Drive Cancun to Tulum – Security Ideas + Stops

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Are you planning on driving from Cancun to Tulum however uncertain how or if it’s protected? We’ve obtained you lined.

Allow us to stroll you thru the whole lot it’s good to know. We’ve rented a automobile on the Cancun airport and pushed to Tulum 20+ instances!

We fell in love with Mexico years in the past and as soon as referred to as Playa del Carmen “dwelling.” After we lived in Playa del Carmen, we rented a automobile from Playa del Carmen and the Cancun worldwide airport on a regular basis and have made this precise drive quite a few instances. 

Driving from Cancun to Tulum is method simpler than you assume. As soon as you might be out of the Cancun airport, you might be on the principle street that goes straight into Tulum. However earlier than you hit the street, there are a number of essential driving in Mexico suggestions you need to know. 

Driving in another country might be intimidating, however the freedom of getting a automobile is wonderful. Right here is the whole lot it’s good to find out about driving Cancun to Tulum! 


woman standing next to a rental car in Cancun after picking it up from the airport

Drive Cancun to Tulum – Finest Automotive Leases in Cancun

First issues first in the case of driving is a automobile. You’ll have to e book a rental automobile. We at all times e book on-line right here with Uncover Vehicles.

It’s essential that you simply e book on-line prematurely to get the perfect costs. If you happen to attempt to hire a automobile in particular person and not using a reservation, they more than likely received’t have a automobile, but when they do, most automobile rental firms will need $100+ a day. 

You possibly can learn our in-depth information about renting a automobile in Cancun right here. It’s tremendous simple to order together with your bank card.

We at all times counsel having journey insurance coverage. We use Security Wing for all our travels.


map drive from Cancun to Tulum

Should Know Data – Driving Cancun to Tulum

Is it simple to drive from Cancun to Tulum?

I feel it’s a tremendous simple drive. As soon as you allow the airport, you might be on the principle freeway all the way in which to Tulum.

The primary freeway goes proper via the town of Tulum. If you’re staying at Tulum Seashore resort, the seaside street (Freeway 15) is at a stop-and-go mild one flip. 

Drive Cancun to Tulum: Distance

It’s about 72 miles from the Cancun airport to Tulum.

How lengthy is the automobile experience from Cancun to Tulum?

With out site visitors, the journey time is 1.5 hours to drive Cancun to Tulum. The precise time varies from day after day, the time of day, and many others.

I might plan on one thing extra like 2 hours, to be practical, but it surely might take 3 hours+ if there’s site visitors. Enable loads of time. If you’re heading again to the airport, be sure to verify Google Maps a number of hours earlier than your flight.

The place is the perfect place to hire a automobile?

We at all times hire on-line prematurely right here with Uncover Vehicles and decide up our automobile on the Cancun airport. That method you may bounce within the automobile and drive straight to Tulum.

I’ll begin by saying that it’s a very irritating course of truly getting a rental automobile on the Cancun airport. There are at all times lengthy traces. They not often have the automobile you rented, and many others. You possibly can learn our full information on this article

What’s the Closest Airport to Tulum?

There isn’t any airport in Tulum. The most cost effective choice for flights is to fly into Cancun. Cancun Worldwide airport is the place most vacationers fly into. 


Highway Cancun to Tulum Drive

Driving in Mexico Security Ideas

Earlier than you bounce within the automobile, there are some things you need to find out about when driving in Mexico which might be more than likely totally different than at dwelling. 

How are the roads driving to Tulum from Cancun?

For 99% of the drive from Cancun to Tulum, you can be on the principle freeway, freeway 307, like within the above picture. General, street circumstances are good. There are tons of roads the place we dwell which might be a lot worse! 

The freeway is your typical two-lane freeway with a median within the center for many of the drive. There are a number of various things, although, and we’ll go over them. 

Drive Cancun to Tulum Mexican Site visitors Checkpoints

You’ll come throughout a number of site visitors checkpoints between Cancun and Tulum. There can be indicators prematurely warning you they’re arising. There can even more than likely be a slight backup, as automobiles are slowing down and typically stopping for them.

If the automobiles are slowing down and going via them with out stopping. Do the identical. If you happen to get flagged to cease, cease. 

Car driving through a police check point in Mexico- Renting a car in Cancun

Be careful for velocity bumps

Sure, there are velocity bumps in the course of the freeway. There are much more velocity bumps when you enter cities. 

Not all two velocity bumps are the identical. Some are far more aggressive than others. Some have warning they’re arising. Some have little or no warning to no warning. Most are painted yellow, however a few of the paint has worn off. 

Pace bumps in Spanish are referred to as Tope. The signal could have two bumps and say Tope.

One-Approach Streets in Tulum

When driving in Tulum or anyplace actually in Mexico, be careful for one-way streets. You’ll not at all times see a one-way signal like at dwelling. 

When a road signal, there can be arrows, and they are going to be pointing within the route the road goes. It will point out it’s a one-way road moving into that route.

Are you able to drive to Tulum from Cancun with a US driver’s license?

Sure, you don’t want any particular driver’s license to hire a automobile in Mexico or drive a automobile in Mexico.

Is it Secure to Drive in Tulum?

We predict so, sure. Now we have by no means had any points driving in Tulum or in Quintana Roo. We’re assured drivers, although, and have pushed in 30+ international locations.

If you’re a nervous driver in your house nation, you in all probability shouldn’t drive in Mexico. 

No Cell Cellphone Use 

Don’t use your mobile phone whereas driving. If you happen to do, use your telephone hands-free.

The one time we obtained stopped at a site visitors checkpoint was as a result of Adam was on his telephone. They let him go together with a warning. 

Passing Vehicles in Mexico

If you end up driving on the principle freeway to Tulum, you’ll discover automobiles getting over into the shoulder lane to let different automobiles go. We truly actually like how they “share” the street in Mexico. If somebody is making an attempt to go, recover from and allow them to go.

What’s totally different about automobiles passing in Mexico is that they may do that method on a two-lane street with oncoming site visitors. It will seem scary the primary time you see it, however it’s regular there, and all automobiles simply transfer accordingly. Oncoming site visitors will recover from if a automobile is making an attempt to go that’s on oncoming site visitors. So it’s possible you’ll have to recover from for a automobile passing you, or it’s possible you’ll have to recover from for a automobile passing in oncoming site visitors.

You’ll solely run into this in the event you drive additional onto Bacalar or presumably take a street journey to Holbox. Each of that are wonderful locations that you need to take a look at. 


Don’t overlook your insurance coverage! You by no means know once you’ll want it. We recommend getting journey insurance coverage with Security Wing. Which protection consists of medical, journey interruption, misplaced baggage, and extra. Usually charges are as little as $12 per week. 


Parking lot on Tulum Beach

Parking in Tulum

Parking in Tulum City

Parking in Tulum city is comparatively simple. We at all times discover road parking inside a number of blocks of our vacation spot. A number of the greatest breakfasts in Tulum are on the town, so we discover ourselves right here typically.

Simply be sure to observe the road indicators as you might be driving via city. Quite a lot of the streets are one-way. 

Parking car in Tulum Beach on the road

Parking in Tulum Seashore

If you’re staying at Tulum Seashore resort, most provide free parking to visitors, however I might verify this prematurely. If you’re driving in for the day, count on to pay 200 pesos for the day to park.

If you’re driving in the direction of Playa Paraiso, there’s a good quantity of parking on the street totally free. You will notice automobiles parked alongside the street, see if there’s a spot you may match into that isn’t blocking the street/driveway. 

A number of the greatest Tulum seaside eating places additionally provide free parking. Ask prematurely in case you want parking validated or a receipt. 

Is it simple to get round Tulum and not using a automobile?

No. Tulum is cut up up between Tulum city and Tulum Seashore. If you’re staying at a lodge on the town however need to go to the seaside day by day, you’ll both desire a rental automobile or hire a motorbike. 

Each a rental automobile and a motorbike have their very own downsides. Parking on Tulum Seashore is 200+ Mexican pesos a day, and the site visitors is insane. If you happen to hire a motorbike, be ready for the experience to take half-hour/10 km from the city to many of the greatest seaside golf equipment in Tulum. We rented a motorbike in Tulum as soon as….it was scorching, dusty, and uncomfortable. 

Taxis in Tulum

The opposite choice is a taxi, however a one-way taxi from Tulum to Tulum Seashore is $25 USD a method. The taxi costs in Tulum are out of this world. Once more, we keep away from taxi’s in any respect prices. 


Different Transportation from Cancun to Tulum

Now we have an in-depth information on getting from Cancun to Tulum right here. This covers all of the totally different choices and the professionals and cons of every.

We’ll rapidly go over the highlights of that article right here. 


Different Transportation from Cancun to Tulum

Now we have an in-depth journey information on getting from Cancun to Tulum right here. This covers all of the totally different transport choices and the professionals and cons of every.

We’ll rapidly go over the highlights of that article right here. 

Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen priv

Finest airport shuttle to Tulum

If you happen to select to not drive to Tulum, the following greatest method and quickest technique to Tulum is to e book a non-public transportation shuttle service, that’s, door-to-door service out of your Tulum lodge direct to the airport.

If we don’t hire a automobile, that is the mode of transport we go together with. Since we journey with children, we want a non-public driver with a sufficiently big automobile for us and all of our baggage. For an additional value they’ll present automobile seats, final time we didn’t pay for this they usually introduced automobile seats for us to make use of in any case (we had our personal so we didn’t want them).

We at all times use this firm, Cancun Airport Transportation, for a non-public switch to Tulum. We e book direct with them on-line right here prematurely. They’re, in our opinion, the best choice and the most cost effective technique to take a non-public automobile. If you happen to e book a spherical journey, the value is barely discounted.

Upon getting gone via immigration and have your baggage, you’ll undergo the sliding glass doorways and exit the airport. You’ll want to search for somebody carrying the brand within the above picture. They’ll have a clipboard together with your title and reservation. They’ll name your driver and convey you to fulfill the driving force.

How a lot is a taxi from Cancun to Tulum?

That is all based mostly in your Spanish and negotiating expertise. It wouldn’t shock me if it value $120+ USD. Skip this headache and e book a budget shuttle.

Now we have had only a few constructive interactions with taxi drivers and would keep away from taking a taxi to or from the airport in any respect prices.

Cancun Bus to Tulum

Solo vacationers and price range vacationers on the lookout for the most cost effective technique to Tulum ought to contemplate taking public transportation and particularly the ADO bus. Click on right here for ticket costs and bus instances.

The Ado buses are snug and have air con, however they aren’t direct to Tulum. They make a number of stops earlier than the Tulum bus station.

The Ado bus terminal is positioned within the heart of Tulum city. The Ado buses arrive and depart from right here. It’s a handy location in case you are staying in Tulum city.

Can you’re taking an uber from Cancun to Tulum?

No, Uber will not be in Mexico. The best technique to get from Cancun to Tulum is by reserving this direct non-public shuttle


We desire having our personal automobile and having the liberty to take day journeys round Tulum. We recommend visiting a few of the greatest Mayan ruins instantly within the morning, earlier than the vacationer buses, and earlier than the afternoon warmth. 

If you wish to take a day journey to some stunning seashores close by or a cenote, it’s a good choice to hire a automobile. In any other case, taking excursions and taxis to go to all of the issues to do in Tulum will actually add up. 


Have you ever pushed from Cancun to Tulum? How was it?

Any suggestions you assume we should always add to our article?

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