For traveling to Playa Del Carmen, flying into Cancun International Airport (CUN) is generally the better option compared to Tulum. The Tulum International Airport Felipe Carillo Puerto (TQO) is open and there are flights. But can the Tulum Airport be an alternative to the Cancun Airport and how do they compare? Here’s why one is better most of the time:

Proximity of the Two Airports to Playa Del Carmen

Proximity: Cancun International Airport is about 55 kilometers (34 miles) from Playa Del Carmen, which translates to a drive of roughly 45 minutes to an hour. The Tulum Airport is about 104 km (65 miles) from Playa Del Carmen, which takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes driving. So, a round trip to and from the Tulum Airport to Playa Del Carmen will add about 1 hour and 20 minutes to your overall transportation time. 

Transportation Options from the Tulum and Cancun Airports

Transportation: From Cancun Airport, there are numerous transportation options available, including private shuttles, buses (like ADO), rental cars, Tren Maya, and taxis, making it convenient to get to Playa Del Carmen. The Tulum Airport has all of the aforementioned transportation options, just with a limited supply and usually are costlier. All of the transportation options are more expensive and take longer from the Tulum Airport mainly for the extra distance.  

More Flights, More Options 

Flight Options: Cancun International Airport is the second busiest airport in Mexico and offers a wide range of international and domestic flights, providing more flexibility and potentially better prices. The Tulum Airport has a handful of airlines with routes now and more coming online. We did an independent study on flights to both Cancun Airport and to Tulum Airport from major cities in the United States and Canada. Cancun as a destination airport was 37% cheaper on average. This was a savings of $100 USD on average ticket prices. 

Infrastructure of the Two Airports Close to Playa Del Carmen

Infrastructure: Cancun Airport has well-developed facilities and services for travelers, including car rentals, hotels, and other amenities that make the arrival and departure process smoother. Tulum Airport is just getting started and does have most of the basic services. Where you might notice some differences between the Cancun Airport and the Tulum Airport are things like eating options. Cancun Airport is not known for its great restaurants, but at least it has options. Tulum has very limited food options. There are also no hotels close to the Tulum Airport. So, if you miss a flight, are delayed, or just want to make sure you can get up and go, it is a 40-minute ride back into Tulum. 

In summary, Cancun International Airport is currently the best and most convenient airport for reaching Playa Del Carmen. It might seem tempting to purchase a ticket via the Tulum Airport that is $50-$100 USD Cheaper than flying into Cancun, but there are other factors. You have to take into account the extra travel time of about 1.5 hours and possible costs of the airport transfer. 

Arriving in Cancun Airport and need ground transportation?

Private transfers from the Cancun Airport (Most recommended)

Since many people are staying at all-inclusive hotels along the Riviera Maya, most people choose a private transfer. These reserved in advance rides will be waiting for you at the airport to take you directly to your hotel. You will be in good hands because company has been around for over a decade, and our readers always speak highly of them. They are reliable, punctual and easy to book. 

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 $85 USD from the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen. A round-trip costs $165 USD. You save $15 USD if you book a round trip with this transfer company. You can also book them to all locations in the Riviera Maya. 

Take a shared shuttle to Playa del Carmen from the airport

Better than the ADO bus option is the shared shuttle. Why is it better? For one, you get door to door service and do not have another step in transportation of taking a taxi from the bus station. These shared shuttles are small vans that are air conditioned, and the company has over 10 years of shuttling people to and from the Cancun Airport. 

You do need to book this in advance. This way you have a shuttle waiting for you and a reserved seat.  from the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen it costs $36 USD one way or $52 USD round trip. You save $20 USD when you book round trip! This is a good option if you are traveling solo. To book this option, click the reserve now button below and you will be taken to the official booking website. All of the details are on their website. 

ADO Bus to the Bus Station in Playa Del Carmen

The only public transportation from the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen is the ADO bus. Although not officially public transportation, but rather a private bus company, these buses go direct to Playa Del Carmen. The ADO buses service all 4 terminals at the Cancun Airport. After picking everyone up there is only one possible brief stop in Puerto Morelos before arriving in Playa Del Carmen at the Juarez Avenue and 5th Avenue station. This is the only bus station they arrive at (there are two bus stations in Playa Del Carmen).

For more about taking the ADO bus from Playa Del Carmen to the Cancun Airport see our article here.

Hop Aboard the Tren Maya from the Airport to Playa

The Tren Maya connects the Cancun Airport with Playa Del Carmen. It does take longer than the ADO bus but can be a fun option to try. At each of the four terminals in the Cancun Airport there is a Tren Maya bus that passes. This bus costs 35 pesos and connects to the Tren Maya Station. 

Currently there are 3 trains a day from Cancun to Playa and between Playa and the Cancun Airport. This is expected to increase as more trains come online, and ridership rises. Trains leave the Cancun Airport Tren Maya Station at 9:00am, 11:46am, and 3:33pm. Check the Tren Maya website for latest information. 

First class and second class which is called Premier and Tourist. The price between the Cancun Airport and Playa Del Carmen is 224 pesos for second class, and 358.50 pesos for first class.

The current time from the Cancun Airport Tren Maya Station to the Playa Del Carmen Station is 49 minutes. When you arrive in Playa Del Carmen, you can take a taxi to your final destination or take the shuttle bus to the ADO Bus Station on 20th Avenue in the center of Playa for 55 pesos. 

See more about how to take the Tren Maya from the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen. 

The Tulum Airport/ Aeropuerto Internacional Felipe Carrillo Puerto

The second-best airport to fly into for a trip to Playa Del Carmen is the Tulum Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Felipe Carrillo Puerto TQO) The Tulum Airport is about 45 minutes south of Tulum. Since Playa Del Carmen is another 45 minutes north of Tulum, a direct drive would take about 1.5 hours (104km/65 miles). This does not include wait times, transfer times, and time to hotels not in the center of Playa Del Carmen. The distance from Playa Del Carmen and the extra expense for ground transportation make Tulum Airport second best behind the Cancun Airport. 

See our article about getting from the Tulum Airport to Playa Del Carmen here.