US airlines are eager to launch nonstop flights to the boho-chic destination of Tulum.
For some context it is Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador inaugurated Tulum’s first international airport (TQO) on December 1, 2023. Since then, the airport has been operating domestic flights via VivaAerobus and Aeromexico.
This brand new transportation hub is designed to handle more than 5.5 million travelers per year.
For those ready to book their flights to this Caribbean resort, here is some important information to keep on hand.
Direct US flights starting this month
American travelers may be wondering which cities they can fly from to visit the intriguing Mayan ruins and extraordinary cenotes of Tulum. Here you have the list.
Starting 28th of March, US airlines will operate twice-daily outbound flights from Charlotte, Miami and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Delta Airlines will also offer a daily flight from Atlanta 28th of March.
Starting March 31st, United will begin offering daily nonstop flights to Tulum from Newark, Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago O’Hare. This airline will also offer more flights to other Mexican destinations, such as Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del Cabo.
Spit was another US airline that planned to start flights from Orlando and Fort Lauderdale on March 28, but the company postponed it.
JetBlue has confirmed it will offer travel from New York’s John F. Kennedy starting today June. The exact date is yet to be announced.
Other international flights to Tulum from 2024
Other flights from Canada, Europe and Central America will also start soon.
Air Canada will offer outbound flights to Tulum from Toronto and Montreal 3rd of May.
Discover airlines has announced that it will now offer two weekly flights from Frankfurt to Tulum December 12, 2024. This is the first European airline to offer non-stop flights to Tulum.
Mexico is reportedly in talks with Switzerland and Spain to launch flights to Tulum.
Of Copa AirlinesPanama is another destination planning to launch flights to Tulum in the coming months.
Controversy over transportation rates at Tulum airport
Tulum International Airport is increasingly recognized for being environmentally friendly and having a low carbon footprint.
It has also made headlines for its confrontation with the majestic Mexican jungle.
Which you probably don’t know is that it is not exactly in Tulum. And here the problem begins.
The airport is located 20 miles southwest of Tulum, which is about an hour’s drive to the city, or 80 miles from Cancun, which is just over a two-hour drive.
Once you leave the airport, you will need to choose one of the available means of transportation to get to Tulum or nearby towns.
Visitors can choose to take taxis, the ADO bus or rent a private car.
The problem, according to the president of the Tulum Hotel Association, David Ortiz, is that a transfer from the airport to the city of Tulum is more expensive then do a similar route in Paris, France.
The origin of this madness lies in the fact that the airport administration charges taxi and bus drivers more than 48 dollars just to enter the premises to pick up a passenger.
In contrast, Cancun airport charges drivers just $1.72 for each service.
But is it that bad? How much are you expected to pay for the transfer from the airport to Tulum or other neighboring cities?
Unfortunately that is the case. Be mentally prepared to pay more than $107 for a private car or even $263 for a private SUV.
If you go to Playa del Carme, you will come back $216 for a private car and whopping $499 for an SUV.
To reach the nearest destination, Akumal, it will take you between 1.50 and 3.5 hours $117 And $291.
If you plan to visit Bacalar, prepare for a payout of up to $593! According to reports, that is more expensive than the plane ticket itself.
Happy, you still have two options to avoid these high costs.
The first is to take the ADO bus, for which you will be charged $10. The downside is that only three rides are offered per day.
The second, and probably the best option, is to rent a car. It may cost you approx $27 per day. Make sure you book it before you land.
