Note that there is no Uber in Cancún, or anywhere in Quintana Roo, so that’s not an option.

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How far is Tulum from Cancún?

Tulum is located 131km (around 81 miles) from Cancún. The drive between Cancún and Tulum takes around two hours, depending on traffic.

How to get to Tulum from Cancún airport

Taking an ADO bus

The most budget friendly option to get to Tulum from Cancún airport is taking an ADO bus. The ADO buses aren’t only affordable, they are also convenient, save and reliable. The buses are modern and have A/C as well as USB outlets and usually free wifi. This is my preferred mode of transport when going anywhere in Mexico, including when going to Cancún airport.

The ADO buses go directly to Tulum from terminals 2, 3 and 4. You can see the schedule and purchase tickets here. The price is $340 pesos ($17 USD) for a one way ticket. You can also buy your ticket directly at Cancún airport, but it’s a popular route and occasionally gets sold out. In case these times don’t work for you, another option is to take an ADO bus from the airport to Playa del Carmen, which leave twice an hour. From Playa del Carmen you can then take another bus to Tulum.

A quick tip: If you’re visiting Tulum and are on a budget, this is my favourite hostel in Tulum! It’s very social, has daily activities and free bikes available to guests. Plus it’s very close to the ADO station in Tulum!

Renting a car

Having a car isn’t necessary when visiting Tulum, but of course it gives you the freedom to travel at your own pace. If you are planning to rent a car during your Mexico trip then you can pick it up right at the airport.

Taking a taxi

When taking a taxi from Cancún airport, you’ll need to purchase your ticket before exiting the airport. After clearing customs you will see a taxi booth where you buy your ticket, you will then head out and wait for the taxi driver to come get you. I honestly wouldn’t recommend taking a taxi unless you’re arriving late at night when the ADO buses have stopped running. Taxis at Cancún airport are really overpriced and will try to rip you off. If you’re arriving late, I’d look into private transport or a shared shuttle instead of getting a taxi.

Private transfer

For those that want the luxury of having a driver waiting for them at the airport and driving them directly to their accommodation, private transfer is the way to go. Getting a private transfer doesn’t really make sense unless you’re traveling with a few other people as it’s quite expensive. But if you are traveling with a few people, private transfer might come to about the same price per person as the ADO bus, so it’s worth checking.

Book your private transport from Cancún Airport here

How to get to Tulum from downtown Cancún or Playa del Carmen

If you are already in Cancún or Playa del Carmen and are looking to get to Tulum, you have a few transportation options. A colectivo is the cheapest option but a bit more hassle than the ADO buses. If you aren’t on a tight budget, I’d recommend taking the ADO bus.

Taking an ADO bus

The ADO buses are a safe, affordable and reliable way to move around Mexico. Taking an ADO bus to Tulum from downtown Cancún or Playa del Carmen is what I’d recommend to those traveling on a budget. Tickets cost $218 pesos ($11 USD) from Cancún and $108 pesos (5 USD) from Playa del Carmen. You can buy tickets directly at the bus station, but I’d recommend purchasing them in advance either through the ADO website or through their app.

The ADO bus station in Cancún is located here. There are two ADO bus station in Playa del Carmen, Playa del Carmen turística and Playa del Carmen alterna. There is no difference between the two stations, just pick whichever is in a more convenient location for you.

Taking a colectivo

Colectivos are shared mini vans, they are less spacious and not as comfortable as the ADO buses, but are cheaper. If you have a lot of luggage I wouldn’t recommend this option as they might not have space for it.

Taking a colectivo from Cancún to Tulum will require a stop in Playa del Carmen, where you’ll get off and take another colectivo from there to Tulum. The journey will cost around $100 pesos ($5USD) and can only be paid in cash. Try to have the exact amount as they don’t carry a lot of change. The colectivos depart from next the ADO bus station in Cancún, on Avenida Tulum. The colectivo stops close the ADO station in Tulum.

To take a colectivo from Playa del Carmen to Tulum, you’ll have to make your way to under Highway 307, here, to be exact. You will see white mini buses and it’s likely you’ll hear someone yelling “Tulum, Tulum“. This is where you’ll get on the colectivo. The trip will cost around $45 pesos ($2.25 USD). Try to have the exact amount as they don’t carry a lot of change.

Renting a car

You can get from downtown Cancún or Playa del Carmen to Tulum by renting a car. The drive will take around 1.5 hours from Cancún and around an hour from Playa del Carmen. I’d recommend using rentalcars.com to compare prices between all major car rentals to make sure you get the best deal!

Taking a taxi

One way to get to Tulum from downtown Cancún or Playa del Carmen is to take a taxi. You can expect to pay anything from $75 to $12USD for a taxi from Cancún to Tulum, and around $35USD from Playa del Carmen. However, note that taxi drivers around Quintana Roo are known to do their very best to rip off tourists, so it’s entirely possible you will be quoted a higher price. Always make sure to negotiate the fare before getting into the taxi, or else they’ll charge you whatever they want when you arrive!

I hope you found this post helpful. If you want to get notified when I publish new blog posts, just click the red bell in the bottom right corner or follow me on Instagram where I usually announce new posts :))

If you are planning a trip to Mexico, you might also want to check out:

• How much you can expect to spend per day in Mexico
• Five must visit places in Mexico
• Four day Tulum itinerary
• Visiting Izamal: The yellow city in Mexico
• Where to eat in Bacalar
• Your guide to visiting Isla Mujeres
• 10 Things to do in Mexico City
• San Cristóbal de las Casas Travel Guide
• Best cafés to work from in Cancún
• How to get from San Cristóbal to Guatemala

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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

Best time of the year to visit Izamal

Like with the rest of the Yucatán peninsula, the best time for visiting Izamal the yellow city is during the dry season, from late November through April. During these months the weather is cooler, drier and less humid than during the more humid rainy season. It’s worth noting that it can get unpleasantly hot in Izamal during March and April. So for those that prefer slightly lower temperatures, the months of November, December and January might be the best time to visit. The average temperatures during those months ranges around 25°C (77°F).

How much time do you need In Izamal

Izamal is small, so you’ll only need a couple of hours to see the main points of interest. A day trip should give you enough time to explore Izamal. However, if you have time and want spend the night there, here are your accommodation options.

I visited Izamal on a day trip from Mérida, where I stayed at Casa Continental which I can highly recommend! I did quite a bit of research on accommodations in Mérida before choosing this one, and it did not disappoint. Amazing value for money, comfy beds, A/C, helpful staff and it’s also very close to two great cafés – Baretto and Latte Quatro Sette.

Things to know before visiting Izamal

Although visiting the yellow city Izamal is fairly straight forward, there are a few things you should keep in mind. To start with, it can get very hot in the middle of the day, so I’d recommend trying to get there early in the day so that you can explore before it gets too hot. Ideally, you’d want to sit down somewhere to eat during the hottest time of the day. Note that not many restaurants in Izamal seem to have A/C. If you find yourself in a desperate need of cooling down (which I did multiple times during the day haha) the only place I found with A/C was the Oxxo supermarket. Truly a lifesaver. I visited in late April and it was very very hot.

Another thing to keep in mind when visiting Izamal is that there aren’t too many attractions, so don’t expect there to be a long list of things to do and see. Visiting Izamal is mostly about wandering through the colonial streets and admiring all the fascinating yellow buildings. On that note, visiting izamal is bound to include a lot of walking, so wear comfy shoes!

Why is Izamal yellow?

When I first heard of Izamal, I immediately started wondering why the entire city was painted in yellow. The answer is apparently not clear. A popular theory is that it was painted in preparation for Pope John Paul’s II visit to Izamal in 1993, in the same colours as the Vatican flag – yellow and white. However, it has been reported that Izamal was already yellow before that time.

The other theory is that Izamal was painted in yellow to honour the god of the sun. Given that here is a pyramid in the middle of Izamal honouring this god, this theory is perhaps more probable.

How to get to Izamal

Getting to Izamal can be done by public buses, colectivos, organized tours or by renting a car. Depending on where you’re visiting from, public buses or colectivos are usually the best options. When visiting Izamal from Mérida, the best option is to take a public bus from the company Oriente. The journey takes just over one and a half hour, the buses depart from Terminal de Autobuses Noreste, located on the corner of Calle 67 y 65, click here for the Google Maps location. Tickets are sold at the terminal and cost 35 pesos each way. Here are the options you have to get to Izamal:

• Public bus: taking a public bus to Izamal is very efficient and affordable, especially when visiting from Mérida or Valladolid.
• Renting a car: is a good option if you plan to explore more of the Yucatán peninsula. However, I wouldn’t recommend renting a car for one day just to drive to Izamal, it’s just not worth the hassle in my opinion. Taking a bus would be so much easier.
• Colectivo: A colectivo is a shared van, often referred to in Central America as chicken bus. Colectivos have no fixed schedule, instead they leave whenever they fill up. Normally they fill up in just 10-15 minutes, but it can take longer. Prices are about the same as for public buses, 30-40 pesos (1.5-2 USD). Colectivos will take longer than the buses as they stop every time someone wants to get off or get on, so I’d recommend taking a public bus instead.
• Organized tour: There are plenty of tour companies throughout the Yucatán peninsula that offer trips to Izamal. Typically, these day trips include transportation, usually in a mini van, sometimes a lunch as well as often including a visit to one or two cenotes. These trips are booked directly from the tour operators, normally a day or two in advance.
• Private tour: if you are traveling with a group and want to make your trip to Izamal as easy as possible, a private tour would be something worth checking out. Being picked up and dropped off directly at your accommodation and being able to customize the trip to your preferences is of course very convenient. However, it wouldn’t really make sense price-wise unless split between a few people.

Things to see in Izamal

Although the best thing to do in Izamal is simply to wander around and admire all the yellow buildings, there are a few things you shouldn’t miss.

Convento de San Antonio de Padua

Founded in 1549, Convento de San Antonio is undoubtedly the the symbol of Izamal. Once a center for worship of supreme Mayan god of sun, this impressive building is now a Franciscan Monastery and it’s certainly one you can’t miss when visiting the yellow city of Izamal. Convento de San Antonio was built on top of an ancient Maya pyramid known as Pop-hol-Chac. The pyramid was destroyed and its stones were used to build this catholic temple. You are bound to be fascinated by the massive courtyard, which is actually the second largest closed atrium in the world. You should know that there is no entrance fee to enter the Convento de San Antonio.

Parque Itzamna

Parque Itzamna is the main square in Izamal, located in front of the Convento de San Antonio. It’s a beautiful place to sit down and perhaps grab the famous Mexican marquesitas, from one of the street vendors. This is also where you’ll find a colourful sign spelling out the city’s name.

Kinich Kak Moo

Another important attraction in Izamal is the mayan pyramid Kinich Kak Moo. Located just three blocks away from the Convento de San Antonio, it’s the largest pyramid in Yucatán and the third one in Mexico. The pyramid is named after the sun god and was one of the most important temples in pre-Columbian times. It’s one of the few pyramids that is still allowed to climb, probably because it hasn’t become as crowded as more famous Mayan sites such as Chichen Itza. From the top you have panoramic views of Izamal and surrounding areas. Entrance to Kinich Kak Moo is free of charge.

Izamal Centro

Izamal Centro, or downtown Izamal, is the most beautiful part of the city. This is where you’ll find most of the picturesque streets as well as the most important places to see. The further you get from the center, the less cute the streets tend to be – and you might even spot a house that’s not yellow!

Mercado de Izamal

Mercado de Izamal is a typical Mexican market where you can try local tacos, exotic fruits and vegetables, or pick up some souvenirs. Here you can get a feel for the daily life in Mexico as you will see a lot of locals doing their daily shopping. On the weekends there is sometimes live music going on.

Where to eat in Izamal

You will find that most restaurants focus on traditional Yucatán cuisine, so a visit to Izamal is a perfect opportunity to try the delicious local cuisine.

• Kinich restaurant: Arguably the most famous restaurant in Izamal. An upscale restaurant with open-air seating, serving traditional Yucatán style food.
• Hun Pic Tok: A small cafeteria located in a beautiful quiet courtyard with outdoor seating. They have fresh juices and coffee as well as some local dishes.
• Loncheria y Antojitos La Guadalupana: A real Mexican place with a variety of local food at local prices! Great option for those wanting to eat where the locals eat at very affordable prices

I hope you found this post helpful and that you feel more prepared for visiting Izamal the yellow city. If you want to get notified when I publish new blog posts, just click the red bell in the bottom right corner or follow me on Instagram where I usually announce new posts :))

If you are planning a trip to Mexico, you might also want to check out:

• Four day Tulum Itinerary: Things to do in Tulum
• Five must visit places in Mexico
• How much you can expect to spend per day in Mexico
• Where to eat in Bacalar
• Your guide to visiting Isla Mujeres
• 10 Things to do in Mexico City
• San Cristóbal de las Casas Travel Guide
• Best cafés to work from in Cancún
• How to get from San Cristóbal to Guatemala

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