Tulum

Tulum has three areas: Downtown, Ruins and the Hotel Zone. The hotel zone is some miles ahead of the ruins (on the same way) and there are multiple eco cabañas, restaurants, spas and more. Downtown has local establishments and is not as touristic as the hotel zone. You can find more detailed info below in Three Tulums Area. It is also important to consider that many establishments do not accept credit cards and there are not many ATM’s walking distance from cabañas, so make sure to have enough cash available. Also, wifi access and telephone signal is restricted.

To get to Tulum, you will be landing at Cancun International Airport. The ride from there is about 1 hr 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the chosen transportation method, weather and traffic.

By bus[edit]

From the Cancun International Airport From Terminals 2, 3 and 4 you can take the ADO bus directly to Tulum with a few minute stop via Playa del Carmen with departures every 1.20 hour for around $400MXN (about $17USD). Credit card payment is accepted at the airport terminal’s ticket counter. A seat will be assigned and shown on the ticket.

Buses from Chetumal run every hour. You can take the ADO bus departing from the ADO bus station. Buses depart from 1am to 6pm costing anywhere from 290 peso to 424 peso. Check the latest prices from the ADO website. There is also a cheaper bus, called Mayab, departing fairly regularly from Chetumal for about 220 peso. You can catch the bus on the main road (Av Insurgentes) at the Liverpool bus stop; just flag down the bus when you see it coming otherwise it won’t stop. Duration is about 3 hour 45 minutes.

Buses from Cancun run quite regularly. There is also an ADO bus direct from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen.

Buses from Playa del Carmen run hourly or so. Bus station is at southern end of Fifth Avenue near Playacar. ADO Bus $74 MXN stops at Xcaret and Xel-ha enroute to Tulum. Mayab bus $42 MXN stops more frequently enroute to Tulum from Playa del Carmen. Both have a/c.

To visit the ruins, get off the bus at the first Tulum stop at the intersection with the access road to the ruins. It’s an easy one mile or so flat walk to the ruins from the intersection.

An alternative to the buses is to catch a “collectivo” van. In Playa del Carmen you can find these on Calle 2 towards Avenida 20. A one-way trip costs $45 MXN p.p. (December 2020). Buses leave when full (a matter of minutes). Make sure to ask specifically for the ruins, as the town of Tulum is another stop. You will be dropped off and picked up at the side of the Federal Highway 307 (the same intersection where the buses stop), from where you can walk the last 850 meters to the ruins.