Transportation Options: Playa Del Carmen to Tulum Airport

If you are traveling from Playa Del Carmen to the Tulum Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Felipe Carrillo Puerto – TQO), what is the best way to get there? Here are all the transportation options including private transfers, group shuttles, rental cars, the Tren Maya, taxis, and the ADO bus.

First, let’s look at some distances to help you plan. Playa Del Carmen is about 1 hour and 40 minutes north of the Tulum Airport. Since the airport itself is located about 45 minutes south of Tulum, the total drive from Playa Del Carmen to the airport is about 104 km/65 miles. Keep in mind that travel times can be longer depending on traffic, connection times, and where in Playa Del Carmen your hotel is located. This guide will help you compare prices and options so you can choose the transportation that works best for your trip.

What is the fastest and most popular way to get from Playa Del Carmen to Tulum Airport?

If you want the most direct, easiest, and comfortable way to get to the airport, a private transfer is the best option. These are private vans reserved only for you and your group. A driver will pick you up directly from your hotel or Airbnb in Playa Del Carmen and take you straight to the Tulum Airport.

Travel time is about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

This is the most common option travelers book in advance, and here’s why:

Your transportation is guaranteed and waiting for you at your door.
It’s the quickest way to reach the airport with no extra stops.
No negotiating with taxis or dealing with cash-only drivers.
Vans are spacious and air-conditioned compared to smaller taxis.

The cost for a one-way private transfer is about $195 USD for 1–2 people. For three passengers, it’s about $213 USD or $71 USD per person. For groups up to 4 people, this is the best value. Booking a round trip also saves about $20 USD compared to buying two one-way trips.

Group Transportation to Tulum Airport

If you’re traveling with 5–8 people, group transfer vans are available at better per-person rates. The cost is about $242 USD one-way for the group (around $30–$48 USD per person depending on group size).

Luxury transfers are also available for up to 6 people in a Suburban, Yukon, or Expedition. These cost about $466 USD one-way from Playa Del Carmen to the airport.

Taking the ADO Bus from Playa Del Carmen to Tulum Airport

ADO runs about 4 buses a day connecting Playa Del Carmen to the Tulum Airport. All of the buses stop in Tulum and then proceed to the Tulum Airport. At the time of writing this article there are buses at 7:30am, 9:20am, 11:10am, and 12:51pm.

Travel time is between 1 hour 55 minutes and 2 hours 10 minutes. To see most recent schedules, check the ADO website (Spanish only). Search from Playa Del Carmen to Tulum Aeropuerto. When the schedules come up you can click on Ver detalle and after it drops down, click Ver Mapa to get more details about each bus going to the Tulum Airport.

Departure point: Playa Del Carmen Turística ADO Station (5th Avenue & Juarez). Do not use the ADO Bus Station on 20th Avenue!
Arrival point: Tulum Airport Terminal.
Price: Around 300 pesos from Playa Del Carmen to Tulum Airport.

Tip: It’s smart to buy your bus ticket in advance because the first half of the trip is a popular route, and buses have either 44 seats or 16 seats.

ADO bus to Tulum Airport — This is the ADO Bus Company that offers rides from Playa Del Carmen to the Tulum Airport.

Renting a Car in Playa Del Carmen to Return to the Airport

If you’ve already rented a car in Playa Del Carmen for your trip, you can drive yourself to the airport and return the car there. Rental rates in Mexico average $35–$60 USD per day, but one-way rentals are pretty expensive in Mexico. Expect around $140 USD for a one day, one way rental from Playa Del Carmen to the Tulum Airport or an added fee of about $100 USD for dropping off a rental car in a different location.

car rentals at the Tulum Airport — **Tips**: It is good to buy local liability insurance. Liability insurance is mandatory in Mexico. Even if your credit card offers this, they will not have a representative come to an accident site. Police have the right to detail you until proof of payment is provided for damage. If you are renting a car, you will be going to a gas station. See our detailed article on how to avoid scams at the gas stations in Mexico.

Tren Maya from Playa Del Carmen to Tulum Airport

The new (train) Tren Maya is also an option. You can board the train at the Playa Del Carmen Tren Maya Station and ride south to the Tulum Airport Station. Travel time is about 1 hour 10 minutes on the train, plus time for transfers.

Total travel time: Around 2 hours, including shuttle transfers.
Cost: Approximately: Tourist Class – 330 pesos, Premier Class – 530 pesos.
Schedule: Trains currently leave Playa Del Carmen for the Tulum Airport Station at 9:51am, 12:37pm, and 4:19pm (check the official Tren Maya site for current times).

From Playa Del Carmen, you’ll need to take a taxi or shuttle to the Tren Maya station (about a 20-minute ride). The Tren Maya bus leaves from the ADO bus station on 20th Avenue with departures lined up for the train departures, The charge for this shuttle is 50 pesos. Taxis charge 500 pesos from taxi stands in Playa Del Carmen, just to give you a point of reference.

At the Tulum Airport, a shuttle bus connects the station to the terminal for 35 pesos.

Inside of the Tulum Airport Tren Maya Station — The Tren Maya Station at the Tulum Airport.

Taxis from Playa Del Carmen to Tulum Airport

Taxis are available, but they are not metered, and prices vary. Travelers often end up paying the same or more than a private transfer, without the comfort of a larger van. Payment is usually cash only, and there are no discounts for booking a round trip.

Because of this, private transfers are a better option for most travelers.

Is there Uber in Playa Del Carmen or at Tulum Airport?

No. Uber is not operating in Playa Del Carmen or Tulum. Taxi unions have kept rideshare services out of most of Quintana Roo. You cannot rely on Uber to get to the airport.

Summary

The most popular and reliable way to get from Playa Del Carmen to the Tulum Airport is with a private transfer, offering door-to-door service and guaranteed timing for your flight. Groups can save by booking private transfers, while budget travelers may prefer the ADO bus. For a scenic but slightly longer journey, the Tren Maya is also an option. Taxis are available but often overpriced compared to private shuttles.