The New Tulum Airport: The Complete Guide to Mexico’s New Airport

Planning to use the brand-new Tulum Airport? In this post, you will find all you need to know about it.

Hello! I am Isabella and I have lived in Mexico since 2010, precisely in this beautiful area. This is why I think I can help you learn about this new airport and whether you should fly into Tulum or Cancun Airport.

So let’s dig in.

For a long time, if you wanted to visit Tulum or the southern areas of the Riviera Maya, your best option was to fly into Cancun and take a transfer.

Great news – the new Tulum airport is opening for domestic and international flights!

Whether you are a longtime fan of Tulum and the surrounding area, or looking to explore a new area south of Cancun, you will want to learn about how this airport can improve your travel options! 

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Is Tulum Getting an International Airport?

Yes! Construction started in 2022 for the new Tulum International Airport, officially called the Aeropuerto Internacional Felipe Carrillo Puerto.

Since around 2011 there has been talk of building an airport in Tulum to help visitors who want to explore the southern section of the Riviera Maya.

The Tulum airport will give visitors two convenient airport options.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador officially announced the project in 2022, and the airport officially opened on December 1, 2023. 

💡 Is Tulum Airport Open Yet? 

Yes, the Tulum airport officially opened on December 1, 2023.

VivaAerobus was the first commercial airline to land at the new airport on a flight from Felipe Angles Airport- the new Mexico City airport, located north of the city.

Already, VivaAerobus has two flights a day scheduled to fly to the new Tulum airport.

For the time being, the airport only offers domestic travel itineraries.

Currently, Aeromexico, VivaAerobus, and Volaris are planning to offer domestic itineraries that include Tulum. 

The Tulum airport is scheduled to begin serving international flights in late March 2024.

So far several large, international airlines have signed up to offer flights to and from Tulum. 

What is the Easiest Way to Get to Tulum?

In the past, the easiest way to get to Tulum was to fly into Cancun and then take ground transportation to Tulum.

You could book private shuttles, or public buses, or hire a taxi to take you from the Cancun airport to Tulum.

I always use and recommend Cancun Airport Transportation Services which are now operating from Tulum Airport as well, providing a seamless transfer from the airport to your hotel or Airbnb door.

Tulum is about 120 kilometers from Cancun and it usually takes around an hour and a half to get there, depending on traffic. 

Now, with the new Tulum airport, visitors will be much closer to the beaches and downtown area of Tulum.

Like the Cancun airport, the Tulum airport will offer visitors the option of private shuttles, ADO public buses, or car rentals to get to their final destination. 

The best Tulum Airport transportation option

I always recommend using a private transfer to start your vacation from the Airport with a stress-free private service and seamless transportation to your hotel.

I have been using and recommending Cancun airport transportation services which offer transfer from the brand new Tulum airport.

Tulum Airport: Key Features & What to Expect

The Tulum airport has the potential to be a game-changer for visitors to the area. Here is the must-know information about the new airport, and what to expect when you book your flight there:

✈️ Tulum Airport Code 

The Tulum airport code is TQO. Knowing an airport code is helpful when searching for flights, and double-checking that you are buying tickets to the airport you want to go to! 

✈️ Location and Accessibility

Tulum’s new airport is located a bit south of Tulum and 12 miles inland near Felipe Carrillo Puerto on the way to Bacalar.

Along with the construction of the airport, the Mexican government is building a new road that will connect the airport with Highway 307, which is the main highway that travels along the coast of the state of Quintana Roo. 

The Tulum airport was designed to help visitors easily access Tulum and other popular sites along the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Visitors who fly into Tulum and want to explore Bacalar, Mahajual, and the jungle and cenotes in this area will save travel time compared to those who fly into the Cancun airport. 

Similar to the Cancun airport, the Tulum airport will offer visitors many different transportation options including private shuttle services, taxis, ADO public buses, and car rentals. 

✈️ Runway and Terminal Facilities

The Mexican Army Corps of Engineers is building the new state-of-the-art Tulum airport.

It will have a 3,700-meter-long runway as well as a Category 1 Instrument Landing System, which means the airport has high-tech equipment that can help large airplanes have a precise approach to the airport and land planes in bad weather. 

Not only will the airport be an important advance for tourism in the area, it will also be used by the military.

They will use the airport to strengthen security and use it as a base to respond to any natural disasters, such as forest fires or hurricanes. 

The airport terminal will have 13 gates that will support domestic as well as international flights.

There will also be a platform that will accommodate general and executive aircraft.

The airport plan also includes an airplane hangar with 12 spaces for private jets! 

✈️ Estimated Capacity

The Tulum airport is expected to be the second busiest airport in the area, behind Cancun.

Mexican authorities estimate that the airport will serve up to 5.5 million passengers a year and up to 32,000 flights!

This will help reduce the high demand on the Cancun airport, which handles around 26 million passengers a year.

Cancun is second to the Mexico City airport, which is the busiest airport in all of Latin America. 

Not only will the new Tulum airport draw visitors from all over, it will also create many jobs.

The Mexican government estimates that once the airport is working at the estimated capacity, it will need to employ up to 15,000 people! 

The Need for Tulum International Airport

There was talk of building a new airport in Tulum for over 20 years. As with all major government projects, getting the project approved, built, and operational takes time.

Here are the reasons why the new airport was needed:

✔️ Growing Tourism and Transportation Demands

In 1974 the Cancun airport and first hotel in the famous hotel zone opened.

Since then the area has exploded, with the construction of countless hotels and attractions.

It did not take long for adventurous travelers to start heading south from Cancun to explore Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum.

Today the different areas all have something unique to offer guests; whether they want the amazing amenities of resorts in Cancun or the laid-back beach vibes in Tulum. 

Today Cancun and the Riviera Maya receive well over 30 million travelers a year, many using the Cancun airport. From there they travel all over the region.

The Tulum airport will cut down on travel time for visitors who want to travel to the southern area of the Riviera Maya. 

✔️ Existing Airports and Their Limitations

If you have ever traveled to Cancun in high season, you know that the airport is busy!

Despite servicing a huge number of visitors each day, the airport is generally efficient, easy to navigate, and pleasant for visitors.

For visitors who want to go to Tulum and the surrounding area, the Cancun airport is a hike away from their preferred resorts.

It takes at least an hour and a half to get from the Cancun airport to Tulum, and given the option, many guests would prefer to spend this time at the hotel relaxing. 

✔️ Economic Benefits

One more airport in the area means that visitors will have another option while shopping for airfare.

Several domestic and international airlines have already signed on to open routes to the Tulum airport.

This means guests can check which airport is not only the most convenient in terms of location, but also which has the best prices for them. 

Airlines and Flight Routes

Several airlines are already on board to open routes to the new Tulum airport.

Both domestic and international travelers will have options to check out, and it is safe to assume that once the airport opens even more airlines will start to fly there. 

👉🏽 Domestic Routes

VivaAerobus had the honor of landing the first commercial flight at the Tulum airport on December 1, 2023.

It has plans to open five routes within the first month of the airport opening with daily flights from Mexico City, Felipe Angeles (the new Mexico City airport), and Monterrey. It will also offer several flights a week from Guadalajara and Tijuana. 

Aeromexico also offers domestic flights from Mexico City and the Felipe Angeles airport. 

So far Volaris has not announced any flights to Tulum; however, it would be not surprising to see that they soon begin offering services there as well.

👉🏽 International Routes

The Tulum airport will begin receiving international flights in March 2024. Several major airlines have already announced new routes from all over the United States.

Delta announced that they will start flying routes from their Atlanta hub to Tulum on March 28th. 

American Airlines will offer travelers the option of flying to Tulum from Charlotte, Dallas, and Miami. 

United Airlines will offer flights to Tulum from Newark, Houston, and Chicago. There are also rumors that the airline will offer flights from Los Angeles, although there is no official announcement yet. 

If you want to travel on a budget airline- here is some good news. Both Spirit and JetBlue are set to begin offering flights to Tulum.

Spirit Airlines will also begin services to the Tulum airport on March 28th with nonstop flights from Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.

JetBlue will begin to Tulum for New York’s JFK airport on June 13, 2024. 

Tulum Airport and Mayan Train Project

The Mayan Train Project, known as the Tren Maya is a 1,400-kilometer-long train route that crosses five states in southeast Mexico.

It will have stations in Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo. Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced his plans to build the railway in 2018, with the first section opening in December 2023.

The train was designed to connect residents, tourists, and goods.

The Tren Maya will have a stop at the Tulum airport, making it easier for visitors and residents to move around the area.

The section of the Tren Maya that will connect to the airport is expected to begin services in 2024. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts: Tulum Airport in 2024

If you have traveled to Cancun before and want to branch out and explore different areas of the Riviera Maya, make sure to check on flying into the new Tulum airport.

With the opening of this airport, visitors can enjoy the beaches, archeological sites, and cenotes near Tulum without having to drive from Cancun.

This shorter travel time will give you more time to enjoy your vacation!