Transferring from Cancun Airport to Tulum
If you are arriving at the Cancun Airport and staying in Tulum, you will need to transfer to Tulum via one of the transportation options available. Since Tulum is a little farther away from the Cancun Airport than other destinations tourists go to in the Riviera Maya, you might be more likely to want a direct connection to get to your hotel or rental. A private transfer from the Cancun Airport to Tulum takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Booking an airport transfer is the BEST way to get to your hotel in Tulum in our opinion.
Below we have a recommended private transfer company that you can reserve and have waiting for you at the airport. We also have details below on the ADO bus that has service to Tulum, the Tren Maya, and other details for transferring to Tulum from the Cancun Airport.
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 Cancun 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 Tulum. A round-trip costs $320 USD. You save $10 USD if you book a round trip with this transfer company.
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.
How does the ADO bus work for going to Tulum?
There is one bus company that services the Cancun Airport. It is called 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.
Taking the Tren Maya from the Cancun Airport to Tulum
The Tren Maya is also a transfer 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.
What about taking a taxi or Uber to transfer to Tulum?
There are plenty of taxis at the Cancun Airport, but you might want to think twice about taking them. First of all, they are all sedans, unlike the private transfers which are vans. You will have an hour and a half of travel time, so it is nice to be comfortable. Second, taxis are not metered nor are there fixed prices, so you will need to negotiate with them. Most of the time people end up paying too much. Taxis are about the same or more than the private transfers.
Uber only works in a limited area of Cancun. The rest of the Riviera Maya they do not operate, so this is not an option.
More information for your time in Tulum
We hope you have a great vacation while in the Tulum area. Here is one guide we have made for people visiting the Tulum area for the best things to do in Tulum. It covers nearby cenotes, lagoons, beaches and more.
Do you have any questions or comments about a transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum? Let us know in the comment section below.
About The Author
Hello. This is the first time to Tulum. Is the transfer the same to the beach are as downtown?
Hello Mellisa
Yes, the prices for the transfer are for both the downtown area of Tulum and what is considered the Hotel Zone. We hope you have a great time in Tulum and if you want, see our guide here for things to do. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/best-things-tulum/
Excellent service! Will definitely book with them again! Thanks so much for your recommendation. Our driver was very friendly and helpful. We also used your things to do in Tulum guide and found some cool spots.
We are staying in the Hotel Zone in Tulum. I have read that there is not much nearby for stores. Is it possible to do some food shopping on the way to Tulum from the airport? Thanks.
Hello Jen
You are correct that there is not much in the Hotel Zone of Tulum besides boutiques and a few basic convenience stores. This transfer company can do a stop at a grocery store for an extra fee. This can save you taking a taxi two ways from your hotel. Taxis in Tulum do charge high rates, so it is worth it to stop at the store. The best store is Chedraui on the road to the beach. You can buy wine and spirits, sun creams, and snacks. It is a large modern grocery store. We hope you have a great trip!
I asked at the airport about taxis to Tulum. The first answer I got from a taxi driver was so ridulous, I walked away, then he wanted to negotiate. Why cannot they just have set prices?
Hello Conny
Yes this is an issue that many travelers face. It is why we recommend the private transfers. We hope you got to Tulum in an affordable way.
I am glad I found your website. I was going to take a taxi to Tulum but now know that it is not the best idea.
I see the bus takes over 2 hours to get to Tulum from the Cancun Airport. Does it make stops along the way?
Hello Bob
Yes, the ADO bus does stop in Playa Del Carmen and has a layover there of about 30 minutes. On the ADO website you can pull up the schedule and then look at the details of the trip. It will show you the total time and stops. You can actually just take a bus to Playa Del Carmen and then eat something and book a separate ADO bus to Tulum if you like. The private transfers will save you about one hours time in getting to Tulum but are more expensive.