How To Get From Mexico City to Tulum: COMPLETE Guide (2023)

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How to get from Mexico City to Tulum (or the other way round) safely, easily and cheaply. This post explains the most common backpacker ways to travel between Mexico City and Tulum.

Looking at how to get from Mexico City to Tulum? You’re in the right place!

I know all of the information online may seem overwhelming. Do I need to fly? Is there a bus? Are the buses in Mexico safe? It takes how many hours?!

Don’t worry, I’ve been there. When backpacking, I find planning how to get to and from places the most tedious part of the trip. That’s why I’ve written this blog post to make it all plain sailing when travelling from Mexico City to Tulum.

Note this post is written for budget backpackers, digital nomads and travellers wanting to easily and cheaply get around Mexico.

So, let’s discuss the best ways to get from Mexico City to Tulum, so you can have the most stress-free trip possible!

Other Mexico posts you might like…

• How To Get From Oaxaca To Mexico City (2023 Guide)
• BEST Hostels in Tulum for Backpackers! (2023 Guide)
• Renting a Car in Puerto Escondido (Mexico) as a UK Resident (2023)

How to get from Mexico City to Tulum: A Summary

There are a few different ways to get from Mexico City to Tulum, and the mode of transport you choose will depend on your budget and how much time you have.

In summary, there are five ways backpackers get from Mexico City to Tulum. They are:

• Fly to Cancun, and then get the bus
• Fly to Cancun, and then hire a car
• Fly to Cancun, then board a shared shuttle bus
• Drive
• Bus

Is there a direct flight from Mexico City to Tulum? No, there is no airport in Tulum, and the closest airport is Cancun. Therefore you will need to travel to Cancun first, then make your way down to Tulum.

The most common option for backpackers is to fly, and then get the ADO bus. ADO buses are one of the safest, easiest and cheapest ways to travel around Mexico, and I highly recommend using them if you’re backpacking. But more on ADO buses later!

1. Flight and bus

This is the most popular way to travel from Mexico City to Tulum as a backpacker. It’s time and budget efficient, and is a common, safe and easy way to travel between the two areas.

Book your flight from Mexico City to Cancun in the morning. This means you can still board an ADO bus to Tulum on the same day (unless you want to spend some time in Cancun).

THE FLIGHT ✈️

Flying from Mexico City to Cancun is easy, and the flight time is roughly 2 hours and 15 minutes. Average flight prices range between £70-100, depending on the time of year and time of booking. Note that Mexico City is quite a large airport, so add extra time to find your gate.

Want cheaper flights? I always use this flight comparison site to guarantee I have the lowest priced flights around! Try it yourself here.

THE BUS 🚌

The bus from Cancun to Tulum takes around 2 hours and 40 minutes, and they run frequently throughout the day (check dates and times here). You can find bus tickets for as low as £12 ($13) if you book far enough in advance, or grab some last-minute tickets!

I am a HUGE advocate for bus travel in Mexico, as we experienced modern, clean and safe buses all over the country. If you’re looking for exact prices and availability, check out the Busbud website here.

HEADS UP: I recommend booking your buses in advance. We had the unfortunate situation of leaving it to the last minute, and we were left sitting on opposite ends of the bus overnight. This wasn’t pleasant! Seats go fast, as it’s the way most backpackers travel around the country. If you book with Busbud, you’ll get your PDF ticket sent straight to your phone (so you don’t have to lurk around the ticket office in the grubby bus stations).

2. Flight and hire car

Another great way to travel from Mexico City to Tulum is by flying to Cancun, then hiring a car yourself. The drive between Cancun and Tulum is easy and straightforward (and the majority of the journey is on one main road) so it will save you time in the long run.

When driving between Cancun and Tulum, it’s 131km and will take about 2 hours (without stopping). If you have the time to stop off, Playa Del Carmen is in the middle of Cancun and Tulum and is a great beach and party town for backpackers and digital noamds.

Worried about driving in Mexico? Don’t be! We hired cars all over Mexico and got used to driving on the other side of the road pretty quickly. If you’re looking to hire a car in Mexico, check out my driving guides for tips first:

• Renting a Car in Oaxaca as a UK Resident: FULL Guide (2023)
• Renting a Car in Puerto Escondido (Mexico) as a UK Resident (2023)

3. Flight and shared shuttle

If you’re travelling in a small group, or don’t want to get the bus or drive yourself, there is the option to travel in a shared shuttle bus from Cancun to Tulum. This is a smaller minibus with around 12 seats, which can be shared with either people you know, or other people at the airport who are travelling from Cancun to Tulum.

Book your flight from Mexico City to Cancun in the morning. This means you can board the shared shuttle in the afternoon, and still arrive in Tulum whilst it’s daytime.

Pre-booking a private shuttle means you can skip the hassle of the ADO bus (still for a backpacker-friendly price). This specific service runs 24 hours a day, and greets you at the airport to take you directly to your Tulum accommodation. If needed, you can even book a return trip back to Cancun Airport.

4. Drive

Mexico City and Tulum aren’t close. In fact, they’re over 1500km apart! If you’re going to drive the entire way from Mexico City to Tulum, you will need some locations to stop at en route.

Depending on the route you take between Mexico City and Tulum, some of the best locations to stop off are:

• Tabasco: full of culture and Mexican traditions
• Palenque: a great base for exploring ancient ruins and jungle
• Bacalar: home to some of the bluest lakes in Mexico

Ideally, spend at least one or two nights in your stop-off locations. Enjoy the country and don’t rush distances. Doing too much travel all at once can be overwhelming, so go slow and enjoy everything Mexico has to offer!

If you’re backpacking, I highly recommend booking hostels for the duration of your stay in Mexico. They’re cheap, safe and always in the best locations. You can view hostels around Mexico here.

5. Bus

There is a bus that starts in Mexico City and travels to Tulum, however, it takes over a day to reach! This is a long bus journey, and unless you have no choice, I don’t recommend it.

If you have the luxury of time on your side, I recommend some stops along the way. There are some incredible towns and cities in between Mexico City and Tulum, so it’s a great way to see some more of the country.

Depending on the route you take between Mexico City and Tulum, some of the best locations to stop off are:

• Tabasco: full of culture and Mexican traditions
• Palenque and more of Chiapas: a great base for exploring ancient ruins and jungle
• Bacalar: home to some of the bluest lakes in Mexico.

Can I fly from Mexico City to Tulum?

No, as there is no airport in Tulum. You will need to fly to Cancun (the closest airport) and then either get a bus, shuttle or rental car for the rest of your journey.

How far is Tulum from Mexico City by plane?

There is no direct flight from Mexico City to Tulum, as Tulum does not have its own aiprort. You will need to fly into Cancun (the closest airport) and then either get a bus, shuttle or rental car for the rest of your journey.

Is it better to stay in Cancun or Tulum?

This is down to personal preference. Both Cancun and Tulum are popular with tourists, and backpackers tend to spend time in both locations.

Cancun has white sandy beaches with clear, turquoise waters, with the opportunity to swim with whale sharks and scuba dive in some of the most pristine Carribbean seas. Cancun is popular with American and British tourists, so there are many 5* resorts, restaurants and bars catering to this audience. If you want a wild night out, head to Cancun!

Tulum has a more boho, upmarket feel to it. It’s again one of the main areas in Mexico for tourists, but it attracts a tamer crowd. Yes, you can have a wild night out in Tulum too, but it’s more popular with backpacker’s who want to lounge at a beach club and swim in cenotes.

If you have the luxury of time, I recommend visiting both. They’re different to each other, and both are worth seeing. Stay in Cancun for 2-3 nights, and Tulum for 2-3 nights for a good experience of both especially if you want to do any tours or trips.

Is Tulum worth visiting?

This depends. Tulum is perfect for tourists who enjoy long, lazy beach days, dining in beach clubs and high-end restaurants. If you’re on a tight backpacker budget, Tulum might not be the best place to visit.

We preferred Tulum town over Tulum beach, as it was more reasonable priced, and had more of an authentic Mexican feel to it. Most of the beach has been gentrified, and is full of modern, high-end beach clubs with expensive food and drink.

In my opinion, there are much nicer and more authentic places in Mexico to visit than Tulum, but everyone has their preferences.

How many days in Tulum is enough?

If you’re visiting Tulum as a backpacker, 2-3 days is enough. This gives you enough time to see Tulum beach and Tulum town, as well as head out to swim in some cenotes and lagoons.

I highly recommend visiting Sian Ka’an after staying in Tulum (especially if you want a break from the crowds). It’s a 3-hour drive south, but it’s one of the most beautiful and untouched locations we visited in the whole of Mexico. You can read more about it here: How to Visit Sian Ka’an WITHOUT A Tour: Ultimate Guide! (2023)

Looking for an epic Tulum day trip? We loved the Kaan Luum Lagoon, be sure to check it out!

Where to stay in Tulum as a backpacker

HEADS UP! If you want an in-depth guide about the best hostels in Tulum, check out my post: BEST Hostels in Tulum for Backpackers! (2023 Guide).

If you’re going to be in Tulum as a backpacker, I recommend the following places to stay:

• Lum: the overall best backpacker hostel in Tulum for its atmosphere, location and amenities.
• Mayan Monkey: for solo backpackers and digital nomads wanting to be close to Tulum town
• Straw Hat: for backpackers who want to party!

It’s important to know that Tulum is split into two main areas; Tulum town (aka downtown), and Tulum beach (aka hotel zone). Most hostels in Tulum are situated in Tulum town. You can find out more about Tulum and its specific areas here.

Best travel insurance for backpackers in Mexico

If you’re visiting Mexico as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.

Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.

I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.

If you need medical help at any point whilst in Mexico, you need travel insurance.

With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)

Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Mexico. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!

If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!

How to get from Mexico City to Tulum: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about how to get from Mexico City to Tulum. Hopefully, this helps you to plan your epic backpacking trip around Mexico!

When you’re planning a trip to Mexico, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t come across my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently backpacking Mexico with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Mexico content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

Other Mexico posts:

• BEST Hostels in Tulum for Backpackers! (2023 Guide)
• Kaan Luum Lagoon, Tulum: Complete Guide (2023)
• How to get to Punta Allen from Tulum, Mexico (2023)
• How to Visit Sian Ka’an WITHOUT A Tour: Ultimate Guide! (2023)