6 Best Ways to Get from Cancun Airport to Tulum
Are you visiting Tulum and trying to find out how to get from Cancun Airport to Tulum?
Cancun International Airport is the main airport for this region of Mexico, with flights flying into it worldwide. Tulum is around 2 hours away from Cancun Airport.
There’s six ways to for getting from Cancun Airport to Tulum, see which of them works best for you. In this guide, I will cover the different ways, travel times and the costs.
The drive from Cancun Airport to Tulum takes around 2 hours without traffic.
The total distance from Cancun Airport to Tulum is 118 KM (73 Miles).
When it’s time to go home, you can use any of these transportation methods to return to Cancun International Airport from Tulum.
ADO Bus
One of the best ways is to take the ADO Bus from Cancun Airport to Tulum. For those traveling on a budget, this is also the cheapest way to get to Tulum from Cancun Airport.
ADO is one of the largest bus operators in Mexico, and they provide coach bus travel throughout many cities all over Mexico. ADO buses are reliable, safe, and efficient to use.
It’s best to book your tickets in advance. However, you can also purchase them on arrival at the airport.
Once you’ve arrived at Cancun Airport, walk to the correct ADO terminal mentioned on your ticket if you’ve purchased one. Otherwise, make your way to the terminals.
Cancun Airport has three terminals: 2, 3, and 4. Again, ensure you go to the correct terminal and arrive at your terminal at least 15 minutes before bus departure time.
Once you arrive in Tulum, you will reach the central ADO Bus station in Tulum Town, considered the beach town’s center. From there, you can walk to your hotel or take a taxi.
Each passenger can bring one piece of carry-on luggage and a backpack. You must pay an extra fee to board if you have additional luggage. If you’re traveling with large luggage, it’s best to use one of the other transportation methods mentioned below.
Cost: $40 to $50 US
Travel Time: 2 to 3 Hours
Private Airport Transfer
The most convenient and safest way to get from Cancun Airport to Tulum is by reserving a private airport transfer.
Cancun Airport Transfers is a versatile airport transfer company offering private travel from Cancun Airport to Tulum and many other places in this region of Mexico.
For those looking for the fastest way to get to Tulum from Cancun Airport, this is it. Also, if you’re visiting with family or friends, taking a private transfer to Tulum makes a lot of sense for many reasons.
There’s plenty of space for everyone’s luggage, and this won’t be the case if you take any other transportation to Tulum.
You also have the convenience of an English-speaking driver, who will be waiting at the airport with your name ready to take you to your hotel in Tulum directly.
Lastly, you’ve got nothing to worry about once you arrive, no hassles, and you’ll have the peace of mind to start your trip in Tulum!
Taking a private transfer to your hotel in Tulum if you’re visiting with family or friends is a no-brainer. Costs will vary depending on your vehicle of choice.
While it isn’t the cheapest way to Tulum, it’s very convenient, and if you’re visiting with friends, you can always split the cost. At that point, the price will be closer to the cost of a bus!
If your flight is delayed, your driver will wait for you, and flight details must be provided to the driver so they can track your arrival time.
Cost: $160 US+ (depending on your vehicle choice)
Travel Time: 1 Hour & 30 Minutes
Shared Shuttle
A shared shuttle is another easy and convenient way to get from Cancun Airport to Tulum.
Shared shuttles often depart from Cancun Airport to Tulum during the day and can fit up to 12 passengers. Each passenger is permitted one piece of luggage on the van.
What’s very convenient about taking a shared shuttle is that, unlike the ADO Bus, which takes you to the ADO station, a shared shuttle takes you directly to your hotel with your luggage.
The downside is that the travel time is longer because the driver will likely drop off passengers in places along the way before getting to Tulum, such as Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen.
Expect the shared shuttle to be complete because it’s a popular transportation option from the Cancun Airport to Tulum.
Cost: $30 to $50 US
Travel Time: 2 – 3 Hours
Mayan Train
The new Mayan Train will soon offer a direct route from Cancun Airport to Tulum. However, at this time, the route isn’t offered, but announcements are expected sometime in 2024.
Once you arrive at Cancun Airport, you must take a quick free shuttle to Tren Maya station outside the airport, and free shuttles operate every 20 minutes from the airport to the train station.
To purchase tickets for the train, you can only get them online using the official website ETicket website.
When the Cancun to Tulum route is announced, this will be a fast and convenient way for visitors to get to Tulum.
Luggage, passenger information, and ticket costs still need to be answered. As soon as the route is announced with a timetable and prices are made available, I will update this article, stay tuned.
Cost: Currently Unknown
Travel Time: Unknown
Taxi to Tulum
Arriving at Cancun Airport, you can expect many companies, agencies, taxi drivers, and random solicitors to offer you taxi services where you need to go.
Finding a taxi from Cancun Airport to Tulum is easy; however, finding a reliable one offering a fair price to take you to Tulum isn’t.
Taxi drivers at Cancun Airport, more often than not, offer highly inflated prices for trips to Tulum. Taxi scams and socilators offering fake taxi services at Cancun Airport is common.
A fair price for a taxi from Cancun Airport to Tulum is 2000+ Mexican pesos ($118 US).
After taking a flight from somewhere, the last thing you want to do is try to negotiate your way a fair taxi price to get to your hotel in Tulum.
This is why I’ve included taking a taxi from Cancun Airport to Tulum as one of the last resorts, it’s not convenient, it will most likely cost you more, and you may get scammed. It’s best to use one of the methods I’ve mentioned above.
Cost: $118+ US
Travel Time: 1 Hour & 30 Minutes
Renting a Car from Cancun Airport
The last option you can consider is renting a car from Cancun Airport and driving yourself to Tulum.
Getting around Tulum isn’t easy, so if you’ve rented a car, it will make it much easier to get around and explore other places from Tulum.
There are many exciting places to visit from Tulum, Akumal neighbours Tulum, Playa Del Carmen is an hour away and many more such as Chichen Itza, Valladolid and the Bacalar Lagoon!
If you’re visiting Tulum with friends, you can always split the costs for the rental, that way it’s much cheaper. Afterall, taxis in Tulum are far from cheap.
There are toll road highways in the region, which will cost you around $20 US per way.
Cost: Depends on Vehicle Type and Insurance Purchase
Travel Time: 1.5 Hours
Where to Stay in Tulum
Tulum has three different areas, and all three areas are next to one another, with Tulum Town being first, Aldea Zama being in the middle, and the Hotel Zone being along the beach.
Choosing which area you’d prefer to stay in is essential so you’re closer to what you want to do at night!
Tulum Hotel Zone: For those who want to be close to the beach, the downside is other than beach clubs, fancy chic restaurants, and the beach, staying here means you’re the furthest from Tulum Town. Also, it’s the most costly area to stay in Tulum.
Aldea Zama: This is the most popular area in Tulum because it’s between Tulum Town and the beach. Staying in Aldea Zama means you’re conveniently between the beach and Tulum Town.
Tulum Town: Staying in Centro means you’re close to all the restaurants, bars, shops, hostels, and more. It’s very convenient, but you will be furthest from the beach among these three areas.
Tulum Boutique Hotels: Be Tulum Hotel/Spa & Casa Malca
Tulum Hotels: Layla Tulum & Hotel Bardo
Tulum Hostels: Mayan Monkey Tulum & Che Tulum Hostel
Tulum Resorts: Dreams Tulum & Bahia Principe Tulum
How to Get from Cancun Airport to Tulum – Final Thoughts
Well, there you have it, those are all the ways to get from Cancun Airport to Tulum.
See which of these travel ways makes the most sense for you, and I’d recommend you pre-book your chosen method of transportation.
Once you’ve arrived, getting around Tulum isn’t the easiest, make sure to review my guide on that as well!
Tulum now has an airport, but you can fly here from Mexico City and other places in the United States.
For most travelers, flying into Tulum isn’t possible, Cancun Airport still is the easiest way to get to Tulum.
Lastly, keep a watchful eye when visiting Tulum. Unfortunately, you will run into a few scams that happen here.
How much does it cost to get from Cancun Airport to Tulum?
It can cost anywhere from $25 to $120 US. It depends on your transportation method from Cancun Airport to Tulum.
What is the safest way to get to Tulum from Cancun Airport?
The safest way is by using the ADO Bus or reserving a Private Airport Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum.
How much is Uber from Cancun Airport to Tulum?
You cannot take an Uber from Cancun Airport to Tulum because Uber drivers can’t enter Cancun International Airport.
Despite Uber allowing to operate in the Riviera Maya, it’s a complicated matter between the cartels, and Uber is deemed unsafe to use.
How much is a private shuttle from Cancun to Tulum?
The cost is $118 US from Cancun to Tulum, and prices can be higher depending on the vehicle shuttle of choice.
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