Tulum Mexico airport connections and the best way to get to your vacation

day trips
One of the more remote beaches just south fo Tulum in Sian Kaan Reserve.

Tulum Mexico airport connections and ways to get to your vacation

Looking to visit Tulum Mexico? Here is your beginners guide about getting to Tulum and getting around while there. We will answer such questions as What airport do you fly into?  What are the best Tulum Mexico airport connections? And what is the best way to get from Tulum to the Airport.

Why we writing this guide? We are Everything Playa Del Carmen which is the sister city of Tulum. In order to get to Tulum you will need to pass through Playa Del Carmen. We not only write about visiting Playa Del Carmen but all the areas around us. We love helping people with up-to-date information and an insiders take on great services here. So lets get started with getting you all set for a great time in Tulum Mexico.

Tulum Mexico Airport
After a long flight you surely want to get to your hotel as fast as you can.

First up, what airport are you going to fly into?

Tulum is a relatively new destination that has become red hot in recent years. The state it is in was only got statehood in 1974. Most infrastructure has been built in the last couple of decades. The main airport is Cancun Airport (CUN). This airport serves the entire Riviera Maya (this is the stretch of coast of the Yucatan Peninsula that faces the Caribbean Sea). There have been talks of building another airport in Tulum but this is years off.

So Cancun International Airport is where all tourist fly into when visiting Tulum. The only other small airport in the state is in Chetumal. This airport is twice as far away as Cancun Airport and only has small flights arriving there, mostly domestic flights and flights from Belize.

Tulum Mexico airport connections and transfers

So what are the best ways to get from the Cancun Airport to Tulum? Lets first say that Cancun Airport to most Tulum hotels and destinations will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes. This is a considerable amount of time and after a flight you don’t want to waste time getting to Tulum in a slow manor. The best Tulum airport connection we have to recommend is a private transfer. This is a driver with a van that will meet you at the Cancun Airport and drive you directly to your hotel or rental.

What transfer service do we recommend? We have researched companies that provide Tulum airport connections. We found one that our readers have enjoyed and we have honestly never had a complaint about them. Not only do they provide courteous and prompt service, they also offer great rates. If you need to organize your transport from the airport to Tulum we recommend clicking the book now button and booking this good service.

Tulum Mexico airport

How much are transfers from the airport to Tulum?

Since the distance is about 120 kilometers (75 miles) and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes it does have a cost. These transfers from Cancun Airport to Tulum are private and are only for you and your family. The price is for the entire van and not per person. All fees and taxes are included. Travel insurance is included as well.

  • Cancun Airport to Tulum for 1-3 people-one way $100 USD. Round trip $175 USD.
  • For 4-7 people from Cancun Airport to Tulum-one way $110 USD. Round trip $200 USD.
  • Cancun Airport to Tulum for 8-10 people-one way $115 USD. Round trip $220 USD.
Tulum Mexico airport
These are what the private transfer vans look like.

Should you take a taxi for your Tulum airport connection?

The short answer is no, we don’t recommend it. For several reasons we prefer the private van service. Since the distance is longer you might as well be comfortable for the ride. The price is also the same or similar. We hate to see tourist arrive and try to negotiate with a taxi driver at the airport. Pesos amounts and dollar amounts get punched into a calculator and most people wind up overpaying for the service because they just want to get to the hotel. It is so much better to have your transfer all arranged so all you have to do is walk out the door and get into your van.

It is also important to note that taxis at the airport are not city taxis. They have special licenses and act just like transfer companies, and this is why they cost so much.

Tulum Mexico AirportCancun International Airport is the best airport to fly into for Tulum.

But is there a bus from Cancun Airport to Tulum?

The ADO bus company is the only bus service from the Cancun Airport. They mainly have direct service to downtown Cancun and Playa Del Carmen. There are a few buses a day from the Cancun Airport to Tulum but chances are they don’t line up with your flight. There are busses at 10:45am, 12:25pm, 4:15pm, and 9:30pm. (times are subject to change, check ADO’s website for the most up-to-date schedules).

The bus takes just over 2 hours to get to Tulum bus station. It should be noted that Tulum is a town in three separate parts, meaning it is spread out. There is the downtown, Tulum ruins area and the Hotel Zone along the beach. If you are not staying near the bus station you will need to take a taxi and this can add 10-20 minutes to your journey. We only recommend the ADO bus Tulum airport connection for backpackers staying in the downtown.

More information for your vacation in Tulum Mexico

Now that you know how to make your Tulum airport connection. You will need to start planning on what you are going to do in Tulum. Of course most people have some serious beach time planned, but there are hundreds of other things that you can take part in.

To give you an idea what is in the area we made this map for you. To read more about what things there are to do in Tulum you can see our guide here.

We hope you have a great time here in Tulum and wherever you may go in our area of the world. For questions or comments, just let us know in the section below. We would love to hear from you.

Tulum Mexico Airport
Here is a handy map of all four terminals at Cancun International Airport and which airlines are served at each terminal.

Tulum Mexico airport

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5 Comments

  1. We are going to Tulum for the first time and appreciate all your tips. We do have a question for you. What is the safety situation in Mexico now?

    • Hello

      We are happy to hear you will be going to Tulum soon. As far as your question on safety here is what you can expect. Mexico is big country, about as big as Europe put together. The Yucatan Peninsula where you are going is very safe. In fact it is likely more safe then where most people live. When traveling anywhere in the world you expose yourself to different daily experience and you will need to be educated on what to expect. One of the most common crimes on vacation is skimming your debit card. This can be prevented by using cash in most places and only using ATM machines in Banks. This is good advice for Tulum area. We hope you have a great trip and let us know if you need anything else.

  2. Most of the people say it is hard to do a 9 hour flight and then transport to Tulum from the airport and some have said I should stay a night in Cancun and do the trip the next day to Tulum What are your thoughts? Advice please.

    • Hello Kerri

      It is a lot of transportation time but here are a few factors to consider. One, it is nice once you land to get going to your final destination. Usually you will be invigorated even after a long flight to be in the Caribbean sun. Most flights arrive in the morning so your body will be awake. It is also nicer to get to Tulum in one trip because if you did it the next day you will not only be sending more it will also feel like one day is gone and just in transit. We would suggest just planning for the transportation and getting settled in and relax when you get to Tulum.

  3. Definitely a private transfer of the way to go. Your time from the airport to Tulum is about an hour and a half. Our van was large, new and comfortable. Our driver was very good about coming to pick us up on time and it really made it easy.

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