Hello to all you helpful Fodorites. Once again, I need your help. I am going to Tulum this Friday, Feb. 4 and I would like to take a bus from the Cancun airport to Tulum. Has anyone done that lately? Where do I catch the bus at the airport? Should I take a bus from the airport to Playa del Carmen and then take another bus to Tulum? I will arrive Cancun airport (supposedly) at 3:30 p.m. If I take the bus (busses?) when do you think I will arrive in Tulum?
Muchisimas Gracias,
Catalina

I am planning on going from Cozumel to Tulum and on to Coba (and back) by bus the following Friday.

Tips on making conections, etc. would be appreciated.

keith

You can take the bus from the airport to Playa Del Carmen. There is not another bus to Tulum. You can take a taxi or a collectivo. The buses leave the airport at :45 min past the hour give or take a little and you can purchase tickets just as you leave the terminal on the left or at the bus itself. When exiting the terminal go to the right all the way to the end of the building and look for the ADO bus with PDC on the front. The ride takes about 40 min non-stop. Prices are 65 pesos or 7 USD. I do not know the price of the taxi.

There ARE buses that run from Playa del Carmen to Tulum.

Here's a link to more info:

http://www.cancunsouth.com/get_bus_cos.html

attylozano-
Friday's the 3rd - just don't want you to show up to the airport on the wrong day. Happy trails...

Catalina,
He (or she) may have meant that there were no buses from the airport to Tulum but I agree there certainly are buxes from PdC to Tulum. In Mexico there are buses from anywhere to anywhere. It may be one that goes to Chetumal--the end of the coast road in Mexico, but stops in Tulum. It will be listed on the big board at the bus station in any case.

Q...I will arrive Cancun airport (supposedly) at 3:30 p.m. If I take the bus (busses?) when do you think I will arrive in Tulum?

A... That is a busy time, but I think you could count on 40 min. migracion and customs, half hour wait for bus to leave. 45 min. to PdC. Arr. PdC. 20 min. to get off, get luggage, get ticket to Tulum. Half hour waiting for Tulum bus, 50 min. to Tulum. You could be there by seven. Maybe 7:30--Maybe before 7. Just my estimate based upon quite few years of experience in the area. A taxi would be faster but much more expensive.

Buena suerte,
Norm

You also may want to consider renting a car at the airport and driving down to Tulum. It's an easy 90 minute drive, and a car is very handy when in Tulum, as the rooms along the beach road are not withing walking distance of the town.

Thanks to all of you. As usual, you have the answers, in the detail I need. I did mean Friday the 3rd (not the 4th). I am in a bit of a tizzy b/c United cancelled my flight on the 4th (Sat.) I know others whose flights to Cancun have been cancelled this week. I think there are not enough people going to Cancun in the wake of the hurricane, so the airlines are consolidating all their flights into one per day. I have been scrambling to find another flight (I did, but a day earlier) and an additional hotel for Friday night. (I chose Dos Ceibas - any reviews?)

Norbrad393- Thank you for your post. I posted this same question on another topic you had written on- I was hoping you'd see it.
I'm taking the bus. Especially now that I have all the details you all have given me. I saw photos of the Riviera busses on line and they look gorgeous. I prefer busses and my spanish is passable, so I'll be o.k. It should still be daylight at 7:30 p.m., shouldn't it?
Catalina

Maybe not on the daylight thing - Belize isn't very far south of there and, even in the summer, it starts getting dark at 6:00 or so in Belize.

How long would it take to get from PDC to Tulum by taxi? Any idea how much it would cost?
Thanks,
Catalina

ttt

Sorry about the confusion. Yes, that's what I meant...no direct bus to Tulum. At least it would be cheaper than taking a taxi all the way from the airport.
Sue