A long hallway at arrivals was lined with different transportation options.
I counted seven different taxi, rental car, and shuttle booths, as well as a stand for the ADO Bus. The 40-minute bus ride to Tulum Centro is the cheapest option. ADO’s website shows the current rate is 220 pesos, or about $12. It’s about $10 cheaper than the ADO bus from Cancún’s airport.
I got sticker shock when I inquired about the cost of a private shuttle pickup with my resort, which was $230 one way. The concierge explained that Tulum has a government-imposed airport pickup fee, which is meant to cover the costs for security, staffing, and arrangements not needed during drop-off. It’s a fixed cost, although the government hasn’t disclosed the specific numerical value or percentage added to each fee.
Opting for a shuttle via the airport might be a little cheaper than your resort. According to rates on the airport’s website, a one-way shuttle to Tulum Centro ranges from $176 to $199, depending on your group size. Shuttles to Tulum’s Hotel Zone, where most resorts are located, can cost between $199 and $221.
By comparison, shuttles from Tulum Centro to the airport range from $106 to $128, while shuttles from the Hotel Zone to the airport range from $128 to $151.
The difference in transportation costs is pretty staggering compared to Cancún. According to the Cancún airport website, a shuttle to or from the airport to Tulum’s Hotel Zone would cost around $110 to $125. That means a round-trip shuttle to Cancún could cost the same price as just a pickup from the Tulum airport.
If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative but don’t want to take a bus, taxi rates from the airport to Tulum Centro or the Hotel Zone tend to range between $70 and $110.
