There are 4 main ways of getting from Cancun to Tulum.
Private Transfer to Tulum.
ADO Bus to Tulum.
Renting a Car at Cancun Airport.
Shared Transfer to Tulum.
People Also Ask
If you're spending a few days in Cancun first (check out our list of things to do in Cancun), the bus is the best option to travel from downtown Cancun to Tulum. The ADO bus from Cancun leaves from the bus station and runs multiple times per hour.
The distance from Cancun to Tulum is roughly 80 miles or 1 hour 45 minutes driving over Highway 307 and it's a pretty straight shot. However, depending on the amount of traffic, what part of Tulum you're staying in, and the mode of transport you take, it could take longer to get there.
Your day trip to Tulum from Cancun could not be any easier. And by the way, if you're coming from Playa del Carmen, the same directions apply, only the drive is much shorter, at about 64 kilometers. If driving is not an option for you, you can opt to ride a bus, minivan, or car.
Lastly, we only think Tulum is worth visiting on a day trip if it's coupled with other attractions, such as lagoons, cenotes and beaches. Our tour visited the hidden underwater cave of Cenote El Sueño and this was honestly the best part of our entire day trip. Once in a lifetime experience.
Whether you're there for a single night or an entire month, any trip to Tulum is memorable. As a baseline, we think that 5-7 days is a perfect amount of time to enjoy everything the city offers. You'll have time for the beach, to visit Mayan ruins, and even have enough extra days for a trip to a nearby destination.
Good weather, great prices – The shoulder months of May, July and August are some of the best times of the year to explore Tulum if saving a few dollars and having more space for your beach towel are dealbreakers. Local hotel rates and airfare to the Riviera Maya tend to be lowest during these less-crowded months.
Is There Uber in Tulum? Unfortunately, there aren't any major rideshare companies in Tulum or the nearby area. Because there aren't any rideshares, you'll need to plan ahead and research the best locations to find taxis or other transportation options near cenotes, archeological sites, and other areas you visit.
The journey from Cancun to Tulum needs two hours to complete. Times: ADO buses depart every day from Cancun airport to Tulum bus station at 10:55 am, 12:25 pm, 2:25 pm, 4:55 pm, 8:00 pm, and 9:45 pm. Moreover, people can take a bus to Playa del Carmen. This bus leaves every 30 minutes.
The distance from Cancun to Tulum is about 131 kilometers (81 miles). The journey by road takes between 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic and climatic conditions.
Taxi medallions are exceptionally expensive, which means that a taxi driver has a lot of costs to pay before they ever put money into their own pockets. This means that taxi prices are very high, and what's more, the taxi prices can be hard to predict and inconsistent.
While many places in Tulum certainly accept US dollars, you'll need to know how to exchange your money to the local currency – Pesos. Skip the currency exchange kiosk in the airport. You'll get the best exchange rate by withdrawing money from a local ATM once you arrive in Mexico.
As it's a small-sized pueblo, you can certainly cover a lot of ground with just 4, 5 or even 3 days in Tulum. As with any vacation destination — the longer the better for any trip to Tulum Mexico.
Tulumoffers access to a number of prominent Mayan ruin sites in the Yucatan peninsula. First, the northern edge of the Tulum beach is adorned by Mayan ruins that overlook the beach from a spectacular perch on a cliff! Second, the much larger ruins at Coba are a mere hour or so north of Tulum.
Tulum has many beautiful traces of Mayan culture and history, much like the rest of the Yucatán Peninsula and Quintana Roo. Visiting Tulum is worth it simply for the experience of seeing the historical Tulum Ruins in person.
Tulum's Beaches Will Stun YouTulum is first and foremost a beach destination — and for good reason! The beaches of Tulum are some of the best in the world. And though Tulum has seen its fair share of development over the past decade, Tulum's beaches have so far managed to escape the worst side effects of mass tourism.
How many days in Cancun you should plan will depend on your interests, but I'd say 3 to 5 days is the perfect amount of time. However, I'd recommend planning a trip to Cancun for a full week if you also want to go on day trips.
In general, cartels do not target tourists and the authorities have a huge incentive to keep visitors as safe as possible so that they keep coming back to the area. However, when it comes to steering clear of crime, your safety in Tulum will largely depend on what you do and where you go.