The economy in Mexico is directed to US Dollar. You´ll usually find the best exchange rate at Banks, especially for other currencies besides the dollar.
Rates vary a little from one bank to another.
Exchange houses are all everywhere in Playa, and we highly recommend to change your dollars at Cancun Airport, usually is 20cents lower that at the banks, although is a good idea to walk a little to find better rates.
Exchange houses work with any kind of currency and traveler checks, they don´t charge any commission and it’s faster than at the banks.
If you´re going to change traveler checks don´t forget your passport.
Some exchange houses won´t accept anything but US Dollars.
Banks are open from 8 am till 4 or 5 pm.
Exchange houses are open till 8 or 9 pm
Cash
Your best choice to pay anything is cash and you can always pay with Mexican Pesos. Almost all of the establishments accept US Dollars, but the exchange rate could be extremely low. Very few places will accept other currencies like Euro.
Credit cards
Credit cards are accepted in most of tourist operators, some stores and many restaurants.
You´ll need one if you are planning to rent a car. Visa and MasterCard are the most popular. American Express is not always accepted.
If you are planning to pay with credit card, don´t forget to check the exchange rate. Maybe it would be more convenient to walk a little to an exchange house and get some pesos.
Traveler checks
Traveler checks in dollars are accepted in some stores, but in few restaurants. Rules vary in each establishment, so it is better to ask first. Anyway, it´s easy to change them in any exchange house, don´t forget your passport.
ATM
There´re a good number of ATM´S in Playa del Carmen, and they will provide you cash in Mexican Pesos. Usually you can dispose of USD 200 per day. Make sure not to forget your secret number.
No bank here in Playa will give you cash from your credit card, not even with your passport.
Bills and Mexican Coins
Bills of Mexican Peso: $20, $50, $100, $200 and $500
Coins : ¢5, ¢10, ¢20, ¢50, $1, $2, $5, $10
