Playa del Carmen to Tulum by bus with ADO

Q: How much is the bus from Playa del Carmen to Tulum?

Fares start from about MX$76; a typical fare is around MX$142. Prices change by date, time and service class, so search your date for the exact fare.

Q: How many buses go from Playa del Carmen to Tulum each day?

ADO and its partner lines run about 42 departures a day on this route. First 00:30 · last 22:07.

Q: Where does the Playa del Carmen to Tulum bus leave from?

Most departures leave from Playa del Carmen Alterna. Your ticket shows the exact terminal.

Q: Does the bus from Playa del Carmen stop at the Tulum ruins?

ADO sells tickets to a Tulum Zona Arqueológica stop on Highway 307 by the ruins access road, separate from the Tulum Centro terminal. Book that stop by name if the ruins are your goal; a ticket to 'Tulum' may only go to the town terminal.

Q: Which bus station in Playa del Carmen has buses to Tulum?

Both ADO terminals do: Terminal Turística at 5th Avenue and Juárez, and Terminal Alterna at 20th Avenue and Calle 12 Norte. Your ticket shows the departure station.

Q: Is the ADO bus better than a colectivo between Playa and Tulum?

Colectivos run often and can drop you anywhere on the highway, such as Akumal or a cenote, but space for luggage is tight. The ADO bus gives you a reserved seat, air conditioning and a luggage hold, which suits travellers moving hotels.

Q: Can I take the Tren Maya between Playa del Carmen and Tulum?

Yes, both towns have Tren Maya stations, but Playa's is about 6 km from the centre and trains run only a few times a day. A shuttle links the Playa station with the ADO Alterna terminal, so many travellers find the bus simpler for this short trip.

About 42 ADO departures a day, fastest trips around 45 min, fares from MX$76.

Next departures are shown below. Pick one to book, or search another date.

Playa del Carmen to Tulum at a glance

Buses per day

About 42 ADO departures

Fastest trip

From around 45 min

Fares

From MX$76

Timetable

First 00:30 · last 22:07

The journey from Playa del Carmen to Tulum

This short hop runs along Highway 307 through the most visited stretch of the Riviera Maya. Between Playa del Carmen and Tulum the road passes Xcaret, Paamul, Puerto Aventuras, Xpu-Ha, Akumal and Xel-Há, with signs for cenotes and beach clubs along the way. The landscape is flat, green jungle with resort entrances; overpasses smooth the busiest junctions at Playa and Puerto Aventuras.

In Playa, buses use Terminal Turística on 5th Avenue or Terminal Alterna on 20th Avenue. In Tulum, many southbound buses first pass the Tulum Zona Arqueológica stop on the highway by the ruins access road before reaching Tulum Centro on Av. Tulum, the main terminal for the town and hotels.

When the buses leave

Morning (5:00–11:59): about 20 a day
Afternoon (12:00–17:59): about 14 a day
Evening (18:00–23:59): about 7 a day
Night (0:00–4:59): about 1 a day

A typical trip takes around 1h 10min; the fastest services take around 45 min. Times and fares come from current ADO timetables for the next 30 days and change by date and service class.

ADO services on this route

ADO: about 26 a day
ADO Aeropuerto: about 14 a day
AU: about 3 a day

ADO is the standard first-class service; ADO GL adds more legroom and extras, and ADO Platino has the widest seats. AU and ADO Aeropuerto cover regional and airport routes.

Sample departure times

00:30, 07:30, 08:30, 09:01, 10:40, 12:30, 13:40, 14:40, 15:45, 16:45, 18:50, 20:25

Departure times vary by day and station. Search your date above to see every bus, seat availability and the exact fare.

Bus stations in Playa del Carmen and Tulum

The terminals most buses on this route use. Check the station printed on your ticket.

Depart from: Playa del Carmen Alterna

Calle 12 Nte
Coordinates: 20.62937, -87.07427
About 20 ADO departures a day on this route

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Depart from: Playa Del Carmen ADO Bus Station

Av Benito Juárez 251
Coordinates: 20.62290, -87.07530
About 19 ADO departures a day on this route

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Arrive at: Tulum ADO Terminal Autobuses

Av. Tulum
Coordinates: 20.21061, -87.46502
About 35 ADO departures a day on this route

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Arrive at: Tulum Ruins

Carretera Tulum - Cancún
Coordinates: 20.21956, -87.43617
About 4 ADO departures a day on this route

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Arriving in Tulum

Southbound travellers come for the Maya ruins of Tulum on cliffs above the Caribbean, best seen right after opening before tour groups arrive. Beyond the ruins are cenotes such as Gran Cenote and Calavera close to town, beaches like Playa Paraíso and Playa Santa Fe, and boat or kayak trips into the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of lagoons and mangroves just south of town.

Tips for the Playa del Carmen–Tulum bus

Tip 1

Going to the ruins only? Book the Tulum Zona Arqueológica stop rather than Tulum Centro; from the highway it is a flat walk of roughly a mile to the site entrance.

Tip 2

Staying in Tulum town or the beach hotels? Ride to Tulum Centro on Av. Tulum and take a taxi or colectivo from there, as the beach zone is not walkable with luggage.

Tip 3

From Playa, check whether your bus leaves from Terminal Turística (5th Avenue) or Terminal Alterna (20th Avenue); they are several blocks apart.

Tip 4

Bring cash in pesos for taxis and park entrances on arrival in Tulum; drivers may charge more if you pay in dollars.

Other ways to travel

Frequent colectivos link Playa (Calle 2 near 20th Avenue) and Tulum (near the ADO terminal) and are handy for stops along the coast, while the Tren Maya connects both towns from stations away from the centres. The ADO bus is the better choice when you have luggage, want a guaranteed seat, or want to be dropped at the ruins or the town terminal.

Playa del Carmen to Tulum bus: FAQ

How long is the bus from Playa del Carmen to Tulum?

Most ADO buses take around 1h 10min, and the fastest take around 45 min, depending on the service and stops.

How much is the bus from Playa del Carmen to Tulum?

How many buses go from Playa del Carmen to Tulum each day?

Where does the Playa del Carmen to Tulum bus leave from?

Does the bus from Playa del Carmen stop at the Tulum ruins?

Which bus station in Playa del Carmen has buses to Tulum?

Is the ADO bus better than a colectivo between Playa and Tulum?

Can I take the Tren Maya between Playa del Carmen and Tulum?

Return trip and related routes

Tulum to Playa del Carmen

ADO bus route

Bacalar to Tulum

ADO bus route

Cancún to Tulum

ADO bus route

See route

Playa del Carmen to Cancún

ADO bus route

Playa del Carmen to Mérida

ADO bus route

Tulum to Bacalar

ADO bus route

Tulum to Cancún

ADO bus route

Valladolid to Tulum

ADO bus route

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