Tulum to Valladolid | Quick Guide (How to Go + Prices)
👉 Jump to: How to Rent a Car | ADO Bus from Tulum | Taking a Taxi | Tours to Valladolid | Where to Stay in Valladolid | Tulum Beach Guide
So you want to go from Tulum to Valladolid? Great choice! Valladolid is my favorite town in Mexico. You can visit as part of a day trip from Tulum, but I highly recommend staying overnight to check out the many things to do in Valladolid Mexico.
Now let’s talk about how to get to Valladolid from Tulum. You have four options, all with their pros and cons.
Use the above links to jump around this article, or reference this handy chart for quick info:
| Method | Length | Cost | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent a Car | 90 mins | $20+ /day | Reserve a Car |
| ADO Bus | ~2 hrs | $13 /person | Book bus |
| Taxi | 90 mins | $200+ | Book a car |
| Tours | All Day | From $38 | See Top Tours |
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Option 1: Rent a Car & Drive from Tulum to Valladolid
Driving to Valladolid is my top suggestion if you can swing it. Driving in Mexico isn’t as scary as you might think – and the road from Tulum to Valladolid is a well-paved straight 1.5 hour shot through the jungle.
Having a car will give you the flexibility to explore the many lesser-known sites and beautiful cenotes around Valladolid. It also affords you the flexibility to more easily visit Valladolid as part of a day excursion from Tulum, if you don’t have time to stay overnight.
Length: 90 minutes
How to Rent: There are lots of rental car agencies in Tulum town, but some have been know to scare tourists. That’s why I always recommend using Discover Cars to search multiple agencies not only for the best prices but also to filter based on reviews of each agency. Be sure to read my full guide to renting cars for a Mexican vacation!
Option 2: Take the ADO Bus from Tulum to Valladolid
If you’re planning to stay overnight in Valladolid (and you really should!), the ADO bus is a great option to get between your hotel in Tulum and Valladolid.
The downside of taking the bus from Tulum is that you will still need to sort your way to Chichen Itza or Ek Balam. It’s not hard, but it is something to consider.
- Times: Varies. Confirm times on the ADO bus website.
- How Long: ADO claims 90 minutes, but I’ve never done this ride in fewer than 2 hours.
- Cost: ~100-200 MXN ($5-10 USD) based on demand.
- Where to Buy Tickets: You’ll need to go in person to the Tulum ADO station (see on Google Maps) because ADO’s very annoying website won’t accept USA credit cards. Alternatively, you can pre-book your trip online via BusBud.
- Arriving in Valladolid: The Valladolid bus station is located just one block off the main square (see on Google Maps). Most of my recommended Valladolid hotels are within an easy walk.
Oh, and FYI – there is plenty of space for your luggage on the ADO buses (they check it below the bus).
Option 3: Taxi to Valladolid
Don’t want to drive between Tulum and Valladolid, but also not eager to put up with the hassle of a bus ride on your vacation?
I totally get it, but you better be prepared to pay up for a taxi to take you from Tulum to Valladolid. You’ll need to find a driver in Tulum town and haggle. Even then, a taxi to Valladolid is likely to cost in the range of 2,000 pesos ($100 USD).
Unless you’re in a group, it might be more cost effective to check out our next option instead …
Option 4: Tours to Valladolid from Tulum
Just heading to Valladolid for a day trip? The easiest way to make the trip is via a tour. Here are some of our favorites:
👉 Best Tour from Tulum to Valladolid: Full-day combo tour of the Yucatan Peninsula from Tulum – With hundreds of five star reviews, this “World Wonder Discovery” tour takes in a dizzying amount of sites in one day – including the town of Valladolid, Chichen Itza, a cenote, and more.
👉 Budget Tour from Tulum to Valladolid: Tulum to Valladolid, Chichen Itza, Cenote Tour – If you want to see it all and you only have a day, this highly rated tour from Tulum would be our top choice.
Want a different tour? Check out the entire article we did rounding up the best Chichen Itza Tours from Tulum.
👉 Read Next: Is Tulum safe for tourists?
FAQs About Going to Valladolid from Tulum
How do you get from Tulum to Coba?
The Coba Mayan ruins are located halfway between Tulum and Valladolid. You can get to Coba from Tulum via ADO bus, taxi, tour, or by driving yourself.
How far is Valladolid from Tulum?
102 km. The drive to Valladolid from Tulum is a single straight shot.
Which is better for a day trip – Chichen Itza or Ek Balam?
Chichen Itza is more popular, but the Mayan ruins at Ek Balam are equally beautiful and there are far fewer crowds.
Which is better: Coba or Chichen Itza?
Chichen Itza is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and so is generally a more popular Mayan ruin to visit versus Coba. With that said, Coba has a lot going for it, including the facts that you can bike around the jungle area surrounding the ruins. See our complete guide to Chichen Itza vs Coba for helping deciding which is better for you.
***
I hope this guide to how to get from Tulum to Valladolid has been helpful! If you’re headed elsewhere in the Yucatan peninsula, be sure to check out our epic travel guides:
- How to Go from Cancun to Tulum
- How to Go from Cancun to Valladolid
- Travel Tips for Mexico
- Playa del Carmen Travel Guide
Safe travels from Tulum to Valladolid!
Are there any cool stops you would recommend along the way from Tulum to Valladolid – we plan to rent a car and do a day trip since we have already booked our hotel for our entire stay.
Hi Jessica! The Mayan ruins at Coba are the major stop along that route. Definitely worth checking out! Enjoy Valladolid.
We shall be staying a few days in Valladolid in January 2023 and would like to spend a few days in Coba before travelling on to Tulum, but can’t find public transport from Valladolid to Coba! Is this not possible, despite the ADO bus from Valladolid to Tulum passing by Coba?
Hi Maureen, I would not recommend a few days in Coba. At most, it’s worth a few hours. There is not much to do there but the ruins! While they are cool to explore, it’s not worth several days in my opinion.
In terms of how to get there, you can ask at the bus station in Valladolid, but buses to Coba are pretty infrequent last time I checked. If you are really dedicated to taking public transport, you could try the collectivos. The only thing is that you’ll need to be traveling with pretty light luggage or else that can get difficult.
If you can, best thing to do by far is to just rent a car. The road is wide, well paved, and easy to navigate. Plus then you could also use it to visit cenotes and Ek Balam.
Hi Nate
Thanks found your post very helpful.
Is it possible to take the ado bus from Tulum to Valladolid. Then rent a scooter/motorcycle and go to Chichen Itza and Coba?
I’m a bit wary renting a car – unsure where it is safe to park, worried about scams, etc and I eventually will want to cross the Belize border.
Yes, it is definitely possible to rent a scooter in Valladolid. I cannot vouch for any particular rental place though.
I wouldn’t worry about parking in Valladolid, it’s very safe. Tulum may be more a concern in terms of safety, but even still I’ve had many car rentals in Tulum without problems. Just don’t leave valuables in the car. As for scams, yes, in general that’s a concern in Mexico unfortunately, as many rental agencies are less than above board.
I think regardless of whether you rent a car or a scooter, you’ll have to figure out the rules and paperwork to cross to Belize. I don’t have experience with that to offer.
Enjoy Valladolid!
Nate
I had problem renting a car from website(even legit company). I booked from US with full coverage, but in cancun .. they said that insurance doesn’t work, we must get their (mexican insurance). So, I don’t like that hassule again. Is this Discover rental, very trusted?
I’m ok taking ADO, but I’m solo traveler.. maybe easier to rent it and go around.
I go over this in detail in my guide to renting a car in Mexico, but you always have to pay local insurance in Mexico. There are many different types of car insurance (collision, liability, etc), but you’ll pretty much always have to buy the local liability insurance in Mexico. Discover Cars is great for comparing different rental agencies, but they don’t rent cars directly. I always suggest closely checking the reviews for the agency, which Discover makes easy to see.