For fast and inexpensive transportation along the Riviera Maya between Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and Tulum, nothing beats the colectivos.
A colectivo in Tulum, Playa del Carmen and Cancun is a shared minivan that depart for its destination once it is filled. You can hop on and off anywhere along its route.
Using the colectivo in Tulum, Playa Del Carmen or Cancun to reach your hotel or neighboring cities and attractions is very easy.
Colectivos are cheaper and faster than ADO buses, but they are smaller and sometimes less comfortable.
Colectivo between Tulum and Playa del Carmen
Where can I catch the colectivo in Tulum to Playa del Carmen?
The colectivos in Tulum to Playa del Carmen are located across the street from the ADO bus station.
You’ll see several vans waiting for passengers on the side of the road.
Where can I catch the colectivo to Tulum from Playa del Carmen?
The colectivos to Tulum in Playa del Carmen are taken in front of the Chedraui supermarket at the intersection of Calle 1 Sur & Avenue 45.
This is the same place where you catch colectivos to Cancun, Valladolid, and Holbox.
Enter the building and get in line for the colectivos heading to Tulum. If there are many people, the line is located in front of this building, under a sheltered tunnel.
⏲️ Departure when full!
These vans leave when they are full, but don’t worry, it often takes less than 5 minutes.
Tell the driver your stop when you get on, but just in case they forget, be ready to shout “your stop name” “por favor” (for example, “Akumal Por Favor”).
These colectivos make as many stops as they want along the federal highway. Wherever you want to go, they will drop you off there.
On these colectivos, you pay when you get off.
This route is very popular among tourists because there are plenty of things to do between Playa Del Carmen and Cancun.
For instance, you can visit the cenotes (Azul, Cristallino, Jardin del Eden, …), go to Akumal to swim with turtles, visit Caleta Yal Ku or the Tulum ruins.
How much does the colectivo cost between Playa Del Carmen and Tulum?
To get From Playa del Carmen to Tulum, you’ll need to pay 50 pesos.
For the cenotes Azul, Cristallino, or Jardin del Eden, the fare is 35 pesos per person from Playa del Carmen or 45 pesos from Tulum.
From Playa del Carmen and Tulum to Akumal, the price is 40 pesos.
Colectivo Between Playa Del Carmen and Cancun
To travel to Cancun from Playa del Carmen, there are two different options: the regular colectivos and the Playa Express.
✈️ The regular colectivos do not go to the Cancun airport.
The classic Colectivo Playa Del Carmen – Cancun line
Where can I catch the colectivo to Cancun from Playa del Carmen?
The classic line from Playa Del Carmen to Cancun uses Nissan/Toyota vans with about a dozen seats.
The starting point in Playa del Carmen is located across from the Chedraui supermarket at the corner of Avenue 45 & Calle 1 Sur.
At this location, you’ll find all the colectivos for Cancun as well as for Tulum, Valladolid, & Holbox.
On-demand stops
Colectivos do not have precise schedules and can stop wherever you want along the route, making them a very flexible mode of transportation.
The colectivos to Cancun, like those to Tulum, will take less than 5 minutes to fill up. You will rarely wait more than 5 minutes before departing from Playa del Carmen.
How much does the colectivo between Playa Del Carmen and Cancun cost?
The price for a one-way ticket is 45 pesos from Playa Del Carmen to Cancun.
Proportional fares are applied if you board or disembark along the way.
For Puerto Morelos, it will cost you 30 pesos.
Once you arrive in Cancun, if you wish to get off before the main terminal, you can get off at Plaza Las Americas, a bustling shopping area in Cancun (you’ll need to ask the driver to drop you there).
The endpoint of the line is right across from the Cancun bus terminal, so be aware that you arrive at the same place as the ADO buses.
Returning to Playa Del Carmen from Cancun
Opposite the entrance of the ADO bus station in Cancun is where you’ll need to catch the colectivo back to Playa Del Carmen.
It’s very difficult to flag down a shuttle once it has left the Cancun bus station because they almost always depart full from Cancun.
Playa Express for traveling to Cancun
There is another private company providing the connection between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. It’s called Playa Express.
They depart very regularly throughout the day and will even depart if they are not full.
The departure point is at the corner of Avenida Juarez and the federal highway, not far from the regular colectivos.
Playa Express has nice Mercedes vans that are larger and more comfortable than the other Nissan/Toyota vans on the classic Colectivo line in Playa Del Carmen.
The air conditioning works perfectly.
Also, Playa Express doesn’t make as many stops or pickups on the way out of town because they primarily cater to people going all the way to Cancun.
My tips on colectivos in Tulum, Playa del Carmen and Cancun
💵 Always have cash in Mexican pesos. Colectivos don’t accept card payments. If you pay in US Dollars, the exchange rate may be unfavorable.
🚶 Find out the distance between your hotel and the federal road where colectivos operate. Some resorts are far from the road, requiring a 15 to 30-minute walk. Some resorts offer shuttle services to the main road!
🛣️ Stand on the side of the road heading to your destination, as colectivos won’t turn around to pick you up or drop you off. Be careful when crossing the busy road.
👋 Signal the driver to stop. If the colectivo is full, the driver will indicate they can’t stop. Don’t worry, colectivos run very frequently, every 5 minutes.
🧳 Large luggage is often not accepted. There’s limited space onboard. The driver may only accept one or two suitcases if there’s room to store them.
🚐 There are no colectivos directly from Cancun to Tulum. You must change in Playa del Carmen. But don’t worry, the station in Playa del Carmen for both directions is in the same place. The transfer will be quick!
🚗 For large groups, consider renting a car in Cancun. It’s likely more comfortable and flexible, although more expensive than colectivos.
Taking the colectivo within Playa del Carmen
To get around the city of Playa del Carmen, one of the options is to take the colectivo. The fare for a colectivo ride is 10 pesos per person and is paid to the driver when boarding.
There is no map or application, but the direction and main stops of the colectivos are usually displayed on the windshield.
You’ll find colectivo stops throughout the city. The main thoroughfare for colectivos is the thirtieth avenue.
Don’t hesitate to ask locals for help; they will always assist you in finding the colectivo that fits your destination.
