How to get from the Cancun Airport to Tulum 2025
if you are flying into the Cancun Airport but are staying in Tulum, this is how you get to Tulum from the Cancun Airport. Even with the Tulum Airport being open, many flights are still cheaper into Cancun Airport, and you have more option. The important thing to think about is how to get to Tulum from the airport. Tulum is about 1 hour and 30-minute drive directly from the Cancun Airport. This is 120km or about 75 miles.
There are four main ways to get from the Cancun Airport to Tulum
- Booking a private transfer from the airport direct to Tulum.
- Taking the ADO bus to Tulum ADO Bus Station.
- Renting a car at the Cancun Airport and driving to Tulum.
- Boarding the Tren Maya and taking it to the Tulum train station.
There are taxis available at the Cancun Airport, but it should be noted that there are no set prices, no meters, and you need to negotiate the prices. Most of the time they overcharge people. That is why most people prebook a private transfer from the Cancun Airport.
Note: There is NO UBER service from the Cancun Airport to Tulum. Uber only operates in a limited area of Cancun.
Private transfers from Cancun Airport to Tulum
Private transfers are the most popular option because they are the fastest option. This is especially important since Tulum is about 1 hour and 30 minutes from the Cancun Airport. This is also the only transportation besides a taxi that will take you directly to your hotel without havening to switch to another form of transportation.
This transportation company is the best one to go with and one our readers have enjoyed for years. When you reserve online, you will have a van and driver waiting for you at the airport. The price includes a bilingual driver, all taxes and fees and are insured. The price is for the entire van and not per person. A van with up to 8 people costs $165 USD from the Cancun Airport to downtown Tulum (parts of Tulum that are farther from the airport are more). A round-trip costs $320 USD. You save $10 USD if you book a round trip with this transfer company. Prices vary depending on where in Tulum you need to go.
Why a private transfer is a good option from the Cancun Airport to Tulum
Here are some reasons why we recommend this option for getting to Tulum.
- It is the fastest way to get to your hotel or rental.
- Less stress and hassle. Your private bilingual driver is waiting at the airport for you.
- No negotiating with a taxi driver over prices and no surprise fees.
- You can get a small discount by booking a round trip.
- More space than a taxi so you can relax on your way to Tulum.
- No waiting in line to get a rental car and no need to think about driving in Mexico. It also gives you the option to just rent a car for the days you need.
Luxury transfer options from the Cancun Airport to Tulum
If you are coming on holiday for a special occasion or just want to VIP treatment, here is an option for you. You can have a luxury SUV transfer. This is a private transportation option for you.
The luxury transfer option is in a Suburban vehicle or similar. This option is for up to 6 people. The cost from the Cancun Airport to Tulum is $300 USD one way and $585 USD round-trip. You can book this option by the book now button below. Prices vary a little depending on where in Tulum you need to go.
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 a large, air-conditioned bus like the one below in the photo. ADO is the only bus company that services the Cancun Airport.
ADO and has connections to Tulum. There are practically ADO buses leaving every 30 minutes going to Playa Del Carmen, which is on the way to Tulum. Of these buses there are 6 buses that make the connection a little better. The time is still 2 hours and 55 minutes.
The more direct buses with connections leave the Cancun Airport at 11:50am, 1:10pm, 2:30, 3:50pm, 5:50pm, and 7:55pm. These times are from terminal 4 of the airport. Times will vary a little if you are leaving from another terminal (see the ADO website for all schedules). Usually, all international flights arrive at either Terminal 3 or 4.
The price is 430 pesos from Cancun Airport to Tulum ADO Bus Station. We recommend buying your ticket at the airport since you don’t know if your flight will be delayed and how long it will take to get out of the airport. Tickets are for specific times. You can buy tickets at the booth inside or stand outside the terminals by the parked buses.
If you are not able to get on of the above mentioned more direct buses to Tulum, alternatively, you can take any ADO bus to Playa Del Carmen. Then get a ticket onward to Tulum. There are about 21 buses a day between Playa Del Carmen Turistica Bus Station (5th Avenue and Juarez Avenue) and Tulum downtown ADO Bus Station. You can even stop for lunch or a snack since you are arriving at the bus station on 5th Avenue and Juarez Avenue in Playa Del Carmen. There are many places nearby to eat and even the Park Fundadores to see. Then walk back to the bus station for your final leg of your trip to Tulum.
Note: A few of the buses only go to Tulum Ruins (Tulum zona arqueológica) from Playa Del Carmen. So, if your hotel is near here, you can take these buses, if not, make sure you purchase a ticket to Tulum downtown ADO Bus station.
Arriving in Tulum by bus from the Cancun Airport
Once you arrive in Tulum you mostly likely will want a taxi to get to your hotel. Tulum is spread out and the Hotel Zone by the beach is about 8-9km away from the downtown. Taxis do not have meters in Tulum so be sure to ask the price before getting in or ask your hotel how much a taxi should be, so you know. Most of the time taxis will charge between $15 USD to $30 USD.
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. It can save a lot of time and is cost effective in the long run for most.
The main ADO bus station in Tulum. This is where you will arrive by bus from the Cancun Airport.
Driving yourself in a rental car to Tulum from the Cancun Airport
If you plan on doing some road trips during your time in the Riviera Maya, renting a car from the Cancun Airport can be a good option. You should definitely reserve in advance because often there are a lot of people trying to rent cars. The reserve now button will take you to a booking site that has all the companies available at the Cancun Airport for rental cars. From there, you can select which car and company you wish to rent from. Most rental cars in Mexico will cost about $35-$60 USD per day. You should calculate buying some insurance for your rental because the laws are different in Mexico.
Tip: There are rental car companies inside the Cancun Airport and some outside the airport. It can be cheaper at some of the places outside the airport, but you need to calculate having a shuttle pick you up and drop you off when returning the car. This can add 30 minutes of time when picking up and dropping off.
Important Tips: It is good to buy local liability insurance. 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.
Police checkpoints on the way to Tulum
There are three police check points on this highway. Usually, traffic funnels into one lane and police 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.
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.
For more on driving in the Riviera Maya, see our article here on things to be aware of.
Taking the Tren Maya from the Cancun Airport to Tulum
The Tren Maya (Mayan Train) offers another ground transportation option from the Cancun Airport. There is now a direct trainline to Tulum from the Cancun Airport. This might be a good alternative to the ADO bus. The Tren Maya is about 25 minutes faster than the ADO bus and is more comfortable. There are however less scheduled trains, so it will depend on what time you arrive at the Cancun Airport and how long you have to wait to take the train to determine if it is worth it. As far as costs go, the bus is about 120 pesos cheaper (which is about $6USD).
Departing from the Cancun Airport Tren Maya Station the first train is at 9:00am, then 11:46, and the last train is at 3:33pm. See the Tren Maya website to check schedules and more information. These are the only train times as of now. In the future there is the possibility of more trains. This route is not super busy, and tickets are usually available.
How much are the Tren Maya tickets to Tulum?
There are two classes of service on the Tren Maya. Premier is the first class and tourist is the second class. For the 1 hour and 43 minutes from Cancun Airport to Tulum, you really don’t need premier class. You only get about 2 inches of seat and a few less people in the train car. Premier tickets cost 719.50 pesos and a tourist class ticket costs 449.50 pesos. There are other fares for the Tren Maya, but pretty much all foreigners are going to pay for the International Tourist fare, even those with temporary and permanent visas to live in Mexico.
There are the additional costs of the shuttle bus from the Cancun Airport of 35 pesos and the shuttle bus to downtown Tulum of 55 pesos. So, these are additional costs you need to calculate into this trip.
How to take the Tren Maya to Tulum
When you arrive at the Cancun Airport you will see signs for the Tren Maya. This is where you will aboard the shuttle bus to the train station. This bus costs 35 pesos. At the train station you can purchase your tickets. When you arrive at the Tulum station, you can either take a taxi to your hotel or take the shuttle bus to the ADO Bus Station in downtown Tulum. If your hotel is not near the ADO Bus Station, you will need to take a taxi to your hotel There are no public transportation services in Tulum.
See our complete guide on how to take the Tren Maya from the Cancun Airport to Tulum here.
Thank you for reading our guide on how to get to Tulum from the Cancun Airport. Do you have any questions or comments? Let us know in the comments below. We would love to hear from you.
About The Author
Hello Abbey
We are glad you had a good time in the Tulum area. There is a lot to see and do in the Riviera Maya so we hope you come back soon and explore some more.
Hello Candi
There is no set price for the taxis between Cancun Airport and Tulum. The price is about the same or more then a private transfer plus you will be in a smaller vehicle. It will also depend on where in Tulum you are going. The taxis charge different rates for the downtown and the beach zone. The transfers have one set price. Just remember that if you take the ADO and you are staying on the beach it will still be about a $25-35 USD taxi ride to the hotel.