You’ve made it to the tropical paradise that is Playa del Carmen.
Now you want to get from Playa del Carmen to Tulum safely and comfortably?
You’ve come to the right place. Check out all the options you have for any budget right here.
How To Travel From Playa del Carmen to Tulum?
Playa del Carmen and Tulum are popular beach destinations on the Riviera Maya coast. With countless beaches, activities like swimming in cenotes and delicious food to try – you’re bound to have some fun.
A day trip to Tulum is a popular choice for travelers from Playa del Carmen. The 2 towns are only an hour away from each other. You can visit Akumal Beach and swim with turtles along the way or head straight to Tulum and start getting the boho vibe at a beach club.
Read This Next: How To (Safely) Get From Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen 2021
Option 1: Take a colectivo from Playa del Carmen to Tulum easily
Your cheapest option is to take a colectivo from Playa del Carmen to Tulum. If you aren’t familiar with colectivos (like I was), think of them as shared minivans that travel from one town to another.
- Price: $2 – $3 USD
- Duration: 1 hour and 20-30 minutes
- Type: Shared Public Transport
To take a colectivo, simply head to the designated pick-up spot and you can hop on and hop off at any stop. Depending on their destination, they will have different pick-up spots and you pay at the END of your ride before you get off.
The cost of a colectivo fare from Playa del Carmen to Tulum is around $40-60 pesos ($2-$3 USD) one-way.
Again colectivos are a shared form of transport. You will sit next to strangers just like any public transport and it’s important to know that you might not want to travel with a suitcase on colectivos. They tend to fill up quickly and might not let you in if you have lots of luggage.
Where to catch the colectivo: The colectivo stop from Playa del Carmen to Tulum can be found along the Juarez bridge. The address is this: Calle 2 Nte LB, Centro, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico.
The journey does take a little longer, adding around 30-40 minutes to the 1-hour journey because there are multiple stops along the way. Colectivos start operating from 5am – 11pm. We strongly recommend only riding during daylight for safety reasons.
IMPORTANT: If you know how to speak Spanish – this will be a much easier process.
SAVE this Google Maps listing if you ever plan on traveling from Playa del Carmen to Tulum vía a colectivo: https://goo.gl/maps/WnBMSQaGB9DXPFo77
Option 2: Get on the ADO bus from Playa del Carmen to Tulum
Another great option that is very affordable is taking the popular ADO bus from Playa del Carmen to Tulum. The bus is a good alternative if you don’t feel comfortable taking the colectivo.
- Price: $2.50 – $6 USD
- Duration: 55 minutes
- Type: Shared Public Transport
If you’ve got a bigger suitcase – this option will suit you better than the colectivo. However, the departure times are less frequent and it’s slightly more expensive (but still affordable). This will also be a much more comfortable ride from Playa del Carmen to Tulum.
You don’t need to know much Spanish to buy a ticket and get on the bus – so this is a great option if you’ve just got the basics.
The cost is around $50 pesos to $100 pesos – this can vary depending on how early you book. We recommend booking a few days before your actual trip because things happen and it’s harder to get a refund than a ticket days before.
Where to catch the ADO bus: To take the ADO bus from Playa del Carmen to Tulum, there are 2 bus stations you can go to. The main bus station is on Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue) on the corner of Benito Juarez.
Save the Google Maps listing here: https://g.page/ado-playa-del-carmen-turista?share
Book your ADO bus ticket from Playa del Carmen to Tulum here: https://www.ado.com.mx/
Option 3: Travel from Playa del Carmen to Tulum by Rent a Car
This could be the most expensive option depending on the time of year you rent a car.
The seasons significantly impact the prices in Playa del Carmen and/or Tulum. If you want to make sure you visit during the best time, read this!
- Price: $60 – $200 USD
- Duration: 55 minutes
- Type: Private Transport
We looked at renting a car in September and it was like $30 USD per day which is super affordable! However, we didn’t end up doing our road trip in September 2020 and we went early December and the price doubled!
[RENTALCARS IMAGE HERE]
We paid around $75 per day including insurance. The price is justified because of the freedom it gives you – we visited Chichen Itza, Valladolid and Izamal because we rented a car.
Where to get a rental car: We rented ours from Firefly on 10th Avenida and it was a decent experience. All car rentals have bad reviews on Google so it’s about picking the best of the worst. You can use the app rentalcars.com to secure yours in advance.
Option 4: Hop in a Private Taxi from Playa del Carmen to Tulum
This can be a great option if you’re comfortable with a little negotiation game and paying much more than what public transport costs.
If you can lock in a price you and your taxi driver are happy with – this is a great alternative if you want to be dropped off right at your hotel/Airbnb door and if you have lots of luggage.
- Price: $20 – $40 USD
- Duration: 55 minutes
- Type: Private Transport
Our friend was able to take this option from Playa del Carmen to Tulum directly and she paid $600 pesos ($30 USD). What you pay is directly correlated to what you can negotiate and how willing the driver is to drive all the way.
We don’t recommend hailing a taxi along or near 5th Avenue (Quinta Avenida) – they will charge you a ridiculous price and might be a little rude from our experience.
The best thing to do is walk a couple of blocks away and hail a taxi from there OR ask your Airbnb/hotel for a number to a driver who can take you. The latter is the safest and easiest option.
Pro Tip: Don’t get into the taxi without settling on a fixed price first.
Safety Tip: Send a friend your live location on WhatsApp or iMessage for safety reasons if you choose this option especially if you’re alone. We’ve heard no problems but better safe than sorry!
The Best Way to Get From Playa del Carmen to Tulum – Our Choice
So…which is the best way to get from Playa del Carmen to Tulum considering the price, privacy and safety?
Our choice is…
…ADO bus!
A super affordable option at less than $10 USD and we feel it’s one of the safest options on this list. You can also bring more luggage on and you get a fixed price.
Simply book a ticket online or in-person then show up 30 minutes before your departure time, hop on the bus and enjoy the ride. This is also a great option if you’re a big group and want to travel together.
Whichever option you take to get from Playa del Carmen to Tulum – you are in paradise! We loved our stay in PDC and enjoyed a day trip to Tulum. The Riviera Maya has so much to offer and they have done a great job at making it easy to travel to all the towns along the coast.
Playa del Carmen to Tulum – Frequently Asked Questions
How to get from Playa del Carmen to Tulum?
- Colectivo ($2-$3 USD)
- ADO bus ($6-$10 USD)
- Taxi ($25-40 USD)
- Rental Car ($60-$200 USD)
Can I take an Uber from Playa del Carmen to Tulum?
Unfortunately, no. Uber is not available between those two towns.
How long does it take to get from Playa del Carmen to Tulum?
By car, colectivo or bus – it takes around 55 minutes. By colectivo, it takes around 1 hour and 20-30 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Playa del Carmen to Tulum?
The cheapest option is colectivo ($2-$3 USD) followed by taking the ADO bus ($6-$10 USD).
Should I have travel insurance for going to and from Playa del Carmen and Tulum?
No matter where you travel – travel insurance is always a must if you want to be safe. There are two popular options – World Nomads and Safety Wing. We use Safety Wing and we’re happy with it!
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We want to hear from you…
Which is the best transport option for you? Was the trip to Tulum worth it? Comment below and let us know! We read every response.
