How to get from Valladolid to Tulum
Known for its beautiful Caribbean beaches and surrounding nature, Tulum is a great place to base yourself in.
We can easily reach many worthwhile sites with a short colectivo ride, including the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, various cenotes as well as the surrounding jungle.
The town also has a nice vibe going for it, and we can easily rent bikes to head around and see numerous gems (such as Playa Paraíso and the Mystika Immersive Museum).
Valladolid to Tulum
In this guide we’ll explore some of the most popular ways of getting from Valladolid to Tulum. We’ll also take a look at where to stay as well as some other tips based on our time spent here.
Tulum Quick Summary:
- 📍 Where is it: Southern Mexico
- 🗺 Difficulty Getting There: Very Easy
- ⏱ Time needed: 4+ days
- ☀️ Best Time to Visit: January/February
Where is Tulum?
Tulum is located within the popular region of Quintana Roo, which is in the south-east of Mexico.
Getting here is really easy, and that’s despite the fact that Tulum doesn’t have its own airport. Instead you can fly into Cancún’s international airport (which welcomes dozens of flights daily), and then take the two hour bus south.
There’s also buses connecting Tulum with many other destinations (including Valladolid, which we’ll take a look at later).
The climate is hot year-round in Tulum, making it ideal for beach visits pretty much anytime. The wet season of course is less popular (which runs from May until October), however even then the heavy showers tend to be short-lasting.
Is Tulum worth visiting from Valladolid?
Whilst the town of Tulum itself certainly does divide opinion, it’s hard to argue with the fact that there’s tonnes to see in the nearby region.
Tulum Ruins remains one of the most incredible beach-side archaeological sites in Mexico, and the Dos Ojos Cenote is also perfect for snorkeling.
We would recommend spending several days here where you can easily visit each of these sites with plenty of time. If you find you’re in a rush, then we instead recommend joining this all-inclusive day tour where you’ll visit both Tulum Ruins as well as the ancient site of Coba.
In terms of the logistics-side getting from Valladolid to Tulum, we’ll find it’s pretty straightforward. It’s just a 3 hour ride here, with multiple methods of making the journey (which we’ll explore shortly).
Once in Tulum, it’s then pretty easy to reach smaller towns using local colectivos, such as Akumal and Puerto Aventuras.
How far is Tulum from Valladolid?
Tulum is located roughly 103 km south-east of Valladolid.
This distance can be driven in as little as an hour and a half, making it easy to travel (and also a worthy day trip for those who are shorter on time).
If you’ve rented a car then this is really ideal, since you can leave whenever you want and lose little day-time on the road. Those using public transportation will also find plenty of options, which we’ll cover later in this guide.
Where to stay in Tulum?
Tulum is a relatively small town, and is also pretty safe too. This means you can stay pretty much anywhere, although we personally recommend sticking close to the heart of the town (where the 307 highway cuts through) as well as by Playa Paraíso.
If you’re looking to stick to a low budget, then you’ll want to stay at the Straw Hat Hostel. Here you’ll be right in the heart of town, which has its own private swimming pool and rooftop bar to enjoy.
There’s also plenty of great mid-range options for those who want more privacy without breaking the bank. The Hotel Stella Maris is a great choice, where you’ll be staying in a deluxe private room.
This hotel also features an on-site swimming pool. Those who are after a more luxurious experience will want to stay at Punta Piedra Beach Posada.
Located on a private beach just outside of Tulum, here you can enjoy a stay in a beautiful private cabin. As well as having their own swimming pool, you’ll also have breakfast included in the daily rate.
Have you got travel insurance for Tulum?
How to get from Valladolid to Tulum
As with most other routes through the Riviera Maya, getting from Tulum to Valladolid is very simple. Through our experience and research we’ve found 3 main ways of making the trip (at this time of writing).
ADO Bus from Valladolid to Tulum
ADO is one of the best bus providers you can use in this region. Not only are they cheap, however the bus quality is also very good.
They leave Valladolid almost each hour throughout the day, and take just under 3 hours to arrive in Tulum. The price of a bus ticket is roughly $13.
As well as the other benefits listed above, we also highly recommend ADO as they are almost always on-time and don’t face many delays.
Car Rental from Valladolid to Tulum
Another way of making this journey is by renting your own car, which is best for those who want complete freedom and independence.
In Valladolid there are many rental companies that offer a range of vehicles, and rates begin from around $10 a day.
Driving is one of the quickest ways of getting from Valladolid to Tulum, which takes around 1.5 hours. You’ll use the 180 and 109 roads that connect the two, and can safely make the trip anytime of the day.
Private Transport from Valladolid to Tulum
Those who want the least hassle will want to use taxis to get from Valladolid to Tulum.
They take around 1.5 hours to get there, and can be safely hailed from anywhere in Valladolid (although we recommend pre-booking with a reputable company – you can ask your accommodation for their recommendations).
As you can imagine this option is the most expensive of the lot. A taxi from Valladolid to Tulum will cost around $100, so we would recommend it more for those in bigger groups to split the cost.
Getting from Valladolid to Tulum
And that’s all for this guide on how to get from Valladolid to Tulum.
Tulum is a fantastic addition to any backpacking itinerary around Southern Mexico, where we can enjoy ancient archaeological sites, relax on Caribbean beaches as well as visit many iconic cenotes.
In this guide we’ve explored how to get from Valladolid to Tulum, as well as where to stay and what to do.
Be sure to read our Backpacking Riviera Maya Itinerary to see which other places are a must-visit when here.
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