Tulum Airport began operating a little over a year ago, in December 2023, and the first year of operations far exceeded expectations.
More than a million passengers have already flown into the brand-new airport, which is located about 27 miles from the Tulum Hotel Zone.
Given the distance between the airport and the tourist area of the destination, travelers have to book transportation to get to their hotel.
This can be pretty expensive because Tulum airport transportation prices have skyrocketed.
Keep reading to find out what you can expect to pay so you don’t have any surprises when you arrive.
Transportation Provider Rates At Tulum Airport In The Beginning
Transportation providers’ fees to operate at Tulum Airport were high right from the start.
Due to complaints made by providers, though, an agreement was made last year to lower them.
At that time, the rates that providers paid went down to $20 or less per ride, depending on the type of transportation.
What Providers Are Paying Now
According to recent reports, transportation providers operating out of Tulum Airport now have to pay much higher fees to pick up and drop off passengers.
They pay around $46 every time they enter the Tulum Airport grounds.
That’s every time they arrive at the airport to pick up or drop off a passenger.
What This Means For Passengers Visiting Tulum
A rise in cost for transportation providers means a rise in rates for passengers.
The drivers have to be able to make money or they’re simply not going to operate at the airport.
This means passengers are going to pay more than what the drivers have to pay to get from the airport to the hotel area.
What You Can Expect To Pay To Get From Tulum Airport To Your Hotel
With the fee for Tulum Airport transportation providers reaching nearly $50 per trip, you can expect to pay well over that to get from the airport to your hotel.
A quick search shows that rates start at around $100 each way for private transportation, but there are cheaper options.
The ADO bus to get from Tulum Airport to Tulum is only about $11.
It may not be as comfortable as private transportation, but with rates so high it is something to consider if you’re on a tight budget.
Tulum Airport’s Location
Another factor that likely affects the transportation rates at Tulum Airport is the location of the airport.
As mentioned above, it’s close to 30 miles from the actual tourist area of Tulum, located in the municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto.
It takes about 45 minutes for drivers to make that trip, limiting the number of trips that they can make during a work day.
The Difference Between Tulum And Cancun When It Comes To Transportation
You would think that because transportation rates are pretty high at Cancun Airport, too, providers in Cancun pay excessive rates.
The reality is that Cancun transportation providers pay much less.
As of this time last year, their rates were reportedly only a few dollars per trip.
How Busy Is Tulum Airport?
Tulum welcomed its one-millionth passenger in November of last year.
That’s a lot of travelers that need airport transportation.
Unfortunately, the high rates that transportation providers have to pay to operate at Tulum Airport have led some drivers to stop offering service to and from the airport.
This limits the options for the thousands of travelers who fly into the airport.
It’s one more reason why the ADO bus might be a more attractive option for many travelers arriving at Tulum Airport.
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