Mexico’s Caribbean coast runs south from Cancún past Playa del Carmen to Tulum, all in the state of Quintana Roo. Most visitors fly into Cancún: see our Cancún airport guide.
Getting down the coast
ADO buses. ADO runs buses from Cancún airport and downtown Cancún to Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Buy tickets online, in the ADO app or at the terminal.
Tren Maya. The train stops at Cancún Aeropuerto, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Tulum Aeropuerto, the station for Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport. Tickets are sold on the official booking site.
By road. The Tulum ruins are at km 230 of Federal Highway 307, about 128 km south of Cancún.
How far is Tulum from Cancún?
The Tulum ruins are about 128 km south of Cancún, at km 230 of Federal Highway 307.
The Tulum ruins
The archaeological zone of Tulum, run by the national institute INAH, is open from 8:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 15:30. It stands inside the Jaguar Park (Parque del Jaguar), a protected area of 2,913 hectares that charges its own entry on top of the site’s ticket.
When are the Tulum ruins open?
From 8:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 15:30. They stand inside the Jaguar Park, which charges its own entry on top of the site’s ticket.
Beaches and weather
Rip currents are common on Mexico’s beaches and cause several drownings each year. Beaches are not always supervised and many have no warning flags, so swim where lifeguards are on duty. Hurricane season on the Caribbean coast runs from early June to the end of November.
Is it safe to swim on the beaches?
Rip currents are common and cause several drownings each year, and many beaches have no warning flags or lifeguards. Swim where lifeguards are on duty.
When is hurricane season?
On the Caribbean coast, from early June to the end of November.
Signal along the coast
Telcel switched on 5G in Cancún in December 2022. Phones generally work in the major cities, but the network is not reliable in rural areas, so download maps before you leave the towns. The Mexico eSIM roams on a Mexican partner network: turn on data roaming for its line only (switch it on after landing).
Good to know
- VISITAX. Every foreign tourist in Quintana Roo pays the state’s visitor fee, children included, online at visitax.gob.mx.
- Time. Quintana Roo is on UTC-5 all year, with no daylight saving time.
- Emergencies. Call 911 for emergency help.
