How to get from Cancun Airport to Tulum

Tulum's coast

A quick guide to get from Cancun Airport to Tulum.

Tulum is a whole natural paradise in the Riviera Maya area of Mexico. It’s the perfect spot to relax, enjoy nature, and take photos for social media. A little and eco-friendly town located in the Quintana Roo State of Mexico, and the only tourist destination with beachfront Mayan ruins. Mayans from this place used to watch out the coast from their buildings to protect this beautiful front-to-turquoise-waters paradise from invaders.

Tulum, Mexico. Image via LillaGreen

It is on the top 3 destinations of Riviera Maya and is still growing. It counts with hotels built with local eco-friendly material, beautiful beaches, and excellent entertainment places. In the middle square, there are sculptures reminding the ancestors’ culture. Calendars, pieces, and artifacts. They are all worthy of detailed appreciation since each piece has a relevant meaning.

Roughly, there are 4 ways to get from Cancun Airport to Tulum.

Option #1: Public Transportation (Cancun Airport—Playa del Carmen—Tulum)

Playa del Carmen — Tulum public vans station
Public Transportation

First, you will have to take an ADO to get to Cancun Downtown. Once there, you will have to head to a Playa del Carmen-Cancun vans station. Aboard the van, and get down until the last stop: Playa del Carmen’s station. From there, you will have to walk a few blocks to get to Playa del Carmen-Tulum vans station. Once again, pay and aboard the van. The van may do several stops during the way to Tulum, so other passengers (mostly hotel workers) can descend. Just tell the driver you are going straight to Tulum, and ask him to advise you when arriving there. Once in Tulum, you can descend the van on the main avenue. From there, you will have to take a local taxi to your destination, or, if you wish, you can have a little walk before getting to your place.

Option #2: Shuttle (Cancun Airport—Tulum)

Private Transportation

Book a Cancun to Tulum shuttle. The maximum capacity of regular vans is 9 passengers. You will prevent a lot of walking carrying luggage and will be able to get a nap on the way to your accommodation. The only thing would be to head to the meeting point once off the flight and find the rep., who is holding a sign with the logo.

Option #3: Luxury Transportation (Cancun Airport—Tulum)

Luxury Transportation

Book a luxury transportation to Tulum. For this kind of service, the maximum capacity is 6 passengers. Just as the previous option, you would only need to head to the meeting point once landed at Cancun Airport. The most comfortable and recommended option.

Option #4: Car Rental

Car Rental

You will have to drive a relatively long way, from Cancun Airport to your destination in Tulum, but it may be really useful if you plan to drive around every day of your vacation.

Those were 4 ways to get from Cancun Airport to Tulum.

Have you already visited this paradise? Leave your experience on the comment section below.

Frequently Asked Questions about Tulum

  • How much is the transportation from Cancun to Tulum?

    The transportation from any location of Cancun to any location in Tulum is priced from 100$ USD.

  • How do I get from Cancun to Tulum?

    The main way to get from Cancun to Tulum is by taking the 307 federal highway, same that connects with Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos and most popular destinations within Riviera Maya.

  • Is Tulum better than Cancun?

    Both of them are great beach destinations. It’s hard to say which one is better than the other, since they both have their own attractive.

  • Is Tulum Mexico expensive?

    Tulum can be expensive. However, this is not a rule. If you plan to go on budget, you can choose small hostels or villas and local street food instead of restaurants.

  • Is the drive from Cancun to Tulum safe?

    It depends. For those who are used to drive over speedy highways with wild traffic, it can be very easy. However, unexperienced drivers should be cautios when driving from Cancun to Tulum to evade any possible accident.

  • What is the best way to get from Cancun airport to Tulum?

    Most travelers agree the best way to get from Cancun Airport to Tulum is by private transportation. This because otherwise a stop in Playa del Carmen would be mandatory, which could take from minutes to hours of delay for first-timers.

  • What is the cheapest way to get from Cancun to Tulum?

    The cheapest way to get from Cancun to Tulum is to take public transportation. However, this can be confusing since most people using this method are local workers and know exactly where they’re going, so drivers don’t interact much with passengers.

  • Is it safe to drive from Cancun to Tulum at night?

    It is safe from certain point of view. If you have already drove from Tulum to Cancun (or viceversa), you may have no problem at all. However, we do not recommend to drive this route at night if you haven’t before.

  • How safe is Tulum Mexico?

    While you keep out of trouble, Tulum is totally safe. There have been some isolated cases, but for travelers looking purely to relax and explore there is no danger at all. However, is recomendable to keep your head and eyes in the moment, just in case.

  • How far is Tulum from Cancun time?

    Tulum is approxemitely 2 hours from Cancun, depending on traffic conditions.

  • Do I need to rent a car in Tulum?

    If you wish to explore nearby cenotes, wander around and try other attractions, it could be a good idea to either rent a car or hire a car service in Tulum.

  • Is Tulum worth visiting?

    If you would like to get to know one of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico, then yes, Tulum is totally worth visiting. Also, if you are interested in Mayan Culture, its Archaeological Site makes it a place worth of exploring.