What airport do I fly into to get to Tulum, Mexico?
To get to Tulum, fly into Cancun airport. There really aren’t any other good options.
How do I get to Tulum from the Cancun airport?
Tulum is a straight shot about 1.5 – 2 hours south down the main highway from Cancun. You can rent a car, take a taxi, hire a private or shared shuttle or even -for just a few dollars – take the collectivo bus to Tulum. The most important thing here, is DO NOT arrive at the Cancun airport with no plan to get to Tulum. It is possible to line up for a cab when you get there, but be aware of the costs and the logistics so you don’t get taken advantage of. For example, when you exit the airport you have to “run the gauntlet.” This is a short hallway full of sales people promising you rides to wherever you’re going and looking legit in uniforms and holding placards. Most of these people will get you where you’re going in exchange for sitting through a mind-numbing time-share presentation. No thanks. Others are gypsy cab operators who will charge you whatever they can get away with. If you want to take a cab, read below.
Private shuttle: I recommend the private shuttle, arranged directly in advance. It’s only a few dollars more than the taxi ($57 vs $62 one way, last I checked), and it’s a lot more comfortable, especially if you have a lot of luggage. Also, if you arrive at the airport during a very busy time, you already have your shuttle booked so you don’t have to wait for a taxi. A lot of hotels will offer to arrange this service for you, just check the price because some of them double the fees compared to booking it yourself.
Shared shuttle: If you want to save $10 you can opt for a shared shuttle. I don’t reccommend this option because you usually end up waiting forever for all the other passengers to arrive, and then most of them are going to Playa Del Carmen so you end up stopping a bunch of times and waiting for everyone to unload. IMO, pay the extra $10 and enjoy more of your vacation.
Rent a car: Renting a car is a good option if you’re staying off the beach or if you’re staying long enough to need to go to the grocery store. Driving in this part of Mexico is easy, the main roads are wide and the drivers are not aggressive. However, once you get to the Tulum beach road, parking is almost nonexistent and the roads are fairly rough (by American standards).
If you decide to rent a car, read up on the rules and regulations for Mexico before you start your trip. The Mexican rental car office is like the US in the 1980s: high pressure sales tactics designed to scare you into buying a bunch of insurance coverage you don’t need, and they’ll even lie and tell you it’s required. Find out what your own car insurance company will cover, what your credit card will cover and what your trip insurance will cover. Know what’s required and what’s not and don’t back down.
Taxi: Taxi is a good option if you aren’t comfortable booking a shuttle in advance or if you didn’t get around to it. There is only one hitch: DO NOT accept a cab ride from anyone standing in the airport lobby offering taxi rides. The only safe and legal place to get a taxi is at the kiosk that’s right at the exit onto the street. You can’t miss it. The rates are set and posted so you don’t need to negotiate the price with the driver. On your way back, have the hotel call for the taxi and confirm the rate in advance. NEVER get into a taxi in Mexico that isn’t booked from an official kiosk or through the hotel. You could be kidnapped (not likely in the Mexican Rivera, but you don’t want to be the first) or, if a gypsy cab driver gets pulled over, I understand you end up in jail with them.
ADO bus: For less than $10 you can take the ADO bus. I hear it’s pretty easy to do and a nice, air conditioned ride. However, you do have to change buses in Playa Del Carmen and after a long day of travel that’s not my idea of fun. It’s a YOLO vacation after all, so spoil yourself with that private shuttle ride.
Collectivo: This is public transportation that runs up and down the main highway from Cancun to Tulum. It costs about $2 I think. It’s a janky old van that they jam as many people into as possible, mostly hotel workers and the occasional hippy backpacker. I put it in here because it always shows up as an option if you Google about getting to Tulum, but seriously, keep it in mind for when you become a hippy backpacker and take a private shuttle.
Do I need to exchange money into pesos?
No, but bring cash in small bills. Almost everywhere you go will take credit cards, and most cards have favorable exchange rates. Everywhere else will take dollars, with slightly less favorable rates, but it is convenient and you don’t risk the dreaded double exchange. Keep in mind that Tulum is eco friendly and that means that electricity doesn’t always work reliably. So you may need to pay cash instead of credit card, and the ATMs won’t be working either.
A word of caution: Do you need air conditioning in Tulum in October? Yes. Do NOT go to Tulum in October unless you book a place with air conditioning. I’m not being a baby here, this is serious. Your hotel may wax poetic about the sea breezes, but it’s all bunk. I fell for that and spent 4 sleepless nights in a beachfront corner room with all the windows open and two fans creating a cross breeze that did nothing to budge the 99.9% humidity. I am a “glass half full” type of person and it came close to ruining the vacation.