Tulum To Cancun Airport Transportation
Looking to visit Tulum Mexico? Here is your beginners guide about getting to Tulum and getting around while there. And what is the best way to get from the Cancun Airport to Tulum? Yes, there is a new airport in Tulum, but many people still fly to Cancun because it often has cheaper flights.
Why are 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, let’s get started with getting you all set for a great time in Tulum Mexico.
Tulum airport connections and ways to get to your vacation
So, what are the best ways to get from the Cancun Airport to Tulum? Let’s 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 manner. 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, but they also offer great rates. If you need to organize your transportation from the Cancun Airport to Tulum, we recommend clicking the book now button and booking this good service.
How far is it from the Cancun 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.
Should you take Uber or 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.
Uber does not operate from the Cancun Airport to Tulum, so this is not an option.
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.
Public 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 busses a day to Tulum, but chances are they don’t line up with your flight. 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.
For a complete guide to Tulum transportation including getting around town, see our guide here.
What airport are you going to fly into?
Tulum is a relatively new destination that has become red hot in the past decade. Tulum is in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, it only received statehood in 1974. Most infrastructure has been built in the last couple of decades. So how do you fly to Tulum ,Mexico? The main airport is Cancun (CUN). This airport serves the entire Riviera Maya (this is the stretch of coast of the Yucatan Peninsula that faces the Caribbean Sea). The Tulum Airport has opened but still is waiting for all the new airlines to start flying there.
So, Cancun International Airport is where a majority of tourists fly into when visiting Tulum for now. 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.
More information for your vacation in Tulum and the Riviera Maya
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.
About The Author
I have decided to try Tulum this year instead of going to Cancun. I know the places are very different. Do you have a recommendation of places to stay in Tulum? thanks
Hello Jeff
Yes Tulum is very different than Cancun. Here is a good guide we wrote about the places to stay and areas that are good in Tulum. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/best-area-to-stay-in-tulum/
Excellent details for getting to the and from the airport. This will be my first time to the area and I was worried about all the transportation and how it would be. You have calmed my nerves a lot.
We are glad we found your guide. Our hotel in Tulum was offering us transportation but it was a lot more expensive. I am sure they were getting a cut of it. This seems much better for the 1.5 hour ride. Thanks.
Having read this I have planned our trip more to Tulum. I am looking forward to swimming in some cenotes and hope the beach is not too bad with seaweed. We wont let that demure us. We also found a good hotel on your list of areas to stay in. That map was very helpful. Thanks you.
Hello Kate
We hope you have a great time in Tulum. There is a lot to do in the area and we hope your guides help you plan. Thank you for reading our website and let us know if you need anything else.
After I initially booked my transfer I changed my hotel to another. How do I update where the transfer takes me? Thanks!
Hello Megan
When you booked your transfer you got a confirmation with email and telephone of the transportation company. You can contact them directly to update your booking so you can go to the correct hotel. Not all zones in Tulum are priced the same, so if you are now further from the airport, you may need to update your price of transfer.
Tulum is really easy to get to from the Cancun airport. We go back and forth between Boston and Tulum three or four times a year and always get a driver. The ride is always a time to decompress after traveling and we love arriving in Tulum. It is our happy place.
We are a group of 9 people that will arrive in Cancun on the 15th of October. Is it easy to book one of these vans when we land? We are not sure what time we will get there and many flights have been canceled so we dont want to prepay and have to pay again.
Hello Mark
The transfers are booked ahead of time so the drivers can be scheduled and ready to take you to Tulum. There are no extra drivers just waiting at the airport. The good news is, if your flight is late or canceled, they will know and can reschedule with you. They watch the arrivals and know when flights have changed. So it is best to book in advance especially since you have a larger group.
At this time it looks like the beaches and everything is open in Tulum. Is this correct? Any trouble with transportation or getting around?
Hello Val
It is true that most things are open in Tulum including the beaches. All the normal transportation is running normally. ADO busses are running a little less than the normal schedules but otherwise, you should have no problems. We hope you have a good trip.
I am surprised that there is not a small shuttle that goes between the airport and Tulum on a regular basis. That could be a nice in the middle cost option.
This was a good tip on traveling to Tulum. I made the mistake last time to take a taxi from the center to the hotel zone and the taxi charged me $40 USD for the ride. It was slow due to the traffic but still very expensive.
I just wanted to comment and mention how busy Tulum is now. It is full of tourists and things are very busy. It is good to book ahead both hotels and transportation. We passed some restaurants that had lines to get in and we just skipped them because they were too long to wait. Taxis anre busy to and dont expect any discounts on things because it is booming business in Tulum now.
After a longtime of not traveling, we booked our trip to Tulum. Wahoooooo
Thought I would comment and say that Tulum is about 1 1/2 hours from the airport sot is best to get quickly from the airport to your hotel. There has been some construction on the 307 highway between The airport and the Riviera Maya. Some days it can get backed up since it is the only road available to go up and down the state.
The article on stuff around Tulum such as the one you mentioned here will be extremely helpful to myself! I am headed to Tulum next year in January. It is my first time traveling there.
There are stories about the new beach access to the Tulum area. Is it faster now to get to the hotel zone coming from the Cancun Airport?
Hello Rory
The other beach access road is open, but…. it is very very bumpy and it is a very slow go for traffic. It is still busy in the hotel zone in Tulum, the good things is, with the airport private transfers, you pay a flat fee and it does not matter if it is a little slow.
It does suck the airport is a little far and this does prevent me from popping down for a weekend. I only go top Tulum for a week or more because the airport is a bit far, but the new airport is coming and we will have to see what flights land there.