Cancún Airport to Tulum or Playa del Carmen: Every Transfer Option Compared

You have landed. Now how do you get to your home in Tulum or Playa del Carmen? Here is every option, from easiest to most budget-friendly.

First: which airport?

• Cancún International (CUN): the biggest choice of flights. Playa del Carmen is about 45–60 minutes away by road, Tulum about 1 hour 45 minutes.
• Tulum International (TQO): opened in late 2023, with a growing list of direct flights from the US and Canada. It sits south of Tulum, roughly 30–40 minutes from town and about an hour from Playa del Carmen.

If you are staying in Tulum and can find a good fare into TQO, it saves you more than an hour on the road.

Option 1: Private transfer (easiest)

A driver waits in arrivals with your name, loads your bags and takes you straight to your door. It is the most comfortable choice for families, groups and late arrivals, and you can stop at a grocery store on the way.

• Time: door to door, no waiting.
• Good to know: book ahead. Our concierge arranges private airport transfers for MayanKey guests, timed to your flight.

Option 2: ADO bus (best value)

ADO runs comfortable, air-conditioned coaches from Cancún airport terminals to Playa del Carmen and Tulum throughout the day. Buy tickets at the ADO counter in arrivals or online.

• Time: about 1 hour to Playa del Carmen, 2 hours or more to Tulum.
• Good to know: you will still need a short taxi from the bus station to your home.

Option 3: Tren Maya

The Maya Train now stops at Cancún Airport, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, with a station near Tulum airport as well. Fares are reasonable, but there are only a few departures a day and the stations sit outside the town centers.

• Good to know: check the timetable on the official Tren Maya website before you plan around it, and budget for a taxi from the station.

Option 4: Rental car

A car gives you freedom for cenotes, ruins and day trips. The highway south from Cancún is straightforward.

• Good to know: book with full insurance coverage, watch for speed bumps (topes) in every town, and confirm parking at your rental. Many MayanKey homes in Tulum include parking, and in central Playa del Carmen you will rarely need a car at all.

Option 5: Airport taxi

Official airport taxis are available at the exit, but they are the most expensive way to travel this distance. Uber is not widely available in this region, so do not count on it.

Our tips

1. Pay your Visitax before you fly home. It is a state tourist fee for foreign visitors, paid online at the official site, visitax.gob.mx. More in our guide to tourist fees.
2. Skip the timeshare sellers in the arrivals hall. Walk straight outside to your driver.
3. Grab pesos from a bank ATM, not an exchange counter, for the best rate.
4. Send us your flight details. Your check-in is fully automated, so you can arrive at any hour and walk straight in with your personal door code.

Planning your trip? Find your home in Tulum or Playa del Carmen, and let our concierge book your airport transfer.