Transportation from the Cancun Airport to Tulum
Cancun Airport to Tulum is about 1 and a half hours in transportation time if you travel directly. It is a pretty straight drive down the 307 Highway to Tulum. Although, what transportation you take will vary your time getting to your vacation. Here are the best options for transportation and the cost of getting between Tulum and the Cancun Airport.
You have 4 main ways to get from the Cancun Airport to Tulum. Here they are:
- Private transfer service.
- Shared shuttles.
- ADO Bus from the Cancun Airport to Tulum.
- Renting a car.
- Tren Maya. This is still being built. The only service currently that is close is the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen. The rest of the train will be ready possibly by August 2024.
Two options that are not good for getting to Tulum from the airport are:
- Taxis. Taxis cost as much or more than private transfers. There are no meters and prices have to be negotiated before taking off. Most of the time people overpay for taxis going to Tulum, plus you cannot get a discount for a round trip since you will take a different taxi back to the airport.
- UBER. There is no UBER service from Cancun Airport to Tulum. UBER only works a little in Cancun but does not offer rides to Tulum.
Private transfers from the Cancun Airport to Tulum
Since Tulum is a little further away from the airport, then other destinations tourists go to in the Rivera Maya, most people want a direct connection to get to their hotel or rental. Booking a private transfer from Cancun Airport is the best way to get to your hotel in Tulum in our opinion. It is fast, comfortable, and with this reliable company and better rates, you are in good hands.
Based on readers likes and reputation of transportation companies, this is the best one we recommend to our readers. Just click below and you will be taken to their transfer site. Here you can enter your hotel and flight details and pre-book your transfer for your trip. Remember the price is for the whole vehicle and not per person. Tip: Booking round trip can save $25 USD.
Why a private transfer is a good option from the Cancun Airport
Here are some reasons why we recommend this option for getting to Tulum from the Cancun Airport.
- It is the fastest way to get to your hotel or rental. This can save you about 30 minutes to 1 hour and a half each way in transportation time.
- Less stress and hassle. Your private bilingual driver is waiting at the Cancun Airport for you.
- No changing buses or taking a taxi from the bus station.
- You can book a stop for groceries or lunch stop for an extra fee. This is a nice option if you had a long flight and want to have something to eat, and maybe drinks!
- No waiting in line to get a car and no need to think about driving in the Riviera Maya. It also gives you the option to just rent a car for the days you need it.
- It is a great option for large groups too!
Insider tip for the airport
We do not recommend taxis from the Cancun Airport. You will have a smaller car for this transfer and often cost more. There is no set cost for the taxis from the airport. You often have to negotiate and usually tourist don’t win at that guessing game. You also cannot get a round trip discount like the private transfers. Save time, hassle and money by pre-booking a transfer above. You will thank us later.
Shared shuttles from Cancun Airport to Tulum
This is a more budget friendly option for getting from the Cancun Airport to the Tulum area. We actually recommend this option over the ADO bus option for several reasons. One, you will go to your hotel rather than the bus station where you will need a taxi to make the final connection. Two, you will not have to transfer busses of you get on an ADO bus that makes a stop in Playa Del Carmen.
Booking these shuttles are easy by following the link below to the official website. They will ask for your details, and you will be set for your airport transportation. We do recommend booking them in advance since arriving at the airport without transportation can be confusing and time consuming.
How to take the ADO bus from the Cancun Airport to Tulum
ADO is the main bus company in the Riviera Maya. They connect all the towns and use large, air-conditioned busses like the one below in the photo. ADO is the only public bus company that services the airport. So, this is the only public transportation option for getting from the Cancun Airport to Tulum.
There are only a few direct buses a day from the Cancun Airport to Tulum. The ride takes between 2 hours and 5 minutes and 2 hours and 25 minutes. The cost of the ADO bus from the Cancun Airport to Tulum is currently 420 pesos.
What times does the ADO bus go from Cancun Airport to Tulum?
Buses leave from all four Cancun Airport terminals. Usually, terminals 3 and 4 are the international arrival terminals. Sometimes terminal 2 is used. There are different times and availability of the buses from different terminals. The exact time at each terminal will vary by a few minutes because they are making stops at the other terminals as well. Note: The times do change fairly frequently. Be sure to double check the ADO website for the exact schedule on the day you arrive if you wish to take the bus. And yes, even Christmas and New Years Day the buses are running.
If these times do not line up with your arrival and you want to take the bus, the only other alternative is taking the bus to Playa Del Carmen and switch to a Tulum bound bus. Buses between Playa Del Carmen ad Tulum leave about ever 30 minutes. If you don’t want as much transportation time, we recommend the private transfers above.
How to buy your ticket and catch the bus
After you go through immigration and customs you will exit into the airport. Here there are counters with car rentals and an ADO bus ticket counter. You can buy your timed tickets here for the next bus leaving the airport. They can advise you if you can catch a bus to Tulum or if it is better to take the next bus to Playa Del Carmen and transfer there to a bus to Tulum.
Most agents speak some English. You can buy tickets in pesos, credit card and small USD bills. Your change will be in pesos. After you have your ticket, exit the airport and look the ADO sign. There are seat numbers on the tickets, but often from the airport there is open seating. Large bags must be places under the bus. No luggage tags are given.
The buses are air conditions and comfortable. You might even get to enjoy some movie in Spanish that will amuse you while you travel down the 307 Highway.
Connecting busses in Playa Del Carmen to Tulum from the airport
If you miss the Tulum bus you can take any bus to Playa Del Carmen since this is one the way to Tulum. Once you arrive in Playa Del Carmen you will be at the ADO bus station on 5th Avenue and Juarez Avenue. This is the ONLY bus station the airport bus goes to in Playa Del Carmen (there are two bus stations in Playa Del Carmen). At this station you will need to get on another ADO bus to Tulum.
You might be able to purchase a ticket at the airport for this separate trip (Playa Del Carmen-Tulum) if not, you can purchase it at the station. Buses are frequent to Tulum (about every 30 minutes) and the ride takes about 50 minutes.
Note: You can buy tickets to Tulum center (the main bus station) or Tulum Ruins. Both bus stops are close to town and you can take a taxi to your hotel from either stop. It is slightly preferable to take the bus to the center and get a taxi there.
Arriving in Tulum by bus from the Cancun Airport
Once you arrive in Tulum you most likely will want a taxi to get to your hotel. Tulum is spread out and the beach area is very separate from the downtown. Taxis do not have meters in Tulum so be sure to ask the price before getting in. See our complete Tulum transportation guide here.
If this option of getting to Tulum sounds like too much, you might want to consider a private transfer which will take you directly to your hotel.
Driving yourself in a rental car from the airport to Tulum
If you are going to be doing some sightseeing and day trips from Tulum, you might want to have your own car. There are many car rental companies at the Cancun Airport. One alternative is renting a car in Tulum for just the time you need it and using one of the private transfers from Cancun to drive you from the airport to your hotel. It just depends on if you think you will need the car each day of your vacation and ease the cost of this option.
If you rent from the airport, follow the easy signs leading you to the highway. The 307 “Highway” is the only road that runs through the state, so it is not a true highway, however it is easy to drive. When you get to the highway you only need to go right to Tulum and then it is a straight shot. You will drive through Puerto Morelos, Playa Del Carmen, and Puerto Aventuras. All of these towns have highway bridges that go over local traffic, so it speeds your way to Tulum.
If you will be renting a car at the Cancun Airport, be sure to read our guide on gas station scams. This will help you avoid some of the common things that some attendants try to pull.
Police checkpoints on the way to Tulum
One thing that is different in Mexico are the topes (speed bumps) and police check point. There are three police check points on the highway from Cancun Airport to Tulum. Usually, traffic funnels into one lane and police sometimes check to make sure nothing is out of the ordinary. Occasionally police ask people to pull over and they might want to see your rental papers and driver’s license. This is all standard procedure, and they are just doing their job to make sure people are not driving drunk, carrying illegal items or driving without a license. It is nothing to be nervous about, it is just different.
Once you arrive in Tulum it is easy to see the turn for the beach hotels or if your hotel is in the town, it is not too big and with a little map you should be able to find it easily. It should be noted that cell service is not that good in some parts of Tulum. So be prepared and know where you are going. The south end of Tulum is developing. This means dirt roads in places and no street signs.
For more on driving in the Riviera Maya, see our article here for things to be aware of.
Two other transportation methods from the airport
There are two other options to mention also. Since there are some large all-inclusive hotels just north of Tulum and considered in the Tulum area, these might offer bus transportation. Hotel transportation is an option but see our video below for details. There are also taxis from the airport to Tulum. We however don’t really recommend these for several reasons. First, taxis at the airport do not have meters or fixed prices. This means it is left up to negotiating and often people pay more for the service and waste time trying to set it up. Second, you do not get a round trip discount with a taxi since you will take two different taxis back and forth to the Cancun Airport. Third, since the distance from the airport to Tulum is going to take about one hour and a half, the larger private transfer vans are more comfortable for the trip.
Thank you for reading our guide on all the options for getting from the Cancun Airport to Tulum and back. We hope you have a great vacation in the area! If you need any other information or have questions, feel free to comment below and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
About The Author
We are coming to the east side of Mexico for the first time. We are looking at resortts in Cancun or staying in Tulum. I know these are different places but also want to find something that is not too touristy but also has a lot of facilities. We would like a resort but I dont see a lot of resorts in Tulum? Can you reccomend something to us? Thanks
Hello Barbara
Cancun and Tulum are very different places. Cancun is all about the hotel zone and large all inclusive hotels. Tulum is about 1 and a half hours from the airport and in more of a natural setting. The beach in Tulum has no large hotels, only boutique places. There are some labeled as “Tulum” but these are to the north of the city of Tulum. These do allow you access to the southern Riviera Maya and some of the adventures it holds out. You might like some of the resort properties between Tulum and Playa Del Carmen. Some of these are very large and have a lot of facilities. Sirenis is one near Tulum that is very large. Paladium is also another one to look at. We hope you find something you like and have a great vacation.
We just booked our first trip to Tulum. We hope we will have god weather in May when we are there. Can you tell us what to expect? Also what are your thoughts on Papaya Playa project for a hotel? THe beach cabins look nice. Thanks
Hello Alan
May is our dry period and is a good time to be at the beach. The woods get very dry in this time, so things are less green. The Papaya Playa Project is a youthful hotel. We would recommend this for people under 37 year old. There is a loungy chill vibe and some active beach parties there. We hope you have a great trip!
This will be my first time to Tulum ans before I book a hotel, are there any hotels that offer transfers from the airport? It is just expensive to get there from Cancun. Thanks
Hello Shela
We do not know of any hotels that offer free transfers from cancun Airport to Tulum. The price for the transfers is based on an hour and half of driving. A taxi that distance anywhere in the world would cost a little. The only alternative cheaper option is the ADO bus. That can take a little longer but can save you some money.
My frined and I just booked a trip to Tulum. We are very excited to visit for the first time. Waht is your favorite cenote in Tulum we can visit?
Hello Tania
There are some cenotes close to Tulum. Grand Cenote is the closest and most popular cenote almost in Tulum. It is beautiful but also gets a lot of people.
We are headed to Tulum in a couple of weeks and I have a few questions for you. Can I have a pick up from a different locations from where I am dropped off? What are the best tours from Tulum to go on? Whcih is the better ruins to visit? Tulum or Coba from Tulum? Thanks in advance.
Hello David
You can get a different pick location with the transfer. It is good to book a round trip so you get the discount, you just need to make a note on your account. For tours, Since you are going to one of the ruins, Xel Ha is close to Tulum and a really good place to snorkel and have fun. Cobs ruins are more adventurous and a little further away but it does give you a chance to get out of town. Tulum is nice but they are a smaller site to see and are best for the views.
I love Tulum! I cannot wait to go back! Last time we rented a car but found we did not use it a lot since we stayed at the hotel and just went into town once to eat. There are a lot of nice places in the hotel zone to eat, so this time we will just take the transfer and stay there.
Is there a shared service that goes from the airport to Tulum? Not the ado bus something smaller?
Hello Kate
There are some services but we don’t recommend them because they make stops on the way and the trip is already over one hour from the airport. It is well worth spending the money to go direct to your hotel and unwind. If you are traveling on a budget, the ADO bus is going to be just as fast or faster than any combined shuttles. We hope you have a good trip to Tulum.
I love Tulum! Will be back this year and always take a private transfer.
I really like your website. It has been a big help to us since we are traveling to Tulum for the first time. We have seen so many photos online and hope it is as nice in person. See you soon.
We are looking forward to coming back this summer if all goes well. Stay safe and hope to see you soon.
This is very helpful information. We are coming to the Riviera Maya for the first time later this year and planning our trip now. We have found your website helpful for transportation options.
We decided to take the ADO bus from the airport to Tulum to save money. It ended up not being a good option. First, we had to wait until the bus arrived that was about 45 minutes. Then when we arrived in Tulum we had to get a taxi to our hotel. That took another 20 minutes. So all in all it took around 3 hours and was not worth the little less expense. Take the luxury of having a driver waiting for you and start your vacation off right.
We are coming this fall and will still book private transportation for extra health measures. This company has been good to us in the past and we will book again with them.
We need transportation from the Cancun airport to Puerto Morelos. We have 8 people traveling with us. Can we all go in one van or do we need to book two shuttles? Thanks
Hello Amy
Once you click on the reserve now button you will go direct to the transportation company that we recommend from the Cancun Airport to your hotel or wherever you are staying. They have multiple options for larger groups for transportation and can accommodate you in one ride if you like. We hope you have a good trip to the Riviera Maya. Let us know if you need any other help with planning.
I am going to Tulum this week and wanted to know if there are buses to Coba to visit the ruins?
Hello Kevin
The ruins are currently closed but there is a plan in place to open them soon. It would be best to wait until you hear confirmation they open. We doubt there are any buses from Tulum going to just the town now since they are not open.
This will be our first year going to Tulum. We did not realize it is about one hour from the airport. When we go back to the airport should we allow extra time for traffic or is it always about one hour in transport? Thank you in advance.
Hello Deanne
If you book the private transportation, they will arrange a pick up time that will calculate the time needed. Most of the time it is good to plan to arrive two hours before your flight. If you are someone who wants to be very sure, you can schedule your pick up a little earlier. If you take the bus, you should allow time for a stop in Playa if it is not going to be a direct bus. The highway between Tulum and Cancun is the only road in the state. It normally does not have traffic issues unless there is a bad crash.
With all the disruption to transportation and moving around, are these vans still running on a regular basis?
Hello Joe
Everything is moving and getting back to normal here. There are vans going from the airport to Tulum all the time and with your reservation, you will be sure to have good service and be all ready for your vacation.
Is it really two hour drive from the airport to the hotel zone in Tulum or is the bus longer?
Hello Arron
It is a two hour drive both by car and if you catch the direct bus. However the Hotel Zone in Tulum is another taxi ride and can be expensive depending on how far your hotel is. There usually is not too much traffic on the highway from the Cancun Airport.
Do any of the hotels in Tulum have an airport shuttle or transportation included in booking?
Hello Bill
We do not know of any hotel that has a shuttle or bus to the Cancun Airport. Most of the hotels in Tulum are smaller so it is very cost prohibitive to have that kind of service. The best option is the private transfer which is direct and only for you.
I am going to Tulum for the first time and have booked a place a little inland from Tulum towards Coba. Is there service form the airport to there or do I need to got to Tulum and get a taxi from there?
The private transportation company will take you to any hotels or guesthouses you need to go to. There is a separate rate for the area a little further from Tulum. On the link when you go to their website, there will a price list and hotels listed. We hope you have a good trip.
How is Tulum doing these days? I mean with tourism and things? Is it active?
Hello Trenton
Tulum is very active and practically normal with the amount of people visiting. It saw the quickest comeback of all the towns in the Riviera Maya and has been visited a lot this summer. Most things are open and you can enjoy a pretty much normal vacation there.
We are going to Tulum on September 16th. Are restaurants pretty much open and things running normally?
Hello Joel
Things in Tulum are the most open in the Riviera Maya. We actually have an article about Tulum coming out talking about why it is so busy. You should have no problem finding places to go out to and enjoy the beaches now. The weather has been great! Have a great trip down and let us know if you need anything else for your trip.
My husband and I are going to Tulum in November. Is there s shuttle that goes from any hotels to the airport?
Hello Celest
Since most hotels in Tulum are smaller, there is no demand for a shuttle just for a hotel. The best way is the private transfers. There are some shared transportation from the airport but we don’t know if these are even operating since Covid. Since Tulum is over an hour form the airport people want to get to start their vacations as quick as possible and enjoy it.
As someone who travels a lot it is easy to take a taxi but the Cancun Airport taxies don’t have set prices and often negotiate with you. I have had trouble with them in the past and not just book a private transfer.
Thanks for the info man. I have been going to Tulum for years and taking the ADO bus but it is getting too slow and with a seperate taxi in Tulum to the hotels, it is a slow ride to get to my vacation.